LAWSON & REID - Key Persons
Cathy brings a diverse wealth of knowledge and talent to the Lawson & Reid, LLC legal team. She is an experienced litigation paralegal with a history in multiple areas of law, including general civil litigation, commercial litigation, insurance defense, civil rights litigation, and family law. In addition, she has served as a successful business owner and as a registered nurse.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of the State Bar of Georgia
Kimberly is a native of Buena Vista, Georgia, where she was raised on her family's farm with her four sisters. She enjoyed growing up in a small town in rural South Georgia where faith, family, and community were the foundation of her upbringing.
Kimberly graduated summa cum laude from Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia. She then attended Mercer University School of Law in Macon, Georgia, where she received her J.D. with distinguished honors.
Having practiced more than 25 years, Kimberly has extensive experience representing businesses, counties, cities, governments, and individuals. She enjoys cultivating long-term relationships with her clients that enable her to be an aggressive advocate for them whether defending or filing lawsuits, launching new businesses, drafting contracts, or navigating human resources issues. Her blend of experience in all of these areas is ideal for serving as general counsel for small businesses or governments.
Kimberly is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and has severed on several State Bar panels and committees. She received the distinguished AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell, which is the attorney peer rating for the highest level of professional excellence.
Kimberly is a strong advocate of community service. She has served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Cordele Crisp Chamber of Commerce and the President of the Cordele Kiwanis Club. She has also served on other boards such and the Crisp Area Habitat for Humanity and United Way.
Job Titles:
- Office Administrator
- Office Administrator and Paralegal
Rainey Andresen serves as the firm's Office Administrator and as a Paralegal. She has more than 25 years of experience in the legal field. In addition, she has extensive knowledge and experience in law firm administration and bookkeeping.
Rainey began her journey in law as a legal assistant in the 1990s. In the 2000s, she expanded her expertise by working as a certified court reporter specializing in legal transcription. From 2009 to 2024, Rainey's professional journey led her to South and Middle Georgia, where she excelled as a Senior Litigation Paralegal specializing in personal injury. Her proficient skills and dedication resulted in her being appointed as a Case Manager who managed numerous complex litigation matters.
Rainey is a distinguished United States Air Force veteran who served with distinction for 13 years. Her time working at Robins Air Force Base strengthened her deep roots in South Georgia. Her Air Force career focused on human resources, bookkeeping, and accounting. Following her active-duty tour, she continued her commitment to service by serving in the Air Force Reserves. Rainey has an Associate Degree in Business Administration. She also served as a Microsoft Word Instructor at Valdosta State University.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Rainey enjoys quality time with her grandchildren, reveling in the outdoors, caring for her family's cows, chickens, and dogs, and savoring the delights of authentic southern cooking. She is a devoted mother of three sons and a daughter and a grandmother of seven. Rainey and her spouse, who is a fellow veteran, share their home with her youngest son and two cherished grandsons.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of the State Bar of Georgia
Rick is a member of the State Bar of Georgia as well as the Cordele Rotary Club. He has volunteered with the Cordele-Crisp Chamber of Commerce, as a coach for youth soccer, basketball and softball, as a children's Sunday school teacher at his church, and with various school-related booster clubs and the local 4H program.
Job Titles:
- Real Estate Legal Assistant
Teresa serves as a paralegal in multiple practice areas with a specialty in real estate and probate. With over 25 years of legal experience, she understands the nuances of working in the legal arena. Her knowledge and insight are a tremendous asset to our clients.
Terry has a wide range of legal experience in litigation defense and representing governments. As a former Assistant Attorney General, she represented public safety agencies such as the State Patrol, superior court judges, district attorneys, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Corrections.
Terry is familiar with the unique challenges that must be navigated by governments and businesses, having served as in-house counsel for various departments of the State of Georgia. She has extensive constitutional law litigation experience in civil rights, employment, and tort litigation defense. She also has many years of experience investigating and advising both government agencies and private businesses in employment matters. Her years of service include drafting, negotiating, and litigating government contracts.
Terry served eight years as an assistant counsel in the Office of Legislative Counsel for the Georgia General Assembly, where she strengthened her foundation in state and local government law. More recently, Terry has provided counsel for local governments while also acting as defense counsel in a variety of state as well as private actions. Her current practice focuses on employment law, government law, business law, general litigation, and collections.
Terry is admitted to practice in all Georgia state and federal courts, as well as the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.
She graduated in the top 20% of her class at Georgia State University College of Law. In law school, she served as a senior editor for the Law Review and the Vice President of the Moot Court Society.
Thomas was born in Union City, Tennessee. The youngest of three brothers, he was raised in a family of grain and cotton farmers, which enabled him to experience the delight of living and working in a rural community.