About Us

DeWitte, the firm’s founding partner, has focused on construction and surety law for over four decades. DeWitte is experienced and knowledgeable in the surety industry in its entirety, from legal issues to underwriting and claims, having litigated countless civil cases in the areas of surety law and construction.  Mr. Thompson is well recognized as one of the nation’s premier lawyers in the surety/construction field, as evidenced by his numerous publications and seminar presentations on the same to clients and other lawyers. DeWitte’s skills and achievements have long been recognized, including by Martindale-Hubbell with an AV rating, and by Super Lawyers Magazine. 

DeWitte is originally from Memphis, TN. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree and his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Georgia where former Secretary of State Dean Rusk was his student advisor.  He is also a member of the Attenders and Alumni of the Hague International Academy of Law in Holland. 

Following graduation from law school, DeWitte began his legal career in 1975 as a general practitioner in Douglasville, Georgia.  In 1976, he started his current firm, now Thompson Law Group, LLC, in Atlanta, Georgia.  He has been the senior partner at this firm for the last 41 years, and he is admitted to both the Georgia and Florida Bar Associations.  He also has been admitted Pro Hac Vice in approximately 15 other states.  He has handled surety cases before the United States Supreme Court, as well as the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 11^th Circuit, 9^th Circuit, and 5^th Circuit, and many other courts in the United States.

DeWitte has published papers with and delivered presentations to the American Bar Association Fidelity & Surety Committee, the American Bar Association Forum Committee on the Construction Industry, the American Surety Association, the National Bond Claims Association, the National Association of Surety Bond Producers, and The National Association of Independent Sureties.

DeWitte is the author of several books & articles, including: When the Bottom Drops Out; Bankruptcy and Its Effect on Claims-Use of Receiverships in Lieu of Bankruptcy-Advantages and Disadvantages, The American Bar Association Forum Committee on the Construction Industry Mid-Winter Meeting, 2003;  Good Faith and Fair Dealings—A Contract is a Contract . . . Is a Tort?, The American Bar Association Forum Committee on the Construction Industry, 2001; Editor, The Fidelity & Surety Desk Reference Book, 2006; Contributing Author, The American Bar Association Performance Bond Manual. 2006.

In his spare time, DeWitte enjoys golf, jiu-jitsu, reading, and spending time with his wife Millie, his two children De and Taylor, and his beloved dogs.

Kelley Herrin has been a civil litigator for over 20 years.  She has extensive experience in handling commercial surety and liability insurer issues, defenses, and claims, as well as medical malpractice claims.

Kelley represents sureties, insurers, and business entities and individuals, and she also serves as general counsel for Georgia Pack and Load Moving and Storage, Inc., a local dynamic moving company.

In 2009, Kelley was named a “Rising Star” in Super Lawyers Magazine.  Kelley has been a member of the firm since 2007.

Kelley graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial Engineering in 1994.  While at Georgia Tech, Kelley worked as an electromagnetism physics instructor, was a member and the treasurer of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority and served as a Solid Gold Football Recruiting Hostess.  Kelley then went on to law school at the University of Georgia, where she graduated in 1997.  While in law school, Kelley was an articles editor for the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law.

Kelley currently assists with management of Thompson Law Group, LLC.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, and spending time outdoors.

John Alexander has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 2001.  He has been a civil litigator for over 20 years.  John is active in all areas of the firm’s practice and appears in all trial and appellate courts throughout the State, focusing on surety and construction litigation.  John is also proficient in corporate formation, lien law, probate matters, and estate planning, including wills, trusts, healthcare directives, guardianships, and all types of powers of attorneys.  John has extensive experience in meeting his clients’ needs. 

John received his undergraduate degree from Georgia State University in Business Administration with a focus in Risk Management and Insurance, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Mercer with a focus in Accounting, and his law degree from Texas A&M School of Law.

John serves his country as an Assistant Judge Advocate with the Georgia State Defense Force and is a member of the Finance Council at his church.

John Alves has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 2011. He has been a civil litigator for over 10 years. He has extensive experience in handling all stages of personal injury and medical malpractice actions from the filing of the complaint all the way to trial and beyond. John works fervently for his client’s rights and to accomplish his clients’ goals. Since joining Thompson Law Group, LLC, John has focused his practice on surety law and construction law.

In 2008, John graduated summa cum laude from Georgia Statute University with an undergraduate degree in Political Science and a focus in pre-law. Knowing he always wanted to be a lawyer, John immediately applied to and ultimately received his Juris doctorate degree in 2011 from Georgia State University College of Law. During law school, John interned with the Honorable Judge Alford J. Dempsey, Jr in the Superior Court of Fulton County and tried criminal matters as an intern to the Fulton County Solicitor’s Office under the Third-Year Practice Act.

In his spare time, John enjoys hiking, running, tennis, and spending quality time with those important to him.

Michael Paul was recently admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2021, after beginning law school at Cumberland School of Law at Samford University then receiving his law degree from John Marshall Law School in 2019. Prior to joining the firm, Michael worked for an IT company drafting and negotiating software and professional services contracts. During law school, he interned with one of the country’s largest utility companies where he acquired experience with procurement and construction contracts. Michael obtained his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from the University of Georgia in Environmental Science in 2013. Michael is active in all areas of the firm’s practice. In his spare time, Michael enjoys golfing, running, and fly fishing.