AVLF | January 24th, 2022

We recently welcomed new members to the Board of Directors.

Brandy Alexander
The Alexander Firm LLC
Brandy has practiced law for over a decade and began her career in indigent criminal defense work before broadening her legal expertise to include family law. She is a graduate of Florida State University and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. Brandy has successfully represented clients in Family Law cases involving divorce, child custody, child support, contempt, modifications and more; and Criminal Law cases ranging from DUI and drug offenses to violent crimes including homicide. Brandy was recognized in 2016 as the Guardian of the Year by AVLF. She is an active member of her community and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Learn more about Brandy here.

Jennifer Fease
Equifax
Jennifer Fease serves as the Senior Vice President and Group Counsel for Litigation at Equifax Inc., a global data, analytics, and technology company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. In this role, Jen is responsible for all litigation filed against Equifax and its subsidiaries. Prior to her current role, she practiced Business Litigation for 8 years at King & Spalding LLP, an international, Global 50 law firm. Jen graduated magna cum laude from Lee University in 2002 and received her Juris Doctor degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 2005. She lives in Sandy Springs with her husband and three children.

Kamal Ghali
Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP
Kamal Ghali is a partner at Bondurant and a tech-savvy and top-ranked trial lawyer recognized in the 2022 edition of “Best Lawyers in America” and “Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.” Kamal served as a U.S. Department of Justice white-collar and cybercrime prosecutor for over six years, including as a deputy chief in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta. He won numerous commendations for his work including from the FBI Director, the Deputy Attorney General, the head of DOJ Tax, the Recording Industry Association of America, and the U.S. Attorney in Atlanta. Ghali is a graduate of Emory University and University of Michigan Law School. Learn more about Kamal here.

Ashley Heintz
Partner, Jones Day
Ashley previously served as President of the AVLF Leadership Council and has a long history of service with AVLF. She was named one of the top seven securities litigators in the country under 40 years old by Law 360 in 2021. She is also a member of the board of directors of the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, and the Zoo Atlanta Leadership Council. Ashley is a graduate of the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2018. She also serves as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Women in Securities Litigation Network and the Atlanta Bar Association’s Judicial Selection and Tenure Committee. Ashley is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and received her J.D. from the University of Georgia. Learn more about Ashley here. 

Petrina McDaniel
Squire Patton Boggs LLC
Petrina is the co-leader of the Class Action & Multidistrict Litigation Practice. Regarded as an “experienced and efficient legal tactician” who “provides legally comprehensive and business-oriented advice,” she has successfully defended complex commercial cases and putative class actions with potential billions in exposure in state and federal courts across the country. Petrina believes it is her professional responsibility to ensure the legal profession is reflective of the world
in which we live and practice. She is a member of the firm’s task forces committed to the advancement of women, African-Americans, and other diverse professionals. She is also a Diversity Champion for the firm’s African-American Resource Group and serves on the Squire Patton Boggs’ Foundation. She graduated summa cum laude from Georgia State University and received her J.D. from Georgia State University, College of Law. Learn more about Petrina here.

Sterling Spainhour
Georgia Power
Sterling Spainhour serves as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Georgia Power. He also serves as the company’s chief compliance officer. Named to the position in June 2020, he oversees the company’s corporate services, compliance and legal services functions and is a member of the company’s management council. In addition, Sterling is also responsible for the corporate, energy regulation and technology legal functions of Southern Company Services. He joined Southern Company from Jones Day, where he served as partner at the international law firm’s Atlanta office since 2004. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the Duke University School of Law and Fuqua School of Business. Learn more about Sterling here.

Rachel Fox Weitz
Delta Air Lines
As Assistant General Counsel at Delta Air Lines, Rachel Fox Weitz advises on strategic transactions and is the primary legal counsel for the airline’s alliance relationship. A native Atlantan, Rachel has advocated for her hometown airline on a vast array of corporate and commercial matters – joint ventures, marketing, aircraft maintenance, charters, sponsorships and more. Before joining Delta, Rachel worked in the Corporate department at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP. Prior to attending law school, she worked in strategic political communications and media in Washington, DC.