Spence Johnson helps his business clients start, protect, and sell their companies. In the startup phase, he helps business partners negotiate the terms of their relationship, including exit planning. For established companies, he serves as outsourced general counsel, helping owners navigate employee retention and issues, contract negotiations, and capital acquisition. When strategic growth or exit opportunities present themselves, he advises owners on sales, mergers, and acquisitions. Any growing company can find itself in disputes. Spence resolves disputes for clients throughout Georgia (and beyond), inside and outside of the courtroom. Many of his cases involve “bet the company” disputes with millions of dollars at stake. Sometimes partners cannot get along. When divisions happen, Spence advises management on resolution opportunities and exit possibilities. In the last decade, he has resolved tens of millions of dollars worth of construction disputes, commercial loan defaults, partnership disputes, and contract cases. Some of Spence's clients are involved in estate and trust disputes with large sums at state. He has helped many families finalize division of assets, including large real estate holdings, that were not adequately addressed in estate plans. While Spence always aims to resolve disputes quickly, efficiently, and without court intervention, sometimes, lawsuits and trials are necessary. When that happens, Spence has had successful results for his clients in jury trials and appeals at all levels of the state and federal trial and appellate courts.Outside of law practice, Spence has experience helping small to mid-sized businesses grow in an ownership role. He is a founding investor of Creature Comforts Brewing Company and sits on its board, helping management grow a top-three Georgia microbrewery in eight short years. He was part of a group that capitalized the opening of the Terrapin Beer Company's 28,000 square foot facility in Athens, Georgia and sat on Terrapin's board from 2007-2010. Specialties: Business disputes and litigation, commercial loan workouts, partnership divorces, employment claim defense, estate and probate litigation.