HBS Adds Three Attorneys in Atlanta

ATLANTA – June 9, 2021 – Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is pleased to welcome three new attorneys to the firm’s Atlanta headquarters office as it adds new talent to meet growing client needs.

Partner James E. “Jim” Gilson specializes in high-exposure trial litigation for catastrophic injury, premises liability, insurance and transportation tort claims. For more than three decades, Jim has represented clients across the transportation and industrial sectors, including trucking companies, railroads, airlines, hotels and mining operators. In addition, he has successfully defended individuals, companies and their insurance carriers in a wide range of commercial litigation matters, including product liability, toxic tort and general liability matters. Jim earned a J.D. from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law and a B.A., cum laude, in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University. He has been named to The Best Lawyers in America®, is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell, and has been named as a Georgia Super Lawyer® for more than a decade.

Of Counsel Eric M. Underriner specializes in business, medical malpractice and general liability litigation, as well as insurance claims related matters, including claims audits and process improvement consulting for insurers and reinsurers. He has over 25 years of litigation and medical professional liability claims experience and works closely with our offices in New York and New Jersey. Most recently, Eric was the Chief Claims Officer for two Medical Professional Liability Insurance carriers before joining HBS. Earlier in his career he worked in regional and boutique firms in New York and New Jersey where he handled countless litigations and tried numerous commercial and complex personal injury cases in both state and federal courts. In addition, he worked in public service as a Deputy Attorney General with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office in its Tort Litigation Division and at the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Risk Management. Eric earned a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and holds a B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland.

Associate Cristal Gomez Vickers concentrates her practice on insurance coverage and general liability matters. Prior to joining HBS, she served as an Assistant District Attorney in the District Attorney’s Office for the Griffin Judicial Circuit, where she managed hundreds of felony and juvenile cases. Cristal earned a J.D. at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and a B.A., cum laude, in criminal justice at the University of Georgia.

“We are delighted to welcome Jim, Eric and Cristal to the Hall Booth Smith family. They each bring valuable experience and will help us to serve our clients well,” said Alex Booth, managing partner of HBS.

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; Saddle Brook, 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.