Goodman McGuffey, LLP is pleased to announce the hiring of five new attorneys across various practice groups and office locations: Paula Smith (Atlanta), Alyce Ogunsola (Atlanta), Andrew Riera (Orlando), Chelsea Salmonsen (Sarasota), and David Wieland (Orlando). The firm is delighted to welcome these new talents and enthusiastic about their future’s here at Goodman McGuffey, LLP.
Paula F. Smith is a partner in Goodman McGuffey, LLP’s Atlanta office and represents primarily self-insured and commercially insured employers across the State in a wide array of workers’ compensation matters. Paula has represented various employer/insurer(s) throughout the state of Georgia becoming acquainted with the multitude of state-wide Administrative Law Judges. She also formed The Law Firm of Paula F. Smith LLC with a “mixed” practice handling worker’ compensation claims on both sides of the aisle and enabling her to gain perspective into the needs and motivations of both the employer/insurer, as well as the injured worker. Ms. Smith was admitted to the Georgia Bar and to the Florida Bar. Paula has been “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is also an active member of the Atlanta Lawyers Club. Paula received her B.A. degree cum laude from the University of Alabama and obtained her law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law.
Alyce B. Ogunsola is an Associate Attorney at Goodman McGuffey, LLP’s Atlanta office and primarily focuses on representing employers in a wide array of employment matters including discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, Family Medical Leave Act, and directors and officer’s liability. Prior to joining the firm, Alyce was as an attorney with the Georgia Department of Community Health, advising the agency on employment and health law matters. She also previously served as the Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator for the Federal Housing Finance Agency and worked as an associate at a boutique labor and employment law firm in Washington, D.C. Alyce received her J.D. from Cornell Law School and graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor in English. Alyce is licensed to practice law in Georgia, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Andrew R. Riera joined Goodman McGuffey as an associate in the Orlando, Florida office. Andrew focuses his practice primarily in the area of workers’ compensation. Prior to joining Goodman McGuffey, Andrew worked in workers’ compensation risk management for 3 years and graduated from the University of Florida College of Law. Prior to law school, Andrew graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. He was born and raised in Miami, Florida, but currently resides in Tampa, Florida with his wife, Petta-Gay, and their two children.
Chelsea V. Salmonsen joined Goodman McGuffey, LLP’s Sarasota, Florida office and primarily focuses her practice in the area of insurance coverage and defense. Prior to joining Goodman McGuffey, Chelsea worked in the Sarasota State Attorney’s Office where she prosecuted in both County and Circuit Court and is a member of the Florida Bar. Chelsea graduated from Stetson University College of Law and interned at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa, as well as the Sarasota and Tampa State Attorney’s Offices, while in law school. She is originally from Massachusetts, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with Honors from Clark University in Worcester with a degree in Political Science and a concentration in Law and Society. Chelsea is a member of the Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court and currently resides in Bradenton.
David Boone Wieland joined the Orlando office of Goodman McGuffey, LLP after working as an attorney handling Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability cases, as well as civil litigation matters in both county and circuit courts across Florida. He has extensive experience in the Workers’ Compensation field having grown up in the world of Florida’s Workers’ Compensation with his grandfather, Judge Bill Wieland, serving as a Judge with the Florida Office of Judges of Compensation Claims in Orlando, FL along with his father and brother actively practicing in the field. He is a member of the Florida Bar, Orange County Bar Association, and Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar. David is also an active member of the Worker’s Compensation section of the Florida Bar. David received his law degree from Florida State University’s College of Law. He interned with the Public Defender’s Office for the Ninth Circuit and clerked for a statewide insurance defense firm in Tallahassee while in law school. Prior to law school, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Florida State University.
