News

May 2009

Richard Barnes's new book, Estate Planning for Blended Families: Providing for Your Spouse & Children in a Second Marriage, was published by Nolo Press of Berkeley, California. The book is the first book to focus on the particular needs of spouses in second marriages in providing for one another as well as children from the current relationship or previous relationships.  The book is available on amazon.com or nolo.com, in addition to other online and other retailers. For more information on Richard's new book, click here.

Richard Barnes spoke on Limited Liability Company Operating Agreements in Washington, DC as part of the ABA Real Property Trust & Estate Spring Symposium. 

February 2009
Walter Elliott was elected as President-Elect of the Valdosta Rotary Club for 2009-2010, to serve as President in 2010-2011. Walter has been a member of the Valdosta Rotary Club since 1993.

Richard Barnes presented "The One Page Shareholders Agreement: Reimagining Business Succession Planning" at the 2009 Estate Planning Institute held at the University of Georgia in Athens. Richard is the Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect of the Fiduciary Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia.

January 2009
Tom Gooding has been elected as Vice Chair - Economic Development of the Valdosta/Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce. Tom will serve as Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce in 2011.

November 2008
Richard Barnes has been named a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).  ACTEC is a national organization of lawyers elected to membership by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, commitment to the profession, competence and experience as trust and estate counselors. Fellows must have a minimum of 10 years of trust and estate experience to be eligible for membership.

August 2008
Tom Gooding represented a start-up client in its management buyout of a significant chemicals manufacturer.  The complex transaction involved two layers of financing and a long-term supply and logistics contract with a key customer who also provided the junior financing and who took back various options to purchase interests in the acquiring entity.

July 2008
Tom Gooding was recently elected as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Valwood School.  He has served as a member of the Valwood Board of Trustees since 2002, including terms as Treasurer and Chairman of the Finance Committee and as Secretary.  Valwood School is an independent college preparatory school located in Valdosta.

Richard Barnes has been selected as Vice Chair/Chair-Elect of the Fiduciary Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia for the year 2008-2009. The Fiduciary Law Section consists of over 700 attorneys around the State of Georgia.

April 2008

Walter Elliott spoke before the County Attorneys Section of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia in Savannah, Georgia, on "Service Delivery Strategy Negotiations." Walter has represented several counties in negotiations required by Georgia's Service Delivery Strategy Act.

January 2008

Tom Gooding has been elected as Vice Chair-Public Affairs of the Valdosta/Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce.  Tom's responsibilities include oversight of governmental relations and legislative affairs. 

October 2007
Tom Gooding was a speaker at a Georgia Chamber of Commerce seminar, Getting Heard . . . How to Influence Your Legislator.  The seminar presented successful strategies for lobbying before the Georgia General Assembly and increasing your credibility generally in the political arena.  Tom has led several successful legislative and governmental initiatives for the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, which has been recognized as one of Georgia's most effective local chambers for legislative activities.

April 2007

Walter Elliott was elected President of the County Attorneys Section of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia ("ACCG").  In this capacity, Walter will also serve on the Board of Managers of ACCG.  The Board of Managers directs and manages ACCG's overall affairs.

March 2007

Richard Barnes is the author of "Till Death Do Us Part (Again): Estate Planning for Second Marriages," published in the March/April 2007 issue of Probate and Property magazine.  Probate and Property is a publication of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the American Bar Association.  The magazine reaches approximately 30,000 estate planning professionals.

February 2007

Richard Barnes was recently elected as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Fiduciary Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia for the year 2007-2008. As part of his duties, Richard will plan the 53rd Annual Estate Planning Institute to be held in Athens, Georgia in February 2008. This year’s Institute drew approximately 220 professionals, including attorneys, accountants, fiduciaries and insurance agents. The Fiduciary Law Section consists of over 700 attorneys around the State of Georgia.

December 2006

Mary Gooding was named one of the 25 most influential South Georgians by South Georgia Business magazine and The Valdosta Daily Times newspaper.  Mary is the wife of our partner, Tom Gooding.

July 2006

Richard Barnes was a speaker at the 2006 Fiduciary Law Institute held in St. Simons Island, Georgia.  Richard spoke on Estate Planning for Second Marriages.  The 2006 Institute attracted a record crowd of over 300 estate planning professionals.  Richard continues to serve as Co-Chair of the Publications Committee of the State Bar of Georgia's Fiduciary Law Section.

Richard Barnes has been installed as President of the Valdosta Rotary Club.  The Valdosta Rotary Club is the oldest and largest Rotary Club in Valdosta, with over 100 members.

April 2006
Walter Elliott was elected President-Elect of the County Attorneys Section of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia.  Walter has served as County Attorney of Lowndes County since January 2000.

July 2005
Two firm lawyers have been appointed to important leadership roles with Valwood School:  Walter Elliott as Chairman of the Strategic Plan Committee and Tom Gooding as Chairman of the Finance Committee.  Valwood School is an independent college preparatory school located in Valdosta.  Both Walter and Tom are current members of the Board of Trustees of the school.  Walter has served as a member of the Valwood Board of Trustees since 1995, including two terms as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. 

Tom Gooding has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Valdosta/Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce.  Valdosta’s Chamber of Commerce is one of Georgia’s most active, and was recently rated one of the few “Four Star Chambers” in Georgia and the country by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

March 2005

Walter Elliott was named one of Georgia's "Super Lawyers" by Law and Politics and Atlanta Magazine.  This designation was based on a state-wide survey of practicing attorneys.  It is designed to identify lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.  Only five percent of lawyers in the State of Georgia were chosen for this recognition.  Walter was named in the practice area of business litigation.

Tom Gooding represented a start up client in its $2,500,000 equity and credit facility capitalization.

December 2004
Jim Elliott chaired the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association's Annual
Trial Academy. The Trial Academy is a 2-1/2 day modified mock trial
program in which young lawyers are taught to try cases from start to
finish by a panel of experienced trial lawyers from across the State of
Georgia. Jim has served on the faculty for many years and has chaired
the program since 2002.

October 2004
Jim Elliott participated in the National Episcopal Chancellor's Conference in Orlando, Florida.

July 2004

Richard Barnes was a speaker at the 2004 Fiduciary Law Institute in St. Simons, Georgia.   Richard addressed Ethical Issues in Estate Planning as part of a three-person panel. The Fiduciary Law Institute is the largest of the estate planning seminars presented annually by the Institute for Continuing Legal Education in Georgia.

Walter Elliott was appointed to serve as a member of the Member Benefits Committee of the State Bar of Georgia. The committee will review and evaluate benefits which the State Bar provides to its members. Walter was appointed by the President of the State Bar.

April 2004
Tom Gooding joined Elliott & Blackburn, P.C., coming to the firm from Griffin, LLC, where he was the General Counsel. The firm changed its name to Elliott, Blackburn, Barnes & Gooding, P.C.