Attorney Putnam C. Smith represents Main Street business owners and executives, professionals of all types and local, regional and national real estate investors, developers and operators, concentrating on business and commercial real estate transactions and tax and estate planning. Common transactions include start-ups, acquisitions and sales of closely held business, tax-free mergers and reorganizations, asset purchases, leveraged buyouts and joint ventures and partnerships in a wide range of industries. He has practiced corporate law in Atlanta and the surrounding metropolitan area since 1988, initially with Nall & Miller, LLP and later with Robert W. Fisher, P.C., a tax boutique that was instrumental in the creation of Nextel and a number of international ventures in the telecommunications industry before disbanding in 1994. Before attending law school, he incorporated Jimmy Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign and worked as a legal assistant with other leading Atlanta law firms, including King & Spalding, LLP and Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP, gaining invaluable experience with public corporations and investment banks. During his tenure with Lipscomb, Johnson, Sleister, Dailey & Smith, LLP, Mr. Smith has handled private equity investments in shopping centers and industrial and commercial property in several southeastern states, land assemblages requiring services ranging from quiet title actions to road closures and a $116 million buyout to resolve a shareholder’s dispute involving a closely held technology business.

Mr. Faulkner is an experienced counselor with 19 years of experience, having held bar licenses in four states (Mo, Il, Ct and Ga). He has litigated in state and federal courts with much success. He has also appeared in the Court of Appeal in both Missouri and Illinois. Through is efforts, he has achieved significant results for his clients, including a settlement worth $39 million dollars for the residents of Hartford, Illinois. Mr. Faulkner uses this experience and focuses his skills in the pursuit of assisting individuals in probate (trust and estate) matters, guardianships and conservatorships, estate planning, business disputes and contract disputes. He is tireless in serving the needs of his clients. As a Georgia attorney, Stan manages an active case load and focuses on helping clients achieve their goals through estate planning, business counseling and probate advice. Stan is originally from St. Louis, Missouri and has practiced law in Missouri, Illinois, Connecticut and Georgia. He started his practice in St. Louis and southern Illinois where he helped clients resolve difficult problems in probate, personal injury, business and contractual disputes and environmental law. Outside of the office, you can find Stan spending time with his lovely wife, twin daughters and young son, involved in various activities from cheerleading to baseball. In his free time, Stan stays active in the Crossfit community competing in local and regional events. Stan is also an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and enjoys watching and attending college football games in the fall.

Karon Grimes is a practicing attorney in the state of Georgia. He received her J.D. from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law.

There are few events in life more stressful than a divorce or more devastating than the passing of a loved one. For 30 years, I have been assisting families and individuals in resolving sensitive divorce issues and guiding them through the complex web of laws related to wills and probate. After practicing with law firms in New Hampshire and Georgia, I founded my own firm in 2012 to give you the personal attention that such sensitive legal matters demand. As an active member of the communities of Cherokee and Cobb counties, I’ve come to know a wide range of people on a personal basis, just as I have done for the past 30 years. Hearing their stories is a constant reminder of how vitally important sound legal advice can be in times of need. I am one of the few attorneys in the area who concentrates on both divorce and wills and probate. When you need a sympathetic ear and experienced legal advice, I am only a phone call away and ready to help you through a troubling time. And while I take your legal case very seriously, I try not to take myself too seriously — laughter is, after all, the best medicine, and I find that a good sense of humor goes a long way in helping you to relax — especially during stressful situations.

Joseph Powell is a practicing lawyer in the state of Georgia.

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.

Experienced attorney. Skilled in Civil Litigation, Commercial Real Estate Transactions and Dispute Resolution. Strong business development professional with a JD (cum laude) from Stetson University College of Law.