Luanne Clarke

As a founding partner of the firm, Ms. Clarke defends individuals and business entities in civil litigation with an emphasis in personal injury, employment, and workers' compensation claims. With offices located in Albany, Atlanta and Valdosta, Savannah, and strong connections to Columbus, Ms. Clarke is able to assist clients in a cost-effective manner throughout the State.

Ms. Clarke has also served as approved counsel for most well - known insurance companies as well as many self-insured companies since 1983. Such actions include, but are not limited to, personal injury, coverage issues, construction, mold, and other commonly insured claims.

Employment and Workers' Compensation

From the enactment of the original ADA in 1993, Ms. Clarke has advised clients in matters dealing with employment claims as new Acts were passed into law, be it ADA, FMLA, sexual harassment, race discrimination and the like. Also, her workers' compensation experience goes back to day one of her practice. She has represented clients in thousands of workers' compensation disputes.

Mediation and Arbitration

 Ms. Clarke is a registered mediator and arbitrator who understands the role and goals of a neutral in disputes. As a certified mediator, she has participated in hundreds of mediations -most of which have been successfully resolved. Through Mediated Dispute Resolutions, LLC, Ms. Clarke currently serves as a neutral in dispute resolution throughout the state. With offices in Atlanta, Albany, Savannah, Valdosta, and close ties to Columbus, she travels through out the state. While she offers spacious conference rooms in all locations, she travels to the office of any party at the request of the participants.

Special Appointment by the Georgia Attorneys General

Ms. Clarke is currently serving as a Special Assistant Attorney General at the pleasure of Attorney General Sam Olens; she served under Attorney General Thurbert Baker; and she served in this capacity under Attorney General Mike Bowers. As a SAAG, Ms. Clarke represents the State of Georgia in tort, construction, and workers' compensation actions.

Teaching

Darton College, Albany, Georgia.
    Guest professor for paralegal certification, Darton College, Albany, Georgia

Continuing Legal Education Seminars

Ms. Clarke has been a regular speaker for the Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) seminars throughout Georgia. These presentations involve the preparation of a substantive paper, oral presentation as well as question and answer sessions with the attending audience.

Professional Positions

Ms. Clarke has also had the honor of serving as the Chair of the Insurance Law Institute, Co-Chair of the Workers' Compensation Institute, Chair of the Tort and Insurance Practice Section of the State Bar, and Chair of the Workers' Compensation Section of the State Bar.

When Albany, Georgia, and neighboring communities were devastated by flood waters in 1994 and later when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, Ms. Clarke spearheaded impromptu legal seminars specializing in issues affecting the flood/hurricane victims. With the help of ICLE, Georgia Legal Services, and other state agencies, Ms. Clarke and several other attorneys volunteered their time and expertise. Within a matter of days these volunteers had compiled papers and presentations that were shared with future flooded states to assist displaced persons.

Ms. Clarke has been published in the GEORGIA SELF-INSUREDS' ASSOCIATION DIGEST, THE GEORGIA BAR JOURNAL, THE GEORGIA DEFENSE LAWYERS JOURNAL, THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION BAR NEWSLETTER, and other legal publications. As a member of the Atlanta Claims Association, Ms. Clarke has participated in seminars and other events, and for several years, she has provided workers' compensation and employment law updates for the CLAIMSCENE, an ACA monthly publication.

Ms. Clarke has served on the faculty of the National Business Institute and Lorman Business Services, speaking on various employment law topics such as workers' compensation, ADA, FMLA, and discrimination. She also has been asked by the Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia Health, Environmental and Safety Conference, the Atlanta Bar Association, the Georgia Self-Insureds Association, the Georgia Bar Association, the Georgia Defense Lawyers' Association, Group Funds Association, and individual employers to serve as a speaker on topics ranging from age diversity, safety programs, cost analysis and more.

Ms. Clarke has served on the faculty of the Georgia Trial Academy created to train young lawyers in courtroom techniques.

Ms. Clarke has also volunteered to assist the Subsequent Injury Trust Fund in its sunset efforts. As member of the Sunset Advisory Committee she was a regular presenter along with SITF officials on the financial status of the Fund.

State Board of Workers' Compensation Annual and Regional Seminars

As a workers' compensation practitioner, Ms. Clarke regularly serves as a speaker at the annual or regional seminars sponsored by the State Board of Workers' Compensation. Additionally, she has had the honor of being chosen to serve on the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council where she serves as the Chairman of the Public Education Committee. This committee assists the Board personnel in developing the State Board of Workers' Compensation Regional Education Series which are presented throughout the State of Georgia. She also served on Governor Barnes Workers' Compensation Commission.

Employment Law Seminars

As an employment law practitioner, Ms. Clarke has represented county governments as well as large and small employers throughout the State. She has attended national and international business conferences presenting substantive papers and presentations on topics such as ADA, FMLA, Title VII discrimination claims, workers' compensation, and other issues of interest to businesses, large and small. She is a regular presenter at the Georgia Safety, Health and Environmental Conference as well as conferences sponsored by the Georgia Department of Labor.