The Atlanta Lawyer - Official Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association Nov

lris Attorney Spotlight: Yolvondra Martin-Brown I n the seventeen years since Yolvondra Martin-Brown opened the doors to her firm, the Martin Group LLC, she has worn a lot of hats. While her previous corporate and government ventures taught her many skills, it wasn't until Attorney Martin-Brown fulfilled her dream of inaugurating her own firm that she grappled with the "business side" of enterprise. With a mind for justice and the hereditary acumen that could only be derived from a family of entrepreneurs, Attorney Martin-Brown took the learning curve in stride and became a well-respected and active member of the Atlanta legal community. Attorney Martin-Brown received her Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance from Loyola University in Chicago, after which she attended the University of Minnesota's Law School for her Juris Doctor. Upon opening the Martin Group in 1996, she transitioned from predominately commercial leasing, corporate, and banking work to specializing in consumer bankruptcies and family law. Attorney Martin-Brown credits her adroitness in these fields to bankruptcy's straightforward nature and the trial by fire she triumphed when she volunteered over 240 hours to represent primarily family law clients through the nonprofit Justice for All. A recent Modest Means client, who came to the program desperately entangled in a divorce case with precarious immigration undertones, wrote of Attorney Martin-Brown: "Thanks a million for helping me locate an attorney that could help me. I am without a job and after calling several law firms, I almost gave up before calling you. She is a life saver." Attorney Martin-Brown has accepted more Modest Means referrals than any other panel member this year, and she is very serious about her contribution to serving those that fit its parameters: "Not everyone can afford our fees," she says, "but everyone deserves excellent representation. If they are willing to meet me halfway fee-wise, I want them to get the same fair shot in court...because a lot of these issues are going to be life changing." Even though she is leaving us for a brief while to traverse the Western Mediterranean, the Atlanta Bar LRIS would like to thank Attorney Martin-Brown for her dedication and service throughout the years to both the Atlanta public and legal community. The Martin Law Group has bolstered its reputation by adhering to three simple principles: response (staff attempts to contact all clients within four business hours), caring, and competency. Attorney Martin-Brown exhibits these qualities in her dedication to mentoring and community service, where, in addition to her commitment to the Atlanta Bar's Lawyer Referral and Modest Means Programs, she has also served as a board member for the Gate City Bar Association, chaired the Solo/Small Firm Section of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, as well as supported GABWA's Women-to-Women Mentoring program, a practice she deems critical to the prospects of future legal leaders. Most recently she has been seen in the Always Wanted to Dance Company, performing for seniors and other groups as a form of joyful community service. 22 THE ATLANTA LAWYER November 2013 The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association

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