HBS Welcomes 12 New Associates in Atlanta Office

ATLANTA – November 18, 2021 – Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is delighted to add twelve (12) new associates in its Atlanta headquarters office as the firm expands to better serve clients on medical malpractice, transportation, liability and a wide range of other matters.

Fanny Chac focuses her practice on medical malpractice, products liability, and general liability litigation. Previously, she worked as a summer associate at HBS. Fanny earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgia State University College of Law with High Honors Pro Bono Distinction. She was a member of the Georgia State University Law Review and served on the executive boards of the Business & Law Society and the Student Health Law Association. She was also involved in the law school’s Pro Bono Program and the Health Law Partnership (HeLP) Clinic. She completed a dual B.B.A., graduating cum laude, and a Legal Studies Certificate from the University of Georgia.

Cayton S. Chrisman concentrates her practice on medical malpractice defense, insurance coverage, coronavirus litigation, and professional malpractice and ethics. She also protects the rights of clients in batch claims and class actions, general liability and premises liability litigation. Previously, Cayton was a summer associate at HBS, and worked as a judicial extern for the Chief Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. She was also a student attorney at the Barton Juvenile Defender Clinic in Atlanta and a legal intern at The Coca-Cola Company. Cayton earned a J.D. from Emory University School of Law, where she served as the Director-in-Chief of Emory Law’s Moot Court Society. She completed a B.S., magna cum laude, from the University of South Florida.

Baylee A. Culverhouse concentrates her practice on medical malpractice defense, aging services and health care matters. Previously, she was a summer associate at HBS and she was a legal and risk intern at a professional healthcare liability insurance firm. Earlier in her career, Baylee had legal internships at the CDC and Grady Health System. Baylee earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgia State University College of Law and completed a Health Law Certificate with honors. She served as the Lead Articles Editor for the Georgia State University Law Review and was a legal intern at the HeLP Legal Services Clinic. She also completed a M.S. in Health Administration from Georgia State University J. Mack Robinson College of Business and dual B.A. degrees from the University of Georgia.

Preston Dunaway concentrates his practice on transportation litigation—protecting the rights of trucking and transportation companies, employees, independent contractors and insurers in complex litigation. Earlier in his career, Preston served as a law clerk at HBS and as a graduate teaching assistant at Georgia State University College of Law. He also worked as a law clerk in the Executive Counsel’s Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp, and spent three years as an analyst for FedEx Corp. Preston earned a J.D., cum laude, from Georgia State University College of Law, where he served as Research Editor of the Georgia State University Law Review. He also holds a B.A. from the University of Mississippi.

Thomas Haswell defends clients in medical malpractice, premises liability and general liability litigation. Previously, Thomas was a summer associate at HBS, a judicial extern for the Honorable Kimberly M. Esmond Adams in Superior Court of Fulton County, and served as a mentor to pre-law students at Georgia State University. Thomas earned a J.D., cum laude, from Georgia State University College of Law and a B.S. from Middle Tennessee State University.

Dorothea C. Hockel concentrates her practice on business and family immigration matters, as well as international business transactions. She previously lived in Germany and practiced law as an Associate at a firm where she counseled doctors and dentists on mergers and acquisitions, and represented individuals in civil litigation and employment matters. After completing her German law studies at the University of Regensburg, she passed the German second state exam and was admitted to practice law in Germany. She also received a LL.M from Emory University School of Law. She is a member of Amnesty International, a global non-governmental organization that advocates for human rights.

Tyler Knauss defends clients in complex medical malpractice and general liability litigation. He also counsels clients on corporate and partnership matters, business transactions and business litigation. Tyler was previously a law clerk and a legal intern at HBS, and spent previous summers during law school interning at other law firms. Tyler is a former member of an Angel Investment Group in the Southeast and owns equity interests in several startup companies. Tyler earned a J.D. from the Charleston School of Law and a B.S. from Furman University.

Vincent Lally concentrates his practice on government affairs, business litigation, family law, and energy, regulatory and utilities matters. Previously, Vince served as a legislative intern at HBS where he supported the government affairs team over two legislative sessions. In addition, he worked as a law clerk and a legal assistant for two Georgia based law firms. Vince earned a J.D., cum laude, from Georgia State University College of Law and a B.A. from the University of Georgia.

Taylor Martin focuses his practice on medical malpractice defense and batch claims and class action lawsuits. He previously worked as a law clerk and summer associate at HBS, and he was a judicial extern for Judge R. David Proctor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. He was also a financial representative intern at Northwestern Mutual earlier in his career. Taylor earned a J.D. from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law and a B.B.A.at Auburn University.

Devin Mashman represents clients in medical malpractice litigation defense, business litigation and products liability matters. He also handles governmental liability cases and maintains an active appellate practice. Devin was previously a summer associate at HBS, and he served as a legal intern for the Honorable Jill Pryor of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Devin also was a law clerk at the Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic at the University of Georgia School of Law. Devin earned a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law, cum laude, where he served as Articles Editor for the Georgia Law Review and represented Georgia in the National Moot Court Competition, earning a semifinal finish. He also holds a B.A. from Emory University.

Hannah L. Patton focuses her practice on medical malpractice, health care and general liability defense litigation. Before joining HBS, Hannah was a legal extern for Northeast Georgia Health System, and a judicial extern for Judge Lawton E. Stephens of the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court. She also worked as a summer associate at HBS, and was a legislative extern for the Georgia House of Representatives. Earlier in her career, she worked as an intern for the Honorable Lisa Godbey Wood of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, and was a legislative aide for Georgia State Senator Ben Watson. Hannah earned her J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law, where she served as a member of the Editorial and Managing Boards of the Journal of Intellectual Property Law. She also earned a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia.

Breanna Vega protects the rights of clients in a wide range of general liability litigation and related matters. She earned a J.D. from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law, and served as Managing Editor of the Mercer Law Review. She was also President and Vice President of the of the Mercer Immigration Law Society, and an active member of the Mercer Black Law Student Association and the Mercer Association of Women Law Students. Earlier in her academic career, Breanna also completed a B.A. from the University of West Georgia.

“We are pleased to welcome such an accomplished and knowledgeable group of associate attorneys to the Hall Booth Smith family. Their skills and experience will help us meet the needs of clients across numerous industries,” said Alex H. Booth, Managing Partner of Hall Booth Smith.

About Hall Booth Smith

Established in 1989, Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is a full-service law firm with six regional offices strategically located throughout Georgia, as well as offices in Birmingham, Alabama; Charleston, South Carolina; Asheville and Charlotte, North Carolina; Jacksonville, Miami, Tallahassee, Tampa, St. Petersburg and West Palm Beach, Florida; Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee; Little Rock, Arkansas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Saddle Brook and Woodland Park, New Jersey; and New York City. Experienced across a wide range of legal disciplines, HBS attorneys pride themselves on providing knowledgeable, proactive, client-specific counsel to individuals, domestic and international corporations, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The firm’s promise: “Serving to Achieve Excellence.” To learn more, please visit: www.hallboothsmith.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.