Standing up for you.
Georgia has a rich tradition of trial lawyers who lived and breathed their clients’ cases, changing lives by breaking through the tunnel vision of prosecutors, helping judges see the person behind the case number, and guiding juries to understand why a defendant is not guilty. But lawyers with that level of commitment have always been the exception rather than the rule. The consequence: our history has as many examples of justice denied than it has of fair trials with just outcomes.
The South has a complicated history in its treatment of those facing criminal charges. With systems built to protect the powerful, defending against the full force of the government can feel overwhelming. But that history is still being written—and New South Law is here to help shape the new narrative: your narrative.
You have a story to tell. We want to tell it.
In-House Team
Michael A. Schwartz
Michael Schwartz is an attorney in Savannah. His practice focuses on defending individuals whose conduct has been misunderstood by people in positions of power.
A Colorado native who grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, Michael graduated from the University of Denver with degrees in economics and public policy before enrolling at the Chicago-Kent College of Law. Law school in Chicago meant access to some of the premier criminal defense training in the country, and Michael focused his coursework and clinical work on advanced criminal defense techniques. After internships in Chicago with the Cook County Public Defender (at the infamous “busiest courthouse in America”) and the United States Navy, he graduated law school in 2007 and commissioned in the United States Air Force.
In the Air Force, where “JAG” attorneys are required to serve as prosecutors before they earn the privilege to be assigned as defense counsel, Michael learned what it meant to build a case as a prosecutor. He also learned what he already knew: he didn’t like it. In most cases, confinement does not serve the purpose people believe it serves. And it’s far too easy for the government to lock people up.
Promoting to a position as an Air Force defense lawyer —essentially a public defender for Airmen accused of crimes, including special operators assigned to the Joint Special Operations Command at Ft. Bragg, NC—Michael excelled. He learned how to use a defendant’s good qualities to help them in their cases. He obtained acquittals in a variety of cases and learned how to develop mitigation evidence on behalf of people who had suffered trauma in their military service. And he was exposed to some of the most complex criminal litigation in the country. As an Air Force judge advocate and later a Department of Defense civilian attorney, he commuted for six years between Washington, D.C., and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he defended detainees facing trials before military commissions.
Michael moved to Savannah in 2018 for a job with the Georgia Capital Defender, the state agency responsible for defending people Georgia prosecutors are trying to kill. He continues to assist in death penalty cases but entered private practice in 2021, allowing him to focus on a broader selection of cases, not only murders.
In addition to his criminal defense practice, Michael is the executive director of Safety Valve Project, Inc., a Georgia nonprofit providing free assistance to public school students facing allegations before school tribunals.
Nicole A. Fussell
Nicole has been a legal assistant to Savannah’s top criminal defense lawyers for more than 15 years. Her knowledge of local criminal courts and the ins and outs of every facet of the lifespan of a criminal case makes her a valuable member of the New South Law team. A native of Effingham County, Nicole now lives in the Georgia mountains.
Of Counsel
Karin E. Kissiah
Karin Kissiah is a distinguished criminal defense attorney with over twenty years of experience in both trial and appellate courts. She has tried cases before juries in Georgia, Virginia, and the Military Commissions at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. Karin’s expertise ranges from handling drunk driving offenses to complex cases involving racketeering and capital murder. As a former public defender and capital defender, she has represented indigent clients in some of the most challenging legal battles, ensuring they receive the best possible representation.
Karin’s notable achievements include serving as lead counsel in approximately twenty death penalty cases, where she directed and coordinated defense teams, including the use of distinguished experts, with none of her clients being sentenced to death.
Karin’s judicial experience as a substitute judge in Virginia’s 19th Judicial Circuit further underscores her comprehensive understanding of the legal system.
In addition to her practice, Karin is a respected educator and speaker on criminal and capital defense issues. She has taught death penalty jurisprudence and lectured extensively on topics such as capital punishment, racial discrimination in the criminal legal system, and the legal representation of mentally ill and intellectually disabled persons. She has also trained other attorneys through Continuing Legal Education seminars.
Her commitment to criminal defense, coupled with her extensive trial experience and dedication to legal education, makes her a valuable asset to any case.
Karin holds a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and a Bachelor’s Degree from New York University. She is licensed to practice law in Georgia and Virginia, and she continues to advocate passionately those charged in the legal system.
Steven J. Woodward
Steven earned a J.D. from Georgetown University in 2015, where he was a member of the American Criminal Law Review and Criminal Defense and Prisoner Advocacy Clinic.
He has nearly a decade of criminal defense experience at both the state and federal level.
He previously practiced law in the State of Washington and Maryland and now resides in Savannah. He is admitted to practice in Georgia Superior Courts and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, where he is an active member of the CJA panel.
Request A Free Consultation
” * ” Indicates Required Fields
"*" indicates required fields
© 2024 New South Law LLC. All rights reserved.
Digital Marketing By 