Rachel Platt is the founder and owner of the Platt Law Firm, which specializes in domestic relations litigation.  Rachel handles a wide array of family law issues including divorces, child custody disputes, child support actions, modifications and contempt actions. 

Rachel is currently a member of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia, the Family Law Section and the Sole Practioner/Small Firm Section of the Atlanta Bar Association, the Sandy Springs Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (GAWL). In addition to serving on the GAWL Foundation Board she is also on the Editorial Board of the Atlanta Lawyer and is also a board member for the Citizen Advocacy Group.  Finally, she is a member of the Friends Junior Committee, which is an active volunteer group benefiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. 

Ms. Lemke manages the recruiting effort for the Atlanta office of Counsel On Call.

Prior to joining Counsel On Call, Ms. Lemke practiced labor and employment law with the law firm of Troutman Sanders LLP in Atlanta. She also practiced labor and employment law with the Atlanta office of Jackson, Lewis, Schnitzler & Krupman.

She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law and graduated from the Honors Program at the University of Georgia magna cum laude.

Cynthia G. Burnside concentrates her practice in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Employment Litigation and Appellate representation.  She has extensive experience litigating complex commercial cases involving a variety of substantive legal areas including, but not limited to, business divorce, consumer disputes, real estate, breach of contract, restrictive covenants, intellectual property, trade secrets, securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and RICO.  She also has experience litigating and counseling clients on employment matters.

Ms. Burnside has litigated commercial and employment cases in both state and federal court, including class and collective actions and cases consolidated before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.  Ms. Burnside regularly represents and counsels large, international companies in various industries including, financial services, banking, software, and consumer goods manufacturing.  In addition to her experience with large class and collective actions, she has experience with alternative dispute resolution including mediation and arbitration before the AAA and NASD. 

Ms. Burnside was recognized in 2005, 2006 and 2007 as one of Georgia's "Rising Stars" by Law and Politics magazine and Atlanta Magazine.  She is a former board member of the Cabbagetown Initiative Community Development Corporation (2003 - 2006), and of the Birmingham Bar Association's Young Lawyers Executive Committee (2000-2001).  Ms. Burnside received her B.A. from Smith College.  She earned a joint JD/MBA from Tulane University, cum laude.  

Gretchen Holt Wagner specializes in health care law and business transactions as a Senior Associate at Owen, Gleaton, Egan, Jones & Sweeney, LLP, located in Midtown Atlanta. In her health care law practice, she provides full-service business and health care legal consulting services for medical practitioners, medical practices, and other health care entities, to promote successful business operations, optimum patient care, risk management, and litigation prevention.  She also has extensive experience in the defense of medical malpractice lawsuits. In her business transaction practice, she provides full-service legal consulting for small businesses, including entity formation, franchise formation and consulting, employment matters, contracts, restrictive covenants, and all legal aspects of the employment relationship.

Ms. Wagner graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia, receiving a B.B.A. in International Business in 1998. She continued her education at the University of Georgia School of Law, where she received her J.D. with honors in 2002. Ms. Holt is admitted to the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Georgia Supreme Court, the Northern District of Georgia, and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Atlanta Bar Association, Georgia Association for Women Lawyers, and the American Health Lawyers Association. She is on the board of the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers Foundation, and is the 2009 Co-Chair of the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers Art Auction.

Christina Baugh is a litigator whose practice encompasses a wide range of complex business litigation involving intellectual property, construction, securities, insurance coverage, tort claims, professional malpractice, commercial litigation, employment litigation and property disputes. 

In addition to serving on the GAWL Foundation Board, Ms. Baugh a member of the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the Atlanta Bar Association, and the State Bar of Georgia.

Ms. Baugh graduated Cum Laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2007.  While at the University of Georgia, Ms. Baugh served as co-coordinator of the Closing Argument Competition, as well as competing as an advocate on two Mock Trial Teams.  During her third year of law school, Ms. Baugh gained trial experience practicing under Georgia’s Third-year Practice Act.  Working in Gwinnett County’s Solicitor’s office, she argued several criminal motions, and served as second-chair in several jury trials.  Ms. Baugh was also a Pupil in the Joseph Henry Lumpkin Inn of Court.

Prior to law school, Ms. Baugh earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Neurological Behavioral Biology from Emory University.

Janine Anthony Bowen’s practice focuses on strategic commercial transactions involving technology and intellectual property. Such transactions include licensing and acquisition of technology; issues surrounding the protection and exploitation of Internet-based assets; privacy and information security; and technology export compliance. Ms. Bowen counsels clients on general technology and intellectual property matters, negotiates and drafts a wide range of technology agreements, and handles technology disputes. She also serves as technology counsel on M&A transactions and has significant general contracting experience.

Additionally, Ms. Bowen advises companies contracting with governments on intellectual property and technical data rights issues. This work includes handling complex licensing arrangements between prime and sub-contractors and interpretation of FAR and DFARS to assist clients in maximizing intellectual property and technology ownership and license rights in government contracts.

Ms. Bowen also advises companies on implementing sweepstakes, games and contests (both offline and online) nationwide, including rules drafting to ensure state-level and nationwide legal compliance.

Ms. Bowen is a Certified Information and Privacy Professional (CIPP). This credential certifies her skill in a broad range of corporate privacy issues including laws and concepts in the U.S., E.U. and the Asia Pacific region, and includes workplace privacy, information security, web privacy, security, and data sharing and transfer.

Ms. Bowen's prior professional experience includes work as a Senior Consultant at Accenture (formerly known as Andersen Consulting), as an Industrial Engineer at CIBA Vision Corporation, and as an IBM Project Manager for international software development projects and Program Manager leading technology licensing activities for select IBM technologies.

Ms. Bowen was elected by her peers as a member of Georgia Trend magazine’s 2008 Legal Elite. She also serves on Clemson University’s College of Engineering and Science Board of Advisors. 

Veronica Cope is a litigator whose practice includes representing insurance carriers in the defense of actions involving premises liability, automobile liability, product liability, and personal injury.  Mrs. Cope also has extensive experience representing major automobile manufacturers in breach of contract and breach of warranty claims.  In addition, Mrs. Cope has represented businesses in disputes arising out of complex business transactions.   Mrs. Cope has litigated claims in both state and federal courts in Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama and has served as both first chair and second chair trial counsel.  She also has substantial experience utilizing alternative dispute resolution including mediation and arbitration.

Mrs. Cope is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1998 with distinction, receiving Batchelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and African-African American Studies.  She is also a 2001 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law where she served as Symposium Editor for the North Carolina Law Review. 

Mrs. Cope is admitted to practice in all state courts in Georgia, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.  She is also admitted to practice in South Carolina and Alabama. 

Mrs. Cope is a graduate of the 2009 GAWL Leadership Academy and is a board member of the GAWL Foundation.  She is currently a member of the Grants Committee for the GAWL Foundation and serves as a liaison between GAWL and EDIN (Eating Disorders Information Network).   Mrs. Cope is also a member of various other professional and community service organizations including the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

As Senior Associate Counsel, Cathy performs a variety of legal services for Aflac with an emphasis on serving its business unit needs, product development, nationwide litigation management, national and international trademark enforcement and immigration law.  Cathy received a B.A. in Communications from Wesleyan College and graduated from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University with her Juris Doctor degree.  She was a member of the Moot Court Board and the National Moot Court Team while at Cumberland.   Cathy was an Assistant Solicitor-General in Muscogee County Georgia before joining Aflac in its Legal Division. 

Cathy is a member of the Georgia and Alabama Bars.  She is admitted to practice before the lower and appellate courts of Georgia and Alabama, as well as the Georgia Supreme Court.  She is a member of the Columbus, Georgia Bar Association, the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and is a past President of the Columbus Chapter of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers.  She is Vice Chair of the Immigration Law Section of the Georgia Bar.  She was Vice President of the Junior League of Columbus, Georgia in 2006/2007 and has served on its Board in many different capacities over the years.   

Karyl works in the DeKalb County Office of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.  Prior to joining Atlanta Legal Aid in September of 2007, Karyl spent two years as the Pro Bono Fellow at Hunton & Williams in Atlanta.

A 2005 graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law, Karyl was an editor of the Law Review, a Public Interest Board Member, a Dean's Scholar, and upon graduation received the Dean's Community Service Award and the James E. Morrisette Constitutional Law Award.

Prior to going to law school, Karyl was Coordinator of Student Life Programs at the Women's Resource Center at the University of Alabama.  She also worked in the publishing industry on communication and criminal justice textbooks after graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carson-Newman College in English and Communication Studies and summa cum laude with a Master of Arts degree from the University of Alabama in Communication Studies.

In addition to volunteering with the One Child One Lawyer Program, for which she received the 2008 One Child One Lawyer Volunteer of the Year Award, Karyl currently serves as a Board Member for the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers Foundation and as Co-Chair of the GAWL Foundation Communications Committee.

Erika Hickman's practice focuses on federal labor and employment litigation, including matters arising under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and other federal and state statutes. Erika also has experience handling civil and commercial litigation matters.

Erika received her J.D. cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida. 

Heather Karrh is a partner at Rogers, Hofrichter & Karrh, P.C.  She practices ERISA Litigation and frequently speaks on ERISA topics at seminars both inside and outside of Georgia.  She is also AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and was named a "Rising Star" in the 2009 Georgia Super Lawyers Magazine. 

Heather graduated from Tulane University magna cum laude with a B.A. in History in 1994 and received her J.D. from the University of Georgia in 1997.  She currently serves on the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers Foundation Board and is Co-Chair of the 2009 GAWL Art Auction.

Cheryl Legare’s practice focuses on assisting employees in resolving concerns with their future, current and former employers. Cheryl represents employees in claims of age, race, gender, pregnancy, religion, national origin and disability discrimination and retaliation; sexual harassment; family and medical leave interference and retaliation; and wage and hour disputes. She also represents individuals in contract negotiations and disputes, non-compete and non-solicitation agreement negotiations and disputes, and employment separation negotiations.  Prior to joining Buckley & Klein, Cheryl worked for two large national law firms counseling management on employment law issues and defending employers sued in employment-related lawsuits in federal and state courts.

Elena Parent is currently the Director of Development of HOPE Atlanta, Programs of Travelers Aid of Metro Atlanta, a prevention of homelessness and housing stabilization non-profit.  She is also a first-time candidate for elected office, running for the Georgia House of Representatives in 2010.

Prior to her work at HOPE Atlanta, Elena served as Chief of Staff for a State Senator and practiced as a litigation associate at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan for 6 years.  At Sutherland, Elena co-founded the women attorneys' affinity group.  

Elena is a 1998 honors graduate of the University of Virginia and a 2002 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, where she served as Symposium Editor for the Virginia Journal of Social Policy and the Law.  

Elena was a member of GAWL's Leadership Academy Class of 2009 and is the Secretary of the Board of Directors of It's The Journey, Inc., the organization that produces the Atlanta Two-Day Walk for Breast Cancer.

Katrina Quicker is a partner with King & Spalding LLP, a full-service,  international law firm established over a century ago.   Her practice focuses exclusively on intellectual property law, where she specializes in patent, trademark, and copyright infringement litigation in areas such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and chemicals.  She serves as a Special Assistant Attorney General for intellectual property matters for the State of Georgia and an instructor for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.

Ms. Quicker is a board member of the GAWL Foundation and a member of GAWL’s Strategic Partnerships Committee and Gender Equity Committee.  In 2007 and 2009, she was recognized as a Georgia Super Lawyer Rising Star by Atlanta Magazine.  For the State Bar of Georgia, she serves as a board member of three committees: Disciplinary Rules & Procedures Committee, International Trade in Legal Services Committee, and Women & Minorities in the Profession Committee.  In July 2009, the Supreme Court of Georgia appointed her to serve as a mentor for the Transition Into Law Practice Program of the State Bar of Georgia.  In the community, Ms. Quicker sits on the Board of Safe Kids Georgia and Starlight Children’s Foundation. 

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Indiana University and obtained her J.D. degree magna cum laude from the University of Toledo College of Law, where she graduated Order of Coif and served as the Symposium Editor of the University of Toledo Law Review for two years.  She clerked for the Honorable William J. Skow and the Honorable James D. Jensen, both of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas.   

Lindsay C. Verity is the Director of the Grandparent/Relative Caregiver Project at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.  In her capacity as Director of the Grandparent/Relative Caregiver Project, Lindsay assists relatives with adopting or gaining custody of the children in their care and trains volunteer attorneys to handle adoption cases for relative caregivers.  She also drafts wills for the new adoptive parents and helps them with other issues including housing, public benefits, and special education.  Prior to joining the Grandparent/Relative Caregiver Project, she specialized in providing free legal services to people living with HIV or cancer.  She received her undergraduate degree from UCLA and her law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law.  She was named one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite in 2005, 2006, and 2007 and was a Georgia Super Lawyer in 2005 and 2009.

Mialeeka “Mia” Williams has over fourteen years of technical and legal experience. She currently serves as Patent Counsel for The Coca-Cola Company.  She is responsible for managing a substantial global patent portfolio, including packaging and dairy products. In addition, she provides counsel on global intellectual property transactions and breakthrough technology initiatives. 

Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company, she worked as in-house counsel for Rhodia Inc. (previously Rhone-Poulenc), a world leader in the development and production of specialty chemicals.  While there, she worked on various international commercial and intellectual property transactions. She also managed multi-national trademark litigation and technology licensing.  Ms. Williams has also practiced law as an associate at Dickstein, Shapiro, Morin, & Oshinsky LLP and Shanks & Herbert. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Williams served as a Patent Examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; Process Development Engineer for the Proctor & Gamble Cosmetics Company; and Technical Sales Engineer for Nalco Chemical Company.

Ms. Williams is a graduate of George Washington University Law School and has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, cum laude, from Howard University. She is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States, Virginia State Bar, Maryland State Bar and District of Columbia Bar.  She is also a registered Patent Attorney.

Ms. Williams serves as a board member of the GAWL Foundation; communications committee member of The Coca-Cola Company Women’s Forum; and Financial Secretary of the Atlanta Chapter of the Howard University Alumni Association.  She is also a member of numerous organizations including, Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL), Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA), Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC), Association of Intellectual Property Attorneys (AIPLA), The Coca-Cola Company Pro-bono Committee, Howard University Alumni Association and George Washington Law Alumni Association. Ms. Williams is a native of Southern California.

Jen grew up just outside Rochester, New York.  She obtained her B.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo and her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law.  She currently is an attorney with Fields Howell, LLP.  Her practice focuses primarily on professional liability insurance matters. She represents international and domestic insurance carriers with regard to professional errors and omissions claims against attorneys and other professionals. She also participates actively in monitoring complex civil litigation.

Jen also has extensive direct defense and appellate litigation experience. Jen has represented clients in state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as in various arbitration forums. She has litigated suits involving a broad range of contractual commercial disputes and business torts, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, unfair competition, violations of state and federal securities laws, and construction defects. Jen's clients have included Fortune 500 companies, securities brokers and broker-dealers, insurance brokers, commercial landlords, and domestic health, life and liability insurance carriers. Before joining Fields Howell, Jen also clerked for the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Staff Attorneys’ Office and worked as an associate for a New York-based appellate firm.

Jen is a graduate of the 2009 GAWL Leadership Academy and formerly served on the Leadership Committee and Sub-Committee for the Leader Within Program.  Jen currently sits on the Grants Committee for the Foundation.  She is the Chair of the EDIN program and will serve as the liaison between the GAWL Foundation and EDIN.

Betsy N. Giesler has been privileged to serve GAWL and GAWL Foundation as Executive Director since 1999. She is also engaged by a number of other Atlanta area businesses on a contract basis. Prior to working as a sub-contractor, she enjoyed a sales career as an Atlanta area group sales rep for a South Carolina resort. Betsy’s diversified administrative and sales background span more than 30 years. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of Georgia.