Firm News

FMG Announces New Hires in Several Offices

7/29/19

FMG is happy to introduce the new attorneys Ariel Brotman, Hillary Freesmeier, Brittany Kurtz, Jake Loken, Charles McCurdy, Koty Newman, Jessica Peterman and Michael Shepherd.   Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP is pleased to announce the addition of eight new hires who have joined us in our California, Philadelphia and Atlanta offices.

 

Ariel Brotman has joined the firm as an Associate in the Los Angeles Downtown office. She will practice in the firm’s Tort & Catastrophic Loss and Labor & Employment Law National Practice Sections. Ms. Brotman is also part of the Immigration Law National Practice Team. Ms. Brotman earned her J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law in 2018. During her time at USC, she was a member of the Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal. Ms. Brotman was also a clinical law student in USC Immigration Clinic, in which she had the opportunity to represent clients in courtroom proceedings dealing with matters of asylum, withholding of removal and protection under the United States Convention Against Torture. Read More

Hillary Freesmeier joined the firm as an associate in the Atlanta office in the Labor and Employment National Practice Section at Freeman Mathis & Gary LLP. Hillary received her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Mercer University School of Law, and served as the Georgia Survey Editor for the 67th volume of the Mercer Law Review. During her third year at Mercer, Ms. Freesmeier was a member of the William Augustus Inn of Court and received the Walker P. Johnson Jr. Memorial Award for demonstrating excellence in litigation skills, professionalism, and ethics. Upon graduation, Ms. Freesmeier was invited to join the Brainerd Currie Honor Society and the Order of Barristers. Read More

Brittany Kurtz joined the firm as a Staff Attorney in the firm’s Tort and Catastrophic Loss National Practice Section in the Philadelphia office. Through the Kline School of Law at Drexel University’s Co-Op program, she interned with FMG and was later hired as a Law Clerk. Ms. Kurtz earned her J.D.  with pro bono honors from the Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Drexel University in 2018. While at the Kline School of Law, she was awarded the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Pennsylvania Family Law Practice. She was a member of the Mock Trial Team and competed in two competitions.  Read More

Jake Loken joined the firm as an associate in the Atlanta office Government Law practice section. He also practices in the firm’s Tort and Catastrophic Loss, and Professional Liability practice sections. As part of the firm’s Government Law section, Mr. Loken has a broad litigation practice with a focus on defending cities, counties, law enforcement officers, and other government employees in civil rights and general liability matters in both state and federal trial and appellate courts. Mr. Loken’s practice also includes the defense of attorneys, accountants, and other professionals in professional liability matters, along with the defense of private businesses and individuals in general liability matters and intellectual property disputes. Read More

Charles McCurdy joined the firm as an associate in the San Francisco Downtown office. Mr. McCurdy’s practice incorporates many aspects of the firm’s offering to its clients, including counsel and litigation of disputes involving personal and commercial property, insurance coverage and claims monitoring, and homeowners associations. Mr. McCurdy has been recognized for his ability to assist clients and senior members of the firm in quickly evaluating and responding to client concerns in order to minimize costs and provide sound and strategic problem-solving advice.Read More

Koty Newman joined the firm as an associate in Atlanta in the Labor and Employment National Practice Section. Mr. Newman also practices in the Firm’s Construction and Commercial Litigation Practice Sections. He received his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law.  While at the University of Georgia School of Law, Mr. Newman was the Note Editor for the Georgia Law Review and had his Note, The Elephant Not in the Room: Apportionment to Nonparties in Georgia, published in the Georgia Law Review. After law school, Mr. Newman was inducted into the Order of the Coif. Read More

Jessica Peterman will work in the firm’s Atlanta Office. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law. Ms. Peterman also has over 10 years of experience in the insurance industry. Prior to law school, she was a litigation claims adjuster and was involved in investigating fraudulent claims. Ms. Peterman also clerked for an insurance company while in law school.

Michael Shepherd joined the firm as an associate in the San Francisco Downtown office. He is member of the firm’s Labor & Employment Law, Professional Liability, and Torts & Catastrophic Loss National Practice Sections at Freeman, Mathis & Gary’s San Francisco office. Having served as a Research Attorney assigned to the San Francisco Superior Court Law and Motion Department, followed by his time as counsel for Farmers Insurance Company, Michael brings a wealth of talent and practical experience to each of his cases. Read More