Since its founding in 2006, the Georgia-based real estate law firm Cook & James has expanded greatly. Specializing in at-home closings, attorneys at Cook & James utilize legal expertise to facilitate the experience. And now, the firm is adding five new attorneys to their team: Kim Miller, Patrick Watts, Robert Whitesides, Bonnie Timms, and Sherri Steiner-Stewart.
Cook & James operates out of the Atlanta suburb of Roswell as well as from a satellite office in Woodstock. But the firm is also licensed to work in Connecticut, New York and South Carolina. Of the five new attorneys, Miller, Watts and Robert will work in South Carolina. Cook & James has offered services in the state since 2019, and attorney Kara Cook — a co-founder of Cook & James — is optimistic about continuing in the area. “The volume of business has picked up significantly in South Carolina so we’re thrilled to bring in these three great people to assist Stacey Besser and Chuck Biskobing, our attorneys already serving our clients in the state,” she said.
A South Carolina native, Miller previously worked for Cook & James on a contract basis. Her background is in real estate/property law, insurance defense and domestic law. Watts, who will cover the state’s Columbia area, is a former the U.S. Air Force JAG officer as well as a former bank trust officer. He’s practiced legal estate planning, business organization, real estate transactions and litigation. Whitesides will work in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Coming from his family law firm Whitesides Law Office, he’s practiced family law, estate planning and probate law and real estate law.
Timms will work around Atlanta, from the firm’s Roswell headquarters. Prior to the announcement, she had been working with Cook & James on a contractual basis. Her other experience includes litigating for an Atlanta insurance defense firm. She also is a graduate of Mercer University — where she was classmate of Cook & James co-founder Heather James.
Steiner-Stewart will be based in Putnam County, New York, north of the city. Since 2014, she’s worked on a contract basis with Cook &, supervising the New York. In addition to being quite familiar with the company, Steiner-Stewart has practiced residential real estate transactions for more than 30 years.
James looks forward to the company growth. “Kara and I are confident [these five accomplished attorneys] all will serve our valued clients with our special brand of Cook & James flair, exceptional style and professionalism… Although we’re growing exponentially, Kara and I remain committed to maintaining the very highest level of professionalism as well as throwing in copious amounts of fun and spicey personality at every closing.”