Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce its expansion into Georgia with the opening of a new office in Atlanta. Bradley’s Atlanta office opens with more than 20 lawyers practicing across a broad spectrum of industries and practice areas including real estate, healthcare, litigation, corporate M&A, franchise, securities, labor and employment, and financial services, among others. The firm welcomes prominent Atlanta attorneys from several prestigious national law firms, including Wayne Hillis, Sidney Welch, Bill Holley, Ron Coleman, Nancy Baughan, Laura Hester, Steve Opler, Chris Anulewicz, Jeff Cunningham, Justin Arpey, Paul Barsness, Scott Zweigel, Justin Gunter and Lawrence Ashe.
"We are proud to open our newest office in Atlanta with outstanding attorneys who represent top caliber clients across the country,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. “Our firm takes great pride in its position as a leading national law firm with offices across major metropolitan markets from Texas to Washington, D.C. The experience and reputations of this esteemed group are a great match for our firm, and Bradley is fortunate to have these legal industry leaders help us launch our office in Georgia.”
“Our full-service office in Atlanta now gives Bradley more than 50 lawyers licensed in Georgia,” added Mr. Skeeters. “As one of the largest economies in the U.S., Atlanta offers tremendous opportunities for our firm in core industries we service on a national and regional level. We look forward to offering clients comprehensive services through the strength and depth of our Midtown office and becoming an integral part of the Atlanta community.”
“Given the firm’s exceptional talent, reputation, and favorable geographic footprint, Bradley is well positioned to quickly serve as a leading law firm in Atlanta. Bringing together this impressive group of attorneys from across the city’s legal community enables us to better serve all our clients while building on the firm’s deep bench strength across key legal practices,” said Mr. Hillis, former managing partner of Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP.
"Atlanta is one of the country’s most important economies, markets, and communities. The firm’s reputation, coupled with the breadth of talent of the attorneys joining Bradley, offer a unique opportunity to serve clients across the country and the local community," added Ms. Welch, previously office managing partner of Akerman LLP. "We are all energized to be a part of this team and to extend Bradley’s reputation for excellence into Atlanta with continued strategic growth in the months ahead.”
The founding partners of Bradley’s Atlanta office include:
Wayne Hillis joins as a litigation partner. He served as managing partner and chair of the Executive Committee of Parker Hudson from 2008 through 2020. Mr. Hillis practices commercial litigation with an emphasis on representing securities broker/dealers and investment advisers in litigation, arbitration, and regulatory investigations. He was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® as “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation-Banking & Finance for 2023 and has been listed for 13 years.
Sidney Welch joins as a partner in the Healthcare Practice Group. She is a nationally recognized strategic advisor to large specialty physician practices and associations, as well as healthcare technology companies. Ms. Welch is the former managing partner and founder of Akerman’s Atlanta office and is recognized as a Fellow of the American Health Law Association and a leading healthcare lawyer in Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers in America®.
Bill Holley joins as a litigation partner. He previously served as leader of the Litigation Practice Group at Parker Hudson. Mr. Holley has been listed in Chambers USA for Litigation: General Commercial for 13 years and in The Best Lawyers in America® for 14 years and is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Ron Coleman joins as a litigation partner from Parker Hudson where he previously served as the Litigation Practice Group Leader. He represents clients in complex commercial, franchise intellectual property, and product liability cases. Mr. Coleman has been listed in Chambers USA for Litigation: General Commercial since 2010 and in The Best Lawyers in America® for 16 years and presently serves as the Chair of the Franchise Section of the ABA.

Nancy Baughan joins as a litigation partner from Parker Hudson. She is listed in Chambers USA for Litigation: General Commercial and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation since 2019.

Laura Hester joins as a partner in the Real Estate and Economic Development practice groups. Ms. Hester is recognized byThe Best Lawyers in America® for Real Estate Law. She previously led the Women of Womble initiative at Womble Bond Dickinson in Atlanta.

Stephen Opler joins as a corporate and securities partner from Barnes & Thornburg LLP. He helps private equity funds, strategic acquirers and entrepreneurial buyers and sellers. Mr. Opler is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for International Mergers and Acquisitions and Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law and has been listed by Chambers USA.

Chris Anulewicz joins as a litigation partner. He has been listed in Chambers USA for Litigation: General Commercial and inThe Best Lawyers in America® for nine years. Mr. Anulewicz previously served as chair of the Business Litigation Practice Group at Balch & Bingham LLP.

Jeff Cunningham joins as a corporate and securities partner from Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP. He serves as outside general counsel to growth-phase businesses. Mr. Cunningham is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Corporate Law.

Justin Arpey joins as a litigation partner from Parker Hudson. He focuses on securities arbitration and litigation, real estate litigation, construction litigation, financial services litigation, and commercial disputes. Mr. Arpey is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Corporate Law.

Paul Barsness joins as a labor and employment partner from Parker Hudson. He helps clients protect and safeguard their workforce and intellectual property assets. Mr. Barsness is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation.

Scott Zweigel joins as a litigation partner from Parker Hudson. He concentrates his practice on complex commercial disputes, representing businesses, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and other companies. Mr. Zweigel is listed in Georgia Super Lawyers.

Justin Gunter joins as a litigation partner from Parker Hudson. He represents clients in complex and technical litigation matters. Mr. Gunter has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense.

Bradley is pleased to announce that also joining the firm are the following attorneys, all from Parker Hudson:

Lawrence Ashe joins as a senior attorney in the Labor and Employment Practice Group. Mr. Ashe is a decorated attorney who was named “Dean of the Management Class Action Bar” by the National Law Journal for his more than 50 years of dedication to serving clients. He is a long-term member of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Julie Wood joins as a senior attorney in the Litigation Practice Group. She represents clients in cases involving contracts, employment, and real estate disputes.

Anne Baroody joins as a senior attorney in the Litigation Practice Group. She focuses on complex commercial disputes and litigation. Ms. Baroody has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Appellate Practice and is listed in Georgia Super Lawyers “Rising Stars.”

Erik Badia joins as a litigation associate. He represents clients in real estate litigation, banking and financial services, complex commercial disputes, business torts, and contract claims.

Chase Lyndale joins as a litigation associate. He focuses on business torts, franchise systems, employment disputes, ERISA litigation, contract disputes, and product liability matters.

Lina Machado Bejarano joins as a litigation associate. She represents clients in civil matters, including class action settlement proceedings, as well as criminal matters before federal court. She is also deeply involved with the Georgia Latino Law Foundation.

John Elliott joins as a litigation associate. He represents a wide range of clients in complex commercial disputes. Mr. Elliott has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Labor & Employment.