Morris Law Firm

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Thornton W. Morris

Thornton W. Morris graduated from the University of Georgia in 1962 and from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1965. He has brought forty years of experience to Morris Law Firm (a Limited Liability Company), Atlanta, Georgia, the successor to the Firm he founded in 1966. Thornton serves as the managing member of the Company and is responsible for the long-term vision and strategy of the Firm. He is a resident of Cumberland Island, Georgia.

Thornton leads the Firm’s Business Negotiations and Consulting Practice in its representation of entrepreneurial businesses and in its efforts to preserve natural areas in America. One of Thornton’s proudest accomplishments has been the authoring of the Cumberland Island National Seashore legislation and the shepherding of it through the Congressional process, resulting in its signature by President Nixon. Since that time, Thornton has been active in representing the owners of Cumberland Island, and of other natural areas, in the transferring of properties from private to public use. In these efforts, Thornton has sought to find a reasonable balance between the preservation of America’s natural resources and a long-range strategy for the efficient use of our Country’s pristine areas. He is the President and founding Director of The Cumberland Island Conservancy, Inc., whose mission is to protect the natural, historical, and cultural aspects of Cumberland Island, Georgia.

Thornton has developed many of the new and innovative negotiation techniques used by the legal profession. Whether in the areas of corporate acquisitions, contractual relationships, or conflict resolution, he has been a leader in the ongoing concept of “win-win” in the negotiating arena.

Thornton is President of Cumberland Legacy, LLC, a multiple-family office, and has developed a unique and innovative approach to helping families with some of the challenges that face individuals possessing inherited wealth. As part of his consulting in this area, Thornton speaks frequently with various families regarding the challenges inherent in the generational transfer of wealth.

Thornton Morris has spent his adult career in balancing his life’s work between business, family, and personal relationships, and the protection of our country’s pristine areas. He is a frequent speaker to members of the legal and accounting professions, as well as business and leadership groups. He has been interviewed or quoted by such organizations as The Wall Street Journal, CNN, BBC, BBC World, ABC, and NBC, and by the various regional and national wire services.

Jason C. Aufdermaur

Jason C. Aufdermaur was born in Dallas, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, receiving a B.A in Economics in 1994. Jason received his law degree from Vermont Law School in 1997 and joined Morris Law Firm that same year.

The majority of Jason’s practice focuses on his role within the Business Negotiations and Consulting Practice as a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs and business people as they continue to create and develop their businesses. Jason is experienced in addressing the challenges facing “start-up” businesses and the strategic decision-making necessary to create and grow such entities into effective, profitable businesses. Jason routinely assists clients with the negotiation of the terms and conditions of transactions, including acquisitions and divestitures, provides counseling related to the formation of various businesses through creative use of entities, and develops operation-related strategies and tactics.

Jason regularly represents entrepreneurs and individuals seeking law and business-related advice, as well as clients requiring the advice necessary to resolve disputes and potential disputes through negotiation. Jason enjoys his time working with experienced business owners in both publicly and privately-held businesses, and has had success counseling such clients because of his understanding of the goals and nuances associated with both business structures.

Jason has extensive training, experience, and expertise with team and group dynamics and enjoys building and developing teams of individuals through open communication, accountability, and common expectations. This training leads to a heightened awareness of team and group dynamics, and a greater sensitivity to the interpersonal challenges that affect businesses, their employees, owners, and customers.

Gary D. Hooper

Gary D. Hooper grew up in the Chicago area and graduated from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri, receiving a B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration in 1978. In 1982, Gary received his law degree from Birmingham School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama. Since 1982, Gary has been continually in private practice, as well as having started and operated other business.

Gary leads the firm’s litigation practice in its representation of individuals and businesses in civil litigation. Gary is an accomplished trial lawyer with over twenty-five years of law firm and in-house experience representing clients engaged in complex litigation. Gary has been lead or co-lead counsel in litigation involving employment, commercial, business, product liability, personal injury, wrongful death, multi-plaintiff, and other general civil litigation at the trial and appellate levels in both the state and federal courts. Significantly, Gary has represented clients in class action multi-district litigation cases and multi-unit apartment collapse cases, as well as clients in numerous complex business, commercial, employment, product liability, and personal injury cases.

Gary also has significant entrepreneurial and business experience, having organized and held the position of Managing Partner of a successful automotive retail franchise, as well as having been Secretary and General Counsel for one of the five largest home improvement companies in the United States. As General Counsel, Gary was responsible for building and managing the company’s legal department with executive oversight for the legal, risk management, and human resources departments, as well as day-to-day company operations.

Gary is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Alabama Bar Association, and the District of Columbia Bar Association.