GARDNER WILLIS PLAIRE & WILSON - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Lawyer
- Member of the State Bar of Georgia
Regan was born and raised in Valdosta, Georgia. She attended Valdosta State University and received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, cum laude, in 2014. She received her Juris Doctorate from Walter F. Georgia School of Law at Mercer University in 2017. Prior to joining the firm, Regan practiced criminal law, insurance defense, and workers' compensation throughout South Georgia. She joined Gardner, Willis, Plaire & Wilson in 2022 where she practices in the areas of domestic litigation, civil litigation, residential and commercial real estate transactions, estate law, and business law.
Regan is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, Supreme Court of Georgia, Georgia Court of Appeals, United States District Court for Middle District of Georgia, Valdosta Bar Association, and Association of Women Lawyers of Valdosta. Her community involvement includes membership at Lake Park United Methodist Church and the Valdosta Junior Service League.
Job Titles:
- General Practitioner
- Partner
Over 30 years ago, Sherman was trained as a general practitioner by his mentor and the firm's founding partner, B. C. Gardner, Jr. As Managing Partner, he later recognized that clients' needs were becoming more specialized, and he thus moved the firm toward practice specialization. Sherman spends most of his time in the business, banking, real estate and family wealth transfer practice areas and has an extensive network of contacts and resources in those fields. Sherman has continued the firm's tradition of community service. He and his wife, Jean, have two adult children and four grandchildren.
Sherman was born in Albany, Georgia in 1949. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Georgia State University in 1971. Sherman graduated from Emory University School of Law in 1973 and was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1974. He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the American and Dougherty Circuit Bar Associations, of which he has served as President and Secretary/Treasurer.
Sherman is past President of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Albany/Dougherty Economic Development Commission, the Albany/Dougherty Payroll Development Authority, the Darton College Foundation (Chair), SB&T Bank Board of Directors (Vice-Chair), the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Bankers Association, the Community Bankers Association, and the Association of Credit Executives.
Sherman is also currently involved in a number of civic organizations, including the YMCA, the Albany Rotary Club (past President) and the Southwest Georgia Council on Aging. He has previously been active in other organizations, boards, and committees, including the Georgia Supreme Court's Committee on Professionalism, Deerfield Windsor School, Flint River Girl Scout Council, Thronateeska Foundation, Girls Inc., Darton College Foundation (past Chair), Albany Area Chamber of Commerce (past Chair), Leadership Georgia, Leadership Albany, the Albany Personnel Managers Association, Porterfield United Methodist Church, President's Advisory Council for the Medical College of Georgia, Consumer Counseling Services of Southwest Georgia (past Chair), and past Chair and past Campaign Chair for the United Way of Southwest Georgia.
Sherman recently received the "Friend of the College Award" from Darton College and the 2012 "Life Time Service Award" from the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce.
Born in Statesboro, Georgia, Smith graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in History. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Memphis School of Law. While in law school, Smith served as a student bar governor and was elected graduation speaker by her peers.
After moving back to Georgia, Smith began her legal career as an Assistant Solicitor in Hall County, Georgia, prosecuting misdemeanor crimes. Prior to joining Gardner Willis Plaire & Wilson, LLP, Smith served as an Assistant District Attorney for Dougherty County. As an Assistant District Attorney, she was responsible for the prosecution of felony crimes including crimes against the elderly, serious violent felonies, and cases involving complex litigation. Smith is a member of the firm's business litigation team where her practice focuses on representation of financial institutions and companies.
Smith continues her commitment to the community by volunteering with the Albany Area Arts Council and serving on the boards of Deerfield Windsor School and Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, she is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, Dougherty Circuit Bar Association, the United States District Court for Middle District of Georgia, and the Georgia Court of Appeals. Smith and her husband, Bob, have three daughters and are members of First United Methodist Church of Albany. She has been recognized as a community leader by her selection as a member of the "40 Under Forty" honorees by the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce in 2016