Attorneys
David Aughtry, Stephanie Friese Aron, Seth Price, Hale Sheppard, Erica Opitz, John Kirbo, John Guin, and Barclay Taylor named as Georgia Super Lawyers, Rising Stars
Chamberlain Hrdlicka is pleased to announce that seven of its Atlanta attorneys have been named to the 2022 Super Lawyers list for Georgia. Shareholders David D. Aughtry, Stephanie Friese Aron, Seth R. Price and Hale E. Sheppard were selected as "Georgia Super Lawyers." In addition, Shareholder Erica L. Opitz, Senior Counsel John Kirbo and Associates John C. Guin and Barclay R. Taylor were selected as “Georgia Rising Stars” by the publication.
Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a patented multiphase selection process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.
Stephanie Friese Aron
Friese advises clients on commercial real estate transactions including acquisition of land, development, leasing, construction, financing and disposition. Over the past 12 months, Stephanie has reviewed and negotiated more than 2,000,000 SF of commercial leases in various states, counseled clients on purchasing and selling office, retail, industrial, and multifamily properties ranging from $1,000,000 to $80,000,000, and helped clients resolve landlord/tenant disputes. Friese earned her undergraduate degree from Stetson University and her law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law.
David D. Aughtry
Aughtry co-chairs Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s tax practice. A nationally known tax litigator, he defends clients involved in civil and criminal federal tax disputes. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Citadel, and both his graduate degree in accounting and his law degree from the University of South Carolina. He also holds a Master of Laws in taxation from Emory University School of Law where he taught for many years.
John C. Guin
Guin advises businesses, officers, directors and shareholders in complex construction and business disputes, including cases involving claims for breach of contract, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. He also represents owners, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in matters involving delay and impact damages, design defects, bond claims, and related issues. Guin earned his undergraduate degree from Sewanee: The University of the South and his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law.
John Kirbo
Kirbo is an experienced tax attorney with a background in civil litigation and criminal defense, primarily in Federal District Court. He has represented clients against the Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service, the Georgia Department of Revenue, and local taxing authorities. He is skilled at solving complex problems through litigation or other more creative means.
Erica L. Opitz
Opitz assists clients with corporate governance, commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions and privately held securities matters. She represents clients in a variety of industries, including moving and storage, merchant services, certified public accounting, investment management, manufacturing and building supply distribution industries. She earned her undergraduate degree from Binghamton University and her law degree from Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law.
Seth R. Price
Price is a construction lawyer who guides clients through the resolution of complex contract disputes in state and federal courts and through arbitration. He additionally advises clients on contract terms and provisions, assists in contract negotiations, and provides guidance on dispute avoidance strategy. Price earned his undergraduate degree from Trinity College and his law degree from The National Law Center of George Washington University.
Hale E. Sheppard
Sheppard is a shareholder in the Tax Controversy Section and chair of the International Tax Section of Chamberlain Hrdlicka in Atlanta. He defends individuals and businesses during tax audits, appeals and litigation. He has participated in over 150 cases with the Tax Court and obtained dozens of positive Private Letter Rulings for clients. Sheppard holds five college degrees. At the University of Kansas, he earned a B.S., with distinction, M.A., with honors, and J.D. He later received an LL.M. degree in international law, with highest distinction, from the University of Chile. Finally, Sheppard obtained an LL.M. degree in tax from the University of Florida, where he was a graduate tax scholar. During his studies, Sheppard served as a graduate editor of the Florida Tax Review and member of the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy. He has been recognized as a leader in tax litigation for many years by Chambers USA, Legal 500, Georgia Super Lawyers and other respected organizations, and he was inducted into the American College of Tax Counsel. Sheppard ranks among the most active tax writers in the country, publishing nearly 190 articles in top tax journals and law reviews, both in the United States and abroad. He has held leadership positions in many professional organizations, including as editor of several national publications and President of the Tax Section of the Georgia Bar.
Barclay R. Taylor
Taylor is an attorney in Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s tax controversy practice, defending individuals, partnerships, corporations, trusts and estates in a wide variety of tax disputes in the audit, appeals, and Tax Court litigation stages. Taylor earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and his law degree from Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law. He also earned a Master of Laws in taxation from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.
About Super Lawyers (Provided by Super Lawyers)
Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.
Super Lawyers Magazine features the list and profiles of selected attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in their state or region. Super Lawyers is also published as a special section in leading city and regional magazines across the country. Lawyers are selected to a Super Lawyers list in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.