Georgia Defense Lawyers Association - GDLA

Georgia Defense Lawyers Association - GDLA GDLA is the association for trial lawyers who defend businesses and individuals in civil litigation.

The Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (GDLA) was founded over 50 years ago by a group of civil defense lawyers who wanted a forum for networking outside the office. While its initial focus was camaraderie, the GDLA has evolved to offer formal avenues for training, networking and communication. GDLA is the Georgia affiliate for DRI, the voice of the defense bar. GDLA membership benefits include C

LE seminars, judicial receptions, a newsletter and annual Law Journal, plus an e-mail blast system that allows members to pose questions about experts, points of law, emerging issues, and more. With almost 1,000 civil defense lawyer members regularly defending businesses and individuals in all types of civil litigation, we are the best civil defense lawyers in the state of Georgia.

: VP Candis Jones Smith and Executive Director Jennifer Davis Ward were GDLA's reps at an Emory Law School career fair ...
11/06/2025

: VP Candis Jones Smith and Executive Director Jennifer Davis Ward were GDLA's reps at an Emory Law School career fair in 2017.

More recently, President Ashley Rice participated in the Fulton County mass swearing-in for newly-minted lawyers. She is pictured with Atlanta Bar President and GDLA member Ty Brown, who was there on behalf of the ABA.

GDLA always enjoys participating in events that get the word out about the importance of voluntary bar associations to one's professional development.

GDLA’s Board of Directors held its Fall Meeting in Athens over the weekend, combining work with play that included all-a...
10/26/2025

GDLA’s Board of Directors held its Fall Meeting in Athens over the weekend, combining work with play that included all-ages duck pin bowling and video gaming, coloring pictures for soldiers, a T-Rex sighting, and a Halloween parade. We were honored to have Sen. Bill Cowsert and his wife, Amy, join us for our welcome reception; he also addressed the Board on Saturday.

GDLA had a great showing at the DRI Annual Meeting in Chicago this week with leaders and members enjoying great networki...
10/17/2025

GDLA had a great showing at the DRI Annual Meeting in Chicago this week with leaders and members enjoying great networking and educational sessions plus everything the Windy City has to offer—from the Shedd Aquarium to the Bean to a sunrise walking tour (Blues Brothers style!) and more!

Kudos to the winners of the 2025 Best of the Best GDLA Trial & Mediation Academy Awards pictured with many of the facult...
08/26/2025

Kudos to the winners of the 2025 Best of the Best GDLA Trial & Mediation Academy Awards pictured with many of the faculty (left to right) below:
- Bill Casey, Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, Atlanta (faculty)
- Anna Idelevich, Weinberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial, Atlanta (faculty)
- Anne Gower, Gower Wooten & Darneille, Atlanta, (faculty/chair)
- Robert Dinkins, Jr., McAngus Goudelock & Courie, Atlanta
- Mason Borucki, Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, Atlanta
- Ashley Hamilton, Weinberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial, Atlanta
- Paul Spann, Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, Atlanta
- Destiny Wilkinson, Gray, Rust, St. Amand, Moffett & Brieske, Atlanta
- Jack Richardson, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, Atlanta
- Julianna Hightower, Bendin, Sumrall & Ladner, Atlanta
- Walker Lee, Chambless, Higdon, Richardson, Katz & Griggs, Macon
-Dallas Roper, Georgia Farm Bureau, Macon (faculty)
-Dick Willis, Williams Mullen, Columbia, SC (faculty)
-Matt Moffett, Gray, Rust, St. Amand, Moffett & Brieske, Atlanta (faculty)
-Faculty not present in the awards photo but can be spotted on the right in the group class pic: Douglas Burrell, Chartwell; and Jason Darneille, Gower Wooten & Darneille, Atlanta

GDLA Trial & Mediation Academy day three yesterday was packed with more group sessions and breakouts. We concluded the i...
08/23/2025

GDLA Trial & Mediation Academy day three yesterday was packed with more group sessions and breakouts. We concluded the intensive training day with a happy hour reception—certainly some well-deserved downtime!

Yesterday was day two of GDLA Trial & Mediation Academy. We started at breakfast and went through dinner, ending with a ...
08/22/2025

Yesterday was day two of GDLA Trial & Mediation Academy. We started at breakfast and went through dinner, ending with a pizza party. It was a long but productive day of faculty teaching/demos and breakout groups. Day three is now underway!

GDLA Trial & Mediation Academy kicked off yesterday with Court of Appeals Judge Jeff Davis. We were also grateful to GDL...
08/21/2025

GDLA Trial & Mediation Academy kicked off yesterday with Court of Appeals Judge Jeff Davis. We were also grateful to GDLA Platinum Sponsors BAY Mediation & Arbitration Services and Henning Mediation & Arbitration Services, Inc. reps Thomas Lyman and Tom Mazziotti, respectively, lead the mediation portion. We capped off day one with a reception and dinner featuring Judge Davis speaking on professionalism. Day two is now underway!

GDLA was proud to again co-sponsor the Gate City Bar Association and GABWA’s Annual Judicial Reception last night at Kin...
08/15/2025

GDLA was proud to again co-sponsor the Gate City Bar Association and GABWA’s Annual Judicial Reception last night at King & Spalding. It’s always a great evening of reconnecting and networking!

Congratulations to our award winners! GDLA Past President Edward M. “Bubba” Hughes of Ellis Painter in Savannah was hono...
07/07/2025

Congratulations to our award winners! GDLA Past President Edward M. “Bubba” Hughes of Ellis Painter in Savannah was honored with the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by GDLA for meritorious and extended service to the mission and goals of the Association. He's pictured with outgoing President Bill Casey.

Bill selected two recipients for his President's Award this year: Jason C. Logan of Constangy Brooks Smith & Prophete in Macon and Mary Elizabeth “Libby” Watkins of Fulcher Hagler in Augusta. Jason was honored for his hard work serving as Editor-in-Chief of the GDLA magazine for two years – whereas most serve in that role for a year. Libby was honored for her commitment to helping us manage and improve GDLA as a dedicated member of the Board of Directors since 2021.

GDLA is grateful to both Bubba, Jason and Libby for their tireless dedication to our mission!

GDLA held its 58th Annual Meeting with a record turnout of members at the Omni Amelia Island. A great time was had by al...
07/03/2025

GDLA held its 58th Annual Meeting with a record turnout of members at the Omni Amelia Island. A great time was had by all -- photos are posted by day.

The 2025-2026 officers were sworn-in by Court of Appeals Judge Wade Padgett: (l-r) Secretary Jason Logan, Constangy Brooks Smith & Prophete, Macon; Treasurer Tracy O'Connell, Ellis Painter, Savannah; President-Elect Marty Levinson, Hawkins Parnell & Young, Atlanta; and President Ashley Rice, Waldon Adelman Castilla McNamara & Prout.

GDLA held its 58th Annual Meeting with a record turnout of members at the Omni Amelia. Saturday's program is marked by a...
07/03/2025

GDLA held its 58th Annual Meeting with a record turnout of members at the Omni Amelia. Saturday's program is marked by a prize drawing from our sponsors/exhibit hall participants. GDLA is grateful to all of its sponsors and we enjoyed a record turnout of 34 companies exhibiting this year.

Address

P. O. Box 67
Rossville, GA
30741

Telephone

+17069564848

Website

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