Current Employment Position(s)

Managing Partner

Lawyer Overview

Randy Kessler founded this 15 person (7 lawyers, 7 paralegals + staff), domestic relations firm in 1991.  He serves as the Family Courts Committee Chair for the American Bar Association's Family Law Section.  He teaches trial techniques at Emory Law School and has spoken at over 75 CLE (Continuing Legal Education) seminars for lawyers (see: www.kesslerschwarz.com for complete list).

West Practice Categories

Family Law, Divorce, Personal Injury -- Defense, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Real Estate Law

Bar Admissions

• Georgia, 1988
• Georgia Court of Appeals
• Supreme Court of Georgia
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia
• Supreme Court of the United States of America

Professional Associations and Memberships

• DeKalb County Recorders Court, 2000 - Present (Judge, Pro Hac)
• American Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2000 - Present (Chairperson, Family Courts Committee)
• American Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2002 - Present (Vice-Chairperson, Diversity Committee)
• American Bar Association, Substance Abuse Committee (Liason, Family Law Section)
• Atlanta Bar Association, 1999 - 2002 (Board of Directors)
• Atlanta Bar Association, ACLE, 1994 - 2000 (Board of Trustees)
• Atlanta Bar Association, Family Law Section, Section of the Year, 1997 - 1998 (Chairperson)
• Judicial Officer Selection Committee Fulton Family Division, 1998 (Chairperson)
• Atlanta Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1997 - Present (Chairperson, Fulton Family Court Committee)
• Atlanta Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1992 - 2000 (CLE Chairperson)
• State Bar of Georgia (Member, Family Law Study Committee)
• Georgia Family Law American Inn of Court (Barrister)
• Atlanta Bar Association, Litigation Section (Member)
• State Bar Georgia, Family Law Section (Member)
• Atlanta Bar Association, Family Law Sections (Member)
• State Bar of Georgia, Family Law Section (Member, Committee on Settlement of Dom. Rel. Cases)
• State Bar of Georgia (Member, Committee to Restore Direct Appeals)
• Atlanta Bar Association (Member)
• DeKalb County Bar Association (Member)
• Cobb County Bar Association (Member)
• American Bar Association (Member, Family Law and Law Office Management)
• Lawyers Club of Atlanta (Member)
• American Association for Justice (AAJ) (Member)
• American Judicature Society (Member)
• JNF, Southeastern Region (Member, Board of Directors)
• YLC of Atlanta Jewish Federation-ACCESS (Board Member)

Honors and Awards

• AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell, 1995
• Named by The Daily Report as 1 of 15 "Lawyers on the Rise" in GA, 2002

Classes and Seminars

• Chair/Lecturer, "Skills Required for Divorce Lawyers", Atlanta Bar Association, November 15, 2003
• Lecturer, "Advanced Divorce Seminar", Nevada Bar Association, September 12, 2003 - September 15, 2003
• Lecturer, "Family Law Experts' Hot Tips",, American Bar Association, San Fran, August 11, 2003
• Presenter, "Family Law for Psychologists", Associationof Family & Conciliatory Courts, December 5, 2003
• Lecturer, "Family Law Practice Development", Atlanta Bar Association, 2003
• Lecturer, "A Map To The Courthouse-Family Division", Atlanta Bar Association, 2003
• Moderator, "Fiduciary Responsibilities of Spouses", American Bar Association, Las Vegas, 2003
• Chair/Lecturer, "Technology in the Legal Arena", State Bar of Georgia, 2003
• Lecturer, "Law Practice Management, Family Law Attorney's View, ICLE, 2003
• Chair/Lecturer, "High Conflict Divorce Issues", National Business Institute, 2003
• Lecturer, "Hot Tips-Psychologists in Divorce", Atlanta Bar Association, 2003
• Lecturer, "Transitioning to Solo Practice", Atlanta Bar Association, 2003
• Lecturer, "Lawyers and Judges; How to Work Together", Atlanta Bar Association, 2003
• Lecturer, Family Law Practice Management, State Bar of TN, Memphis, 2002
• Lecturer, Family Law Practice Management, State Bar of TN, Nashville, 2002
• Lecturer, Family Law Practice Management, State Bar of TN, Knoxville, Nashville & Memphis, December 15, 2002 - December 19, 2002
• Lecturer, "Child Custody Jurisdiction", Cobb County Bar Association, 2002
• Chair/Lecturer, How to Prepare For a Divorce Trial", Atlanta Bar Association, 2002
• Chair/Lecturer, "Updates for Fulton's Family Court, Atlanta Bar Association, 2002
• Lecturer, "Family Law Experts' Hot Tips", American Bar Association, Wash. D.C., 2002
• Chair/Lecturer, Domestic Relations Seminar, National Business Institute, 2002
• Lecturer, "DNA/Paternity Tests", State Bar of Georgia, The Family Institute
• Lecturer, "Family Law Update", DeKalb Bar Association, 2002
• Lecturer, "Transitioning to Solo Practice", Atlanta Bar Association, 2002
• Lecturer, "A Map To the Courthouse-Family Division", Atlanta Bar Association, 2001
• Chair/Lecturer, "The Trial of a Divorce Case", Atlanta Bar Association, 2001
• Moderator, "Divorce Practice Management", American Bar Association, Vancouver, 2001
• Chair/Lecturer, "Rule Changes in Fulton's Family Court, Atlanta Bar Association, 2001
• Lecturer, "Hot Tips From the Fam. Law Experts', American Bar Association, 2001
• Lecturer, Domestic Relations Seminar, National Business Institute, 2001
• Lecturer, "UCCJEA", State Bar of Georgia, The Family Institute
• Lecturer, "Best of Family Courts", American Bar Association, Kansas City, 2001
• Lecturer, "Use of Psych. Reports", American Bar Association, Kansas City, 2001
• Lecturer, "Trial Practice for Divorce", Nevada Bar Association, Tonopah, NV, 2001
• Lecturer, Annual Family Law Seminar, Atlanta Bar Association, 2001
• Chair/Lecturer, "Tips for Representing the Divorce Client", Atlanta Bar Association, 2000
• Lecturer, "Hot Tips From the Fam. Law Experts", American Bar Association, NYC, 2000
• Lecturer, Child Support Seminar, National Business Institute, 2000
• Lecturer, "Family Courts", American Bar Association, New Orleans, 2000
• Lecturer, Family Mediators of Georgia, Quarterly Meeting
• Lecturer, "Everything You Need to Know About Family Law", GA Psych. Assoc, 2000
• Lecturer, Annual Family Law Seminar, Atlanta Bar Association, 2000
• Chair/Moderator, "Tips for Running a Divorce Practice", Atlanta Bar Association, 1999
• Lecturer, Annual Family Law Institute, State Bar of Georgia, 1999
• Lecturer, Georgia Psychological Association Seminar, 1999
• Chair/Lecturer, "How to Practice in Family Court", Atlanta Bar Association, 1999
• Lecturer, Annual Family Law Seminar, Atlanta Bar Association, 1998
• Chair/Moderator, "Trial Tips for Divorce Cases", Atlanta Bar Association, 1998
• Chair/Lecturer, Seminar - "Trial Tips for Divorce Cases", Atlanta Bar Association, 1998
• Chair/Lecturer, Seminar - "How to Practice in Family Court", Atlanta Bar Association, 1998
• Invited Guest, WPBA-TV: "Child Custody/Support", The Layman's Lawyer, 1998
• Chair/Lecturer, "How to Practice in Family Court", Atlanta Bar Association, 1998
• Chair/Moderator, Seminar - "The Family Lawyer vs. Taxes...", Atlanta Bar Association, 1998
• Lecturer, GA State University College of Law Legal Connections Series: Fam. Law, 1998
• Chair/Moderator, Annual Family Law Seminar, Atlanta Bar Association, 1998
• Invited Guest, WPBA-TV: "The Layman's Lawyer", Mediation and Arbitration, 1997
• Chair/Moderator, Seminar - "Post Divorce Matters", Atlanta Bar Association, 1997
• Lecturer, Topic: Inn of Family Law, Georgia State Law School, 1997
• Lecturer, Annual Family Law Institute, State Bar of GA, 1997
• Lecturer, Annual Family Law Seminar, Atlanta Bar Association, 1997
• Chair/Moderator, Seminar - "The Child Custody Battle", Atlanta Bar Association, 1996
• Chair/Moderator, Seminar - "Practical Considerations of a Divorce", Atlanta Bar Association, 1995
• Co-Organizer, Seminar - "Nuts and Bolts of Family Law", State Bar of Georgia, 1995
• Chair/Lecturer, Seminar - "Settlement of a Divorce", Atlanta Bar Association, 1995
• Chair/Moderator, Seminar - "Trial of a Divorce", Atlanta Bar Association/State Bar of GA, 1994
• Invited Guest, WPBA-TV: "Child Support/Custody Law" The Layman's Lawyer, 1994
• Invited Guest, WGUN Radio - "Professional Review" divorce law in Georgia, 1994
• Chair/Moderator, Seminar - "Efficient/Effective Divorce Representation", Atlanta Bar Assoc./State Bar of Georgia, 1994
• Lecturer, Seminar -Settlement of a Divorce Case, State Bar of GA, 1993
• Lecturer, Seminar - "Negotiations (in Divorce)", Atlanta Bar Assoc., 1992
• Lecturer, Annual Family Law Seminar, Atlanta Bar Association, 1992
• Instructor, Family Law Mediation, Certification Course, Resolution Resources, Inc.

Past Employment Positions

• Atlanta Bar Association, The Family Lawyer, Publication of the Family Law Section, Assoc. Editor, 2000 - Present
• Family Law Quarterly, Law in the Fifty States, ABA Family Law Publication, State Reporter
• Emory Law School Trial Techniques Program, Faculty/Teacher, 1999 - 2002

Education

• Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia, 1988
  J.D.
  Honors: President, International Law Society,
  Honors: Chair: President Jimmy Carter Luncheon
• Brandeis University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 1985
  B.A.
  Honors: G.P.A. 3.42
  Major: Political Science

Published Works

• "Use of a Deposition To Enhance Settlement Opportunities", State Bar of Georgia Family Law Section Newsletter, September, 1995
• "Negotiation of Divorce and Related Matters, Family Law Section Newsletters", State Bar of Georgia, January, 1993
• "How to Worry Less and Enjoy Practicing Family Law" Family Law Section Newsletter, State Bar of Georgia, 1992
• "Everything a Psychologist Needs to Know About Family Law" (Materials for GPA Seminar), January, 2000
• "Everything a Mediator Needs to Know About Family Law" ((Materials for Resolution Resources Training Class for Mediators), October, 2000
• "Thank You From a Divorce Client" , Family Law Section Newsletter, Georgia State Bar, Spring
• "UCCJEA-Interstate Jurisdiction in Child Custody Disputes", Family Law Institute, State Bar of GA, 2001
• "Who's Your Daddy? Paternity Testing and the Law", Family Law Institute, May, 2002
• "Family Law in the Fifty States" Family Law Section, American Bar Association, Winter, 2003
• Article: Know the Law, The Family Lawyer
• Article: Professional E-Mail, The Family Lawyer
• Article: When to Withdraw, The Family Lawyer
• Article: Accept and Return Telephone Calls, The Family Lawyer
• Article: Don't Hide From Technology, The Family Lawyer
• Article: Exceed the CLE Requirement of 12 Hours Per Year, The Family Lawyer

Address

Centennial Tower
101 Marietta Street, Suite 3500
Atlanta, GA 30303-2720

Phones

(404) 688-8810

Faxes

(404) 681-2205

Emails

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Websites

http://www.kesslerschwarz.com