Firm News

Trial Team including James Scarbrough and Walter McClelland Join FMG in Atlanta

4/11/24

Atlanta, GA – April 11, 2024 – Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP (FMG), a leading nationwide litigation firm with over 375 lawyers in 36 offices across 21 states, is pleased to welcome James “Jimmy” Scarbrough as a Partner, and Walter McClelland and Peter Brown as Senior Counsel in its Atlanta office. 

Mr. Scarbrough has tried significant catastrophic cases throughout Georgia and the Southeast for two decades. Widely recognized for his courtroom abilities, he has a broad based practice involving products liability, wrongful death, transportation, professional negligence, negligent security and premises liability. He is lead trial counsel for both private and publicly traded companies in the transportation, food and beverage, manufacturing, community housing, and retail services industries as well as professional associations and non profits.

Mr. Scarbrough joins FMG from Mabry McClelland, LLP where he served as Managing Partner. He received both his undergraduate and law school degrees from the University of Georgia. Mr. Scarbrough will be a member of FMG’s National Practice Sections for Professional Liability/E&O and Tort & Catastrophic Loss. He also will join FMG’s on-call/parachute trial practice team.

Walter McClelland is one of Georgia’s most experienced and respected defense attorneys, having tried over 135 cases to verdict in his career. He is a past President of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association and serves on the Board of Directors. His bar service also includes being a member of the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Litigation Section and a member of the Judicial Tenure and Qualifications Committee.

Mr. McClelland retired as a Captain in the U.S. Army and served as a Field Artillery’s Officer. He also received both his undergraduate and law school degrees from the University of Georgia. 

Peter Brown joins FMG as Senior Counsel. He has practiced for over twenty years. He received his undergraduate degree from Centre College and his law school degree from Samford University. 

Ben Mathis, Managing Partner at FMG, said, “We are so fortunate to attract a team of this caliber. Jimmy and Walter are two of Georgia’s most seasoned and respected trial attorneys. Both bring an enviable track record of success in big cases. They are bringing on Peter as well as their very experienced administrative and paralegal support so we will have a seamless transition.

Together with our existing team of nationally recognized trial attorneys, FMG continues to build a bench of trial lawyers who can handle virtually any kind of high stakes litigation anywhere in America.”

For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Sean Carroll, Marketing Director, sean.carroll@fmglaw.com.