ROBBINS FIRM - Key Persons
Anna joined the firm in May 2021.
At her prior firm, Anna worked on matters involving environmental regulations and transactions, pharmaceutical and healthcare fraud, and construction litigation. Anna also has experience working for the Georgia Senate in various nonpartisan capacities including the State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, the Secretary of the Senate, and the Senate Research Office. In addition to her work with the law firm, Anna works with Robbins Government Relations and advises clients on legislative movements regarding healthcare, transportation, education, and economic development.
Anna graduated from Kennesaw State University with a degree in political science and she earned her J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law.
Job Titles:
- Civic Association, Zoning Board Member
Carey Miller focuses his practice on litigation, regulatory disputes, campaign and election law, and government affairs. He joined the Robbins Firm, and its affiliate Robbins Government Relations, LLC, in January 2019.
Since joining the firm, Carey has represented clients in State and Federal trial and appellate courts. In litigation matters, Carey has represented private and governmental clients in matters involving common law and constitutional torts, contractual disputes, and administrative appeals. Carey has also defended clients against State and Federal regulatory investigations, and advises numerous political committees and candidates, including in matters before the Federal Elections Commission and Georgia Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission.
Prior to joining the firm, Carey served as Executive Counsel to Governor Nathan Deal where he oversaw all legal matters connected to the executive branch of state government, working with all state agencies in managing and resolving such issues. In this role, Carey was also the chief liaison to the Judiciary and advised the Governor on judicial appointments to the state's appellate and trial courts, and legislative and policy matters related to the state's legal environment. During his time with Governor Deal, Carey played an integral role in managing Georgia's interests in the tri-state water dispute and continues to advise the State on such matters. Carey also served as co-Chair of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform with Supreme Court Justice Michael Boggs, and on Governor Deal's Court Reform Council with Attorney General Chris Carr. Recommendations from both groups led to legislation overhauling the State's Administrative Procedure Act, amending the Georgia Constitution to create the State-wide Business Court, and reducing Georgia's prison population while also reducing crime and recidivism.
A "Double Dawg" graduate of the University of Georgia, Carey earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law. While in law school, Carey was President of the Student Bar Association, Senior Managing Editor of the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law, and a pupil in the Lumpkin Inn of Court. Carey worked with the Honorable Richard W. Story in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia as a judicial intern, served on the Moot Court Executive Board, competed in the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition, and participated in the school's appellate litigation clinic, filing briefs in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.
Carey remains actively involved with the Blue Key Honor Society at the University of Georgia, serves on the executive board of the Drew Valley Civic Association, and is a 2019 graduate of Leadership Georgia.
Education
J.D., cum laude, University of Georgia School of Law, 2015
Job Titles:
- Attorney Bio
- Litigation Paralegal
- Professional
Carla is a highly experienced litigation paralegal with over 25 years of experience. Carla has worked with several large law firms over her career, joining the Robbins Firm in March 2022. Carla provides support to attorneys and trial teams in all pretrial phases, including maintaining document databases, preparing for hearings and depositions, and all other pretrial activities. Carla also has significant trial experience, having prepared for and participated in dozens of trials, including jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations. Carla provides support to trial teams including managing trial logistics, witness coordination, preparation of exhibits and deposition designations. Given her extensive experience in trial work, Carla also provides insight on jury selection during trial. In her tenure with the Robbins Firm, Carla has already been an in-court participant in one week-long jury trial in federal court, participated in a 6-week nonjury trial in federal court and has handled pre-trial preparations for two other trials.
Carla is proficient in the following databases: ANAQUA; Relativity, eRoom, SmartCounsel, LiveNote, Trial Director, Summation, Concordance, RingTail, and highly proficient in Office 365/Teams, Adobe Acrobat, E-copy, Sharefile, DropBox and SharePoint; CPI, Inprotech, and OneNote. Carla routinely coordinates with other law firms on database transfer and sharing.
Job Titles:
- Attorney Bio
- Board Member of the Atlanta Council of Younger Lawyers
- Professional
Cate joined the Robbins Firm in 2019. Her practice focuses on representing clients in a variety of business disputes in state and federal court. She has represented clients by litigating and resolving numerous issues, including deals gone bad, business divorces, fraud, breaches of contract, and employment disputes. She also has experience representing clients in regulatory matters and has been involved in high-profile lawsuits defending governmental clients, several of which involved questions of constitutional law.
Prior to joining the firm, Cate practiced commercial finance at a large Atlanta law firm. This front-end experience has greatly benefitted her practice as a litigator. She also served as an extern for the Office of Special Masters in the United States Court of Federal Claims. Cate received her undergraduate degree with honors from Wake Forest University, where she was a member of the varsity track and cross country teams. She received her law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law. During law school, she served as Notes/Comments Editor of the Wake Forest Law Review and was a member of Moot Court.
Cate is a board member of the Atlanta Council of Younger Lawyers and a member of Georgia Audubon and the Georgia Conservancy.
Education
B.A., cum laude, Wake Forest University, 2011
J.D., Wake Forest University School of Law, 2017
Charles "Chuck" P. Boring is a very experienced trial attorney, having litigated several of the highest-profile cases in Georgia over the past two decades. Chuck represents clients in high-stakes civil litigation, governmental and internal investigations, and white-collar criminal matters. He has extensive experience handling cases in the spotlight and navigating the public relations aspects of matters involving individuals and entities attracting significant media attention.
As a former prosecutor and lead judicial ethics enforcement official for over 20 years, Chuck has tried well over 100 cases resulting in successful jury verdicts involving public corruption, murder, human trafficking, sexual assault, technology-facilitated crimes, and child abuse in several jurisdictions across the state. He has also successfully defended public officials at trial and on appeal regarding their right to hold public office. A Fellow in the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, Chuck is recognized as an expert in trial advocacy, complex investigations, and judicial and legal ethics. Chuck currently represents governmental and non-governmental entities, non-profit organizations, and individuals utilizing his decades of experience in courtrooms throughout Georgia.
Chuck is a graduate of Georgia State University College of Law, where he clerked for Senior Superior Court Judge William W. Daniel and edited and re-wrote portions of Judge Daniel's preeminent trial treatises, Daniel's Georgia Handbook on Criminal Evidence and Daniel's Georgia Criminal Trial Practice. Chuck earned his undergraduate degree in Communication Arts with a minor in Journalism from Georgia Southern University.
Craig's practice focuses on business litigation in federal and state courts as well as matters relating to administrative and government law. Craig represents plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of complex disputes, including business tort, real estate, business divorce/partnership and fiduciary, trust and estate, RICO, and restrictive covenant litigation. He also has significant administrative and government law experience, including representing clients who were investigated by the Governor's Office of Consumer Protection for alleged violations of the Fair Business Practices Act and representing clients with regard to campaign finance matters.
Prior to joining the firm, Craig served as an attorney for the Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer Protection and as counsel to the Georgia House of Representatives Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. At the Office of Consumer Protection, Craig led the investigations of a variety of businesses and individuals to determine whether they violated consumer protection laws and regulations. He successfully negotiated a number of public settlements, including one for over $4.3 million.
Craig earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he received the Vanderbilt Scholastic Excellence Award in Legal Writing. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from Tufts University, where he played on the varsity tennis team. Craig is active in a number of charitable and political organizations.
Education
J.D., Vanderbilt University Law School, 2010
B.A., Tufts University, 2007
Dan Monahan is a business lawyer with extensive experience litigating complex commercial disputes in a number of judicial and regulatory forums. Dan regularly handles matters involving real estate disputes, business divorces, contracts, and various business torts. Dan has argued in state and federal court, and has arbitrated before JAMS, AAA and FINRA.
Job Titles:
- Attorney Bio
- Member of Lamar Inn
- Professional
Danielle joined the firm in May 2020.
Danielle graduated from Florida State University with a degree in political science and a minor in international affairs. She then earned her JD from Emory University School of Law where she was the Editor-in-Chief of Emory's Corporate Governance and Accountability Review (ECGAR). During her time on ECGAR, the journal published her Note, Entwinement: Why Sororities and Fraternities Should be Subject to the Constitution, 8 Emory Corp. Governance and Accountability Rev. (2020).
During law school, Danielle also externed for the DeKalb Solicitor General's Office, Fulton County District Attorney's Office, and Cobb County District Attorney's Office where she helped prosecute cases in the Special Victim's Unit. Danielle is also TI:GER certified and was selected by Microsoft to complete an intellectual property fellowship founded by both the Hispanic National Bar Association and the Microsoft Intellectual Property Law Institute.
Danielle is a member of Lamar Inn and the Hispanic National Bar Association.
Education
J.D., Emory University School of Law, 2020
B.A., Summa Cum Laude, Florida State University, 2013
Ed Bedard is an experienced litigator whose practice focuses on representing clients in high-stakes litigation at every level of the federal and state court systems. He has successfully represented clients in numerous class actions and complex commercial disputes involving a variety of issues that pose significant legal and reputational risk. Ed's practice also regularly involves politically sensitive matters that touch on consequential questions of constitutional law.
Prior to joining the Robbins team, Ed practiced on the class-action team of a large international law firm. Ed also served as a judicial clerk to Chief Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in Atlanta.
Ed is a past-President and current board member of the Federalist Society's Atlanta Young Lawyers Chapter.
Ed is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Wheaton College.
Prior to law school, Ed served as a Policy Coordinator for leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.
Education
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 2016
Evan joined the Firm in September 2020. Prior to joining the firm, he clerked for The Honorable Leslie Abrams Gardner of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.
Evan attended the University of Georgia School of Law where he earned his J.D., magna cum laude, in 2018 and was elected to the Order of the Coif. During law school, he served as the Senior Articles Editor for the Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law, who published his Note, Avoiding Deadstick: A Construction of Article 17 BIS of the ATA to Promote Labor-Management Relations, 46 Ga. J. Int't & Comp. L. 515 (2018). He also received the Verner F. Chaffin Award for Excellence in the Study of Fiduciary Law. Evan earned his Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Emory University in 2012, receiving the University's highest graduate honor, the Marion Luther Brittain Award.
EDUCATION
J.D., Magna Cum Laude, University of Georgia School of Law, 2018
B.A., Emory University, 2012
Marion Luther Brittain Award
Order of the Coif
Verner F. Chaffin Award for Excellence in the Study of Fiduciary Law
Job Titles:
- Attorney Bio
- Professional
- Professionals
Jason represents clients in their most complex and high-stakes disputes. He has represented - and litigated against - numerous Fortune 500 companies, government agencies (including federal agencies, the State of Georgia, and municipalities), high tech/software companies, real estate developers, law firms, accounting firms, and corporate executives. Jason has significant experience in highly sensitive matters, including those with potential criminal implications or involving highly confidential or personal matters.
Jason has unique experience for a litigator, earning two degrees in accounting, passing the CPA exam, and teaching accounting to law students. This experience makes him a go-to lawyer for cases that have complex accounting, damages, or valuation issues, as well as for cases involving financial fraud. Jason has repeatedly been recognized as a "Georgia Super Lawyer" in Business Litigation by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine, and he has been named to Georgia Trend's Legal Elite for General Practice and Trial Law.
Jason has significant court, trial, arbitration, and appellate experience. He has handled the most difficult cross-examinations and oral arguments and knows how to present his client's position in a way that best resonates with a judge, jury, or arbitrator. In a recent highly contentious case (with a large international firm on the other side), a client may have best summarized Jason's effectiveness when the client stated that:
Jason's performance in front of the judge was nothing short of spectacular. His thoughtful, humble but well-prepared style resonated with the Judge versus the other side's slick approach. He's done a fantastic job with this case. I've been in business for a long time, and litigation is not new to me. I can honestly say that I have never been more satisfied and impressed with a lawyer and a firm.
Jason is licensed to practice in Georgia and Florida and has litigated in many other states throughout the country, ranging from New Jersey to South Dakota. Most recently, Jason has handled significant litigation matters involving:
Highly sensitive governmental investigations, kickback schemes, embezzlement, and other complex frauds
Breach of contract and real estate disputes
Misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential information and other technology-related disputes
Business divorces and disputes among business partners and business investors
Legal and accounting malpractice (plaintiff and defense)
Breach of fiduciary duty
Executive representation (regarding termination and severance)
Non-compete and non-solicitation agreements
Family disputes involving significant family assets
Trusts and estates
Jason also has experience in unique matters. For example, Jason was appointed by the United States District Court to serve (and is currently serving) as a Receiver for a company sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. In that case, the Receivership has already returned over $12 million (70% of investors' money) to victims of a Ponzi scheme. In addition, Jason previously served as counsel for the State of Georgia in litigation against the major tobacco companies, which resulted in a settlement that provided Georgia with approximately $56 million in 2013 from the tobacco companies and ensures continued payments to the state in the future. Jason also has served as a Deputy Special Attorney General - appointed by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue - to team with other attorneys to represent Georgia in challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (known as "Obamacare").
Jason is currently on the Board of Advisors for the Atlanta Lawyers Division of the Federalist Society after serving as President of the Atlanta Lawyers Division from 2010-2011. He also participated in the Anti-Defamation League's Glass Leadership Institute, a nationally recognized leadership development program for the Anti-Defamation League. In addition, Jason has served on the Board of Directors of the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia and served as an adjunct professor at the University of Georgia School of Law.
Jason earned his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Georgia Law Review and as Vice President of the Student Bar Association. He received a Master in Professional Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.
Upon graduating law school, Jason clerked for the Honorable Phyllis Kravitch of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta, Georgia. After his clerkship, Jason practiced at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan. Jason is originally from south Florida before moving to Atlanta and graduating high school from Pace Academy.
Education
J.D., magna cum laude, University of Georgia School of Law, 2003
Jason serves as Executive Director of the firm, overseeing financial and accounting operations. In addition, Jason serves as Managing Director of Financial Advisory Services, bringing his experience in forensic accounting and litigation support to our firm and our clients.
Jason has approximately 25+ years of experience in financial accounting, income tax, forensic accounting, due diligence, litigation support and bankruptcy consulting.
Prior to joining the firm in October 2022, Jason spent 14 months as Financial Controller of a multi-location Chiropractic and Orthopedic medical clinic along with its real estate holdings and ancillary support businesses.
Jason began his accounting career as a Staff Accountant in the Atlanta office of a national CPA firm, which specialized in Insurance Litigation and Claims Preparation.
Jason continued his career with another large regional CPA firm in Atlanta, where he routinely provided accounting and tax services to medical practices, manufacturing and distribution companies and many other service industries. Jason was also part of the firm's Litigation Consulting Services Group where he was exposed to a variety of engagements, including fraud investigations, damage calculations, internal control evaluations, and business valuations.
The bulk of Jason's experience was with a national specialty consulting firm, where he was actively involved in many complex litigation, forensic accounting, and bankruptcy assignments. Representative case matters included, but were not limited to:
Javier joined the firm in October 2020. Previously, he served as Assistant Executive Counsel for the Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp since January 14, 2019. While at the Governor's Office, Javier oversaw the legal departments of all Georgia executive agencies, worked on contracts and negotiations, handled procurements, and developed policy.
Job Titles:
- Attorney Bio
- General Counsel to the
- Professional
Jeremy's practice includes both trial and appellate litigation and focuses on representing corporations and individuals in business disputes as plaintiff and defendant. Jeremy has handled a broad range of litigation, including professional liability, business torts, technology and intellectual property-related torts, real estate litigation, and trust and estates disputes. In addition to state and federal courts, Jeremy also has substantial experience with alternative dispute resolution.
Jeremy currently serves as General Counsel to the Robbins Firm and has represented - and litigated against - national and regional law firms in professional liability matters arising out of corporate transactions, estate planning, and litigation, among other practice areas. In addition to professional liability actions, Jeremy is also frequently called upon to defend claims against attorneys and law firms for abusive litigation, spoliation, and other sanctions.
Jeremy also applies her sound judgment and methodical approach to business disputes, which makes her the go-to lawyer in highly complex and sensitive matters that require extensive analysis of the law and facts in the development of an overall solution and strategy. Year after year, Jeremy has been recognized as a "Super Lawyer" in Business Litigation by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine. Most recently, Jeremy has represented individuals, partnerships, and corporations in a wide range of business litigation, including:
Partnership and other business-related disputes for breaches of fiduciary duties and misappropriation of assets
Financial fraud, including fraud arising out of the purchase and sale of assets, investments, and Ponzi schemes
Contract disputes involving technology services and software licensing contracts
Real estate litigation relating to lease agreements and mismanagement
Disputes against banks and lenders based on notes and guarantees
Collections and fraudulent transfer actions.
In addition, Jeremy has handled and argued numerous appeals for clients the firm represented at the trial level, as well as clients who retain the firm to handle appeals exclusively, at state and federal appellate courts.
Jeremy earned her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she was on the Editorial Board of the Virginia Law Review. She received her B.A. from Harvard University. Upon graduating law school, Jeremy clerked for the Honorable Orinda D. Evans, United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Prior to joining the firm, Jeremy was an attorney at an AmLaw 100 law firm, where she litigated a number of complex civil cases, including professional liability lawsuits, insurance and securities class actions, and other business matters.
Education
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 2004
Josh Belinfante represents clients in commercial and administrative disputes, and he is one of Georgia's most knowledgeable attorneys on appellate matters and questions of governmental law and policy. He represents governmental and non-governmental clients, and those in the highly regulated fields of healthcare, gaming, land use, and energy.
Josh brings to bear his experience in all three branches of government, having served as the Executive Counsel or Chief Legal Advisor to Governor Sonny Perdue, Georgia's 81st Governor (2007-2009), Legal Counsel to the Georgia House Judiciary Committee (2006), and Law Clerk to Judge J.L. Edmondson of the Eleventh Circuit (2004-2005).
In litigation matters, Josh's practice involves commercial disputes, including partnership and contract disputes, non-compete agreements, and lawsuits involving civil and constitutional rights. Josh has also developed significant experience in cases involving government-ranging from zoning and land use disputes, to matters before administrative agencies, the Georgia Public Service Commission, and bid protests. Josh has also litigated and advised numerous private and public clients on Georgia's Open Records and Open Meetings Acts. The State of Georgia has long viewed Josh as a go-to lawyer of the in numerous complex and high stakes cases brought by the United States Department of Justice and private litigants involving education, healthcare, election, and constitutional matters.
Outside of litigation, Josh also provides legal counsel to highly regulated industries navigating various state and federal laws and regulations governing the healthcare, gaming, and energy sectors. In addition, as a member of Robbins Government Relations, Josh has significant experience drafting many of the state laws that guide clients' business and compliance strategies.
The Atlanta Business Chronicle described Josh as the "go-to guy for Georgia healthcare policy and legislation." In 2011, the Atlanta Business Chronicle named Josh one of the 40 Under 40 of Atlanta's Rising and Business Leaders. In 2010, The Fulton County Daily Report named Josh one of 10 attorneys "On the Rise," and Georgia Trend named him one of Georgia's "Legal Elite." Atlanta Magazine named Josh a "Super Lawyer" since 2015, and it frequently named him a Georgia "Rising Star Super Lawyer." James Magazine has repeatedly identified Josh as one of the "Best Lawyers in Georgia."
Josh has served as the President of the Atlanta Chapter of the Federalist Society (2019-2023), where he remains member of the Board of Directors. He has also been a member of the University of Georgia Law School Alumni Council, and the former President of the Pace Academy Alumni Association (2010-2012). Josh is also a graduate of Leadership Atlanta (2012), Leadership Sandy Springs (2015), and the Coverdell Leadership Institute (2007). He is also working to spread awareness and raise funds for research into Ollier Disease.
Josh is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Georgia School of Law. He also taught high school at Pace Academy in Atlanta.
Education
JD, cum laude, University of Georgia School of Law, 2003
B.A., cum laude, University of Pennsylvania, 1999
Joshua tries business cases. Prior to joining the firm, he served for nine years as a senior trial counsel in the Enforcement Division of the SEC, where he tried numerous bench and jury trials to verdict while sitting in the first chair. He also represented the SEC during evidentiary hearings and oral arguments on emergency motions and other contested matters, and he prosecuted administrative proceedings before SEC ALJs and during appeals to the Commissioners. Joshua has deep experience working with staff of the SEC's Atlanta Regional Office and with the senior managers of the Division of Enforcement throughout the country. His cases and investigations have spanned the full range of the SEC's case load-from technical regulatory violations to alleged fraud of every stripe, including accounting fraud, insider trading, abusive trading practices, excessive or unearned fees collected by investment advisers, undisclosed conflicts of interest, and garden variety disclosure fraud. While at the SEC, Joshua won the prestigious Ellen B. Ross award, a national award given to two people annually in recognition of exemplary commitment, enthusiasm, and performance in working to fulfill the SEC's responsibilities for the fair and effective enforcement of the federal securities laws.
Although he is an expert in the federal securities laws and the SEC enforcement process, prior to joining the SEC, Joshua tried cases involving a wide array of subject matters while in private practice at an Am Law 100 firm. His cases involved all manner of deals gone bad, representing clients large and small, plaintiffs and defendants, in cases involving real estate disputes, business divorces, acquisitions gone south, breaches of contract and thefts of trade secrets. Joshua also defended officers and directors of public companies in shareholder derivative suits and adversary proceedings, where his clients were alleged to have engaged in a variety of misconduct. He defended putative class actions on behalf of insurance companies, public companies, accounting firms, lenders, and other financial institutions in cases involving a wide range of subject matters. In addition to his more traditional litigation practices, Joshua also represented several state governments in billion-dollar educational funding lawsuits, and he represented local Georgia school districts and charter schools as both a counselor and in court.
Education
J.D., magna cum laude, Cornell Law School, 2003
Job Titles:
- Attorney Bio
- Member of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers
- Professional
Macy joined the Robbins Firm, and its affiliate Robbins Government Relations, LLC, in October 2022.
Prior to joining the firm, Macy served as Chief of Staff to the Office of Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan. While in the Lt. Governor's Office, she served as the top strategist for public policy decisions, legislative initiatives, and served as the Lt. Governor's designee on the General Assembly's Litigation Oversight Committee.
Macy's extensive government experience provides her with the critical insight necessary to understand government issues whether legislative, regulatory, or administrative in nature. In addition, she has experience drafting legislation on a wide variety of topics, including tax incentives, healthcare, and criminal justice reform.
Macy earned her J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law. While obtaining her law degree, she worked as a Legislative Policy Analyst for the State Senate where she advised legislators on ethics and elections policy, and state and local regulatory issues. She graduated from the University of Alabama in 2013 with a degree in Political Science.
Macy is a member of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and the Federalist Society.
Education
J.D., Georgia State University School of Law, 2020
B.A., University of Alabama, 2013
Matt has been recognized as a "Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star" by Super Lawyers magazine. While at Columbia Law School, Matt was selected as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and was chosen to be an articles editor for the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law, one of the top five most influential environmental and land use law journals in the United States. Prior to law school, Matt worked for Operation New Birmingham, a public-private partnership promoting residential and commercial development in Birmingham's city center. Matt then studied Urban Policy at the University of Glasgow, Scotland on a Rotary Scholarship. Matt now channels his energy and interest in urban development by helping developers and builders navigate tough legal disputes and regulatory hurdles in order to achieve their development goals.
Matt makes his home in the newly-incorporated town of Tucker, Georgia where he lives with his wife Lindsey and their young daughter McCabe. Matt cheers for the Braves, Falcons, and Hawks and is a booster for all things Atlanta.
Melanie joined the firm in March 2020. Previously, she was Deputy Executive Counsel for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for four years. While with the Department, Melanie advised on a wide range of regulatory and legislative matters and oversaw the agency's open records policies. Melanie is experienced in all aspects of administrative law and regularly represented the Department in proceedings before the Office of State Administrative Hearings.
Melanie graduated from Elon University in North Carolina with a Biology degree. She then earned her JD from the University of Arkansas School of Law where she was a member of the Journal of Food Law and Policy. During law school she also interned with Justice Keith Blackwell of the Supreme Court of Georgia.
Education
J.D., University of Arkansas School of Law, 2013
Melanie joined the Robbins Firm in February 2022. Her practice focuses on representing clients in a variety of business disputes in state and federal court and in investigations by government agencies. She has litigated and resolved numerous issues, including business divorces, claims of fraud, breaches of contract, breaches of fiduciary duty, suits on promissory notes and guaranties, family disputes involving significant family assets, and real estate disputes. She also has experience representing clients in SEC investigations, including in matters involving technical regulatory violations, undisclosed conflicts of interest, and disclosure fraud.
Michael joined the firm after practicing at an employment litigation firm, where he handled wage‑and‑hour, discrimination, and retaliation cases, among other matters. Before entering private practice in August 2020, Michael was a staff attorney for the Federal Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, where he worked on over 150 cases.
Michael graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law. During law school, Michael served as the Executive Managing Editor for the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law, which published his Note, Unregulated Custody Transfers: Why the Practice of Rehoming Should Be Considered a Form of Illegal Adoption and Human Trafficking, 46 GA. J. INT'L & COMP. L. 185 (2017). Michael obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Florida State University in 2008, where he also graduated magna cum laude.
Education
J.D., magna cum laude, University of Georgia School of Law (2018)
Rachel is an experienced litigator who brings dedication and precision to each case. She is adept at representing plaintiffs as well as defendants. Rachel regularly assists clients with litigation related to real estate, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, breach of contract, business torts, and trusts and estates.
In her real estate litigation practice, including zoning and land use litigation, fair housing claims, condemnation, commercial leasing disputes, and lending disputes, Rachel draws on her degree in urban studies and her personal interest in planning and real estate development to find creative solutions for her clients.
Rachel's focus in each case is on getting the best and most efficient result for her client, whether that means working to broker a quick and advantageous resolution, or seeing a dispute through trial and appeal.
Rachel graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law and from Cornell University, where she was a member of the varsity rowing team. When she's not litigating, Rachel enjoys politics and cycling. She lives with her family in the East Lake neighborhood of Atlanta.
Education
J.D., with honors, University of North Carolina School of Law, 2008
B.S., with honors, Cornell University, 2004
Richard has been involved in a broad spectrum of business litigation and arbitrations throughout the country, from Georgia and Florida to Hawaii to Maine. Richard has particular experience in real estate litigation, technology litigation, and restrictive covenant and trade secret litigation, but handles business litigation of any type. Many of his cases have commanded substantial media interest, and Richard is well versed in handling the public relations aspects of significant disputes.
Richard is an honors graduate of Harvard Law School, where he served as Articles Editor of the Harvard Law Review. He received his undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Furman University. After graduation from law school, Richard served as law clerk to the Honorable Paul H. Roney of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits.
Vincent Russo represents clients in a wide range of complex business disputes, including state and federal litigation involving securities and real estate investments, contract claims, violations of fiduciary duties, trade secrets, derivative actions, and other business torts. Vincent also has over a decade of experience representing clients in highly regulated industries in a variety of government and policy matters, and he is considered an expert in election law and campaign finance in Georgia.
Vincent's practice regularly involves issues at the intersection of law, politics, and public policy. He is the legal counsel for Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's campaign and leadership committee. He has also been appointed as a Special Assistant Attorney General to represent the State of Georgia in various litigation. In recent years, Vincent has been tapped to represent the Governor and the Secretary of State of Georgia in matters before the Committee on Oversight and Reform in the U.S. House of Representatives, including inquiries by the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. He has also represented the NRCC and the NRSC in various election cycles, and previously served as the General Counsel for the Georgia Republican Party.
In January 2019, Vincent was appointed by Governor Kemp to serve as co-Chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission - a 25-member Commission created by Executive Order of the Governor to evaluate and recommend individuals for appointment to the bench. The Fulton County Daily Report selected Vincent as one of 14 attorneys to its "On the Rise" class for 2019, and James Magazine named him as one of Georgia's Most Influential Attorneys. Vincent has also been recognized by Georgia Super Lawyers as one of the top rated Business Litigation attorneys in Georgia in 2020-2023, and as a Georgia Super Lawyers "Rising Star" in Business Litigation in 2017-2019.
Prior to joining the Firm, Vincent was the General Counsel for the Georgia Secretary of State's Office, where he served as the chief legal counsel in the administrations of Brian Kemp and Karen Handel. During that time, he also served as the Assistant Commissioner of Securities for the State of Georgia and oversaw the state's regulation of the securities industry, including investigations and enforcement actions under the Georgia Uniform Securities Act.
Vincent is a graduate of Emory University School of Law, where he was the recipient of the James C. Pratt Memorial Award, selected to the Order of the Barristers, and served as the Director of the Emory Moot Court Society (2005-2006). Vincent earned undergraduate degrees in Economics and Political Science from Louisiana State University and was the recipient of the Chancellor's Medal of Distinguished Service.
Education
J.D., Emory University School of Law, 2006
B.A., Louisiana State University, 2003
Job Titles:
- Attorney Bio
- Finance Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party
- Professional
Ryan focuses on litigation and regulatory affairs. He has an extensive governmental background. Ryan served as Executive Counsel to Governor Nathan Deal of the State of Georgia from 2011 until January 2017, and earlier as Deputy Executive Counsel for Governor Sonny Perdue. Prior to his service in state government, Ryan lived and worked in Washington, D.C. from 2007 to 2009, serving as the general counsel to a 501(c)(4) issue advocacy organization of national scope.
Ryan's experience in government provides him with broad insight into how best to interact with government, avoid, and manage conflict with regulating entities, and best present complex legal matters to the judiciary. Ryan worked closely with the Georgia Attorney General and his office in managing litigation over water disputes between Georgia and certain of its neighboring states. Ryan continues to serve as a Special Assistant Attorney General for Florida v. Georgia, a case of original jurisdiction before the Supreme Court of the United States. As Executive Counsel, Ryan handled re-negotiations of the the Jasper Ocean Terminal Project joint venture agreement between Georgia and South Carolina. Ryan served as the lead member of Governor Nathan Deal's Appellate Jurisdiction Review Commission which made detailed recommendations for re-aligning the jurisdictional boundaries of the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Georgia Court of Appeals. Legislation reflecting those recommendations and the expansion of the Supreme Court of Georgia to nine justices passed and became law in 2016. In addition, Ryan has drafted legislation on a wide variety of topics and worked with the legislative branch to pass numerous pieces of legislation.
Since leaving state government in 2017, Ryan has served on the Judicial Nominating Commission for Governor Deal and also serves as the chairman of the State Commission on Compensation.
Ryan is the Finance Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party.
Ryan is a summa cum laude graduate of Clemson University and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law, where he served on the Law Review. Ryan clerked for Chief Judge J. L. Edmondson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He has received numerous recognitions to date: the Atlanta Business Chronicle named Ryan one of the 40 Under 40 of Atlanta's Rising Business Leaders (2013); the Fulton County Daily Report named Ryan one of the 40 Under 40 attorneys in Georgia (2012); and the University of Georgia named him one of the 40 Under 40 UGA graduates.
Ryan currently serves on the University of Georgia Board of Visitors, the Board of Directors for the Metro Atlanta YMCA, the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Chapter of the Federalist Society, the Board of Directors of Great Heights Foster Care and the Board of Directors for the Bobby Jones Golf Course Foundation.
Education
JD, magna cum laude, University of Georgia School of Law, 2003
B.A., summa cum laude, Clemson University, 2000