JAMES BATES BRANNAN GROOVER - Key Persons
Amanda Morris joined James Bates Brannan Groover LLP in the spring of 2022. Her practice focuses on business and commercial litigation and employment law.
Amanda is originally from Vidalia, Georgia. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from Brewton-Parker College in 2000, where she was a member of the women's varsity tennis team, and a B.A. in English from The University of Georgia in 2001. Amanda then earned her Juris Doctor as well as an additional certificate in Advanced Legal Writing, Research, and Drafting from Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law in 2004.
Amanda has extensive experience in a wide range of civil actions in both federal and state courts. Prior to joining James Bates Brannan Groover LLP, the primary focus of Amanda's practice was railroad law, representing Class I and short-line railroads in Georgia and insurance defense matters. She also has experience in employment discrimination and retaliation cases, whistleblower claims, personal injury and wrongful death, tractor-trailer litigation, and Medicare compliance. Amanda also previously served as a judicial law clerk in the Oconee Judicial Circuit.
Blake Ogden joined James Bates Brannan Groover LLP in the summer of 2022. His practice focuses on commercial litigation.
Blake is originally from Baxley, Georgia. He earned his B.S. in Environmental Economics from The University of Georgia, graduating in 2013. Blake then received his Juris Doctor from The University of Georgia School of Law in 2018, graduating magna cum laude. Upon graduation, Blake was inducted into the Order of the Coif. Following law school, Blake clerked for Justice Blackwell on the Georgia Supreme Court.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Macon
Breanna Vega joined James Bates Brannan Groover LLP as an associate in the winter of 2024. Her practice primarily focuses on general litigation matters and insurance law.
Prior to joining James Bates, Breanna represented clients with personal injury matters including trucking, premises liability, wrongful death and so much more. She also gained experience in complex litigation matters. In addition, Breanna provided translation services for Spanish-speaking clients.
Breanna graduated from the University of West Georgia in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in foreign language and literature. After completing her undergraduate work, Breanna attended Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2021. While attending law school, Breanna's activities include managing editor for the Mercer Law Review, member of the Moot Court team, vice president of the Mercer Immigration Law Society, and member of the Association of Women Law Students.
Breanna is fluent in Spanish and enjoys traveling, baking, and hiking.
Bruce Dubberly joined James-Bates-Brannan-Groover-LLP in the summer of 2019. His practice focuses on general civil litigation, including business litigation, tort litigation, as well as eminent domain, bankruptcy and probate law.
Bruce is originally from Glennville, Georgia. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from The University of Georgia, graduating cum laude in 2013. Subsequently, Bruce moved to Macon to continue his education at Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law, where he graduated cum laude and received his Juris Doctorate in 2017. Prior to joining James-Bates-Brannan-Groover-LLP, Bruce was an associate at Cooper, Barton & Cooper, LLP in Macon.
Bruce has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of business and employment disputes, achieving advantageous settlements and favorable verdicts for numerous clients throughout Georgia.
Casey C. Crumbley is Counsel in the firm's commercial litigation group. His practice focuses on business, commercial, general civil, and compensation litigation. He also has experience in insurance defense and workers' compensation matters, as well as being a registered mediator and arbitrator.
Casey graduated from The Citadel in 2005, earning a B.S. in Business Administration. Casey obtained his J.D. from Faulkner University's Thomas Goode Jones School of Law in 2010.
Chris Willis joined James Bates Brannan Groover LLP in the winter of 2022. His practice focuses on general litigation matters such as insurance defense. Chris has also practiced family and real estate law.
Chris is originally from Macon, Georgia. He earned his B.A. in Communication Information Technology from Middle Georgia State University, graduating in 2012. Chris then received his Juris Doctor from Mercer University School of Law in 2016.
Chris is originally from Macon, Georgia. He earned his B.A. in Communication Information Technology from Middle Georgia State University, graduating in 2012. Chris then received his Juris Doctor from Mercer University School of Law in 2016.
Prior to joining James Bates Brannan Groover LLP, Chris gained experience in a wide variety of legal matters. Chris served as a judicial law clerk in the South Georgia Judicial Circuit for three superior court judges. After his clerkship in Georgia, Chris joined a team of twelve law clerks with the North Carolina Judicial Fellowship in Raleigh, North Carolina. Chris was promoted to supervise this office and served as the Senior Judicial Fellow responsible for managing the legal research and writing requests of 384 trial court judges. Chris and his wife, Heather, decided to move back to Georgia, and Chris spent a year as a staff attorney with Crisis Line & Safe House of Central Georgia. Chris has worked as a contract attorney on hundreds of residential real estate closings and served as a temporary Attorney Advisor to the Small Business Administration.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Counsel / Macon
Dallas Roper is Of Counsel in the firm's Macon Office. Her practice focuses on civil litigation, mainly insurance defense. Prior to joining the firm, Dallas gained 19 years of legal experience working as a legal secretary and law clerk prior to practicing law. She practiced law exclusively as a plaintiff's lawyer for five years. The last three years she has been practicing with a general practice firm working on a variety of cases, including general civil litigation cases, personal injury cases, and some commercial leasing and collection matters.
Actively involved in community organizations, Dallas currently serves on the Star Choices Advisory Board, serves as a board member with Big Brother Big Sister Heart of Georgia, volunteers with the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, and is a member of the 2014 Leadership Macon class.
Job Titles:
- Associate / Athens
- James - Bates - Brannan - Groover - LLP As an Associate
Erin joined James-Bates-Brannan-Groover-LLP as an associate in the summer of 2021 as part of both the Financial Institutions and the Tax and Wealth Planning practice groups.
H. Park Burford joined James Bates Brannan Groover LLP as an associate in the winter of 2021. He graduated cum laude, from Valdosta State University with a degree in political science and a minor in History. While at Valdosta State, Park served as an intern for the 113th U.S. Congress in the office of Honorable Saxby Chambliss. In addition, he was a judicial board member, Vice President of the Interfraternity Council, and a founding father of the Sigma Chi Fraternity Lambda Mu Chapter.
Jessie Rankin joined James Bates Brannan Groover LLP in the winter of 2022. His practice focuses on tax and wealth planning matters and estate planning, including drafting wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives for healthcare. He also assists clients with general corporate matters and intellectual property ownership, particularly with the registration, maintenance and transfer of trademarks.
Jessie earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2022. During law school, he served as Executive Managing Editor of the Georgia Law Review and worked as a Teaching Assistant for Professors Patrick Conner, Usha Rodrigues, and Willow Tracy. He also served the University of Georgia Business Law Clinic, where he advised business owners and emerging entrepreneurs on various corporate matters.
Prior to attending law school, Jessie graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in History, a minor in Political Science, and a certificate in Legal Studies. During his undergraduate studies he was a member of the University of Georgia Redcoat Band, where he played sousaphone and served as one of the band's drum majors during the 2018 Rose Bowl.
Kathryn Willis is originally from Douglas, Georgia. She earned a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Georgia, graduating cum laude in 2006. While at UGA, Kathryn was a member of Phi Mu Sorority. Thereafter, she moved to Macon to attend the Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law, where she received her Juris Doctor and graduated cum laude in 2009. While at Mercer University, Kathryn was a member of the Mercer Law Review.
Kathryn Willis maintains a statewide general litigation and trial practice, representing individuals, businesses, and local governments in a variety of civil matters including business disputes, employment disputes, contractual disputes, and probate matters, including guardianship/conservatorship matters and will/trust disputes. Kathryn also has experience in both transactional and litigation real estate matters, including stormwater runoff litigation, boundary line disputes, eminent domain, billboard sale/acquisition transactions, and other commercial real estate development matters such as zoning, permitting and construction financing.
Kim Stroup brings extensive experience advising individuals and small businesses on an array of issues in the probate and bankruptcy arenas. Clients rely on Kim to guide them in such matters as estate distribution proceedings, adult guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, tax sales, applications for 501(c)(3) tax exemption recognitions.
With a background in real estate, Kim assists clients with property-related issues connected to their probate or bankruptcy cases, such as tax sales and quiet title actions. Clients benefit from Kim's real-world perspective gained from her 30 years of experience as a lawyer.
Kim enjoys the variety inherent in her practice. Small-town clients rely on her broad knowledge base to assist them in "a little bit of this and a little bit of that," as Kim puts it. She builds strong connections with those she represents and always makes herself available and responsive to listen carefully to their concerns. After ascertaining their ideal outcomes to problems, she works to tailor practical but often innovative solutions that fit their goals, budgets and priorities.