Taylor English Duma LLP Admits Four Attorneys to Partnership

Atlanta, Ga.

(March 2, 2022) – Taylor English Duma LLP is pleased to announce that four of our attorneys have joined the Taylor English partnership: Hugh Barnhardt, Mike Cicero, Alexandra Coons and Nida Rizvi.

“We are honored to welcome this group of remarkable attorneys to our partnership,” said Marc Taylor, chair of Taylor English. “As we continue to grow the firm, we are certain that as leaders they will continue to represent the best of Taylor English in the community and the legal market.”

Barnhardt is an intellectual property and technology lawyer with more than 20 years of in-house and law firm experience. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and focuses on patent and technology licensing, IP strategy, and patent portfolio development. Prior to Taylor English, Barnhardt worked for a Fortune 100 telecommunication equipment manufacturer. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his law degree from Emory University School of Law.

Cicero focuses his practice on patent prosecution and preparation of opinions. His work also extends to trademark prosecution and copyright matters. Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Cicero possesses patent prosecution experience in the mechanical and electromechanical arts. He also co-authored a chapter on IP Litigation appearing in Georgia Business Litigation since the 2015 Edition of that book. Cicero earned a Civil Engineering degree from The Citadel, an Electrical Engineering degree from Kennesaw State University, and his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Coons has more than twenty years’ experience in the commercial real estate arena. Her practice includes the acquisition, disposition, financing and leasing of real estate assets, such as medical office buildings, retail, multi-family, hotels, and mixed-use developments. Coons primarily represents purchasers and sellers in commercial purchase and sale transactions from the early contract negotiation stages throughout the entire deal.  Coons also represents borrowers and lenders in connection with acquisition, construction and permanent loan financings and refinancings. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and her law degree from Emory University School of Law.

Rizvi is a business-minded attorney who accepts challenges her clients face with a practical and innovative mindset that enables her to reach effective solutions for her clients. As a member of t|e General Counsel and the corporate practice, her unique, first-hand experience into her client’s business enables her to effectively guide and manage the merger and acquisition process and provide legal advice on a wide range of corporate work. Rizvi earned her undergraduate degree from Fordham University and her law degree from New York Law School.