Meet the Team
BEN SHOEMAKER
MANAGING ATTORNEY
Ben was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma, Ben moved to North Carolina to work for Young Life. He married his best friend, Kristen, and they quickly started a growing family. After 6 years in Christian ministry, Ben helped expand a regional, family-owned business into Charleston, South Carolina. While helping run a business, Ben decided to pursue his growing passion, the law. Three years later, Ben graduated cum laude from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
The Shoemakers moved to the Atlanta area in 2014 when Ben accepted the job as serving as in-house counsel and director of risk management for the Boosterthon Fun Run. After 3 incredible years with Boosterthon, Ben began working in the investment world focusing on charitable giving, estate-planning, and complex gifts. He returned to private practice in 2018 so that he could work directly with families and entrepreneurs. With experience in family-owned businesses, estate planning and administration, and non-profit formation and management, Ben is perfectly positioned to assist your business or family with all its legal needs.
When not working, Ben enjoys spending time with his wife, 4 kids, and Goldendoodle. He also loves backpacking, F3, Tottenham Hotspur, and the Oklahoma Sooners.
EDUCATION AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF LAW, JURIS DOCTORATE
- Doctorate of Jurisprudence, Cum Laude, 2013
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, BACHELOR OF ARTS
- Bachelor of Arts in Communications, 2002
LICENSURE
- Licensed to practice law in the state of Georgia and South Carolina
- Wealth Counsel Member
- Member, Fiduciary Law Section of Georgia Bar
- Member, Gwinnett Bar Association
SUSAN KING, J. D.
LEGAL SPECIALIST
Susan spent a lot of her early years living overseas, but she considers Rochester, New York her hometown. From a very early age, she knew she wanted to be a lawyer. After graduating from the University of Rochester with a degree in Philosophy, she was fortunate to pursue her dream and attend the Catholic University of America law school. Susan worked during law school and graduated second in her evening law school class.
After graduation, Susan worked as an associate in the Labor and Employment section of Morgan, Lewis and Bockius. She had interned for a District of Columbia Administrative Judge during law school and when an opening arose for a new judge, she jumped at that opportunity. As an Administrative Judge for the District of Columbia Office of Employee Appeals, Susan adjudicated appeals brought by current or former government employees who were challenging the legality of their termination, adverse action, or reduction in force. Susan was also trained as a mediator and enjoyed mediating appeals for other judges.
Susan took the next fourteen years off from legal work to raise her two children. She volunteered and held positions on several boards at her children’s schools as well as her church. She went back to work as a legal assistant almost five years ago and has worked exclusively in the probate practice area since that time. When not working, Susan enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing tennis, baking, and watching her children play sports – she spends a lot of time at the baseball field with her son and at the University of Georgia where her daughter is a gymnast. Go Dawgs!
KRISTEN SHOEMAKER
OFFICE MANAGER
Kristen is originally from Severna Park, Maryland. She attend Wake Forest University to receive her undergraduate and Masters degree. While attending Wake Forest, she became involved with Young Life, and she joined the Young Life staff in 2000. She met her husband, Ben, while working for Young Life. Kristen later became a licensed professional counselor, and she runs her own practice in Roswell, Georgia.
Besides being a counselor, wife, and mom to four kids, Kristen also serves as the Office Manager for the Shoemaker Legal Group. She assists with scheduling, billing, IT, and additional administrative responsibilities. You can reach Kristen by calling our office directly.