Partner
Upon passing the bar exam, one of Gary’s first cases was against George Stern. At the conclusion of that case, Gary joined Stern Edlin Graham Family Law, P.C. in February 2000 where he has exclusively practiced divorce and family law. Gary became a partner of the firm in December 2010.
Gary was the winning attorney in the precedent setting and extremely contentious divorce case of Miller vs. Miller, 288 Ga. 274 (2010). The Miller case established for the first time appropriate methods to value a professional business for equitable division of property purposes, and further solidified existing law on transforming separate property to marital property.
Gary currently serves the leadership functions of Past Chair of the Family Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association, and as Vice-Chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia.
Gary is a frequent lecturer at professional seminars and continuing legal education courses and has authored numerous articles on a range of domestic relations issues, which is a testament to his superior knowledge of family law. Gary is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, which is a distinction by the Bench and Bar as being an expert practitioner in complex divorce and family law matters.
Gary’s success in complex divorce and family law cases is attributable not only to his knowledge and experience, but also to his unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on his clients’ and their children’s lives. Gary patiently and empathetically navigates his clients through the difficult period of divorce and other family law matters from the first meeting until the case’s conclusion.
Gary enjoys coaching his daughters’ basketball and baseball teams, and is an avid sports’ fan.
Areas of Practice
- High Net Worth Divorce
- Complex Custody Cases
- Family Law Matters
- Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements
- Modifications of Custody
- Modifications of Child Support and Alimony
- Enforcement of Orders by way of Contempt and other Actions
Bar Admissions
- Georgia, 1999
Education
- JD, Cum Laude, from Mississippi College School of Law, 1999
- B.S. Degree in Justice Studies from Georgia Southern University, 1996
Professional Leadership
Professional Organizations
- Vice-Chair, Executive Committee of the Family Law Section – State Bar of Georgia, 2016-Present
- Secretary, Executive Committee of Family Law Section – State Bar of Georgia, 2015-2016
- Immediate Past Chair of Family Law Section – Atlanta Bar Association, 2015-2016
- Editor of the Family Law Review, Executive Committee of the Family Law Section – State Bar of Georgia, 2014 – 2015
- Chair of Family Law Section – Atlanta Bar Association, 2014-2015
- Vice-Chair of Family Law Section - Atlanta Bar Association, 2013-2014
- Secretary of Family Law Section - Atlanta Bar Association, 2012-2013
- Treasurer of the Family Law Section - Atlanta Bar Association, 2011-2012
- Member at Large on the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section - State Bar of Georgia, 2011-2014
- Member at Large of the Family Law Section - Atlanta Bar Association, 2006-2011
Lectures & Publications
- Authored and Presented “Rapid Fire: Things You Must Know – Requests to Admit” at the
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers seminar presented by ICLE in December
2019 - Contributor, “Navigating a Divorce in a Family Owned Business,” Atlanta Business
Chronical, February 16, 2019 - Chair, 35th Annual Family Law Institute, “Anatomy of Divorce and Family Law Case from
Start to Finish”, May 2016 - Authored and Presented “Should I Stay or Should I Go – Jurisdictional Considerations of Relocation for Custody and Support under the UCCJEA and UIFSA” at the AAML Tri-State Conference, June 2016
- Co-authored and Co-Presented “Jury Instructions and Verdict Forms for Child Support” at the 34th Annual Family Law Institute, May 2015.
- Authored and Presented “Emerging Issues in Georgia Equitable Division” at the 2016 Winter Conference and Educational Sessions for Superior Court Judges, January 2016
- Chair, "Nuts and Bolts of Family Law" seminars presented by ICLE, August and October, 2015
- Authored and Presented “Emerging Issues in Equitable Division of Property” at the 33rd Annual Family Law Institute, May 2015
- Authored and Co-Presented “Avoiding Ethical Traps: Professional Responsibility vs. Client Advocacy” at the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers seminar presented by ICLE in December 2014
- Co-chaired the seminar presented by the Family Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association entitled “Mental Health Issues and Their Impact on Divorce and Child Custody” in September 2014
- Authored and Presented “Moving the Ball Forward – Communication with the Other Side” at the 32nd Annual Family Law Institute, May 2014
- Moderator of the Judges’ Panel, “Current Financial Topics in Family Law” Seminar, Atlanta Bar Association Family Law Section and Georgia Society of CPA’s Forensic & Valuation Services Section, February 2014
- Moderator, “Where Worlds Collide – Bankruptcy & Family Law” Webinar, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, January 2014
- Co-chaired the Family Law Seminar of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Georgia Chapter, presented by ICLE in December 2013
- Moderator, “Let’s Make a Deal – Negotiating the Divorce Settlement” Webinar, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, August 2013
- Co-Presented “Suddenly Single” at “A Special Event by SignatureWOMEN”of Signature FD, June 2013 and April 2014
- Authored and Presented “Work Product Doctrine – Tips for Protecting Your Experts” at the 31st Annual Family Law Institute, May 2013
- Co-Presented “Five Common Financial Mistakes in Divorce” at the Visions Anew Institute's Hot Shot series in May 2013
- Authored and Presented “Does Adultery Matter Anymore” at the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers seminar presented by ICLE in December 2012
- Presented “Legal Issues in a Divorce, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (Settlement vs. Trial)” at the “Divorce 101 Seminar for Men” presented by Visions Anew in November 2012
- Jointly presented “Valuation Issues in Divorce” at the annual state chapter meeting for the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts in October 2012
- Co-chaired the seminar presented by the Family Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association entitled “Mental Health Issues in Family Law Practice” in August 2012
- Authored and Presented “Cutting Edge Marketing” at the 30th Annual Family Law Institute, May 2012
- Co-chaired the seminar presented by the Family Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association entitled “Jury Trials in Family Law” in February 2012
- Jointly presented “Advanced Tax Issues in Divorce” at the January 2012 Family Law Seminar presented by the Georgia Society of CPAs
- Authored and Presented "What Miller Means" at the "Nuts and Bolts of Family Law" seminars presented by ICLE in 2011
- Authored and Presented “Essential Information on the Use of Experts in Family Law Disputes” at the “New Developments in Expert Testimony in Georgia” seminar presented by ICLE in 2011
- Co-chaired the seminar presented by the Family Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association entitled “Family Law Updates and Practice Pointers” in 2010
- Authored and Presented “Managing Client’s Expectations and Other Dilemmas Faced by Family Law Attorneys, and What Professionalism Is Not" at the seminar presented by the Family Law Section of Atlanta Bar Association in 2009
- Presented on the issue of Ethics at the May 2006 Georgia Psychological Association - Family Law Institute Joint Conference
- Authored and Presented "Obtaining Passports for Children of Divorced Parents and Other Considerations" at the 2004 Annual Family Law Institute
Professional Honors & Leadership
- Chair, Family Law Section – State Bar of Georgia, 2017-2018
- Chair, Family Law Section – Atlanta Bar Association, 2014-2015
- Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Honored by Atlanta Magazine as a Georgia Rising Star - Super Lawyer
- Honored as a Legal Elite, Georgia Trend Magazine
- Ten Leaders of Divorce Law of Greater Atlanta, Inducted 2014, Ten Leaders
Significant Cases
- Winning trial and appellate attorney in the precedent setting divorce case of Miller vs. Miller, 288 Ga. 274 (2010). The Miller case established for the first time appropriate
methods to value a professional business for equitable division of property purposes,
and further solidified existing law on transforming separate property to marital
property.
Representative Cases
- Miller v. Miller, 288 GA. 274, 705 S.E. 2d 839 (Supreme Court of Georgia 2010)
- Pineres v. George, 284 GA. 483, 668 S.E. 727 (Supreme Court of Georgia 2008)