Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP is pleased to announce the continued expansion of its Atlanta office with the addition of 16 education attorneys and five support staff. The team brings decades of experience serving some of the top school districts and colleges in the nation, as well as private, nonprofit and charter K-12 institutions. The team is led by partners Nina Gupta, Suzann Wilcox and Sherry Culves, and includes partners Samantha Lewis, Brandon Moulard and Cheryl Shaw and 10 other, experienced attorneys. The group’s arrival at Parker Poe underscores the firm’s commitment to adding top legal talent in Atlanta and serving clients in the education industry throughout the Southeast.

The complete list of attorneys joining Parker Poe today include:

• Nina Gupta, Partner

• Suzann M. Wilcox, Partner

• Sherry H. Culves, Partner

• Samantha P. Lewis, Partner

• Brandon O. Moulard, Partner

• Cheryl V. Shaw, Partner

• Kathryn L. Ams, Special Counsel

• Emily H. Breece, Counsel

• Laura Lashley, Counsel

• Elizabeth Phrampus, Counsel

• Kathy B. Solley, Special Counsel

• Laurance J. Warco, Counsel

• Ashley A. Akins, Associate

• MaryGrace Bell Kittrell, Associate

• Ralph Culpepper III, Associate

• Jeffrey R. Daniel, Associate

“We are thrilled that these talented lawyers chose our firm,” says Tom Griffin, Parker Poe’s Managing Partner. “They represent so much of what we strive to accomplish – a fierce commitment to their clients and communities, a strong culture of collaboration and teamwork, a passion to contribute more than their legal work, and a welcoming and championing of diverse individuals and perspectives. Their commitment to education is particularly meaningful. As a group they have decades of experience serving public and private K-12 schools, colleges and universities, adding materially to Parker Poe’s leadership in this space. And of course, they are adding to our strong growth in Atlanta, where we are building a multi-faceted and, frankly, fun place to work. I couldn’t be prouder to share that nearly 60 percent of the attorneys in our fastest growing office are women, and 57 percent of our partnership in Atlanta is female. They’re great people and a great addition, and we’re lucky to have them.”      

The team joining Parker Poe has long represented some of the largest education entities in the country. Their work involves advising governing boards on decisions regarding effective policy development and compliance. The attorneys also offer a full range of legal services by providing holistic, general counsel services to education entities, including but not limited to trademark of logos, buying and selling property, financing options, privacy issues, procurement, contract review and negotiations, etc. The group also focuses on disability and discrimination law and routinely represents clients in counseling and claims, including matters related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title IX, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and related statutes.

“Each member of our team has a personal connection to the work that we do, and we recognize that K-12 and higher education is not just an industry but a civic good that is critical to a functioning, healthy democracy,” said Gupta. “We take the responsibility seriously and are honored to partner with our clients to ensure the availability of a high-quality education for future generations. Parker Poe’s culture, values and vision for expansion align with our team’s approach. We were immediately attracted to the firm’s core values and commitment to building a diverse and inclusive team. This is mission critical for us, and we are grateful to join like-minded colleagues in this important work.”