Skip to main content

Brown Dutton & Crider Law Firm Team


Senior Paralegal

Carrie Owens

Associate Attorney

Carrie has been practicing law for the past nine years and has experience not only in family law, but also criminal defense. Graduating from law school in 2013, Carrie has spent her career being an advocate for clients in the courtroom, gaining tremendous trial and litigation experience. Carrie has expanded her career by practicing in the Georgia appellate courts and has been successful in obtaining a reversal at the appellate court level in the case known as Harris v. State, 344 Ga.App. 572.

Max Duell

Associate Attorney

Maxwell is a 2021 graduate of St. Thomas University College of Law in Miami Gardens, Florida. While attending law school he was awarded the CALI Award for Capital Punishment, an award received for earning the highest grade in that class. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he volunteered at Feeding South Florida where he served on an assembly line putting together meal kits for families in need of groceries. Maxwell is originally from Fayetteville, Arkansas and received his undergraduate degree in History from the University of Arkansas in 2012. He is proud to have volunteered for the Northwest Arkansas Special Olympics for eight years during high school and college. In addition, he and four friends from his high school choir raised approximately $10,000 for the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter by caroling during the holiday seasons. After college graduation, he served two years in AmeriCorps where he tutored men who were incarcerated in a Florida prison as well as high school students in Washington state. Maxwell takes pride in assisting others in times of need. He is a firm believer that those who have the ability to help others have a civic duty to do so. When not practicing law, Maxwell enjoys being outdoors, live music, traveling, and college football. He and his girlfriend adopted a chihuahua mix named Toby from a local animal shelter eight years ago who does an excellent job of keeping them on their toes.

Joanne Taylor

Joanne Taylor

Legal Assistant

Joanne has been a part of the Brown and Dutton team since November of 2019 and has enjoyed learning all the ins and outs of family and criminal law. Joanne is married and has three amazing college-aged daughters that are the joy of her life! Outside of the office Joanne enjoys cooking and reading and hiking at Kennesaw Mountain.

Sydney Waddle

Julia Stadler

Paralegal

Julia is a graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University. She finds thorough enjoyment out of ensuring documents state exactly what is meant to be conveyed. In her time outside of the office, Julia climbs rocks both indoors and outdoors, hikes, reads an assortment of random books, and plays board games with her close friends and family.

Jessica Cramer

Jessica Cramer

Firm Administrator

Jessica has been working in Client Accounts & Relations for more than 14 years, with a primary focus in family law for the past seven. As the Firm Administrator here at B&D, she ensures that things run smoothly and efficiently all while guiding our clients through what is often a very difficult time in their lives. She is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Really a small town now one would know, so we reference the big city) but has lived in Georgia for the last seven years. When Jessica is not in the office, you can often find her at a softball-field with her daughter, working out, cooking for her family & friends and spending quality time with her loves, Nick, Harli and their dog Maddie.

Monica Sheppard

Paralegal

Monica has been a paralegal for the past 22 years, while serving in the U.S. Army. She retired in April 2023, and began her career in family law with BD&C shortly thereafter. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Troy University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Albany State University. Monica is driven by her compassion for humanity and service to others. She understands it is vital for her to always assist her attorney effectively as he/she provides sound legal advice to clients during some of the most challenging times in their lives.  Monica is originally from Georgia but has had the amazing opportunities to live in various cities and countries.  When she isn’t working, she enjoys traveling abroad, performing humanitarian activities, mentoring at-risk youth females, and spending time with family and friends. Monica is the mother of an amazing son, and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

David Vann

Paralegal

David is a paralegal with Brown Dutton & Crider. After graduating from Kennesaw State University, David went on to work in Juvenile and Superior Court as both a clerk and paralegal. In his free time, David enjoys cooking and reading, specifically military history.

Tiffanni Gunby

Legal Assistant

Tiffanni was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. She is a current student at Kennesaw State University majoring in Political Science. In her free time, she loves to sing at church, spend quality time with friends and family, and play with her puppy Penny!