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 Kappler serves as the Managing Shareholder of the Firm. As Managing Shareholder, Aaron is responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of the Firm. Aaron is licensed to practice law in Georgia and Texas.
In his practice, he represents select local governments and businesses in high-stakes litigation, transactions, governance, and other matters of great concern. In litigation, Aaron has defended local governments against constitutional challenges, partnered with entrepreneurs to establish and grow successful organizations, enforced partnership and corporate obligations through direct and derivative actions, and defended institutions from putative class action allegations.
Aaron regularly speaks to local governments, business and industry associations, and executives on corporate governance and risk management.
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.