Fortson, Bentley and Griffin, P.A.

01/25/2026

Due to hazardous weather conditions, Fortson, Bentley and Griffin, P.A. will be closed on Monday, January 26. The safety of our clients and staff is our top priority. Please stay safe.

01/23/2026

Kelly Etchells Named Partner at Fortson, Bentley and Griffin, P.A.

Fortson, Bentley and Griffin, P.A. is pleased to announce that Kelly Etchells has been named Partner. Kelly is a business litigation attorney who represents individuals and businesses of all sizes, with significant experience in product liability litigation and complex commercial disputes involving manufacturers. Her practice also focuses on breach of fiduciary duty, trade secret litigation, and other business tort matters.

Prior to joining the firm, Kelly clerked for a federal judge in Jacksonville, Florida, and practiced at large law firms in Atlanta, Georgia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

A native of Warner Robins, Georgia, Kelly is glad to be back in Athens after earning both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris, and their two young daughters.

01/22/2025

We are looking for pictures of, and memories about, our founders – Edwin B. Fortson, Upshaw C. Bentley, Jr., and John E. “Buck” Griffin. If you have a picture or memory to share, we would love to hear from you. Please send them to Karen Dunn at [email protected].

01/22/2025

Our office is closed today, January 22, 2025, for the safety of our team and clients. We will reopen on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Stay warm, stay safe, and we look forward to serving you soon!

01/10/2025

Our office is closed today, January 10, 2025, for the safety of our team and clients. We will reopen on Monday, January 13, 2025. Stay warm, stay safe, and we look forward to serving you soon!

09/27/2024

Fortson, Bentley and Griffin, P.A. will be closed Friday, September 27 due to inclement weather. We will resume normal operations Monday, September 30 at 8:30 AM. Stay safe!

08/26/2024

Join us in welcoming Alex McDonald to Fortson, Bentley and Griffin, P.A. Alex is a trial and appellate lawyer that has practiced exclusively in civil litigation since 2014. Alex’s practice focuses on representing individuals and businesses in commercial litigation, personal injury, product liability, construction, and insurance coverage matters. He also advises clients on the handling of pre-suit matters, internal investigations, and bad faith exposure.

Alex has served as lead counsel in numerous civil jury trials across Georgia and appellate matters. Alex has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Georgia Super Lawyers and a “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch”.

07/30/2024

Meet Katelyn Hulsey, one of our clerks this summer. Katelyn is from Gainesville, Georgia. Katelyn earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia, and she is a rising 2L at the University of Georgia School of Law. Katelyn is excited to serve on the Editorial Board of the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law and participate in the Corporate Counsel Externship this fall. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exercising, boating on Lake Lanier, and spending time with her family and friends.

07/03/2024

Fortson, Bentley and Griffin, P.A. will be closed Thursday, July 4 and Friday, July 5 in observance of Independence Day. We will reopen on Monday, July 8 at 8:30 AM.

06/13/2024

We are excited to have Hannah Peters as one of our summer clerks. Hannah is from Jacksonville, Florida and is a rising 2L at the University of Georgia School of Law. She is excited to serve as the Treasurer for the Equal Justice Foundation and to participate in clinics at the University of Georgia School of Law beginning in the fall. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, playing sports and cheering on her favorite teams, and hanging out with family and friends.

05/01/2024

Please join us in congratulating FBG attorney, Johnelle Simpson II, for being featured by the University of Georgia for his journey from being a recipient of the Let All the Big Dawgs Eat Food scholarship to now serving as an advisory board member of the LATBDE program. Established in 2014, the LATBDE program addresses food insecurity among college students at UGA. We are proud to see our colleague and friend recognized for his community leadership.

UGA Alumni Association, UGA Office of the Dean of Students

Johnelle Simpson II returns to UGA as an alumni to ensure the continued success of the scholarship program that he received as a student.

04/19/2024

The Georgia Legal Food Frenzy, a statewide fundraising competition created in partnership with the Georgia Attorney General, the State Bar of Georgia, YLD and Feeding Georgia, is under way! Every dollar raised benefits the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. Join the fight against hunger by donating at https://www.classy.org/team/576673!