Taylor English Attorneys Deborah Ausburn & Amanda Hyland Successfully Represent Tea Party Patriots in IP, Trademark Rights Case

Atlanta-November 11, 2011- Attorneys Deborah Ausburn and Amanda Hyland of Atlanta law firm Taylor English Duma LLP won a significant jury verdict in Cobb County Superior Court last week. Their client, Tea Party Patriots, Inc., had been forced to go to court against a former member of its Board of Directors who claimed that the name of the organization and related websites belonged to her. The defendant, Amy Kremer, worked with other people to start the organization in the summer of 2009.

After disagreements developed among board members concerning the direction of the organization that culminated in her leaving a few months later and joining another tea party group, she claimed that she owned the group’s identifying marks. Tea Party Patriots, Inc., successfully convinced the jury that it owned the trademark because Ms. Kremer and many others had done their work on behalf of the organization, including many activities far beyond Ms. Kremer’s original online groups.

“We are happy that the Taylor English team was able to help our client retain rights to its identity,” said Ms. Ausburn. “Many people invested time and energy to build the organization in its early days. The jury recognized that when a group of people, including Ms. Kremer, work as part of an organization, it is unfair for one individual to claim rights to everyone’s work.”

Ms. Ausburn and Ms. Hyland are members of the Taylor English Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group. Ms. Hyland is a fifth-year associate with a strong background in trademark and defamation law, and Ms. Ausburn is an experienced litigator who has twice successfully appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Taylor English Welcomes Michele Golivesky As Director of Business Development & Marketing

Atlanta-October 24, 2011- Atlanta law firm Taylor English Duma LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Michele Golivesky as its first Director of Business Development and Marketing. For over 20 years, Golivesky has been a leader in business development, marketing, and public relations with top Atlanta companies. She joins Taylor English from the Atlanta law firm Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP, where she worked as the firm’s Marketing and Business Development Director.

“At Swift Currie,” says Golivesky, “I had the privilege of participating in reimagining the firm’s corporate identity, managing the launch of its first website, and integrating the firm into social media. I’m looking forward to beginning a new chapter in my career at a firm with a commitment to innovation like Taylor English.”

In her twelve years with Swift Currie, Golivesky was an integral part of the firm’s overall strategy, practice group plans and initiatives. She spearheaded development of an in-house associate training program and directed marketing initiatives, such as seminars, newsletters, sponsorships, articles and presentations, marketing collateral and enhanced website content.

Golivesky has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication from The University of Georgia. She was the 2010 Legal Marketing Association Southeastern Chapter’s Member of the Year in honor of her leadership and active involvement with the LMA.

“This is a perfect fit for Taylor English,” says the firm’s founding partner Marc Taylor, “Michele’s expertise in the industry paired with her creativity and insight will certainly take our firm in exciting new directions. And we enthusiastically welcome her to the Taylor English family.”

Taylor English Tax Attorney, Vivian Hoard, Named One Of Atlanta’s Top Wealth Managers By Five Star Wealth Manager and Atlanta Magazine

Atlanta, October 4, 2011- Attorney Vivian Hoard of Atlanta law firm Taylor English Duma LLP has been named to Atlanta Magazine’s list of Atlanta Five Star Wealth Managers for 2011. The list is comprised of a highly select group, representing less than 2 percent of licensed wealth managers in the Atlanta area.

Five Star Professional partnered with Atlanta Magazine to determine the top metro area wealth managers who “provide exceptional service and overall satisfaction.” More than 68,500 households and 7,800 registered financial services professionals, including clients, peers, and industry experts were surveyed and asked to rate their experiences working with a wealth manager on criteria such as integrity, value for fee charged, and quality of recommendation.

“The selection is a great honor,” says Hoard, who is a member of Taylor English’s tax controversy practice, “particularly since it comes directly from the endorsement of clients and colleagues.” Hoard has been handling civil and criminal tax controversy litigation for more than 20 years and successfully represents a diverse set of clients including small businesses and their owners, publicly traded companies, professional athletes, and entertainers.

Hoard frequently consults with accounting firms and their clients during complex audits, assisting them on the most effective options and procedures. In these roles, Hoard always focuses on resolving disputes and creating long-term solutions. “The Taylor English model encourages flexibility in the way we collaborate internally and structure compensation with our clients. This value proposition leads to greater communication, a more streamlined effort, and more effective results.”

The 2011 list of Atlanta Five Star Wealth Managers is in the October issue of Atlanta Magazine.

Taylor English Attorney’s Coverage of College Football Conference Realignment Goes Viral

Atlanta, September 8, 2011- Attorney Kristi Dosh from Atlanta law firm Taylor English Duma LLP has emerged as a leading authority on the economic impact of Texas A&M moving to the SEC with her latest August 19th blog post.

An August 16 report from a Waco economist claims the state of Texas will suffer multi-million dollar losses if Texas A&M University leaves the Big 12 Conference for the Southeastern Conference. Taylor English attorney and Businessofcollegesports.com founder, Kristi Dosh offers a differing opinion, and the sports world has taken notice.

According to the Waco economist the move would result in a reduction of gross product and jobs in the Texas economy. Dosh challenges this position in her post, pointing out that the only anticipated losses would be from Texas A&M fans no longer descending upon Waco to watch their team play Baylor. That game only represents an estimated 0.024% of the taxable activity in Waco for a given year, and only occurs once every two years. “Not exactly hysteria-inducing numbers,” Dosh writes.

Dosh goes on to point out that whatever new travel costs the school incurs will more than likely be covered by the larger conference distributions offered by the SEC and new revenue from out-of-state schools. “When an out-of-state school visits and brings in its team, coaches, band, cheerleaders and fans, new money is being pumped into the state economy,” Dosh says. “If anything, I think you will see an increase in economic impact in College Station as SEC fans, who are known to travel, descend upon the town.“

To date, Dosh has been invited to discuss the Texas A&M story on a number of radio shows, including the nationally syndicated Tim Brando Show, and her work has been mentioned by writers at ESPN and Sports Illustrated. “Kristi is becoming increasingly recognized as a national authority on the business of sports,” says Taylor English managing partner Al B. Hill, “we’re proud of her accomplishments and will continue to support her efforts.”

Dosh is a member of the Taylor English Real Estate, Development & Construction and the Lending, Workout & Foreclosure groups, with a portion of her practice focused on sports law. She is also a regular contributor to SportsMoney on Forbes.com and a variety of other sports websites and a frequent guest lecturer in sports management and sports administration programs.

Taylor English Expands Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice Group With Addition Of Highly Acclaimed Atlanta Attorney/Consultant

Atlanta- September 6, 2011- Atlanta law firm Taylor English Duma LLP announces the addition of attorney Don Kohla as its newest member to the firm’s expanding Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice group. Joining Mr. Kohla is Jan Marsh, a senior consultant with over 25 years of experience in this area.

Mr. Kohla brings with him over 30 years of experience representing clients with mergers and acquisitions, employee benefit, and executive compensation plans. Don’s expertise on ERISA and ERISA-related matters coupled with his deep experience assisting, designing, and implementing all types of employee benefit plans has earned him some of the industry’s highest honors, including The Best Lawyers in America each year for over 25 years and Super Lawyer every year since its inception in Georgia. “With Don and Jan joining the group, we clearly have the depth and expertise to represent any client (big or small) in this area. We’re thrilled to have them as part of the team”, says Managing Partner Al B. Hill.

The decision to move their practice over to Taylor English was heavily influenced by the firms entrepreneurial business model, personality, and culture. “We were very impressed by the people, top to bottom”, says Kohla. “They’re genuine about being client focused, and their enthusiasm for creating a more collaborative law firm was contagious. Everyone we met walks-the-walk.” Both say they are eager to begin introducing their clients to the benefits of TE’s unique operating model. “We are re-energized by TE’s approach that focuses entirely on the client which means we can also be more flexible and cost efficient in designing engagements that work better for both sides”, says Marsh.

Kohla and Marsh join Taylor English from King & Spalding where they led the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice group advising public, private, taxable and tax-exempt clients.

Seven Taylor English Attorneys are selected as The Best Lawyers in America® for 2012

Atlanta- September 7, 2011- Atlanta law firm Taylor English Duma LLP is thrilled to announce that attorneys William A. Clineberg, Jr., Chloe Dallaire, Foy R. Devine, Jeffrey R. Kuester, John D. Hopkins, Michael E. Ross and Don S. Kohla have each been selected via an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey process for inclusion in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. For nearly three decades, Best Lawyers has been regarded – by both the profession and the public – as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States. This marks the sixth selection for Mr. Clineberg, the second for Ms. Dallaire, the twentieth for Mr. Devine, the fifth for Mr. Kuester, the fifth for Mr. Hopkins, the fifth for Mr. Ross, and the twenty-fifth for Mr. Kohla.

“These selections are well deserved and well earned. These attorneys represent our industry with the highest levels of expertise, knowledge and a genuine dedication to being client-focused. We applaud them and appreciate what they bring to our clients and our firm,” says Al B. Hill, managing partner at Taylor English.

Mr. Clineberg was selected for his expertise in the area of Employment Law-Management. He is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution group and has been involved in high-stakes, complex business litigation on behalf of corporations and individuals for 40 years.

Ms. Dallaire was selected for her expertise in the area of Personal Injury Litigation. She handles all aspects of complex civil litigation with specializations in the areas of transportation, construction, defective products, employment, complex business disputes, premises liability, automotive, catastrophic injury and healthcare matters.

Mr. Devine was selected in the area of Personal Injury Litigation and Product Liability Litigation. He chairs the Taylor English Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group, and since 1969, Mr. Devine has focused his practice in civil trial work, handling litigation of all types including catastrophic personal injury and death cases that arise from product-related injuries.

Mr. Kuester was selected in the area of Patent Law. He is the chair of the firm’s Patent practice and Intellectual Property group and handles all intellectual property issues, including patent preparation and prosecution. Additionally, Mr. Kuester was named as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Georgia for 2011.

Mr. Hopkins was selected in the area of Corporate Law and is a member of the firm’s Business Transactions, Corporate and Taxation practice group. John’s practice has focused on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and insurance regulatory and transaction matters. Mr. Hopkins has more than 30 years of cumulative service on the boards of NYSE and NASDAQ -listed corporations, with service on executive, nominating/governance and compensation committees.

Mr. Ross was selected for his expertise in Employment Law and Labor Law. He is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution group. He is a seasoned litigator with more than thirty-five years experience in federal and state trial and appellate courts and arbitration proceedings across the country, including a number of class and collective actions cases.

Mr. Kohla was selected in the area of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. He recently joined the firm and brings with him over 30 years of experience representing clients with ERISA and ERISA-related matters. He assists plan sponsors in designing, preparing, implementing and administering all types of employee benefit plans and executive compensation arrangements. Mr. Kohla is a member of the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice group.

Taylor English Attorney Elected President of Lawyer’s Club of Atlanta

Atlanta, July 25, 2011– W. Scott Creasman of Atlanta law firm Taylor English Duma LLP has been named president of Atlanta’s top social organization for attorneys.

Taylor English’s W. Scott Creasman has been elected president of the Lawyer’s Club of Atlanta, an organization founded in 1922 by a small coalition of lawyers who sought to improve conduct standards in Atlanta’s legal profession. The club strives to continue that mission today while providing an opportunity for Atlanta attorneys to socialize with colleges in a relaxed atmosphere. Creasman began his term as president of the 1700-member Club on July 1.

Since Creasman joined the Club in 1996 he has co-chaired the Membership Committee and, for the past seven years, served on the Executive Committee. Most recently, he oversaw the Club’s four-year transition into a new office space on the 38th floor of the Promenade II building in midtown. “I’m excited to begin my term at such a momentous time for the Club,” Creasman says, “and I look forward to representing the Club and it’s principles in a greater capacity.”

Creasman has been a partner at Taylor English since 2007 where he handles intellectual property and technology litigation, as well as trademark prosecution and branding matters. He is active in numerous legal and community volunteer ventures, including serving as the chair of the Atlanta Bar Association’s CLE Board in 2010–2011. Taylor English managing partner Al B. Hill says of Creasman’s election, “knowing Scott’s reputation in the legal profession, it’s hard to imagine anyone who’s more suitable for the position. And we are grateful to Scott for continuing the tradition of Taylor English attorneys being recognized as leaders in the Atlanta legal community”.

For more information about the Lawyer’s Club of Atlanta please visit www.lawyersclubofatlanta.org.

Child Labor Laws and Vocational Schools: Podcast on Taylor English Litigation Win in Solis v. Laurelbrook

Atlanta, July 19, 2011– Deborah Ausburn of Atlanta’s Taylor English Duma LLP discusses her case Solis v. Laurelbrook Sanitarium and School, Inc. and the primary benefits test in a podcast posted on LexisNexis.com.

In an interview with the labor and employment law community podcast at LexisNexis.com, Taylor English attorney Deborah Ausburn discusses her successful defense of Laurelbrook Sanitarium and School, Inc against the Department of Labor’s attempt to apply federal child labor laws to its vocational curriculum.

The Laurelbrook curriculum operates in compliance with the doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which emphasizes both academic and vocational training for students. To determine whether students were trainees and not employees, the district court applied the “primary benefit” test. “We successfully pointed out to the judge,” Ausburn says in the podcast, “that the students are getting the primary benefit from the program.”

Ausburn is a member of Taylor English’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group and has been an advocate of children’s rights for nearly thirty years as a foster parent, social worker, and though her pro bono work.

Listen to the podcast at: http://bit.ly/pxYF0t

Taylor English Client Launches iTunes App to Aid Children With Dyslexia

Atlanta, July 5, 2011- Taylor English Duma LLP is proud to represent entrepreneur Bill Allen and his company Undoda in the development of a revolutionary new iTunes app (compatible with the iPad, iPod and iPhone) designed to help elementary school students (including those with dyslexia) improve reading skills through a first-of-its-kind three-dimensional interactive book. Attorney Jonathan B. Wilson, who is part of the team that represents Allen, says of Undoda’s success, “We’re delighted for Bill, and Taylor English is honored to represent so many clients who make a difference. We are extremely grateful to be able to work as their partner as they develop their businesses, and we are always thrilled to watch those businesses thrive.”

Atlanta resident Bill Allen grew up knowing that he had difficulty reading but didn’t discover he was dyslexic until he had already graduated college. Dyslexia– according to the Mayo Clinic– is an impairment in the brain’s ability to translate written images, including written words, into meaningful language.

What Allen learned, as he came to recognize his own dyslexia, was that his brain was “wired” for three-dimensional learning, instead of the kind of two-dimensional learning associated with written text. That self-realization propelled Allen to dedicate his professional career to helping people with dyslexia learn to read with greater speed and success.

After spending many years teaching reading as a private tutor, Allen developed a successful eBook for all children, including those with special needs. With the advent of iTunes apps, however, Allen saw an opportunity to reach his target students more directly, and so he developed the iPhone app that teaches reading through a three-dimensional interactive book, which includes three different games.

The app – which focuses on a child-friendly Chinchilla named “Undoda” is an adventure story that integrates what Allen calls ‘multimind’ learning games, aimed at improving spelling, reading, and abstract thinking. The Undoda app utilizes Apple touchscreen technology to enhance the multimedia experience and expand on the multi-sensory concept.

Allen was able to launch the app by partnering with Fred Squared, LLC, a technology incubator firm, that agreed to create and develop Allen’s vision and do the necessary programming in exchange for an ownership interest in the app itself. The Taylor English legal team assisted Allen in structuring the transaction with the developers that made the final product possible.

The app has been ranked in the top 10 iPad eBooks since it was launched in early May, and initial reviews have been excellent. Best Apps for Kids gave it five out of five stars, and iPhone Apps Review Online called it “one of the most amazing and exciting kid’s apps that I have ever seen.” Allen is optimistic that the app will continue the success of the “mom-and-pop” eBook, which outranked Walt Disney, Dr. Seuss, and Dreamworks. “As our viral marketing continues to gather momentum,” he says, “number one is within our reach.”

Undoda is currently available on iTunes, and it will be reviewed by the New York Times Children’s Technology section later this month.

Taylor English Attorney Appointed to Georgia State Bar Board of Governors

Atlanta, June 20, 2011– Jeffrey R. Kuester of Atlanta law firm Taylor English Duma LLP has been appointed to serve on the State Bar of Georgia’s Board of Governors.

At its annual meeting on June 4 in Myrtle Beach, S.C., the State Bar of Georgia appointed Jeffrey R. Kuester to its Board of Governors. Kuester, who is ranked as one of the 2011 Top 100 Lawyers in Georgia, has been a member of the Bar since 1993. In that time he has served as chair of the organization’s Intellectual Property Law Section and Technology Law Section, with each winning Section of the Year under his leadership.

Kuester cites his association with Taylor English as playing a key role in his achievement. “As a firm, Taylor English is all about having an entrepreneurial spirit”, he says, “and that’s not only enabled me to build my practice within the firm but has also encouraged me to pursue opportunities like the State Bar. I’m thrilled to be able to bring the two together”. Kuester is head of the patent preparation and prosecution practice at Taylor English and handles all categories of intellectual property issues, including patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret matters.

Taylor English managing partner Al B. Hill says of Kuester’s appointment: “We’re extremely proud of Jeff. This continues to demonstrate how the Taylor English business model attracts the top lawyers and gives them the best platform from which to excel and better serve the public.”