GOODMAN MCGUFFEY - Key Persons
Adam Joffe is the CEO and co-managing partner of Goodman McGuffey LLP, working out of the Atlanta, GA office. His practice is focused primarily on general civil litigation, with an emphasis on trucking, bad faith and construction. He has experience in general civil litigation, trucking liability, construction litigation, premises liability, automobile liability, bad faith claims handling and complex insurance coverage litigation. Adam has practiced law in Georgia since 2003 and joined the firm in 2006.
Adam tries cases in both state and federal court and handles appeals at all levels. Adam has been named a "Super Lawyers Rising Star" from 2012-2017 and has been recognized in the "Top Attorneys - Georgia's Outstanding Young Lawyers" by Atlanta Magazine.
Adam Whitten is an Equity Partner who manages Goodman McGuffey's offices in the Carolinas. He began representing large corporations and insurance carriers immediately upon graduation from law school. Adam represents a wide variety of businesses including nursing homes, banks, security firms, construction companies, airlines, telecommunication providers, hotels, employment staffing agencies and large manufacturers in workers compensation matters across the state of North Carolina. Adam has successfully defended cases through the appellate process with the Full Commission, North Carolina Court of Appeals and North Carolina Supreme Court. He has also represented clients in civil matters involving negligence, premises liability and third-party liens. He has also defended employers in complaints with the North Carolina Department of Labor and the EEOC.
Adam is an active member of the North Carolina and Mecklenburg County Bar Associations. He has spoken to various groups including adjusters, human resource professionals, risk managers and attorneys on a variety of legal topics including workers' compensation, occupational disease, disability, return to work standards, communication with treating doctors, and the nuances of working with the North Carolina Industrial Commission and within the North Carolina Workers' Compensation system. Adam has worked with the Children's Law Center and Council for Children's Rights in Charlotte advocating for children involved in difficult custody disputes.
In 2003, Adam received his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While in Chapel Hill, Adam was on the Dean's List and worked in the school's pro bono program including some time assisting a local district attorney with domestic violence cases. Adam was a national finalist in Chicago-Kent's Louis Jackson National Student Writing Competition in Employment and Labor Law in 2003. Adam received his undergraduate degree in journalism from Brigham Young University in 1999. He was a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society and was awarded the University Scholarship for his academic achievements. He also was awarded the Communications Department Talent Award scholarship for his performance with writing and received multiple awards from the Society of Professional Journalists while working as a reporter and sports editor.
Adam is actively involved in the local community and has served on the board of directors for local recreational sports organization, worked as a volunteer coach with the local YMCA and community sports organizations. He has also worked with the Boy Scouts of America as a troop committee chairman, merit badge counselor and assistant scoutmaster. Thanks to a two-year stint in southern Brazil as a missionary for his church, Adam is also fluent in Portuguese.
Avery Elizabeth Minnick joined Goodman McGuffey in July of 2021. Avery currently works as an associate out of the Atlanta, Georgia office representing individuals and corporations in various general litigation matters in both state and federal courts across Georgia.
Avery has experience defending cases involving premises liability, automobile bodily injury, and medical malpractice. Avery graduated from the Georgia State University College of Law in 2022 after gaining experience on the College of Law's Moot Court team. Avery completed her undergraduate studies at Western Carolina University, obtaining bachelor's degrees in both Communication and Political Science. Avery is also an active member of the Georgia Bar Association and Atlanta Bar Association.
Although beginning at the Sarasota, FL office of Goodman McGuffey in 2015 as a Legal Assistant while still attending college, Brena Bergman officially joined the Orlando, FL office in October 2020 as an Associate attorney. Brena graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in May 2020.
During her time in law school, she was a member of Trial Team, winning the National Championship at the 2019 Federal White-Collar Crime Invitational and placing as the Best Advocate. She was a member of the Journal of Law and Public Policy and served as Vice President of the Pro Bono Service Initiative. She was a teaching assistant for Trial Practice and received a book award for Trial Practice and Trial Team. She also externed at the Alachua Family and Civil Justice Center with the Honorable Kristine Van Vorst. As far as her extra-curriculars, she served as a mentor for Teen Court to help keep juvenile delinquents out of the criminal system.
Wade McGuffey is a founding partner of Goodman McGuffey LLP and leads the firm's multi-state workers' compensation practice. He practices in Georgia and Florida from the Atlanta and Orlando Offices. He also handles matters related to human resources and employment law, as well as commercial and construction contracts. Wade has been working closely with insurance companies and commercial clients for over 30 years, handling workers' compensation and all insurance matters, including coverage, employment, professional negligence claims, and general defense litigation.
Wade is also a certified mediator. He has spoken to numerous groups on a variety of legal topics including workers' compensation, disability discrimination, ethics, personnel law and OSHA and has been an instructor in the State Board of Workers' Compensation Certified Workers' Compensation Program since 1999.
He was a member of the Courts Task Force of Citizens for Dunwoody during the founding of the City of Dunwoody and then served on the Ethics Board, City of Dunwoody and as it Vice Chair from 2008 - 2014. He was the Editor, An Employer's Guide to Georgia Workers' Compensation Law, Second Edition, and Employee Leasing: An Employer's Guide.
Charles W. Barrow is a Partner in the Savannah, GA office of Goodman McGuffey and has been in private practice since 1976. His practice is concentrated in insurance defense work representing employers in the State of Georgia on Workers' Compensation and federal Longshoreman and Harbor Worker Compensation cases.
Mr. Barrow is a state approved mediator. He has represented the Town of Thunderbolt since 1995 as general counsel, providing legal assistance in numerous areas of local government law to the Mayor, Council, and Administrative Staff. He also represents Chatham County in the acquisition of property for Public Projects and in Condemnation cases. Mr. Barrow also represents the City of Savannah in condemnation matters as well. Previous representation includes Chatham County as County Attorney (1985-1989), and the City of Springfield as City Attorney (1991-2009).
Charlie is a 1976 graduate of the Walter F. George School of Law and received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Georgia. He is a member of the Georgia Bar Association and the Savannah Bar Association.
David M. Bornemann is a partner in Goodman McGuffey LLP's Columbia, SC office and represents primarily self-insured and commercially insured employers across the State in a wide array of workers' compensation matters.
David attended the University of South Carolina Honors College with a double major in finance and marketing. He was the 2003 recipient of the Steven N. Swanger Leadership Award (the University of South Carolina's second highest undergraduate honor) and the Outstanding Senior Award. While in college, he also appeared as a basketball player in the 2003 feature film Radio. He is a 2006 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he served terms as Vice President and then President of the Student Bar Association (law school student body). He is a graduate of the South Carolina Bar Association's Leadership Academy, Class of 2010, and the Leadership Columbia Class of 2012. He is a five-time recipient of the Midlands Legal Elite designation (peer-nominated and awarded by Columbia Business Monthly).
David is active in the community, currently serving on the Columbia Museum of Art's Contemporaries Board, the Historic Columbia Foundation's Advisory Board, the board of Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR), and currently serves as president-elect of the Main Street (Columbia) Rotary Club. He has previously served on the University of South Carolina Alumni Association's Board of Governors and the board of the Young Alumni Council. In his free time, David enjoys golfing and is an avid runner.
David M. Havlicek is the Managing Partner on the workers' compensation team located in the Orlando office of Goodman McGuffey LLP. He represents large self-insured, as well as smaller entities, and practices workers' compensation throughout the state of Florida. He is a member of the Florida Bar Workers' Compensation Section and has experience defending employers and insurers in workers' compensation for more than twenty years.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, he attended the University of Central Florida, where he was a pre-law major, and graduated in 1993. He graduated from Nova Southeastern School of Law in 2000, after a management-track career with Publix Supermarkets in the interim. He is a member of the Sarasota Bradenton Claims Association, for which he was a three term President and Vice President for one year.
Jaime A. Steinhaus is an Associate Attorney working out of the Atlanta, GA office of Goodman McGuffey, LLP. Her practice is focused on general civil litigation, representing individuals and corporations in a wide range of matters in federal and state courts.
Prior to joining Goodman McGuffey, Jaime was an associate for a boutique criminal defense firm handling misdemeanor and felony defense.
Jaime was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia and has remained a proud Atlanta native. Jaime received her bachelor's degree in Business Administration and after graduating, focused her efforts on sales and marketing before taking the leap to go to law school. While in law school, Jaime was a top performer in Advanced Evidence and Oral Advocacy. She served as a Judicial Clerk for Fulton County Superior Court and as a Third Year Law Student Prosecuting Attorney with the Hall County Solicitor General's Office. Jaime is an active member of the Atlanta Bar Association and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia.
Jaime and her wife, Lindsey, live in the City of Atlanta. They enjoy traveling, backpacking, and spending time with friends.
James T. Hankins III joined Goodman McGuffey LLP in October of 2010. James is an equity partner of Goodman McGuffey and works out of the Atlanta, GA office. James represents individuals and corporations in a wide range of general litigation matters in federal and state Courts across Georgia.
James has experience defending cases involving premises liability, auto bodily injury, professional liability, and construction litigation. James graduated with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2008, and he graduated with honors with his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia in 2003, majoring in Political Science. James has been a member of the Georgia Bar Association since 2008. James is also an active member of GDLA, NRRDA, ACA, ABA, and DRI.
James grew up in the Conyers area. He and his wife currently live in Marietta.
Jonathan C. Anderson is a Partner in the Atlanta, GA office of Goodman McGuffey, LLP. He represents self-insured and commercially insured employers in the defense of Georgia workers' compensation claims.
Jonathan has been practicing workers' compensation defense for most of his career. Previously, he was part of the Lawyers for Equal Justice incubator in which he ran a family law firm with two other attorney's serving low income Georgians.
Jonathan was born and raised in Georgia. He graduated cum laude from Georgia State University where he received his B.A. in English before earning his J.D. from Emory University School of Law. While in law school, he served as President of Health Law Society and coached Emory's Alternative Dispute Resolution team at the American Bar Association's Mediation Competition.
Jonathan lives in East Atlanta with his wife and two daughters.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- of Counsel
- Founding Partner in
Judy Farrington Aust, a founding partner in Goodman McGuffey LLP, is a trial attorney with extensive experience in state and federal courts. She is licensed to practice in Georgia and Tennessee. During more than thirty years of practice, Judy has litigated a broad spectrum of civil cases, including employment matters involving discrimination, harassment and wage and hour issues, as well as professional liability, construction, product liability, toxic torts, fraud, retail and hospitality liability, and insurance coverage.
Judy is active in the State Bar of Georgia; Atlanta Bar Association; Federal Bar Association; American Bar Association; Georgia Defense Lawyers Association and the Lawyers Club of Atlanta. She has been privileged to participate as a Barrister in the Joseph Henry Lumpkin Inn of Court. She served for a number of years on the Board of Directors for the Litigation Section of the Atlanta Bar Association, ultimately as chair of the section, which is the largest in the Atlanta Bar Association. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Bar Association and was a member of the Judicial Selection and Tenure Committee and the U.S. District Court Magistrate Merit Selection Committee. She is registered as a mediator with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution for general civil litigation and is the principal mediator in Aust ADR, LLC, founded in 2018.
She has been a frequent speaker at seminars directed to various aspects of trial and discovery procedure, professionalism, employment and alternative dispute resolution. Judy earned her undergraduate degree in 1978 from Samford University, participated in a post-graduate program at the Manhattan School of Music and graduated in 1985 from the University of Georgia School of Law.
Katie N. Dickinson is an Associate Attorney at the Charlotte office of Goodman McGuffey LLP. She represents self-insured and commercially insured employers in the defense of North Carolina workers' compensation claims.
Katie received her B.S. in Information Technology from Florida State University and her J.D. from University of South Carolina School of Law.
While in law school, Katie spent two years as a law clerk at a Columbia, SC firm. Additionally, Katie was a Research Editor for the Journal of Law and Mobility at University of Michigan School of Law, co-run by UofSC law. During her last semester, Katie was a student attorney for her school's Education Rights Clinic.
Kraig Johnson is Of Counsel at Goodman McGuffey LLP. He has defended Florida and federal workers' compensation claims including Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act cases. He is a Supreme Court Certified Mediator and Arbitrator, and also has represented corporations in immigration matters. An author and frequent lecturer on the subject of Florida Workers' Compensation, he is an editor of the Florida Bar Association's Fourth Edition of Florida Workers' Compensation Practice and has been a contributor to the Florida Defense Lawyers' Association Trial Advocate Quarterly.
He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (Central Florida Chapter; Treasurer, 2001), and has been a past member of the Economic Development Commission of Mid-Florida (International Trade and Investment Advisory Committee), the Asian American Chamber of Commerce (Board of Directors, 1994-95); the St. Andrews Society of Central Florida (Board of Directors, 1996-99; President, 1998-99) and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
He obtained his undergraduate education from Eckerd College, where he graduated with honors, and was a Rhodes Scholarship nominee. He earned his Master of Business Administration from the American Graduate School of International Management and his law degree from Baylor University School of Law, where he was admitted to membership in the Order of Barristers. Prior to entering private practice, he worked for Fortune 500 corporations in the Far East, negotiating the acquisition of goods and services utilizing his language skills in Mandarin Chinese. Kraig was born in West Germany in 1959.
Melissa Rickert is a partner in the Atlanta, GA office of Goodman McGuffey LLP, and primarily represents commercially insured employers in workers' compensation matters.
Melissa has practiced insurance defense for more than 15 years and workers' compensation defense in Georgia for more than a decade. Before that, she handled professional insurance defense and malpractice cases in New York.
Melissa attended University of Georgia where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in political science. She attended St. John's University School of Law in New York City where she was an editor of the St. John's International Law Review Journal. She is licensed to practice in New York and Georgia.
Patrice A. Haynes is an Associate Attorney at the Atlanta, GA office of Goodman McGuffey LLP. She represents self-insured and commercially insured employers in the defense of Georgia workers' compensation claims.
Prior to joining Goodman McGuffey, Patrice was an associate with a defense firm in the Metro-Atlanta area and specialized in workers' compensation defense. She also served as a Public Defender for the Atlanta Judicial Circuit in Fulton County ensuring all accused indigent defendants were provided with their guaranteed fundamental constitutional rights.
Patrice was born and raised in Virginia. She graduated cum laude from Hampton University where she received her B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Leadership Studies. Patrice earned her law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law. While in law school, she served as a member of the Public Interest Law Review, Law School Admission Committee, and Harry L. Carrico Pro Bono Clinic representing indigent criminal defendants.
Patrice and her wife, Tish, live in East Cobb where they enjoy concerts, going to the movies, traveling, and spending time with their friends, family, and two fur babies.
Paul J. Spann is an Associate Attorney working out of the Atlanta, GA office of Goodman McGuffey, LLP. His practice is focused on general civil litigation, covering a wide variety of issues; from motor vehicle negligence, premises liability, vicarious liability, and other niche issues of statutory liability. Paul has practiced law since November of 2019 and joined the firm in January of 2021. Prior to joining Goodman McGuffey, Paul was an Assistant District Attorney with the Coweta Judicial Circuit in Coweta County, Georgia.
Over the course of his career, Paul has tried several criminal cases in both State and Superior courts, civil cases in State court, and has handled criminal and civil appeals in the Court of Appeals.
Paul was born and raised in the Atlanta area. He studied History at Georgia college and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia before attending law school at Georgia State University in Atlanta. He is an active member of the Atlanta Claims Association, Atlanta Bar Association, and the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association. Paul currently lives in the Doraville area. Paul also enjoys doing pro-bono work with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society's Gender-Affirming Name Change Project, and helping to organize the firm's annual participation in Georgia's Legal Food Frenzy in the Spring.
Peter Muller is the managing partner of the firm's Savannah office. A native Savannahian, Peter has been defending a variety of lawsuits throughout South Georgia for over 30 years, including premises liability, trucking accidents, construction liability, professional liability, catastrophic injuries, and EEOC claims. Peter has extensive experience at the appellate and trial levels, and he has successfully concluded numerous suits through mediation.
Peter has been recognized in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Litigation - Insurance. Peter is also a past president of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association and was a long-time member of the Executive Council of the Younger Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia. He has been rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell since 2005.
Peter is active in the Savannah-area community. He is a past president of the Hibernian Society of Savannah and is president of the German Heritage Society of Savannah. He is a Trustee of The Teutonic Council of Savannah and is on the board of the Skidaway Island Republican Club. He is a graduate of Leadership Savannah and is a past member of the school council of Savannah Arts Academy. Peter is a Rotarian and has been a frequent coach and a judge of the high school mock trial competition for South Georgia.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Managing Partner of the Sarasota
Robert Darroch is the managing partner of the Sarasota, FL office of Goodman McGuffey LLP and has a trial practice with a primary focus on insurance coverage issues (property, casualty & surety), bad faith/extra-contractual exposure, and complex litigation (class actions, construction defect litigation, etc.). His clients call upon him to draft policy and contract provisions, file declaratory judgment actions, and defend suits against them around the country.
Robert was raised in Tampa/St. Petersburg and Atlanta, Georgia and is admitted to the State Bar of Georgia, as well as the Florida Bar. He attended Berry College, University of Heidelberg (Germany) and Emory University School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of Barristers. He is the author of two books on insurance coverage and dozens of magazine articles on insurance coverage and indemnity agreements. He has traveled throughout the United States speaking to insurers, risk managers, and lawyers on these issues, as well as on ethics and professionalism.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate in the Atlanta Office
Saskia is an associate in the Atlanta office of Goodman McGuffey and a member of the Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith Litigation Practice. In addition to insurance coverage and extra-contractual litigation, Saskia has experience in general civil litigation and insurance defense litigation.
Prior to joining Goodman McGuffey, Saskia was a judicial extern to the Honorable Judge Michael Brown of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia where she assisted in researching and drafting opinions and observed various stages of litigation. She also interned at a professional healthcare liability insurance company, focusing on risk management and compliance.
Saskia graduated summa cum laude and received both her Juris Doctor and Certificate in Health Law from Georgia State University College of Law. During her academic career, Saskia served as a member of the Georgia State University Law Review and participated in the 2022 University of Maryland Health Law Regulatory & Compliance Competition.
Teri Zarrillo is a partner in the Atlanta, GA office of Goodman McGuffey LLP, and primarily represents self-insured and commercially insured employers in workers' compensation matters.
Teri served on the Board of the Workers' Compensation Section of the Atlanta Bar Association and is a past-president of the WC Section of the Atlanta Bar Association. Teri also served the maximum terms on the Board of the Atlanta Claims Association, where she was the Education Chairperson from 2012-2015 and served as the Sponsor Liaison Chairperson. Teri is now actively involved in NRRDA (National Retail & Restaurant Defense Association). She also is an active member of the Atlanta Lawyers Club, CLM, and RIMS.
Teri has been privileged to speak at numerous seminars regarding various workers' compensation issues and is an instructor in the State Board of Workers' Compensation Certified Workers' Compensation Program. Her experience also includes representing clients in general litigation of civil cases and insurance coverage.
Teri has been rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell and recognized by Atlanta Magazine as a Georgia "Super Lawyer." She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and raised in Miami, Florida.
W. James ("Jamie") Flynn is a partner in Goodman McGuffey LLP's Columbia, SC office. He handles insurance coverage, alleged bad faith practices, civil litigation defense, and workers' compensation matters. He is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in both South Carolina and North Carolina, and also handles North Carolina matters from the firm's Charlotte office. He is a member of the CLM and previous State Chair. He is also an active member of DRI.
Job Titles:
- Fellow
- Founding Partner
- of Counsel
William S. Goodman is a founding partner of Goodman McGuffey LLP and is now Of Counsel. Bill now limits his practice to mediation and arbitration where he serves as the mediator or neutral to resolve disputes. Practicing for over 35 years, Bill handled cases involving professional malpractice, catastrophic injury, defense litigation, insurance coverage issues and major insurance and damages claims. In 1999, he was presented the Tradition of Excellence Award by the State Bar's General Practice and Trial Section.
Bill is a Fellow in the American College of Civil Trial Mediators. He is registered as a mediator and arbitrator by the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution and has been trained in the latest mediation techniques. He is a graduate of the Advanced Mediation Skills Course at Pepperdine University and Harvard University's Program of Instruction for Lawyers. He is also a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Lawyers Club of Atlanta. In 1989-90 and again in 1992-93, Bill was Chairman of the Marine Corps Association of Georgia Lawyers. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer by Atlanta Magazine and has been selected by his peers to appear in the "Best Lawyers in America." He is also AV® Preeminent™ rated by Martindale Hubbell.
Bill received his undergraduate degree from Clemson in 1961; served in the U.S. Marines; and received his law degree from the University of Georgia in 1968. After law school, he served as Law Clerk to U. S. District Judge Albert J. Henderson, Jr., Northern District of Georgia, 1968-70. He was born in Anderson, South Carolina.