The Panitch Law Group, P.C.
Attorneys and Staff
Esther Panitch, Attorney
Title: Trial attorney, State Representative of District 51
Phone: 770.364.6952
Fax: 678.865.8106
Email: esther@panitch.org
Esther Panitch is a criminal and civil trial attorney with over 27 years of experience who specializes in defending first-time criminal offenders. She also is a leader in Family Law, including Family Violence. She is a leader in Criminal Defense and Family Law issues.
Esther was born, raised and educated in Miami, FL. She received both her Bachelor of Science in Communications (1992) and her Juris Doctor (1995) from the University of Miami, graduating cum laude from law school.
In law school she was a Certified Legal Intern for the Miami Dade State Attorney's Office.
Esther started her legal career as a Domestic Violence Court Coordinator in the award winning and cutting edge Domestic Violence Court in Miami-Dade County. She trained judges in the evolving law of domestic violence and spoke to the community about issues relating to Domestic Violence. Additionally, Esther was a founding member of Shalom Bayit in Miami, an organization formed to support victims of domestic violence.
In 1997, Esther became an Assistant Public Defender in Miami-Dade County, where she tried jury and non-jury cases ranging from misdemeanors to murder and assisted in death penalty cases.
In 2002, Esther opened her own firm in Miami and was sought after to educate the community on domestic violence, having used the Battered Women Syndrome defense on behalf a woman charged with murder against her violent and abusive boyfriend.
In 2004, Panitch moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she started at the Fox Law Firm, LLC and subsequently joined the Fulton County Conflict Defender's Office. In 2007, Panitch started the Law Office of Esther Panitch, PC, where she represented primarily first-time criminal offenders in Magistrate, State, Superior and Federal Courts. Panitch is now head of The Panitch Law Group, PC, in beautiful Dunwoody, Georgia.
Esther was also selected as a member of the Federal Defender Program, Inc., in Atlanta, Georgia, which is a private, not-for-profit Community Defender Organization serving the Northern District of Georgia pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act. This panel of criminal defense attorneys who are appointed by the Court to represent people who are charged with federal criminal offenses in the Northern District of Georgia who cannot afford to hire counsel.
Esther has earned her reputation as a tenacious, but pragmatic, attorney, whose credibility is well-regarded by clients, attorneys and judges in the Metropolitan Atlanta area. As her reputation grew, so has the size of her firm.
For her leadership qualities, Panitch was awarded the highest young leadership award, Judith Epstein Memorial Leadership Award, from Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America.
Panitch has appeared in print, on radio and television and has been the keynote speaker to audiences in Richmond, VA, Miami, FL, and Nashville, TN for her expertise in criminal and domestic violence issues. She is a much sought after expert by WSBTV, CNN, Fox News, HLN, The New York Times, WSB Radio, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Monica Ann Krachman, Attorney
Title: Attorney
Phone: 770-364-6952
Fax: 678-865-8106
Email: monica@panitch.org
Professional Experience
Ms. Krachman has practiced exclusively in the area of Family Law for over 22 years. Monica believes strongly in educating her clients so that they can understand the legal process and the effect that their decisions throughout that process will have upon them and their children. She feels that during these difficult times it is important to achieve the best results with the least stress.
In her experience, she has seen that many cases can be settled through alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation and settlement, and will use those process when appropriate. She is also a skilled litigator and will zealously advocate for her clients should it be necessary to go before the Court for a hearing or trial.
Monica assists clients in all aspects of contested and uncontested family law including divorce and alimony, child support, child custody and visitation, grandparent and third party custody, contempt, modification, legitimation, paternity, equitable division, and family violence restraining and protective orders. Monica is a trained Guardian ad Litem.
Member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
Education
J.D., Vanderbilt University, 1993
B.A., University of Pennsylvania, Biological Basis of Behavior, 1988
Admissions
Georgia Superior Courts, 1994
U.S. Federal Court, Northern District of Georgia, 1995
Summary
Monica Ann Krachman was born in Miami, Florida and, with the exception of two years in Tyler, Texas, has lived in Atlanta since 1993. She maintained her own family law practice from 2000 through 2010. Prior to that she was an associate with Kessler Schwarz, P.C. In law school she competed in the National Environmental Moot Court and was named a Best Oralist in the quarter final rounds. She lives in Sandy Springs with her husband, Brian, a physician, their three children, one of whom has special needs , and their two cats, Pumpkin and Midnight.
Rachel Newbill, Paralegal
Title: Paralegal
Phone: 770.364.6952
Fax: 678.865.8106
Email: rachel@panitch.org
Rachel Newbill has been a paralegal with Panitch Law Group, P.C. since March, 2013. She is essential in supporting our attorneys and assisting with daily tasks including client communication, administrative support and drafting documents. Rachel has two children and they live in Buford.