Kareemah L. Lewis is a dedicated public servant, experienced litigator, and proud Tar Heel. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Carolina Covenant Scholar, Kareemah began her career in education equity with the Carolina College Advising Corps before entering the legal field. She has since served as a prosecutor, public defender, municipal attorney, and currently, as Senior Associate Counsel for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).

Kareemah’s involvement with GAWL began as a law student in 2011 when she served as a member of the membership committee on the GAWL Board. She thrived from the mentorship and guidance she received from other Board members, values that continue to guide her leadership. She has held multiple roles within the organization and now serves as GAWL’s 94th President, where she leads statewide initiatives focused on professional development, advocacy, and community engagement for women in law under the theme: Celebrating the Legacy of Excellence. She was honored with GAWL’s President’s Award in 2022 and named a 2023 “Attorney on the Rise” by the Daily Report.

Outside of GAWL, Kareemah volunteers with organizations such as Nicholas House, Fertile Ground, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She also mentors young women and empowers youth through speaking engagements and mock trial programs. Above all, she cherishes time with her daughter Kaelyn, who inspires her daily to lead with purpose and passion.

Kana A. Caplan

Partner at Krevolin Horst

Kana has a reputation as a passionate and practical strategist. She advises clients navigating the litigation process, always with the aim of achieving the client’s larger goals.

Kana always begins with the end in mind—whether the goal is positioning a case to prevail at trial, to obtain preliminary relief to shift the momentum of a case, or to achieve early resolution.  She is often called upon to parachute into existing litigation cases that have languished and has obtained remarkable results for clients in such circumstances.  As opposing counsel argued to the judge at a recent hearing, “everything was going great for us until she showed up.”

About Kana

Kana’s practice comprises a wide range of complex business litigation, often at the intersection of competition, corporate governance, fiduciary obligations, intellectual property, and employment.  She frequently writes and speaks on these topics. She loves learning about emerging technologies and industries, and translating a client’s story into a compelling legal presentation.  Her clients include Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, family-owned companies, and individuals.

FOCUS:

• Trade Secrets/IP: Litigating disputes regarding theft of trade secrets and other intellectual property.
• Restrictive Covenants: Drafting and litigating non-compete and non-solicit agreements, protecting against theft of intellectual property, preserving corporate opportunities and inventions.
• Business Divorce: Negotiating and litigating the often-contentious separations of the owners of privately held businesses.
• Fiduciary, Estate, and Shareholder Disputes: Litigating allegations of wrongdoing against directors, officers, managing members, trustees, and executors.
• Contract Disputes: Litigating and advising on a wide variety of contractual issues, including failed M&A and real estate transactions; franchise agreements; and executive buy-outs.

Prior to joining Krevolin & Horst, Kana served as a law clerk to the Honorable Mark H. Cohen on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, where she managed hundreds of federal civil cases.   Before her clerkship, she practiced at King & Spalding in New York, where her practice focused on complex cross-border commercial litigation before courts and arbitral tribunals.

CLIENTS SAY:

“For years, I have relied on Kana to provide aggressive legal representation and strategic advice for my companies.  Kana is a dynamic attorney and her ability to quickly grasp complex problems and challenges have proven to be invaluable to me over the last decade. Kana is not an attorney content to simply churn a litigation file and bill hours.  She is by nature a problem-solver who helps clients understand the legal risks at issue and how to effectively navigate them.”  — Managing Principal, private equity firm

“Kana’s expertise, eagerness, hard work, and availability greatly reduced my anxiety through a stressful negotiation that resulted with the best outcome achievable for me. I was very glad for my collaboration with her and would highly recommend her.”  — Former client, aerospace industry

“Having never been involved in active litigation before, I was advised to seek assistance from Krevolin & Horst for my business divorce. I am extremely satisfied with the outcome. Kana’s attention to detail, deep knowledge, and unwavering passion for the law provided my family with the comfort and security we needed throughout the process. I highly recommend Kana and her team to any small business owner navigating a pivotal transition in their career.”  –Current client, custom manufacturing sector

“Kana is a smart, skilled attorney and a tough, but level-headed negotiator. She helped me, as trustee of my mother’s estate, to reach a fair settlement agreement with contentious family members. Although the circumstances were difficult, talking through the issues with Kana felt like talking with a close friend and her legal advice was always on target.”  — Former client, family trust trustee

RECENT VICTORIES:

• As plaintiff, obtaining the appointment of a receiver and order of dissolution in contentious business divorce case.
• As defendant and counter-claimant, obtaining a multi-million dollar arbitrator award real estate transaction dispute, including an award of attorneys’ fees.
• As defendant and counter-claimant, negotiating the early resolution of dispute between shareholders of a closely-held corporation.
• As defendant, negotiating the early resolution of a suit alleging trade secret theft and copyright infringement.
• As plaintiff, obtaining an arbitrator award of declaratory relief and attorney’s fees in shareholder dispute in a closely-held corporation.
• As plaintiff, negotiating the early resolution of case alleging trade secret theft and breach of NDA agreement.
• As defendant, successfully defending motion for preliminary injunction alleging breach of restrictive covenants.
• As plaintiff, successfully obtaining a TRO and award of fees against former vendor on trade secrets misappropriation.
• As plaintiff, successfully enforcing non-compete agreement against former employee.
• As plaintiff, successful resolving a breach of fiduciary duty suit against former financial advisor.

Education

• Georgetown University Law Center – J.D.
  • Managing Editor, Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy
  • Street Law
• University of Alabama – B.S., Psychology, Spanish.
  • Summa Cum Laude
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

• New York (2008)
• Georgia (2016)

Involvement

• Georgia Association for Women’s Lawyers, Vice President of Special Events
• Atlanta Bar Association
• Cooper Inn of Court, Barrister
• Federal Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Georgia Intellectual Property Association, Leadership Academy
• Lawyers Club of Atlanta

Ebony Phillips, Esq.
Bio
Ebony Phillips is a dynamic leadership coach, executive speaker, and seasoned attorney known for driving transformative change across organizations and communities. With a career rooted in strategic leadership, organizational culture, and change management, Ebony empowers leaders at every level to lead with empathy, communicate with impact, and influence without force.
Ebony serves as Immediate Past President of GAWL and made history during her presidency by commissioning and co-authoring GAWL’s first-ever book, Path to Empowerment: Women Lawyers Sharing Stories of Connection, Triumph, and Resilience. This outstanding literary work became a bestseller in three categories. Driven to empower others, she shared her own powerful story of resilience and rebounding from setbacks. She also created, hosts and produces the She’s Got GAWL podcast, spotlighting women in the legal profession and inspiring the next generation of leaders. She is also credited for expanding GAWL’s reach to a national audience and creating sustainable protocols and processes. Her numerous contributions and years of service to the organization have been recognized with the GAWL Visionary Award (2023) and the GAWL Spotlight Award (2022).
Ebony’s dedication to equity extends beyond GAWL. In her previous role as Vice President of Programs for the Greater Atlanta Black Prosecutors Association, she produced and directed The 5th Forgotten Girl, a historic program highlighting civil rights shero, Sarah Collins Rudolph. The initiative received national acclaim and was featured on the front page of The Washington Post for its cultural, social, and educational impact.
In her role as Director of Programs, Accountability, and Community Engagement, Ebony developed and implemented a first of its kind second-chance life skills initiative, designed for individuals striving to rebuild their lives. The program—requiring strategic vision and cross-sector collaboration between the education, business, government, and nonprofit sectors—is projected to deliver a cost savings of $2.5 million in public funds, further demonstrating her ability to drive innovative, measurable solutions at scale. With every initiative that she leads, Ebony doesn’t just change organizations, she transforms lives.

The GAWL Foundation, established in 2003 by the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers, is the philanthropic arm of GAWL. Its mission is to empower women lawyers in Georgia to give back to their communities through service and charitable giving. Together, GAWL and the GAWL Foundation work hand-in-hand to support, uplift, and inspire women in the legal profession while creating meaningful impact beyond the courtroom.

Gulliana brings a deep commitment to service and over two decades of legal experience to this important role. As Managing Partner at Fry | Goehring, she uses her legal knowledge and passion to advocate for injured clients. Originally from Peru, Gulliana began her legal education there before relocating to Atlanta in 2002. She holds a B.A. in International Economics from Georgia State University (cum laude) and earned her J.D. from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (cum laude), graduating 4th in her class.

An award-winning professional and active community leader, Gulliana volunteers with numerous nonprofits, fosters dogs through Angels Among Us Pet Rescue (where she also sits on the advisory board), and holds board positions in the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association, the Latin American Chamber of Commerce, and Latinas Rise.

Gulliana’s leadership, vision, and service-driven mindset make her the perfect leader to carry the GAWL Foundation’s mission forward. 

Tammy Thomas
CPA/CFF, CFE, CGMA Director, Advisory Services 404.273.0078TAMMY.THOMAS@CBIZ.COM
Tammy Thomas is a Director in CBIZ’s Advisory Services Division with a focus on forensic accounting and litigation services. She has more than twenty-five years of experience, comprised of public and private practice, having spent several years in public accounting and serving in the private real estate investment industry.
Ms. Thomas has been involved in many engagements involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, accounting malpractice, franchise agreements, shareholder agreements, purchase price adjustments, fraud and intellectual property damages. She has been retained as the expert witness by plaintiffs and defendants in breach of contract disputes and has testified in depositions, at trial in court, and in arbitration.
Prior to focusing her career on dispute resolution services, Ms. Thomas worked in public and corporate accounting. She was an auditor a Big Five firm where she audited public and private companies, assisted in various SEC filings, due diligence, and various other consulting projects. Ms. Thomas audited clients in the international and domestic utility industry, as well as the telecommunications, manufacturing, and service industries.
Additionally, Ms. Thomas worked with a global real estate investment firm overseeing the financial progress of specific investments for several real estate funds and performing internal reviews and audits of properties. She was also involved in due diligence for potential real estate investment opportunities by the company.
Professional Affiliations
•American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
•AICPA Forensic and Litigation Services (FLS) Committee, Chair of the Fraud Task Force
•Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
•Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (GAWL)-Board Member and Treasurer
•GAWL Foundation-Board Member and Treasurer
•Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSCPA)
•Georgia Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (GACFE)
•Women’s White Collar Defense Association Member (WWCDA)
•Chiefs in Intellectual Property Member (ChIPs)

CBIZ is a consulting, tax and financial services provider that works closely with CBIZ CPAs P.C., an independent CPA firm that provides audit, review and other attest services. In certain jurisdictions, CBIZ CPAs P.C. operates under its previous name, Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.

Latrice Latin Alexander is a seasoned litigation attorney with over 17 years of experience practicing in Atlanta, Georgia. She began her legal career serving the community as a public defender in Fulton County and went on to work with several law firms as a litigation associate. Over the years, she has developed extensive trial experience, having appeared in Georgia’s Superior, State, and Federal courts and numerous Federal courts across several states.

In 2023, Latrice launched THE JUST ATTORNEY, a brand dedicated to pursuing justice in Section 1983 civil rights cases. She is also the author of the upcoming book Broken by Authority, which explores civil rights litigation through the lens of female attorneys and the women they represent in these deeply personal and often overlooked cases.

Following a $2.1 million civil rights verdict in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Latrice joined Davis Bozeman Law in 2025 as Of Counsel in the firm’s Motor Vehicle Litigation and Complex Litigation departments. She continues to focus on civil rights, wrongful death, and serious injury cases, combining her legal expertise with a compassionate and client-centered approach.

Latrice is known for creating a welcoming, family-like atmosphere for every client. Her meticulous attention to detail and deep commitment to justice have earned her the trust of peers and clients alike, leading to a steady stream of referrals and successful outcomes.

Outside of the courtroom, Latrice enjoys reading, attending concerts, spending time with family and friends, and trying new restaurants. She is married with four children and actively serves as a board member of Girls of Excellence, Inc., a nonprofit that mentors young women in education and life skills. She is also a passionate supporter of charitable causes and has been featured in numerous business ventures, podcasts, and television programs that highlight both her legal work and entrepreneurial spirit.

Tyronia (“Ty”) M. Smith, Esq., C.M. is the Chief Revenue Officer at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the world’s busiest airport.  She oversees all non-aeronautical revenue generating activities, including concessions, advertising, ground transportation, parking, and rental car operations.  ATL’s Commercial Revenue Division typically generates over $1.2 Billion in annual gross revenue.

A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Ty holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and a Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University, where she became the first African American woman to win the Stanley Moot Court Competition.  She has extensive experience in legal and commercial matters.  After 17 years in private practice, Ty joined the City of Atlanta Department of Law where she established the Municipal Governance Team, led the Finance Practice Group, and served as senior counsel to ATL.

Ty remains active in the legal community and serves on the executive boards for the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and the State Bar of Georgia Client Security Fund.  She is also dedicated to community service, mentors youth and young professionals, and advises local organizations.

Ty has received numerous awards, including: Best Commercial Team at the Airport Experience Conference (2025); GAWL President’s Award (2024); Woman of Impact from City of Atlanta (2024); City Attorney Coins of Excellence (2021-2022); Georgia SuperLawyer (2020-2022); Georgia Rising Star (2019); National Black Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40 (2016); and Top 100 Trial Lawyers (2015).  Other honors include being the first Georgia lawyer to receive the ABA Rosner & Rosner Young Lawyers Professionalism Award (2013) and various awards for ethics, professionalism, leadership, and public service throughout her career.

Corey Martin is the Founder and Managing Partner at The Law Offices of Martin & Associates located in Douglasville, Georgia. His law practice focuses on Criminal Defense, Immigration and Personal Injury. He is a Senior Legal Adviser for Martin Financial Solutions and Senior Legal Counsel for J&A Sports Management.

He graduated with Honors in 2009 from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) and he also received his undergraduate Math Degree from Excelsior College.

Corey is an eight (8) year military veteran and  is the Supervising Attorney of AJMLS’ Veterans Legal Clinic located at Fort McPherson, Georgia and at AJMLS. The Legal Clinic represents veterans free of charge in misdemeanor criminal cases throughout the State of Georgia. He is an active member of the AJMLS Alumni Board and frequently volunteers to help students prepare for the legal field.

Additionally, Corey is a recipient of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award, Georgia Trend 2021 and 2022 Legal Elite, 2020 Daily Report Distinguished Leaders Award Honoree and the recipient of the 2020 State Bar of Georgia, William B. Spann Jr. Award. He is a  Douglas County Partner in Education, a Match Mentor, a Douglas County  Juvenile Court Administrative Council Member,  a Partner of Fundacion Voces Unidas and recently campaigned for the position of Douglas County State Court Judge.

Whitney Rollins is a regulatory attorney with a diverse background in administrative law, health policy, and veterans’ advocacy. Whitney is a graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she earned her J.D. in 2017 and was awarded Book Awards in recognition of her top performance in Legal Research and the Family Advocacy Clinic. She is a member of the Florida Bar.

 Whitney began her legal career in Washington, D.C., where she served as an appellate attorney at Vietnam Veterans of America, representing veterans in claims before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. She went on to serve as an Attorney Advisor for the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, adjudicating complex veterans’ benefits claims, and later joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she provided legal counsel on federal health programs and regulatory matters.

Currently, Whitney serves as Regulatory Counsel at Health Care Service Corporation. In her role, she supports Medicare Advantage programs, with a focus on Employer Group Waiver Plans (EGWP) and Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs). She provides in-depth regulatory analysis and guidance on issues related to fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA) across the enterprise.

Beyond her legal work, Whitney is a published author. She co-authored Path to Empowerment: Women Lawyers Sharing Stories of Connection, Triumph, and Resilience, a collection of personal essays by women in the legal profession. She is also a graduate of the 2025 Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (GAWL) Leadership Academy, where she further developed her leadership skills and commitment to service within the legal community.

Latevia Priddy is originally from Paducah, KY but her upbringing took her all across the state of 
Kentucky. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and later earned her 
Juris Doctorate from the Salmon P Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University.
Launching her career in Kentucky, she founded her own law firm, Priddy & Associates, PSC. 
Subsequently she formed a partnership with Wimberly & Associates, PLLC where her practice continued 
to grow. As a versatile general practitioner, she handled a diverse range of cases, including 
family, personal injury, criminal, probate, estate planning, consumer protection, EEOC, labor and 
employment, religious liberty, civil rights, landlord/tenant, for-profit and non-profit business 
formation, and consulting. In 2020, Ms. Priddy transitioned to Georgia and worked at a family law 
firm before joining the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office and ultimately transitioning to 
Quintairos, Prieto, Wood, & Boyer, P.A., where she handles general liability and insurance defense 
matters. In 2024, she began serving as Judge, Pro Tem with the Fulton County Juvenile Court.

Ms. Priddy is licensed in all Superior and State courts of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals 
and Supreme Court, in all Circuit and District courts of Kentucky, the United States District Court 
for the Western District of Kentucky, and the District of Columbia. She maintains active membership 
with the State Bar Associations (Kentucky, Georgia, and District of Columbia), the Gate City Bar 
Association, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, the Lawyer’s Club, Delta Sigma Theta 
Sorority, Inc. Additionally, she serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Carver Bible College.

In all aspects of life and career, Ms. Priddy embodies an unwavering faith, integrity, a strong 
work ethic, and a dedication to championing justice for the voiceless. She possesses the unique 
ability to comprehensively and concisely articulate compelling arguments on behalf of her clients. 
She is an aggressive, yet diplomatic litigator. Her knowledge and legal acumen have led her to 
become a fierce advocate for her clients. She is dedicated to understanding the intricates of each 
case to uniquely tailor and develop a winning legal strategy for each individual client.

One of Ms. Priddy’s greatest dreams is to start an orphanage and academy for young girls across the 
U.S. and overseas. Children do many things, one of which is to imitate what they see. Ms. Priddy 
believes that if we can positively captivate the hearts of children, we can transform the world and 
one day witness all people experience freedom, equity, and unity.

Aside from her involvement in various professional and legal societies, Ms. Priddy enjoys serving 
in her church, going to the movies, and spending quality time with family and friends. She finds 
immense joy in international travel and delighting in the splendid showcases of extravagant 
Christmas lights.

“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never 
be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you." ~ Tyrion Lannister

Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge 
righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. ~ Proverbs 31:8-9
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some 
compassion,
some humor, and some style.” ~ Maya Angelou
 

Candis Jones Smith is an exceptional attorney and individual who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership both in her role as a partner in Lewis Brisbois’ Atlanta office as well as in her community.
Candis is a member of Lewis Brisbois’ General Liability Practice. She maintains a robust practice, 
representing several Fortune 500 companies, numerous insurance carriers, and a major metropolitan 
transit authority. She focuses  upon  insurance  defense,  premises  liability, personal injury, 
and medical malpractice matters. Candis has successfully tried and won federal and state jury and 
bench trials, and has a particularly strong track record in automobile  liability  and tort/premises  liability  trials involving demands of $1 million or more.
In addition, Candis has extensive experience managing high exposure cases that involve sensitive 
public relations concerns, resolving these matters through complex motion practice and securing reasonable settlements on behalf of her clients. Candis excels at understanding her clients’ business needs and proactively communicating with them to achieve their objectives. She has developed sharp and effective litigation strategies, which she has honed through the high volume of matters that she 
has consistently handled since the inception of her career.
Significantly, Candis serves as the President of Atlanta’s Gate City Bar Association in 2021, the 
oldest African-American bar association in the State of Georgia. Its mission for over 70 years has 
been to advance the legal profession, serve local communities, and promote social justice. In her 
role as president, Candis lead over 400 minority lawyers, judges, and law students in carrying out 
the organization’s goals and serving the Atlanta community.
Moreover, Candis has been named to Atlanta Magazine’s since 2021 as “Atlanta 500,” which is list of 
the most powerful business leaders in Atlanta. To compile this list, the publication reviewed 
nominations from the public and consulted experts across various sectors. The nominees were 
evaluated upon several criteria, including whether they were visionary by, for example, leading 
programs for their communities or creating opportunities for employees.
Named a Super Lawyer Rising Star for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, Candis was also listed on the 2014 Lawyers of Color “Hot List” for the Southern Region as an attorney excelling in the 
legal profession. Candis has been named in Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” in 2023, 2024 and 2025. 
Additionally, she remains an active member of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, Georgia 
Association of Black Women Attorneys and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.

Nazish A. Ahmed is an accomplished trial attorney with extensive experience in both plaintiff and defense litigation. Currently serving as an Associate Trial Attorney at Lynn Leonard and Associates in Atlanta, Georgia, she specializes in civil litigation and insurance defense.

Over the past decade, Nazish has held prominent roles across the Georgia legal system, including serving as Senior Trial Attorney at the Law Office of Nancy W. Phillips and Chief Assistant Public Defender. In these positions, she has led jury trials, argued motions before the Supreme Court of Georgia, and managed teams of attorneys and staff. Her breadth of litigation experience includes criminal defense, appellate advocacy, and civil litigation, with an emphasis on cases involving high-stakes outcomes such as life sentences or wrongful termination of parental rights.

She is a Certified Mediator through the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution and holds a Child Welfare Law Specialist designation from the National Association of Counsel for Children. Her landmark appellate work includes a successful parental rights reinstatement in In re C.S., a significant case before the Georgia Court of Appeals.

Nazish Ahmed is widely respected for her strategic litigation skills, dedication to justice, and commitment to public service. She continues to be a powerful advocate for clients, and a trusted voice in courtroom litigation across Georgia.

Margaret Riley Schweizer is an attorney, and Child Welfare Law Specialist, who has practiced in child advocacy in the State of Georgia for over a decade. She currently serves as a Judicial Staff Attorney at Fulton County Juvenile Court. Margaret had the privilege of representing youth in dependency proceedings for the majority of her career as a Child Attorney with the Fulton County Office of the Child Attorney. Margaret also previously worked at the Georgia Law Center for the Homeless litigating a variety of civil issues including family, dependency, housing, and employment law. 
Margaret often delivers trainings and presentations on best practices in child welfare law to fellow attorneys, law students, and court personnel. She is on many working committees to enhance the quality of services and legal representation provided to children and families in Juvenile Court.
Margaret is also involved in her community as a member of the Junior League of Atlanta and the Georgia’s Children’s Justice Act Taskforce. She is on the Board of Directors of the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta as well as the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL). Margaret was the recipient of the 2016 Outstanding Young Lawyer Award from The National Association of Counsel for Children, the 2024 Honorable Willie J. Lovett, Jr. Outstanding Service to Children Award from the Fulton County Juvenile Court and the 2025 Outstanding Volunteer Award from GAWL. 
Margaret is a proud alum of Ithaca College, where she earned her bachelor’s Magna Cum Laude in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal and Juvenile Justice. She received a Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law and has a Graduate Certificate from the University of Georgia in Non-Profit Management and Leadership. Margaret lives happily in Southeast Atlanta with her husband and two children.

Judge Tabitha Ponder earned a B.S. degree in Psychology from Albany State University in 1996 and a 
J.D. from Mercer University School of Law in 1999. She began her legal career as an Insurance 
Defense Attorney. In 2007, she became the Founder/Managing Attorney of the Ponder Law Group, LLC, a statewide litigation firm. She is now a part-time Cobb County Magistrate Court judge and a 
certified Civil/Domestic Relations Mediator and Arbitrator.
Judge Ponder is recognized statewide for her expertise and commitment to improving access to 
justice. She currently serves as the contracted Staff Attorney for Georgia Judicial Council’s 
Access to Justice Committee under the leadership of Justice Verda Colvin, and Judge Ponder was 
recently appointed to staff the Judicial Council’s new Ad Hoc Committee on Improving Community 
Access to Legal Resources. She was appointed to serve as Special Master for Cobb County Superior 
Court in 2017. Judge Ponder also previously taught as an Adjunct Professor for seven years at 
Albany State University.
Judge Ponder is a member of the Georgia Bar Association and Georgia Association of Black Women 
Attorneys. She also serves as a Board Member of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers. Her 
service also extends to the Cobb County Bar Association, Gate City Bar Association, the Cobb County 
Branch NAACP, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She resides in Marietta with her family.
 

Balean S. Reid received her Bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law and a minor in Sociology from Georgia State University. She earned her Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law in 2021, where she was named to the Dean’s List and served as President of the Legal Association for Women Students. During law school, she was actively involved in the Family Law Society and the Black Law Students Association and honed her advocacy skills through participation in the Moot Court Society.

While in law school, Balean externed with Atlanta Legal Aid, where she advocated on behalf of survivors of domestic violence seeking Temporary Protective Orders. Since graduating, she has focused her legal practice exclusively on domestic relations, handling matters including divorce, child custody, legitimation, modifications, and prenuptial agreements. Balean is particularly passionate about supporting victims of domestic violence and continues to volunteer with both Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) and Atlanta Legal Aid. In recognition of her dedication, she was named AVLF’s 2024 Family Law Program Volunteer of the Year.

Balean has been selected as a Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star in the area of family law for 2024.

In addition to her legal practice, Balean is deeply engaged in the legal community. She currently serves as the Chair of the Sole Practitioner/Small Firm Section of the Atlanta Bar Association and Vice President of Special Events for the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (GAWL). She is also an active member of the Cobb County Bar Association. Balean is a member of the faculty for Emory University School of Law’s Kessler-Eidson Trial Techniques Program, where she has taught in the summers of 2024 and 2025.

Originally from Cobb County, Balean now resides in DeKalb County. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, peer mentoring, and spending time with friends and family.

Marriah Paige focuses her practice primarily on wrongful death, personal injury, premises liability, and medical malpractice matters.

Prior to joining WWHGD, Marriah prosecuted and defended Fortune 500 companies, insurance companies, property management companies, health care providers, municipalities, and individuals in a broad range of high exposure and complex disputes in both Federal and State Courts. She has experience in all stages of the litigation process, including trials,  mediations, and taking and defending the depositions of expert witnesses, corporate representatives, and fact witnesses.  Marriah is also a published author and enjoys traveling and mentoring young adults in her spare time. 

Elizabeth is an associate attorney at Huff Powell Bailey, LLC, at the firm’s Columbus, Georgia, office, where she primarily practices medical malpractice defense. She frequently represents physicians, mid-level providers, hospitals, and other care providers in cases alleging professional negligence and general liability in venues throughout Georgia and its neighbor to the west, Alabama. Elizabeth is also a member of the Criminal Justice Act panel where she represents indigent clients facing criminal charges in the Middle District of Georgia. Elizabeth earned her Bachelor of Arts from Columbus State University in 2018 and subsequently completed her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, at Mercer University School of Law in 2022. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys walking her dogs, reading, and spending time with her husband.

Elizabeth was Vice President of the Columbus Chapter of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers in the 2024-2025 board year and is now the President of the Columbus Chapter. The Columbus Chapter is most looking forward to the Judicial Reception, which the Columbus Chapter hosts every spring, and is a great opportunity to get to know judges across the state.

Teri L. Doepke is the managing attorney of the Doepke Law Firm, LLC, in Covington, Georgia.  She graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1999 after also receiving her bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia. She was the chief assistant of the Alcovy Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office from 2004 through 2018, when she left to open The Doepke Law Firm.  Teri is also the current president of the Newton County Bar Association, and is active with the Newton County Chamber of Commerce, including graduating from the Leadership Newton program in 2023. Teri and her husband Erik live in Oxford, Georgia, and are the parents of two sons who currently attend Kennesaw State University, one daughter in the fifth grade, and three spoiled cats. 

Annette Malena is serving her second term as President of the GAWL Gwinnett Chapter.

Annette is a powerhouse litigator at Scholle Law, where she fiercely advocates for injury victims with empathy, professionalism, and skill. Her legal career began in the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office, and she continues to serve her community, both in and out of the courtroom, with dedication and heart.

A longtime leader and mentor through Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, Annette brings her passion for service and justice to every aspect of her work. 

Ms. Glimmerveen has been practicing since 2016. She recently began working as a staff attorney for Camille Hope, Chapter 13 Trustee for the Middle District of Georgia Macon and Athens Divisions. Prior to her new position, she worked at a litigation firm for eight years in the areas of Social Security, creditor’s bankruptcy, creditor’s rights, probate, contract disputes, contractor litigation, and general private practice civil litigation.

She is the mentoring chair for the W. Homer Drake, Jr. Georgia Bankruptcy American Inn of Court, member of the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Bar Bench and Bar Committee, incoming president of the Middle Georgia Chapter of the Association of Women Lawyers, and a current member of the William Augustus Bootle American Inn of Court. She is a member of the Macon Bar Association and the State Bar of Georgia. She has previously served multiple other roles across the YLD, Middle Georgia Chapter of the Association of Women’s Lawyers, and Junior League of Macon. She is a graduate of the Georgia Bar's 2020 Young Lawyer's Division Leadership Academy.

She was chosen as a 2023 and 2024 Georgia Rising Star by Super Lawyers® in the area of Social Security and 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in the areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation – Bankruptcy.

She received her J.D. from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law in 2015.  While in law school, she was involved in multiple student organizations and was a student member of the William Augustus Bootle American Inn of Court, the Macon Bar Association, and the Environmental Law Section for the Atlanta Bar Association where she served as student chair.

Originally from Apex, North Carolina, Ms. Glimmerveen graduated from Mercer University in 2012 cum laude and with University Honors while obtaining a dual B.A. in Spanish and Environmental Studies and a minor in Political Science. While there, she received the Cervantes Award, was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, and was a member of the Phi Sigma Iota and Phi Eta Sigma Honor Societies.