Our Attorneys

Kevin T. Shires was born in Dallas, Texas and raised in Richmond, Virginia. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. Mr. Shires earned his Juris Doctorate from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama in 1997. Mr. Shires was admitted to the Georgia Bar and Alabama Bar in 1998 and the Louisiana Bar in 2006. Mr. Shires is admitted to practice in all the Federal Courts in Georgia and Alabama and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Prior to the formation of Shires, Peake & Gottlieb, LLC, Mr. Shires was a partner at Lueder, Larkin & Hunter, LLC, where he defended commercial transportation claims, automobile claims, premises liability claims, product liability claims, vertical transportation claims (elevators and escalators), fire loss claims, first-party claims, and other general liability claims. Prior to his six years with Lueder, Larkin & Hunter, Mr. Shires was with the Atlanta office of Vernis & Bowling and a prominent law firm in Birmingham, Alabama, where he represented insurance carriers and self-insureds in F.E.L.A. railroad liability claims, automotive liability claims, commercial transportation claims, and environmental/toxic tort cases.

Mr. Shires is an active member of the Trucking Industry Defense Association (“TIDA”) and attends the annual Northwest Arkansas Trucking Conference.

Mr. Shires is an active member of the Defense Research Institute and is a member of the Trucking and Products Committees. Mr. Shires has extensive experience in jury trials on both the state and federal levels and has authored several appeals. Mr. Shires also has an extensive trial practice in taking cases to conclusion with juries.

Mr. Shires is also an active member of the prestigious Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), an inclusive, collaborative organization that promotes and furthers the highest standards of claims and litigation management, bringing together thought leaders throughout the industry. In 2014 Mr. Shires completed CLM’s rigorous Litigation Management Institute and received his certification as a Claims Litigation Management Professional. He is also a member of the Trucking committee with CLM.

Mr. Shires’ hobbies and interests include spending time with his wife, Amanda, and their three children, Austin, Foster and Sybil, and following his beloved University of Georgia Bulldogs.

Joseph C. “Tripp” Peake, III, is a civil trial attorney with more than 20 years of significant experience handling matters on behalf of corporate, individual, insurance, and governmental clients. During such time, Mr. Peake has successfully litigated a wide range of complex civil claims and commercial disputes, as well as actions resulting from the negligence of others.

Mr. Peake is a focused, hands-on attorney who works closely with his clients to ensure that their goals are achieved. Mr. Peake’s areas of practice include complex civil and commercial litigation, contract disputes, business torts, trade secret, confidential information and restrictive covenant disputes, fraudulent business practices, fiduciary duty litigation, construction and real property disputes, labor and employment claims, as well as personal injury, premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, vicious animal, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death claims.

Prior to establishing Shires Peake & Gottlieb, Mr. Peake was a partner with Stout Kaiser Peake & Hendrick, where he successfully litigated numerous complex civil, personal injury, and commercial matters garnering millions of dollars in judgments and recoveries for his clients. Before that, Mr. Peake was a partner with Jarrard & Davis, where he provided counsel to Forsyth, Cherokee, Barrow and Franklin Counties.

Mr. Peake received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia in 1995, and his Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1998. He is admitted to practice in all State and Superior Courts in Georgia, as well as the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Georgia, the United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Georgia, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Mr. Peake is a member of the State Bar, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the Fulton and Forsyth County Bar Associations, Leadership Resource Team, Lawyer’s Club of Atlanta, and a 2007 graduate of Leadership Forsyth. Outside of work, Mr. Peake enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, reading, live music, and UGA football. He and his wife, Emily, reside in Cumming, Georgia, with their three daughters, Caroline, Whitney, and Sara Cate.

Mr. Peake has authored several materials on employment law, including “Discrimination in the Workplace: Claims, Cases & Prevention” and “Cost Saving Measures that Impact Personnel,” as well as a presentation to the Georgia Local Government Personnel Association Spring 2010 conference entitled “Issues that Keep Local Governments in Court: Case Studies on Liability.” Mr. Peake also co-authored “Fraud in the Application – The Insured’s Perspective,” an ICLE presentation at the 18th Annual Insurance Law Institute Conference.

As a founding partner of Shires Peake & Gottlieb, LLC, Joe Gottlieb brings over 38 years of legal experience to the firm. Joe’s practice is centered on franchise and small business transactions. The depth of knowledge that he contributes to client matters completes the wide range of legal services offered by the firm to both businesses and individuals. He is regarded by his peers as a team-oriented attorney who has an aptitude for finding cost-effective solutions to legal problems faced by his clients.

Joe’s franchise law practice serves both early stage and national franchisors, as well as prospective and established franchisees, providing the preparation and registration of Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), advice and consultation on structure and expansion strategies for franchisors as well as the review and negotiation of franchise agreements for prospective franchisees. Joe provides services to small businesses and their owners in entity selection and formation, agreements between owners as well as purchase and sales of businesses. Joe serves as outside “general counsel” to many of his business clients.

Joe grew up in New York and graduated from SUNY Binghamton with honors in 1976 and obtained his law degree from St. Louis University in 1980 where he was a member of the St. Louis University Law Journal. He has practiced law in the Atlanta Georgia area since 1980. Joe, his wife Sherry and their assorted dogs and cats live on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia.

Elliott Ream represents businesses, insurers, and individuals in high-exposure civil litigation throughout Georgia. His practice focuses on catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims arising from transportation incidents, premises liability, negligent security, product liability, and complex disputes.

Elliott defends a broad range of clients—from local retailers and property owners to national trucking companies, product manufacturers, contractors, security providers, and business owners—facing significant financial and reputational risk. He participates in all phases of litigation, including early case assessment, written discovery, depositions, dispositive motion practice, mediation, trial preparation, trial and appellate work.

Elliott works closely with his clients, corporate representatives, insurers, claims professionals, and risk managers to evaluate exposure, manage litigation risk, and align strategies with broader business objectives. His approach is strategic, practical, and focused on delivering efficient, defensible outcomes in Georgia’s evolving civil litigation environment.

Primary Practice Areas

• Transportation 

• Premises Liability  

• General Liability/Negligence 

• T.V.P.R.A. Claims 

• Appellate 

 Professional Expertise

Transportation and Commercial Vehicle Litigation 

Elliott regularly defends trucking companies, commercial carriers, construction vehicle operators, ambulance services, and other commercial transportation entities in cases involving serious bodily injury and wrongful death. His work includes matters involving tractor-trailers, fleet operations, heavy equipment, and complex liability disputes. He routinely addresses accident reconstruction issues, driver qualification and training claims, negligent entrustment allegations, and corporate safety policy challenges. 

Premises Liability and Negligent Security 

Elliott represents property owners, retailers, hospitality entities, and management companies in premises liability litigation ranging from slip-and-fall claims to high-exposure negligent security cases involving violent criminal acts. He has significant experience analyzing foreseeability issues, crime history evidence, apportionment of fault, and evolving Georgia premises liability standards.  

General Liability and Complex Negligence Claims 

Elliott defends businesses and individuals in a wide range of general liability and negligence matters, including claims involving personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, and business-related torts. His experience spans construction site incidents, contractor and subcontractor disputes, negligent hiring and supervision allegations, workplace injury claims involving non-subscribers or third parties, retail and commercial property incidents, and claims involving independent contractor liability and risk transfer issues. 

Education

University of Georgia School of Law, J.D., 2016 

Bar Admissions

• Georgia 

Courts

• Supreme Court of Georgia 

• Georgia Court of Appeals 

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 

• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia 

• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia 

• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia 

Professional Affiliations

• Board Member, General Practice and Trial Law Section, State Bar of Georgia 

• Member, Georgia Defense Lawyers Association 

Honors and Recognition

• Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch, 2022–2024 

• Super Lawyers, Georgia Rising Stars, 2023–2026 

Martin A. Levinson represents businesses and individuals in all phases of the litigation process, from pre-suit investigation through litigation and appeals. Martin is admitted to all state and federal trial and appellate courts in the State of Georgia as well as the U.S. Supreme Court and he has appeared in the courts of over 60 Georgia counties and all three U.S. District Courts in Georgia. Martin has also handled numerous cases in the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Georgia.

Martin’s litigation practice includes appellate matters, premises liability with an emphasis on negligent security and other complex cases, product liability, trucking and transportation, and bad faith litigation. Martin handles matters in all phases of the litigation process, including advising clients on litigation avoidance and risk mitigation, pre-suit liability and/or coverage analysis, matters in active litigation, mediation and settlement, trial, and appeals. He is a frequent speaker and presenter on current events and hot topics on the Georgia legal landscape.

Martin has been recognized by both Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers publications. He is the President-Elect of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (GDLA).

Through his work with the GDLA, Martin has played a role in shaping the litigation and appellate landscape in Georgia. From 2015 to 2019, Martin served as Chair of the GDLA’s Amicus Curiae Committee. In that role, Martin directed the GDLA’s appellate efforts, serving as author or co-author of dozens of GDLA “friend of the court” briefs filed on issues of significant importance to the Georgia defense bar and their clients in the Georgia Court of Appeals, Supreme Court of Georgia, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Since 2019, Martin continues to contribute to the Amicus Curiae committee as Chair Emeritus.

Beginning in 2020, Martin has served as one of 5 members of the GDLA’s new Political Action Committee. Through that venture, Martin and the rest of the committee hope to effect positive change at the legislative level to promote fairness and reasonableness in civil litigation in Georgia.

Martin advises and represents individuals and businesses of all types and sizes, ranging from international food and beverage manufacturers, electronics and medical equipment manufacturers, and nationwide trucking and logistics companies to individuals and small business owners faced with litigation or other legal concerns.

Martin strongly believes that obtaining the best outcome for his client in any case requires flexibility, strategic analysis, and creativity. In every case, Martin’s primary focus is to obtain the best possible result for his client, regardless of each case’s and client’s unique circumstances.

Professional Expertise

Appellate

Martin has handled dozens of appeals in the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Georgia. He has represented his clients and the interests of the statewide Georgia Defense Lawyers Association in cases involving important issues in the areas of premises liability/negligent security, settlement offers and acceptance (including so-called “bad faith setups”), apportionment of fault, product liability, and many other topics.

Premises Liability

Martin vigorously defends businesses and individuals in all types of premises liability litigation ranging from slip-and-falls and trip-and-falls to complex negligent security matters. He has represented homeowners, small business owners, and Fortune 500 companies in these matters.

Product Liability and Food Safety

Martin represents businesses in cases alleging the manufacture and/or sale of defective products including consumer electronics, commercial equipment and machinery, HVAC equipment, and various consumer products. Through his work for one of the nation’s largest food and beverage manufacturers, Martin has also developed a sub-specialty in the area of food safety and cases involving alleged contamination and unwholesome foods.

Trucking, Transportation, and Heavy Equipment

One of Martin’s largest practice areas for the past 10 years has involved trucking and commercial transportation. Primarily, his work in this area involves accidents involving tractor-trailers, construction vehicles, ambulances, and other commercial vehicles and equipment, but he has also handled personal injury cases involving other heavy equipment such as forklifts and cases involving injuries at factories and other commercial facilities. Martin has handled numerous cases involving serious and permanent injury as well as wrongful death.

Commercial and Environmental Litigation

Martin also handles various commercial litigation matters, including business torts, contract disputes, data breach response and litigation, construction law and litigation, real estate disputes, and environmental litigation.

Services

• Appellate
• Commercial
• Premises Liability
• Product Liability
• Transportation
• Insurance

Education

• University of Georgia School of Law  (J.D., cum laude, 2004)
  • Editorial Board, Journal of Intellectual Property Law
  • Prosecutorial Clinic (Office of the Solicitor-General, Gwinnett County)
  • Senator, Student Bar Association

• University of Georgia  (B.A., 2001)

Bar Admissions

• Georgia

Courts

• Supreme Court of Georgia
• Georgia Court of Appeals
• Supreme Court of the United States
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia

Professional Affiliations

• State Bar of Georgia
  • Legislative Advisory Committee (2015-2016)

• Atlanta Bar Association
  • Commissioner, Atlanta Bar Competitive Softball League

• DeKalb Bar Association
• Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (GDLA)
  • Board of Directors (2015-present)
    • President-Elect (2025-2026)
    • Treasurer (2024-2025)
    • Secretary (2023-2024)
    • Vice President (2020-2023)
  •  
  • Member, GDLA Political Action Committee (2020-present)
  • Chair Emeritus, Amicus Curiae Committee (2019-present)
  • Chair, Amicus Curiae Committee (2015-2019)
  • Chair, Premises Liability Substantive Law Committee (2013-2015)
  • Vice Chair, Premises Liability Substantive Law Committee (2011-2013)

• DRI
• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
• Professional Liability Underwriting Society

Honors

• President’s Award, Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (2017)
• AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
• The Best Lawyers in America© (2021-2026)
  • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Transportation Law

• Georgia Super Lawyers (2020-2026)
• Georgia Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2011, 2013-2019)
• Top 100 Georgia Lawyers, Georgia Super Lawyers (2025)
• Top Lawyers, GA BIZ Magazine (2024)
• Top Rated Lawyer in ‘Insurance Law,’ American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell (2013)

Trials

• Morgan v. Douglas Asphalt and Ellis, State Court of Coffee County
• Berry v. Ramsey, Superior Court of Fulton County
• Kohler v. Van Peteghem, Superior Court of Forsyth County
• Piper v. Pritchard Industries, State Court of Fulton County
• Mulligan v. Marshalls, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
• Hunt v. Collins, State Court of Fulton County

Presentations

• “Recognizing and Combatting ‘Anchoring’ Tactics Used with Juries at Trial,” ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Regional Seminar (February 2024)
• “Applying the Collateral Source Rule in Personal Injury Trials: Medical Expenses, Insurance Write-Offs,” Strafford, Webinar (September 2021)
• “Constructing a Defense: Attempts to Erode Actual Knowledge and Other Updates in Georgia Negligent Security Law,” Georgia Defense Lawyers Association 2021 Annual Meeting, Fernandina Beach, FL (June 2021)
• “Lead in Drinking Water: Should You be Worried?” CLM Southeast Conference, Atlanta, GA (November 2018)
• “New Perspectives on Apportionment: From Georgia Courts and Beyond,” Georgia Defense Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, Palm Coast, FL (June 2018)
• “Amicus Program Update,” Georgia Defense Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, W. Palm Beach, FL (June 2017)
• “GDLA Amicus Filings Update,” Georgia Defense Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, Amelia Island, FL (June 2016)
• “Federal vs. State Court: Key Differences, Practice Pointers, and Tips for Georgia Litigators,” ICLE Trial & Error, Atlanta, GA (March 2015)
• “Managing Complex Liability Insurance Claims,” 2015 Atlanta RIMS Educational Conference, Atlanta, GA (February 2015)
• “Negotiation Strategies for Claims Professionals,” CLM Continuing Education Course, Zurich American Insurance, Chicago, IL (October 2014)
• “Who’s in Charge Here? Dealing with Difficulties that Arise Between Insurer and Insures as the Value of a Case Nears the Insured’s SIR,” CLM Transportation Conference, Chicago, IL (July 2014)
• “Deal or No Deal? Mutuality, Timing, and Other Issues Involved in Acceptance & Rejection of Settlement Offers &Demands,” Georgia Defense Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, Ponte Vedra, FL (June 2014)
• “Settlement Offers and Negotiations: Pitfalls, Pointers and Recent Developments,” CLM Georgia Event, Atlanta, GA (February 2014)
• “Transportation Claims: How to Investigate, Defend, and Resolve,” CLM Continuing Education Course, RLI Insurance, Atlanta, GA (December 2013)
• “Assessing and Addressing Insurance Fraud in the Claims Environment,” CLM Continuing Education Course, Zurich American Insurance, Chicago, IL (October 2013)
• “Advanced Strategies for Success in Mediation,” CLM Continuing Education Course, Swiss Re America, Chicago, IL (June 2013)
• “Advanced Strategies for Success in Mediation,” CLM Continuing Education Course, Kemper Insurance, Charlotte, NC (February 2013)
• “Premises Liability: Emerging Trends and a Return to the Basics?” Georgia Defense Lawyers Association CLE, Atlanta, GA (2012)

Loren A. Rafferty was born and raised in metro Atlanta. She graduated from Emory University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Mrs. Rafferty then earned her Juris Doctorate magna cum laude from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2016. She is licensed to practice in Alabama and Georgia.

Mrs. Rafferty has extensive courtroom experience and enjoys zealously defending her clients, including taking cases to conclusion with juries. Prior to joining Shires, Peake & Gottlieb, LLC, Mrs. Rafferty was an Associate Attorney at Phelps Dunbar, LLP, where she defended claims in the areas of commercial litigation, automobile accidents, premises liability, products liability, and construction litigation. Before entering civil law practice, she served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Alabama where she was a first-chair trial attorney and prosecuted cases involving capital murder, violent crimes, sex crimes, drug crimes, and crimes against children.

When she is not practicing law, Mrs. Rafferty enjoys spending time with her family and dogs, recreational shooting, fishing, any kind of arts and craft project, and cheering on the Alabama Crimson Tide!

Olivia ‘Brooke’ Durden was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Destin, Florida. She received her Juris Doctorate from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in May of 2020, completing her final year at Georgia State University’s College of Law. Ms. Durden also received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Augusta University in 2017, where she was the founding President of the Masters of Public Administration Student Association, Graduate Student Counsel Senator, and member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Troy University in 2015, Ms. Durden also competed in Division One College Tennis during her collegiate tenure.

As an attorney, Ms. Durden has been able to transform her competitive athletic spirit into zealous advocacy on behalf of her clients. She specializes in civil tort litigation and has handled cases in a variety of areas, including commercial and automotive litigation, catastrophic injury and wrongful death, general liability, insurance coverage, premises liability, professional liability, subrogation, trucking liability, and bad faith litigation. Ms. Durden is admitted to the State Bar of Georgia, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.

When she is not practicing law, Ms. Durden enjoys spending time with her family and friends, attending live sporting and musical events, as well as participating in the Atlanta Law Tennis Association.

Alexandria F. Jackson was born and raised in Troy, Alabama. She graduated from the University of Alabama in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Ms. Jackson earned her Juris Doctorate from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in 2023, where she served as Vice President of the Student Bar Association. While in law school, Ms. Jackson also earned her Master of Business Administration degree through Samford University’s joint degree program. She is licensed to practice in Alabama (and Georgia).

Ms. Jackson is passionate about providing the best possible experience to each client she has the privilege to work with. Her areas of practice include complex civil and commercial litigation, contract disputes, business torts, construction and real property disputes, labor and employment claims, personal injury claims, and wrongful death claims. In addition, Ms. Jackson defends commercial transportation claims, first-party claims, and other general liability claims.

When she is not practicing law, Ms. Jackson enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, painting, and watching Alabama football.