Awards & Recognitions

On May 2^nd, 2006 Ed Garland was honored with the Atlanta Bar Association “Leadership Award”, which is presented to members of the Atlanta Bar who inspire by their example, challenge by their deeds,and remind us all of our debt to our profession and our community.

Don Samuel’s long career in criminal defense was launched with a phone call at 11 o’clock one evening in the fall of 1982. It was his managing partner, Ed Garland. Click here to read more.

In the 2006 edition of Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite Ed Garland was featured on the cover and Don Samuel was profiled. Click here to read the 2006 feature.

Ed Garland was featured in the Summer 2007 edition of Southern Seasons Magazine. In the article, titled “Legendary Lawyer”, Ed explained that; “When you defend an accused that the community condemns, your skin has to be thick enough not to care what the public thinks of you. The criminal defense lawyer is liberty’s last champion.” Click here to read the article on Ed.

Ed Garland was featured on the cover of the 2012 edition of Georgia “SuperLawyers.”

Ed was also profiled in an article entitled “The Master Storyteller”, in which he was quoted as saying; “It is so important that the law be applied to protect and benefit the citizen…Protect the rights of the most condemned. If you do that, you will protect the rights of the innocent.” Ed Garland (Top 10) and Don Samuel (Top 100) have been listed in “SuperLawyers” every year since 2004.

International Network of Boutique Law Firms (INBLF) is a network of highly credentialed single-discipline boutique law firms, across the United States and Canada. The INBLF brings together leading boutique firms across a full range of legal specialties in major commercial centers throughout the United States and Canada. The INBLF is not an organization a lawyer or law firm can join by paying a fee. The INBLF carefully reviews the qualifications each potential member and invites only those who represent the highest level of knowledge, experience, and reputation to join. Each member carries credentials comparable or superior to what can be found at the highest-ranking full-service firms, without the insulating layers of intermediate attorneys between the client and the lawyer, and without the concomitant exorbitant billing rates.

The International Academy of Trial Lawyers is a group of elite trial lawyers representing both sides of the Bar: prosecutors and defense lawyers in criminal cases, and plaintiffs’ and defense counsel in civil litigation. While the majority of the Fellows come from the U.S., the Academy includes lawyers from more than 30 countries. Fellowship is by invitation only, and trial lawyers are invited to become Fellows only after an extremely careful vetting process. As to U.S. Fellows, the Academy’s bylaws limit Fellowship to 500 active trial lawyers under the age of 70. The Academy’s purposes are to promote reforms in the law, facilitate the Administration of Justice, promote the Rule of Law internationally, and elevate the standards of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession. Ed Garland is a member.

American Board of Criminal Lawyers (ABCL) was founded in June 1978 as an exclusive national, legal, honorary society for outstanding criminal trial lawyers, with admission to fellowship by invitation only. To possess sufficient qualification for admission to fellowship, members must have successful major felony trial experience and exceptional recommendations from distinguished jurists and current Fellows attesting to each of the candidate’s high ethics as well as their litigation skills in the area of criminal defense. The primary concern of the ABCL is the preservation and the free exercise of fundamental freedoms for all those accused of criminal conduct. Over the years, ABCL Fellows have become regularly involved in high profile criminal cases throughout the country, where the principles of the Organization and the collective experience of the Fellows have made a worthwhile contribution. Ed Garland and Don Samuel are members of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers.

The American College of Trial Lawyers is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada and is widely considered to be the premier professional trial organization in America. Fellowship is extended only by invitation, after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Membership can never be more than 1% of the total lawyer population of any state or province. Qualified lawyers are called to Fellowship in the College from all branches of trial practice. They are selected from among advocates who represent plaintiffs or defendants in civil proceedings of all types, as well as prosecutors and criminal defense lawyers. Founded in 1950, the College is dedicated to maintaining and improving the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the profession. Ed Garland and Don Samuel are members of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Garland, Samuel & Loeb, P.C. included in the 2011-2012 edition of Best Law Firms. Best Law Firms rankings, by U.S. News & Best Lawyers, are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. An unprecedented amount of data was collected in the project’s second year, and this combined data resulted in the 2011-2012 Best Law Firms rankings. To be eligible for a ranking, a law firm must have at least one lawyer who is included in Best Lawyers as part of the annual peer review assessment.

On May 31st 2002 Ed Garland received the Elbert P. Tuttle Jurisprudence Award given by the Anti-Defamation League. The Anti-Defamation League is one of the oldest and largest civil rights/human relations organizations in the nation. Through its research, materials, programs and advocacy, the ADL has been on the front lines of fighting racism, prejudice and bigotry and defending democratic ideals. In 1998, the ADL established the Elbert P. Tuttle Award to honor individuals in the legal community who best exemplify Judge Tuttle and ADL’s steadfast mission to secure justice and fair treatment for all people. Elbert Parr Tuttle served as a member of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits from 1954 to 1995, and as Chief Judge of the Fifth Circuit from 1960 to 1967. Under his leadership, the Fifth Circuit gave meaning to the constitutional guarantee of equal protection to all Americans.

On June 16, 1994 Ed Garland was honored by the State Bar of Georgia with the “Tradition of Excellence Award”. This award has achieved great significance in the Georgia legal community. The General Practice Section of the State Bar of Georgia has been presenting Tradition of Excellence Awards for the past 25 years. Recipients must be Georgia-resident members of the State Bar who have 20 years of outstanding achievement as a trial lawyer, general practitioner or judge; be 50 years old or older; have made a significant contribution to State Bar or Institute of Continuing Legal Education activities; have a record of community service; and have a personal commitment to excellence.