Victoria Helms
is a litigator, representing management clients in adversarial proceedings before
federal and state courts and enforcement agencies. She handles matters for local,
regional and national employers with a special emphasis on defense of discrimination,
harassment, benefit and contract claims. Vicki also supports corporate clients in
connection with complex commercial disputes in federal court.
After receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Marshall University, Vicki
served in the U.S. Army for seven years. After leaving the service, she attended
St. Thomas University School of Law. Upon law school graduation, Vicki accepted
an appointment for two years as a law clerk for the federal district court judge
in Arizona.
Since leaving the clerkship, Vicki has devoted her work to representing management
clients in employment litigation. She was initially employed at Constangy, Brooks
& Smith and then joined Helms & Greene in 1998. She is licensed to practice law
in Georgia.
Steve Greene
specializes in employment matters, particularly the Fair Labor Standards Act. He
regularly speaks to employment lawyers and compensation professionals concerning
application of these legal standards on behalf of SHRM, CUPA-HR, World at Work,
and other national trade groups.
During the past 24 years, Steve has assisted many Fortune 500 companies and educational
institutions evaluate overtime exemption compliance and design compliant compensation
methodologies. He has also assisted employers manage Department of Labor and state
regulatory investigations across the country. Steve represents employers defending
litigation brought by individuals and collective actions. His work has also included
educating and influencing the DOL and members of Congress to reform the legal standards.
He received his J.D. from Southern Methodist University, and is licensed to practice
in Georgia and Texas.
Lovic Brooks
has 30 years of experience advising, counseling, guiding, and representing companies
of all sizes and in many different industries in employment and labor matters.
He has handled litigation matters before the U.S. Supreme Court, several U.S. Courts
of Appeal, U.S. District Courts and state courts throughout the United States. Lovic
has served as lead counsel in class actions with claims of race discrimination,
sex discrimination, sexual harassment, age discrimination, and ERISA violations.
He has handled several EEOC cases before the courts and the agency involving multiple
claimants. His extensive employment litigation work has involved almost every conceivable
type of employment claim available under federal and state law.
Prior to joining Helms & Greene in 2004, Lovic was a managing member of Constangy,
Brooks & Smith and a founding and managing member of Ellzey & Brooks which merged
with Fisher & Phillips in 2004.
Lovic is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and the University of South
Carolina School of Law where he obtained his Juris Doctorate in 1977. Lovic is a
member of the South Carolina Bar, the State Bar of Georgia, and the American Bar
Association. He is a Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law by the South
Carolina Supreme Court. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court, the
Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eight, and Eleventh Circuits, and
the District Courts for the Districts of South Carolina, Northern Georgia, Middle
Georgia, Southern Georgia, and Western Michigan.
Lovic has an AV rating, the highest available, from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.
Kirk Willis
is an established premier trial lawyer with a proven track record having tried more
than 100 jury trials to verdict in his career. His practice focuses primarily on
defending professionals in litigation, such as litigation involving legal malpractice,
medical malpractice, and dental malpractice. He also specializes in commercial and
employment litigation. He has represented his clients in many diversified areas,
including construction, products liability, commercial litigation, insurance defense,
health law/litigation, and public entity defense. Mr. Willis has been selected for
three consecutive years as a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly and Law & Politics
magazines.
Mr. Willis is the author of “Corporate Justice: Fight Back In the Court Room and
Save Your Company,” released in December, 2006.
Mr. Willis received his law and undergraduate degrees from Texas Southern University
in 1988 and 1986 respectively. He is active in the community and is on the Board
of Directors of the "I have a Dream Foundation – Dallas" and on the Board of Trustees
of Episcopal School of Dallas.
Devon Decker
is a litigator with over 24 years experience in product liability, negligence, maritime,
employment, medical, and commercial matters in both state and federal courts. He
is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Devon has particular expertise in product liability cases and serves as National
Product Liability counsel for some of our clients. He has been admitted
pro hac
vice to defend their interests in many states of the union including Alabama,
Iowa, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Carolina. Devon is admitted
to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern
and Eastern Districts of Texas, the United States Courts of Appeal for the Fifth
Circuit and the Federal Circuit, the United States Court of Federal Claims and the
Supreme Court of the United States. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the
Harris County Bar Association, the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, the Defense
Research Institute and the Maritime Law Association of the United States.
Devon received his B.A. degree from Baylor University and his J.D. degree (with
honors) from the South Texas College of Law in Houston. While in law school, Devon
was a member of several South Texas College of Law moot court teams that won state
and national championships competing with other law schools from across the country.
He was also a member of the South Texas Law Review and Phi Delta Phi.
Devon has an AV rating, the highest available, from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.
Laddie Livingston
has extensive litigation experience in both insurance defense, employment and commercial
litigation. He has served as national counsel and lead trial counsel for a product
liability defendant in the federal multidistrict litigation. Laddie has also represented
contractors in multiple mass disaster plant explosions. He has represented physicians,
nursing homes, insurance agents, insurance companies, construction companies, products
manufacturers and he has a toxic tort docket. His practice also includes real estate
litigation.
Prior to joining Helms and Greene, LLC, Laddie was a partner in the Houston firm
of Hays McConn Rice & Pickering as well as the firm of Neel & Livingston. He has
more than 25 years of first chair trial experience. He also taught trial advocacy
for six years at the University of Houston Law Center.
Laddie obtained his bachelor of science degree from Kansas State University graduating
with honors. He received his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center also
graduating with honors where he was a member of the Order of the Barons and the
Order of the Barristers.
Laddie has an AV rating, the highest available, from the Martindale-Hubbell Law
Directory.
Michele Quattlebaum
is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
She has 27 years of litigation experience in all areas of medical, chiropractic,
dental, and optometric malpractice, as well as extensive litigation experience in
commercial trucking, propane, premises liability (rape, murder, slip and fall) toxic
torts, construction, pest control and employment law. She has tried cases to verdict
in most areas of Texas, as well as Illinois, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Florida.
She has also handled suits in many other states on a Pro Hac Vice basis. Michele
routinely consults with professionals on risk management and employment matters.
She represents professionals before their respective board of examiners. She provides
a risk management hotline for doctors. She is a member of the litigation and employment
law sections of the Houston Bar Association, Texas Bar Association and the American
Bar Association. She is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts
for the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas, as well as the United States District
Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. She is a member of DRI, and the Texas
Association of Defense Counsel.
Michele frequently does seminars for insurance claims adjusters for continuing education
credit through the Texas Department of Insurance as well as speaks throughout Texas
and the United States to professional groups on risk management, employment and
business formation issues. She is currently the sponsor/advisor for District 11
of the Texas Chiropractic Association.
Michele was raised in Arkansas and received her B.S from William Woods College in
Fulton, Missouri (magna cum laude), and received her JD from South Texas College
of Law in 1981. She has practiced in Houston since 1981.
Michele has an AV rating, the highest available, from the Martindale-Hubbell Law
Directory.
M. Elizabeth Lanier
has over 12 years of experience in civil litigation, including commercial, construction,
personal injury, and health care litigation. She also represents health care professionals
in licensure actions.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Liz practiced nursing for 17 years. Her background
and experience are valuable assets in defending health care facilities and licensed
professionals, as well as in her defense of general liability cases involving personal
injuries. She has lectured extensively and published on medical-legal issues, including
documentation, professional malpractice, deposition preparation, medical ethics
and end-of-life issues.
Liz is licensed to practice law in Georgia and in Florida, and is admitted to practice
in the U.S. District Courts in the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia and
in the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. She is also a Florida Supreme Court
certified mediator for circuit civil and county courts, and has mediated a variety
of cases since 2007.
She earned her J.D. from Emory University School of Law and her Bachelor of Science
degree,
summa cum laude, in Nursing, from Kennesaw State University.
Amy Pollock
has experience in defense litigation in the areas of medical malpractice, product
liability, professional liability, construction defects, and personal injury matters.
She also has previous experience as a prosecutor for the state licensing Boards
in Pennsylvania where she sought disciplinary action against licensees who were
in violation of a state statute, or had otherwise engaged in unprofessional conduct
that warranted prosecution.
Amy was named a “Texas Rising Star” in 2007 by Texas Lawyer magazine, an honor reserved
for 2.5 percent of lawyers under 40 years old who have been practicing law for less
than 10 years. She received her J.D. from Pennsylvania State Dickinson School of
Law receiving the Class Trial Advocacy Award, and a National Institute for Trial
Advocacy Trial Team competitor. Amy received B.A. from the University of Connecticut,
Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa.
Jas Braich
represents corporations, individuals and homeowner’s associations in civil litigation
including contract disputes, commercial disputes, personal injury litigation, professional
liability, construction defect, premises liability, products liability and general
negligence litigation. Jas also has experience in representing municipalities and
other governmental entities in the areas of civil litigation, employment law and
eminent domain.
He has been licensed to practice in the state of Texas since 2001, after receiving
his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2001. He also
earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma
and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Washington University.
Tina Tuccelli
has experience in defense litigation in the areas of first and third party insurance
coverage disputes, commercial litigation and creditor's rights and bankruptcy litigation.
She has represented insurance companies in declaratory judgment actions, bad faith
cases, and first party coverage litigation. Tina's practice has also included representation
of banks and lending companies in bankruptcy matters, including adversary litigation
and commercial law preference issues.
She is a member of the Insurance Section of the State Bar of Texas and the Tort
and Insurance Practice Section of the Dallas Bar Association. Tina is also a member
of the Texas Young Lawyers and Dallas Young Lawyers Associations.
Tina has been licensed in Texas since 2003 and is admitted to practice before the
United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western Districts
of Texas. Tina received her undergraduate degree in Finance from the University
of Oklahoma in 2000 and her J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2003.
Tina is a native of Dallas, Texas.
Tammy Savidge-Moore
has experience in defense litigation in the areas of medical malpractice, premises
liability, business disputes, and commercial litigation. She has also has represented
physicians, nurses and nursing homes before their respective state or federal enforcement
boards or agencies. Tammy’s practice has also included business entity formation
and dissolutions for clients and appellate practice including drafting mandamus’
and appellate briefs.
Tammy received her J.D. from South Texas College of Law,
cum laude, where
she was admitted to the Order of Lyate, a member of the Law Review and a Moot Court
competitor. She also served as an intern for the Honorable David Hitner of the U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Tammy is the author of
The
Policy of Opting-Out of Fiduciary Duties in a Limited Liability Company: McConnell
v Hunt Sports Enterprises, 42 South Texas Law Review 183 (2000).
Marian Exall
practiced law with leading firms in Atlanta, before becoming the Home Depot’s senior
employment counsel, where she served until 1999. She has handled every kind of employment
dispute from internal grievances to major class actions. She has been an arbitrator
on the American Arbitration Association’s Employment Panel since 1992, and is also
a certified mediator.
With Helms & Greene, Marian devotes herself to a preventive practice, concentrating
on human resources policy and program development, investigations, compliance assessments
and dispute resolution. She is a frequent speaker on employment compliance topics,
including appearances on CNBC and Fox News. Marian is a graduate of the London School
of Economics. She obtained her J.D. with distinction from Emory University of Law,
and certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources. Marian is licensed to
practice law in Georgia.
Barbara Stanley
is a commercial litigator focusing on business and employment disputes. She handles
professional liability, contract and warranty claims against engineers, environmental
consulting firms, and other construction industry employers. Barbara also defends
corporations in a wide range of fiduciary duty and director and officer matters.
She has both prosecuted and defended a wide range of contract disputes including
oil and geophysical, and personnel disputes. She has represented cities, public
officials, and corporations in various contract and tort actions.
Prior to joining Helms & Greene, she was employed for 15 years at Gardere Wynne
Sewell, and the last 7 as a partner.
Barbara received her B.A. degree from the University of Texas at Austin graduating
with honors. She received her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in
1990 where she also graduated with honors, was an associate editor of the University
of Houston Law Review and was admitted to the Order of the Coif and Order of Barons.
She is admitted to practice in Texas.
Barbara has an AV rating, the highest available, from the Martindale-Hubbell Law
Directory.
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