J. Patrick “Pat” O’Brien is a partner in the firm’s litigation department and one of the original founders of the firm.
Pat is a litigation and legal counselor who has represented governments, financial institutions, commercial developers and other institutional clients. He also acts as general counsel for several of his financial clients and serves as the City Attorney for the City of Norcross, Georgia.
Pat’s financial clients also rely on him for strategic, legal and business advice as general counsel which permits him to take an active role in the day-to-day operation of his financial clients’ business.
Aaron represents businesses, banks, developers, and local governments in commercial litigation, guarantee and banking disputes, real estate and development matters, and challenges to local ordinances and land-use decisions.
Admitted to practice in Georgia and Texas, and admitted pro hac vice in numerous states, he has tried cases in state and federal courts in Georgia, Texas, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and California. His practice includes high-stakes commercial disputes, class actions, representation of counties and cities, and related appeals. In trial, he delivers plain-English openings that identify the controlling issues for the jury, precise objections grounded in the rules of evidence and procedure, and methodical cross-examination directed at the foundations of the opposing claim. In one federal jury trial, the record reflects the presiding judge’s observation during deliberations that Mr. Kappler was “a remarkable trial lawyer with the jury.”
His written advocacy follows the same approach. Simple explanations of complex fact patterns, with application of statutory text and controlling authority to those facts. They identify procedural defects with specificity, cite the record extensively, and track the elements of the claim or defense at issue.
Michael is a shareholder in the firm’s Bankruptcy and Estate Planning & Probate practices. Michael is admitted in all Georgia state and federal courts and routinely appears before bankruptcy courts throughout the country.
Michael is a veteran restructuring attorney focusing on all aspects of bankruptcy, debtor and creditor law, workouts, and general commercial litigation. He represents secured and unsecured lenders, financial institutions, landlords, and other interested parties in complex bankruptcy cases and a variety of bankruptcy-related litigation matters. He also has significant experience representing court appointed trustees, receivers, and examiners. Michael is skilled in analyzing and litigating preference and fraudulent transfer actions, as well as director and officer litigation.
As head of the Firm’s Estate Planning & Probate group, Michael represents individuals in estate and trust administration matters with an emphasis on wealth preservation, business succession planning, and gift, tax, and charitable planning. Michael provides sophisticated estate planning advice to create a customized estate plan tailored to accomplish his clients’ personal goals. Michael’s experience includes drafting of wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, business continuity plans, and advanced directives. In addition, Michael advises estate executors and administrators throughout the estate administration process and has deep experience concerning a host of estate or trust related litigation matters.
Brian is a partner in TOKN’s real estate practice. His practice focuses primarily on commercial and residential real estate, including all matters pertaining to residential and commercial closing transactions, foreclosures, evictions, tax sales and title curative litigation.
