Quick snapshot: I am SVP – Business Strategy and General Counsel for United Distributors, Inc. United is one of Atlanta’s largest privately held companies and is the largest beverage alcohol distributor in the state of Georgia. Prior to joining United, I was a partner in the corporate practice group of King & Spalding and my practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and general business and securities law matters. I graduated from the Westminster Schools, earned a B.B.A. in Finance from Southern Methodist University and earned my J.D. from Mercer University School of Law. In addition to Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, I serve on the board of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Georgia and serve as an advisor to the PAWKids Enrichment Program in Grove Park.
How did you get involved with AVLF? My original involvement with AVLF was through the many events and pro bono programs sponsored by K&S over the years. Once I transitioned to United, there was a natural fit to become more involved in the Winetasting Event. After several years advising in the background, Paul Murphy and Marty Ellin invited me to lunch, and I have been on the AVLF board since 2013.
Give us your best elevator pitch – what does AVLF mean to you? Safe and stable homes and families. Easier said than done.
What do you do when a friend calls and says her spouse has been abusing her for years? How do you respond when you find out her hand had not been cut in an accident at the house (as you previously understood) but had been cut to the bone holding the blade of a knife to prevent it from being pushed into her sternum by her husband? What is your reaction when you find out how many times her life had been threatened with a gun and how many times she had feared for the safety of her children because of her husband’s abuse? How do you process the range of emotions when you learn the physical abuse was just the tip of the iceberg and the emotional and mental abuse was far worse? I got that call. Thankfully, for thousands of women in Atlanta each year who don’t have someone to call, AVLF stands in the gap. AVLF’s Domestic Violence Project’s Safe Families Office (SFO) is the only lawyer-staffed, Courthouse-based resource for victims in Georgia. The Safe Families Office saves lives – literally. It is worthy of your support.
AVLF inspires attorneys to fight for equal justice by leveraging the full power and resources of the legal community so when low-income Atlantans stand up to break free from domestic violence and demand safe and stable housing, a lawyer always stands with them.
What is your favorite AVLF moment? Every time I receive an update from Marty, Michael or another amazing member of the AVLF team describing a victory for an AVLF client.
Is there anything else you want our readers to know? You can stand in the gap alongside AVLF. We need you to stand in the gap alongside AVLF. Whether it’s financially supporting an AVLF event, participating in a training, or volunteering in one of AVLF’s programs, you will make a difference. Call me, call Marty, Michael, Carey or anyone else at AVLF today and make a difference.
