Professional Activities

Please go to www.kesslerschwarz.com to visit our new web site.

Fees:

Perhaps the most valuable service we offer is the initial consultation. There is a $200.00 flat charge for the initial, one hour consultation with one of our lawyers. During the consultation we attempt not only to answer the questions you may have, but also to give you answers to questions which will arise for you in the future. It is also a time for you to meet the staff who, together with the lawyer, will assist you throughout your situation. Because there is a flat fee for the initial consultation, you need not worry that "the clock is ticking" in case the consultation lasts a bit more than an hour.

Once we begin our representation, we charge hourly rates which vary among our personnel. Currently, all paralegals bill $135.00 per hour for their time and the lawyers' rates vary from $215.00 per hour to $395.00 per hour.

No two cases are alike and, accordingly no two fees will be the same. Since the amount of time involved can never be predicted with scientific precision, we will do our best, after an initial consultation, to approximate how long the case could take and how much it might ultimately cost. Of course, there may be variables which cannot be anticipated, but we will give an honest effort to try to help you determine and anticipate the costs involved.

Before we begin representation, we require an initial retainer and a signed fee contract. The initial retainer depends on the case, but usually ranges from $5,000.00 to $15,000.00. We then bill our time against that retainer, and, if and when the retainer is close to being depleted, we may require an additional retainer if it appears the case has become more time consuming than initially anticipated. Of course, where it is appropriate, we will seek to have the other party reimburse you for your attorney's fees.

We look forward to the possibility of meeting with you. If you wish to arrange an initial consultation with one of our attorneys, please simply call us at 404.688.8810, or toll free at 1.866.688.8810.

Mr. Kessler's Honors/Memberships/Positions:

Judge, Pro Hac,------- DeKalb County Recorders Court, (2000 to present)

Chairperson----------- Family Law Section, Family Courts Committee, American Bar Association, (2000-present)

Vice-Chairperson---- Family Law Section, Diversity Committee, American Bar Association, (2002-present)

Liaison----------------- Substance Abuse Committee of the American Bar Association (Liaison for the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association).

Board of Directors--- Atlanta Bar Association (1998-1999; 2000-2002).

Board of Trustees---- Atlanta Bar Assoc., ACLE (1994-2000).

Chairperson---------- Family Law Section of Atlanta Bar Assoc., 1997-1998 Section of the Year.

Chairperson---------- Judicial Officer Selection Committee for the Fulton Family Division 1998

Chairperson---------- Fulton Family Court Committee, Atlanta Bar Family Law Sect. (1997 on).

Executive Committee, Family Law Section of Atlanta Bar Association (1992-1999).

CLE Chairperson---- Family Law Section of Atlanta Bar Association (1992-2000).

Instructor-------------- Family Law Mediation Certification Course, Resolution Resources, Inc.,

AV Rated -------------- Martindale-Hubbell, October, 1995

Assoc. Editor---------- The Family Lawyer, Official Publication of the Family Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association (2000 to present)

Honored--------------- Named by The Daily Report as 1 of 15 "Lawyers on the Rise" in GA (2002)

Faculty/teacher------ Emory Law School Trial Techniques Program

NOTABLE CASES (only cases publicized in the press are mentioned):

Pressley v. Strong; Divorce - Represented Lottery Winner who won $15 million

Handley v. Rison; Child support -Over $100,000.00 past due from NFL star

Johnson v. Johnson; Child support -Over $350,000.00 past due from NBA All Star

Miller v. Kennedy; Child support -Child Support dispute vs. NFL 1rst round draft pick

Smith v. Odum; Child support -DNA case - Father learned that child not his, after paying support for 11 years.

Brown v. Whitfield; Conduct- Sued NFL star for conduct towards girlfriend

Dupree v. Dupree; Divorce- Represented Lead Singer of Rock band "Jackal".

ACTIVITIES/SEMINARS:

Lecturer---------- "Family Law Practice Management-Technology" State Bar of GA, Feb. ?03

Lecturer---------- Annual Family Law Seminar, Atlanta Bar Association, Feb. ?03.

Lecturer---------- "Lawyers and Judges; how to work together", Atlanta Bar Assoc., Jan. ?03.

Lecturer---------- Family Law Practice Management, State Bar of TN, Memphis, Dec. 19, ?02.

Lecturer---------- Family Law Practice Management, State Bar of TN, Nashville, Dec. 18, ?02.

Lecturer---------- Family Law Practice Management, State Bar of TN, Knoxville, Dec. 17, ?02.

Lecturer---------- "Child Custody Jurisdiction", Cobb County Bar Assoc., December, ?02.

Chair/Lecturer-- "How to Prepare for a Divorce Trial", Atlanta Bar Assoc., November ?02.

Chair/Lecturer, "Updates for Fulton?s Family Court", Atlanta Bar Assoc., September, ?02.

Lecturer---------- "Family Law Experts? Hot Tips", American Bar Assoc., Wash. D.C., Aug., ?02.

Chair/Lecturer-- Domestic Relations Seminar, National Business Institute, July, ?02.

Lecturer---------- "DNA/Paternity Tests", The Family Law Institute, State Bar of GA, May, ?02.

Lecturer---------- "Family Law Update", DeKalb Bar Association, February, 2002

Lecturer---------- "Transitioning to Solo Practice", Atlanta Bar Assoc., January, 2002

Lecturer-------- - "A Map To The Courthouse-Family Division", Atlanta Bar Assoc., Nov. ?01.

Chair/Lecturer-- "The Trial of a Divorce Case", Atlanta Bar Assoc., Nov. ?01.

Moderator------- "Divorce Practice Management", Amer. Bar Assoc., Vancouver, October, ?01

Chair/Lecturer, "Rule Changes in Fulton?s Family Court", Atlanta Bar Assoc., September, ?01.

Lecturer---------- "Hot Tips From the Fam. Law Experts", Amer. Bar Assoc., Chicago, Aug., ?01.

Lecturer---------- Domestic Relations Seminar, National Business Institute, July, ?01.

Lecturer--------- "UCCJEA", The Family Law Institute, State Bar of Georgia, May, ?01.

Lecturer---------- "Best of Family Courts", American Bar Association, Kansas City, April, ?01.

Lecturer---------- "Use of Psych. Reports", American Bar Association, Kansas City, April, ?01.

Lecturer---------- "Trial Practice for Divorce", Nevada Bar Association, Tonopah, NV, Mar., ?01.

Lecturer---------- Annual Family Law Seminar, Atlanta Bar Association, January, ?01.

Chair/Lecturer-- "Tips for Representing the Divorce Client", Atlanta Bar Assoc., Nov. ?00.

Lecturer---------- "Hot Tips From the Fam. Law Experts", Amer. Bar Assoc., NYC, July, ?00.

Lecturer---------- National Business Institute, Child Support Seminar, July, ?00.

Lecturer---------- "Family Courts", American Bar Association, New Orleans, April, ?00.

Lecturer---------- Family Mediators of Georgia, Quarterly Meeting, March, ?00.

Lecturer---------- "Everything you need to know about Family Law", GA Psych. Assoc., ?00.

Lecturer---------- Annual Family Law Seminar, Atlanta Bar Association, Jan., ?00.

Chair/Moderator "Tips for Running a Divorce Practice", Atlanta Bar Assoc., November, ?99.

Lecturer--------- Annual Family Law Institute, State Bar of Georgia, May, ?99.

Lecturer--------- Georgia Psychological Association Seminar, May, ?99.

Faculty/teacher Emory Law School Trial Techniques Program, ?99, ?00, ?01, ?02.

Chair/Lecturer, "How to Practice in Family Court", Atlanta Bar Assoc., May, ?99.

Lecturer-------- Annual Family Law Seminar, Atlanta Bar Assoc., Jan., ?98.

Chair/Moderator Seminar - "Trial Tips for Divorce Cases", Atlanta Bar Assoc., Nov., ?98.

Chair/Lecturer-- Seminar - "How to Practice in Family Court", Atlanta Bar Assoc., Oct., ?98.

Invited guest---- WPBA-TV: "Child Custody/Support", The Layman's Lawyer, Oct., ?98.

Chair/Lecturer, Seminar - "How to Practice in Family Court", Atlanta Bar Assoc., June, ?98.

Chair/Moderator, Seminar - "The Family Lawyer vs. Taxes...", Atlanta Bar Assoc., ?98.

Lecturer--------- GA State Univ. College of Law Legal Connections Series: Fam. Law, ?98.

Chair/Moderator, Annual Family Law Seminar, Atlanta Bar Association, Jan., ?98.

Invited guest---- WPBA-TV: "The Layman's Lawyer", Mediation and Arbitration, ?97.

Chair/Moderator, Seminar - "Post-Divorce Matters", Atlanta Bar Assoc., Nov., ?97.

Lecturer-------- Georgia State Law School, Topic: Inn of Family Law, Oct., ?97.

Lecturer-------- Annual Family Law Institute, State Bar of GA, May, ?97.

Lecturer------- Annual Family Law Seminar, Atlanta Bar Assoc., Jan., ?97.

Chair/Moderator, Seminar - "The Child Custody Battle", Atlanta Bar Assoc., Nov., ?96.

Chair/Moderator, Seminar - "Practical Considerations of a Divorce", Atlanta Bar Assoc., ?95.

Co-Organizer Seminar - "Nuts and Bolts of Family Law", State Bar of Georgia, Sept., ?95.

Chair/Lecturer, Seminar - " Settlement of a Divorce", Atlanta Bar Assoc., April, ?95.

Chair/Moderator, Seminar - "Trial of a Divorce", Atlanta Bar Assoc./State Bar of GA, ?94.

Invited guest---- WPBA-TV: "Child Support /Custody Law", The Layman's Lawyer, Aug., ?94.

Invited guest? WGUN Radio - "Professional Review"; divorce law in Georgia, Feb., ?94.

Chair/Moderator, Seminar - "Efficient/Effective Divorce Representation", Atlanta Bar Assoc./ State Bar of Georgia, April, ?94.

Lecturer-------- Seminar - Settlement of a Divorce Case, State Bar of GA, Oct., ?93.

Lecturer-------- Seminar - "Negotiations (in Divorce)", Atlanta Bar Assoc.; ?92.

Lecturer-------- Annual Family Law Seminar, Atlanta Bar Assoc., March, ?92.

ARTICLES WRITTEN:

"USE OF A DEPOSITION TO ENHANCE SETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES", State Bar of Georgia Family Law Section Newsletter, Sept., 1995.

"NEGOTIATION OF DIVORCE AND RELATED MATTERS", State Bar of Georgia Family Law Section Newsletter, Jan., 1993.

"HOW TO WORRY LESS AND ENJOY PRACTICING FAMILY LAW", State Bar of Georgia Family Law Section Newsletter, 1992.

"EVERYTHING A PSYCHOLOGIST NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT FAMILY LAW", Materials for January, 2000 GPA seminar.

"EVERYTHING A MEDIATOR NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT FAMILY LAW", Materials for October, 2000 Resolution Resources training class for Mediators.

"THANK YOU FROM A DIVORCE CLIENT", Spring Issue of the Georgia State Bar, Family Law Section Newsletter

Articles written over the years for The Family Lawyer, Official Publication of the Family Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association include:

Know the Law

Professional E-Mail for the Family Lawyer

When to Withdraw

Accept and Return Telephone Calls

Don?t Hide From Technology

Exceed the CLE Requirement of 12 Hours Per Year

"UCCJEA-INTERSTATE JURISDICTION IN CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES", Written for The Family Law Institute, State Bar of GA, May, ?01.

"WHO?S YOUR DADDY? PATERNITY TESTING AND THE LAW", Written for The Family Law Institute, State Bar of GA, May, ?02.