Doug Lenhardt concentrates his practice in the areas of Criminal Defense, Bankruptcy, and Personal Injury. Since 2002, Doug has served the Athens community developing a reputation as a ammenable yet agressive attorney who will zealously fight for his clients. Born in Atlanta, Doug grew up in Gwinnett County prior to attending the University of Georgia and the UGA School of Law. Doug maintains a network of contacts thoughout the state and practices across North Georgia in addition to the Athens area. A member of the Georgia Bar, Doug is also licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and The United States District Courts for the Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia. Doug has also been admitted pro hac vice in the Northern District of Ohio. Doug has successfully represented hundreds of clients in criminal matters including DUI, Drug Possession, Drug Sales/Distribution and Drug Trafficking; Family/Domestic Violence, Assault, Battery, Theft, Robbery, Burglary, Kidnapping and False Imprisonment; as well as less serious offenses such as Underage Possession of Alcohol, Shoplifting, and traffic/license violations. Doug has also guided hundreds of clients though the bankruptcy process and has won millions of dollars in settlements and judgments of both injured and deceased persons and their families including a judgment for over $3.5M in a wrongful death case.

Joshua W. Branch focuses on personal injury trial work. He has been representing clients in the Athens and Atlanta area for 18 years. Josh’s interest in law began at the early age of 16 when he began working in a law firm as a high school student. Attending depositions and being inundated with the legal profession at an early age and with an inherent ability to argue succinctly, it was known by many that Josh would become a lawyer from an early age. Growing up around medical doctors has also proved advantageous for Josh in his legal practice, in that he has learned and become familiar with a person’s physiology, which is continually being applied to his practice of personal injury law in Athens. He attended undergraduate school at the University of Georgia and went to law school at Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida. Josh began his legal career in Pensacola, Florida working at an insurance defense firm, though his passion was always to help individuals rather than corporations. After enduring Hurricane Ivan, he was forced to move from Pensacola and eventually relocated to Athens, Georgia where he is devoted exclusively to pursuing justice for plaintiffs. Dedication to the injured individual’s plight remains his devoted pursuit.

As a partner in one of the largest law firms in North Georgia, Rustin defended insurance companies and large businesses before co-founding Smith Hulsey. He has handled cases in both federal and state courts, appearing in U.S. District Courts and counties throughout Georgia. He has argued before the Supreme Court of Georgia, and litigated appeals in the Georgia Court of Appeals and U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit. Rustin graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia before attending Emory University School of Law, where he was selected for the Dean’s List, received the Dean’s Award, and was recommended for the Kesler-Eidson Trial Techniques Scholarship. Rustin has served on multiple Hall County nonprofit boards, was elected Gainesville Jaycee of the Year in 2011, and was a member of the 2015 State Bar Young Lawyer’s Leadership Academy. Since 2018, other Georgia attorneys have elected Rustin as a “Rising Star” as featured in Super Lawyers magazine.