Pecan Grove Mediation The Neutral You Need

Wes grew up in Mableton. He graduated from Kennesaw State with a business degree. He then attended Georgia State Law, graduating in 2007 magna cum laude.

Wes has practiced at Dunlap Gardiner, LLP since 2009.  As an attorney, he's represented clients in a wide-range of matters, including business disputes, real property matters, and bankruptcy proceedings. A large part of his practice is advising clients on how to resolve disputes and ensuring that his clients are complying with any laws and regulations 

that may be applicable.

He's admitted in the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Court of Appeals of Georgia, the Superior and lower courts in Georgia, and the Northern, Middle and Southern 

Districts of Georgia.   

Early in his career, Wes saw the benefits of a good mediator. In a case involving several large banks, a national car auction, and several car dealers, a skilled mediator helped the parties reach an agreement, where that seemed impossible when the parties walked in that morning. In a bankruptcy matter, the parties had numerous motions pending, and both sides were dug in and ready to fight. By the end of a mediation session, the parties shook hands with a resolution. 

Wes understands the pressure and stress that a client is under when there is litigation:

 these clients have consulted and relied on Dunlap Gardiner for 10 years. Wes also 

sees the relief (and often joy) a client 

has when a matter is resolved.

As a mediator, Wes strives to have the parties reach an agreement that will be as beneficial as possible for all parties involved.  His philosophy as a mediator will be to come up with creative and practical solutions in order to bring a satisfactory end to disputes between businesses and/or individuals.

Wes lives in Powder Springs with his wife, Angeleah, his sons Zade and Ty, and his daughter, Marlee. 

Brian M. Gardiner graduated from Clayton State University with a Bachelor’s of Science, Cum Laude, in 2003.  Brian then began working full-time for the Clayton County District Attorney’s office as a Victim Witness Coordinator, and began law school at the Georgia State University College of Law at the same time. 

 While attending law school, Brian began working in Employee Relations for the Georgia Department of Human Resources conducting internal investigations, dealing with employment law matters, and assisting the Department in Administrative Hearings.  In 2007, Brian graduated with a Juris Doctor from the Georgia State College of Law. 

While working full-time and attending the Georgia State College of Law, Brian was a member of the College of Law Moot Court Board, was a Teaching Assistant for Property I & II, received the for Academic Excellence (the top student in the class) in Litigation, and was elected as an Honor Court Justice by his peers. 

While working as a Staff Attorney in Henry County Superior Court, Brian assisted in drafting and researching opinions on a variety of subjects including the following:  divorce, child custody, the applicability and interpretation of covenants that run with land, Homeowner Association matters, vicarious and secondary liability in tort cases, employer liability in discrimination cases, and the applicability and interpretation of the law pertaining to business disputes.   His knowledge of the judicial side of dispute resolution will assist you in settling your case.  

Brian's law practice has seen him resolve thousands of cases and he has participated in countless mediations. His practice experience includes real property disputes, finance company disputes, divorce and domestic cases, personal injury cases, contract disputes, and numerous other cases involving civil and domestic litigation.  His experience in these matters is uniquely positioned to assist you in resolving your case.  

Brian is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Court of Appeals of Georgia, the Superior and lower courts in Georgia, and the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia.  During his practice Brian has appeared in State, Superior, and Magistrate Courts all over the state and has practiced before the Georgia Court of Appeals.  

He has also practiced in the federal court in the Northern District of Georgia.  He has been lead counsel in thousands of cases across the state.  He has also been the featured speaker for education seminars regarding real property and community association matters.

Brian currently resides in McDonough, Georgia, with his wife Stephanie and is the proud father of his son Jackson, daughter Hayden, and son Holden.  Brian enjoys baseball, golf, tennis, reading, coaching, and spending time with his family.  

Brian has served as the President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Henry County Bar Association.  Brian also served as a Mock Trial Coach for the Regional Champion Ola High School Mock Trial Team for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, school years and in 2011, and 2012 served as regional coordinator for the Henry County Mock Trial Competition.  

The Honorable Judge James T. Chafin, III, “Jim” retired from the State Court of Henry County in 2019 after 16 years on the bench. During that time, he presided over hundreds of civil and criminal matters.

In the civil arena he has presided over trials including wrongful death, medical mal-practice, personal injury from motor vehicle accident cases, premises liability and contract disputes. 

Since stepping down from the bench, he has continued as a Senior Judge presiding over civil trials throughout the metro area, including Henry, Fulton, Fayette, Clayton, and Spalding counties.

After graduating from Georgia State College of Law in 1988, Jim had a general practice in McDonough representing injured parties and as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the Henry County Department of Family and Children Services until being appointed to the bench in 2003.

Jim has a business back ground, having run his family’s furniture store in McDonough while attending law school and then managing his own law practice. He understands making payroll, zealously representing clients and meeting customers’ expectations while managing a business.

Rounding out his life experience, Jim graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served 30 years in the military holding positions at all levels of responsibility and retiring from the Air Force Reserves as a full Colonel in 2006.

As a mediator, Jim’s legal and judicial experience in multiple venues coupled with his life experience helps him quickly identify the core issues that should motivate each side to resolve the case. Because he has handled a wide variety of matters as a judge, he is also uniquely qualified to facilitate discussion of substantive legal issues that may determine the outcome at trial if the case is not settled at mediation.

• Personal Injury both motor vehicle and premises liability
• Medical Malpractice
• Business/Commercial
• Real Estate/Property, Construction, and Estate/Probate/Trusts 
• $700 Per Hour with 2 Hour Minimum / $350 Per Side