All family law. All around Georgia. All around the world.
M ay 2019
T he F amily L aw C ommitment From General Pract ice to an Acute Focal Point
M ichael Manely first started The Manely Firm 30 years ago as a general practice. However, around 20 years ago, Michael began to concentrate strictly on family law. He is often heard saying: “Family law is a calling. You’re either fit for it, or you’re not.” “The problem with general practice,” Michael says, “is that you can’t dedicate everything you have into every field. Sure, if your client base is small, running a general practice may be necessary to bring in enough business to keep you afloat. But in a place like Atlanta, with its millions of people, it’s a whole lot easier for firms to focus on one aspect of the law.” For Michael, the calling didn’t come as a sudden epiphany or a light on the road; it came from his experience. Years of handling cases in every area made him realize he was more invested in family law than any other field. To Michael, the switch was natural. Michael knows the difference it makes when a firm dedicates their time, effort, and finances to one specific field. “Law is complex, and assuming you’re excellent in every field is an exercise in egomania. You need to specialize, otherwise, you’ll never master any field.” The Manely Firm takes this in stride. Working alongside nine other attorneys, each of whom specializes in a different aspect of family law, Michael ensures that all his clients’ needs are taken care of by dedicated experts.
For Michael, it’s more than just being an expert or successful in one area; a firm and its attorneys, needs to find what they’re most passionate about and nurture that passion. He says, “For lawyers to be successful, they need to find their passion in life. I say that family law is a calling because it’s true. Those who practice family law just for the money will never be as successful as those who have a genuine passion for the field. “Attorneys with this mindset don’t care for their clients, which results in a failed relationship between them and the people they’re trying to help. Family law attorneys are successful when they’re called to this branch of law. It requires you to take care of people who are emotionally vulnerable and, if children are involved, trying to protect their kids. It’s best to be completely committed to family law, rather than just being in it half-heartedly; that won’t help anyone.”
passion for family law grow over the years. “Something I’ve noticed over the years,” Shelia says, “is that human behavior often falls into patterns. Michael has been doing this for so long that he can recognize those patterns more easily than someone who’s facing a problem or situation for the first time. That’s the kind of amazing insight that comes from specializing in one area of practice. Michael can recognize what’s going on and understand the reason behind it.” This unique insight is why the firm is often accused of being clairvoyant. Family law is complex and diverse, but because Michael has dedicated his heart and soul to it, the firm has a level of understanding light-years ahead of what a generalist could ever hope for. The Manely Firm has the experience, knowledge, and dedication to support their clients, no matter the circumstance.
Shelia, Michael’s wife and a valued team member at The Manely Firm, has watched her husband’s
1
Call For a Free Consultation: ( 866) 687-8561
P rom S afety
4 Tips to Keep Your Child Safe
Seeing gorgeous dresses, fancy suits, corsages, and boutonnieres pop up in advertisements can only mean one thing: Prom season is here! This time of year, teens are busy choosing the perfect dress or suit to wear, finding a date, making dinner reservations, and preparing for an evening of fun and dance. During this exciting time, give your teens a little encouragement and guidance to ensure they have a safe and memorable evening. CREATE A PLAN Create a plan for prom night, and make sure everyone knows what it is. Your teen should know and communicate with you
what time the dance starts, what time it ends, if they’re going anywhere after, and when they’ll be coming home. PHONES Make sure your teen’s phone is completely charged in case they need to reach out to you sometime during the night. Encourage your teen to check in once every few hours, and establish an emergency code to use if they find themselves in trouble. DRIVING You and your teen should also have a plan about the modes of transportation, who’s driving, and how many people your teen is going with. Trusting the driver is important. If you’re hesitant about letting your child be driven to prom, find
another way. If your teen is driving the family car, confirm that they will be the only person driving the vehicle. DRESS SAFETY Make sure your teen is dressed comfortably and appropriately to ensure they have a fun night without any accidents. Encourage them to wear comfortable shoes that they can walk and dance in without pain. High heels are fashionable, but they shouldn’t wear heels so high that they may fall and hurt themselves. Whatever your teen decides to wear should be comfortable and hemmed to the appropriate length based on their height.
By keeping these safety measures in mind, your teen will have a wonderful and safe evening!
T he L ife of M ichael M anely Meet the Attorney Himsel f
The Manely Firm has a deep understanding of what families are going through when they come to us for help. In addition to our extensive experience as a firm, we are also run by a blended family. Michael Manely and his wife Shelia have both gone through divorces. Their sons Bill and Matthew were born in their previous marriages, and together, they had their third son Benjamin. Having gone through every aspect of divorce, Michael understands his clients’ cases well. Michael always had the makings of a great lawyer, even when he was young. He was dedicated to helping people through some of the most stressful moments of their lives from a young age. But that isn’t the only lawyer quality he possessed. “I was told by my parents, my friends, and pretty much everyone that I would make a great lawyer because I liked to argue,” Michael admits. In addition to his love of debate, people might not know that Michael’s success in the courtroom can also be attributed to his background in philosophy, theater, and performance. “Those experiences help me quite a lot. The courtroom is a theater, and the jury is
the audience. You have to know your cues when you’re in there to ensure the jury is on your side, which also comes from knowing the different ways people think and perceive information.” Before becoming an attorney, he spent many years studying philosophy, acting, and guitar playing. It’s this enriched background that helps give Michael his commanding presence when he steps into the courtroom. Becoming an attorney has not been the only calling in Michael’s life. After leaving the courtroom, he embraces a true outdoorsman lifestyle. “I’ve always enjoyed playing in the dirt. I was in the Boy Scouts when I was younger and still love to backpack and hike.” Michael has accomplished some amazing feats. Several years ago, he embarked on a multi-day canoeing trip from the North Georgia Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico. “He also loves to garden,” Shelia says. “I often think that I married a gardener who practices law for a living.” As a man with many talents and experiences and plenty of knowledge, Michael is a person we’ve come to count on both in and out of the courtroom.
2
www.allfamilylaw.com
I nternational F amily L aw
Protecting What’s Precious to You Today Family law is a complex field with many different branches. Each of our attorneys specialize in one aspect of this law, which ensures that every one of our clients can speak with an expert in their needed branch. Our clients also have access to every other lawyer on our team, in case their situation changes. The Manely Firm is proud to offer our services and expertise in family law. Our goal is to educate clients, not only throughout Georgia but also across the globe, regarding what to expect during the court process and help them navigate it. International family law is a highly specialized area of law, which few attorneys have the experience to handle. Many difficult areas of the law include international child abduction, international child- support collection, and custody implications of international relocation of children. At The Manely Firm, each of our attorneys is incredibly experienced and focused on these particular areas of law, ensuring our clients have optimal representation. Michael Manely has helped families all over our state and the globe, often traveling locally and overseas to represent his clients. One such client is a woman who moved into the United States seeking better medical care for one of her daughters. This client had been living abroad in Istanbul, Turkey, with her husband and two daughters. One of her daughters suffered from end-stage renal disease, and to ensure her daughter would receive the treatment that could save her life, this mother and her children moved to America. However, it was only eight months after they arrived when the client’s husband opened a child abduction case against her. She sought a way to stay in the country and ensure that her daughter continued to receive proper care. “That’s when I came to find The Manely Firm,” she says. “Michael invests so much, and I could tell he was very emotional about it. He was easy to speak with and seemed to understand the situation clearly. I felt like part of a big family.” If you find yourself in a situation where you need help, call our offices today. Our expert attorneys are ready to do everything they can to make sure your family has a better tomorrow.
S hrimp S ausage S kewers
I ngredients
•
1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined 1/2 pound cooked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces
•
•
2 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
•
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
•
Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
CREOLE SEASONING INGREDIENTS
•
2 tablespoons paprika
•
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
•
1/2 tablespoon onion powder
•
1/2 tablespoon cayenne or chili powder
•
1/4 tablespoon dried oregano
•
1/4 tablespoon dried thyme
D irections
1.
Heat your grill to medium high.
2. In a bowl, combine all ingredients for creole seasoning.
3. In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, zucchini pieces, and sausage pieces, and cover them with the olive oil.
4. Add creole seasoning and mix well until all ingredients are covered.
5. Load up skewers with alternating pieces of shrimp, sausage, and zucchini until they’re full.
6. Grill skewers until shrimp are well-cooked (6–8 minutes).
Inspired by PaleoLeap.com
3
Call For a Free Consultation: ( 866) 687-8561
211 Roswell St. NE, Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 421-0808 www.allfamilylaw.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1 2 3 4
The Manely Firm Dedication
Prom Safety Tips
Team Member Highlight
Traveling Across the World
Shrimp Sausage Skewers
The Healthiest Building in New Delhi
G rowing F resh A ir A Look at the Heal thiest Bui lding in New Delhi
Imagine you are told you must leave the city you work and live in because it’s killing you. Hard to fathom, isn’t it? But this actually happened to Kamal Meattle, a researcher, activist, and New Delhi native, who was told by doctors that the city’s air quality was a threat to his health. His lung capacity had gone down 70 percent, and doctors suggested he leave New Delhi. Instead, Meattle chose to stay and find an innovative solution to his health problems and the city’s air quality crisis. New Delhi is no stranger to poor air quality. Sometimes pollution gets so bad it warrants a city-wide warning for kids to stay inside. Meattle, who studied engineering at MIT, turned to research by NASA and other organizations to address the issue. During his research, Meattle found there are three common house plants that excel at removing dangerous chemical compounds, like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide, from the air: the areca palm, the snake plant (or mother-in-law’s tongue), and the money plant. Using these plants, Meattle created an indoor plant-based air filtering system that allows his building,
the Paharpur Business Center (PBC), to cultivate all the fresh air it needs. Air entering the building is cleaned by a scrubber, then is filtered through the building’s extensive greenhouse to remove chemicals and bacteria. The greenhouse, and the rest of the building, is filled with areca palms, snake plants, and money plants. Today, the PBC is the healthiest building in New Delhi. Twenty years after Meattle rolled out his plant-based filter system, the results speak for themselves. Employee productivity has gone up 20 percent. Respiratory problems have gone down by 34 percent, headaches by 24 percent, and lung impairment by 12 percent, among other health benefits. Just stepping into Paharpur boosts your health: Blood oxygen levels go up by 1 percent after 10 hours in the PBC. Meattle has remained in New Delhi and is set on helping other Indian businesses replicate his plant-based system, so they can grow their own fresh air. As he says of his decision to stay, “Either you are overwhelmed by the fact that there are so many problems and so many people, or you find solutions to help in any way you can.”
4
www.allfamilylaw.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Annual report