Attorneys

Our attorneys work closely with clients to help them accomplish their goals and objectives through effective communication and joint decision making. We are always responsive to the needs of the clients and we make a special effort to communicate the status of litigation so that the current objectives of the client can be met.

• William P. Claxton

  William P. Claxton

  

  William P. Claxton is the founder and partner with CLAXTON & CLAXTON, LLC whose work includes representation of insurers, their insureds and Special Investigation Units as well as defending insurers and their insureds in matters regarding general insurance defense and liability litigation, as well as a broad spectrum of insurance matters, including first party and third-party bodily injury claims, auto theft, arson, life and health insurance maters, residential and commercial property losses, staged theft losses, agency and errors and omission coverage. He is admitted to practice in Georgia and Tennessee. Bill has served as lead counsel in over one hundred fifty (150) jury trials in State and Federal Courts in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio, California, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. He has extensive appellate experience before the Georgia Court of Appeals, Georgia Supreme Court, Tennessee Court of Appeals, Tennessee Supreme Court, as well as the United States Sixth Circuit and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal. He is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Middle District of Georgia, Southern District of Georgia, Eastern District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Southern District of Ohio, Western District of Wisconsin, Middle and Northern District of Florida and the Northern District of Alabama. He represents insurers in matters throughout the South Eastern states. For the past fifteen years, Bill has enjoyed an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which reflects the highest standards of competency, knowledge, professionalism and ethics as judged by fellow attorneys and judges.

  Now into his twenty-fourth year of practice, Mr. Claxton has lectured on a number of occasions at seminars for attorneys and the insurance industry, as well as at in-house training seminars on topics pertaining to insurance claims. He has spoken at the International Convention of the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU) in San Francisco, Minneapolis, Naples, Tucson, Charlotte, Dallas, Palm Springs and Albuquerque. His presentations at these seminars were recognized as among the very highest rated among attendees. He was also on the Program of the Convention of the Insurance Committee for Arson Control (ICAC) in Kansas City in 1994. He also presented a program on Insurance Fraud to the American Society for Industrial Security in Boston in 1995. He has written articles for several publications, including the Journal of Law and Education and is co-author of two books - Anatomy of the Automobile Accident Case and Understanding Coverages and Handling Auto Insurance Claims.

  Mr. Claxton serves as General Counsel to the Georgia Chapter of the International Association of Special Investigation Units and is a Master of the American Inns of Court - Lamar Inn. Bill is a member of the Lawyers Club of Atlanta, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, American Society for Industrial Security, Atlanta Claims Association, Middle Georgia Claims Association, Georgia Fire Investigators Association, International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), American Bar Association, Atlanta Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association and Georgia Bar Association serving in the Sections on Tort and Insurance Practice and Insurance Defense Law and Litigation. He is an Instructor at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) National Academy and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).

  William received his undergraduate degree in 1979 from King College and subsequently attended the University of Tennessee. He obtained his law degree in 1986 from Walter F. George School of Law of Mercer University. He was born in Bryson City, North Carolina.

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• Leslie H. Claxton

  Leslie H. Claxton

  

  Leslie H. Claxton is a partner with CLAXTON & CLAXTON, LLC. prior to joining the firm, Ms. Claxton was lead counsel in general liability matters as in-house counsel to two insurance carriers. Leslie also serves as an Appellate Justice for over sixty (60) Licensing Boards under the auspices of the Georgia Secretary of State. She was appointed to this position by Secretary of State Cathy Cox in 1998 and has considered over one hundred appeals from cases involving alleged wrongdoing against primarily medical doctors, nurses and pharmacists which often results in the loss of their ability to practice in Georgia.

  Now into her twenty-third year of practice, Leslie has conducted a large number of civil jury trials throughout the State, as lead counsel. Her practice is primarily related to first and third party bodily injury claims, auto theft, residential and commercial property losses and common carrier litigation. She also represents insurers on general liability matters as well as providing representation of insurers in coverage disputes and declaratory judgment actions in both state and federal courts. She is admitted to practice in Georgia State and Superior Courts, the Northern District of Georgia, the Middle District of Georgia, as well as before the Georgia Court of Appeals, Georgia Supreme Court and Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Her representation of insurers includes matters throughout the southeastern states.

  Leslie received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which reflects the highest standards of competency, knowledge, professionalism and ethics as judged by fellow attorneys and judges.

  Leslie graduated from King College with a Degree in History in 1983. While attending King College she served as Treasurer to the Student Government Association, Chairman of the Constitution Revision Committee and was the recipient of the 1983 Distinguished Service Award. She graduated from the Walter F. George School of Law of Mercer University in 1987 where she was a member of the Deans List.

  She is a member of the Atlanta Claims Association, Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL) Atlanta Bar Association, and Georgia Bar Association. Leslie was born in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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• Darcy S. DuVal

  Darcy S. DuVal

  

  Darcy S. DuVal is a Senior Associate with CLAXTON & CLAXTON, LLC and represents litigants in first party and third-party bodily injury claims, auto property losses, common carrier litigation, declaratory judgment actions, insurance fraud, as well as commercial and residential property losses. She is also experienced in the handling of general liability claims and representation of insurers and their insureds in cases involving acts of negligence and other tort claims.

  She is admitted to practice in Georgia and has served as lead and co-counsel in several trials. Darcy is admitted to practice before the Georgia Court of Appeals and Supreme Court as well as the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Georgia and Middle District of Georgia

  Darcy graduated from the University of California - San Diego with a degree in Psychology in 1991. While at U.C. San Diego she was a member of the Provost Honor Roll. She attended the University of New Mexico School of Law, graduating in 2000 with Clinical Honors. She also served as Vice Magister - Phi Delta Phi at UNM.

  Darcy is a Barrister of the American Inns of Court (Lamar Inn), Georgia Fire Investigators Association, and Georgia Bar Association, where she is a member of the Younger Lawyers Section. Darcy competes in various Marathons and is also an avid competitor with her Vizsla, Bart, in Field Trials and Hunt Tests. She was born in Chicago, Illinois.

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• Emily K. Norris

  Emily K. Norris

  

  Emily Norris is an associate and the newest member of  CLAXTON & CLAXTON, LLC. Emily  represents litigants in first party and third-party bodily injury claims, auto property losses, common carrier litigation, declaratory judgment actions, insurance fraud, and commercial and residential property losses. She also handles general liability claims and representation of insurers and their insureds in cases involving acts of negligence and other tort claims.  Emily is admitted to practice in Georgia, including the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court.  She is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia as well as the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
  
  Emily graduated magna cum laude from Georgia College & State University with dual degrees in Criminal Justice and Political Science in 2008. While attending GC&SU, she played for the Bobcats Women's Soccer team on a four-year athletics scholarship, served on the NCAA Student Athletic Advisory Committee, and was named to the Peachbelt Presidential Honor Roll. She also received the Outstanding Major Award for her department and was appointed Captain of the GC&SU Legal Research Team.
  
  After completing her undergraduate studies, Emily attended Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law and received her Juris Doctorate in 2011. During her time at Mercer, Emily worked at the Bibb County District Attorney's Office where she was able to prosecute cases under Georgia's Third Year Practice Act. Emily competed on Mercer's Herbert Wechsler Moot Court Team as well as Mercer's National Mock Trial Team, and won first place in Mercer's Intra-School Mock Trial Competition. Emily was also a member of the Mercer Advocacy Council, Association of Women Law Students, and National Security Law Society while in law school.
  
  Emily is an avid runner and enjoys jogging with her Goldendoodle, Dudley. She continues to play soccer and frequently goes snowboarding during the winter months in North Carolina and Colorado.  She was born in Greenville, South Carolina.
  
  

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