Georgia Trial Lawyers Association Selects 2015-2016 LEAD Program Class

ATLANTA – The Georgia Trial Lawyers Association has announced the selections for the 2015-2016 Leadership Education & Advanced Direction (LEAD) Program Class. Now entering its third year, the widely-acclaimed LEAD Program serves to train and equip GTLA members who have been identified as potential leaders in the Association with the necessary tools to take the next steps in their legal careers, both in and out of the courtroom. In order to qualify, applicants must have less than 10 years of legal practice experience or be 35 years of age or younger.

After an exhaustive application review and selection process, 16 attorneys were chosen to participate in the 2015-2016 GTLA LEAD Program. They are as follows:

Lisa Bobb
Morgan & Morgan, Atlanta

Gino Brogdon
The Brogdon Firm, Atlanta

Alexandra “Sachi” Cole
Parks, Chesin & Walbert, Atlanta

Andrew Conn
Savage, Turner & Pinckney, Savannah

Bethaney Embry
The Embry Law Firm, Douglasville

Angela Fox
The Summerville Firm, Atlanta

Alexander Hoffspiegel
Hoffspiegel & Associates, Atlanta

Adam King
Nicholson Revell, Augusta

Thomas Lyman
The Mulholland Law Firm, Atlanta

Chadrick Mance
The Mance Law Group, Savannah

Kyle Moore
Lazenby Law Group, Gainesville

Robert “Wesley” Starrett
Law Office of Jack Clay, Douglasville

Linton “Blade” Thompson
Alexander Shunnarah Georgia, Atlanta

Matthew T. Wilson
Princethal & May, Sandy Springs

W. Matthew Wilson
Barnes Law Group, Marietta

Sharon Zinns
Levy Konisberg, Atlanta

“For three years now, the GTLA LEAD Program has helped identify many of the best and brightest young lawyers in our state and prepare them for long and successful careers as leaders in the courtroom, their communities and our Association. I am proud to see that tradition continue with the selection of this year’s class,” remarked Darren Penn, President of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. “The qualifications of this year’s applicants were remarkable, and I am eager to work alongside this outstanding group of young leaders throughout this year’s program and for many years to come.” 

The 2015-2016 LEAD Program will consist of six sessions, and begins on November 20-21 in Athens, Georgia. The program concludes with graduation at the GTLA Annual Convention & President’s Gala in Atlanta on April 28-29, 2016. Sessions will also take place in Savannah and Macon, as well as at the State Capitol and the Georgia Judicial Building. 

"As graduates of the GTLA LEAD Program, we have seen first-hand the profound and lasting effects that the program can have on members’ legal careers,” continued LEAD Program Co-Chairs Jennifer Coalson and Yvonne Godfrey. “The stellar qualifications, diversity of experience and impressive professional backgrounds of this year’s applicants not only made the selection process quite difficult, but also reassured us that this program will continue to thrive for many years to come. With rising stars like these climbing the ranks of GTLA, the future of our Association is brighter than ever."

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About GTLA: Founded in 1956, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA) is dedicated to strengthening and upholding Georgia’s Civil Justice System and protecting Georgia citizens’ Constitutional Right to Trial by Jury.