Kitchens, Joyce Ellen

Joyce E. Kitchens is a Named Partner and founding member of Kitchens New Cleghorn LLC. She focuses her practice in the areas of employment and corporate disputes, family law litigation, and corporate and business issues. She has represented plaintiffs and defendants and understands all aspects of litigation. She has represented many small and start-up businesses.

Ms. Kitchens graduated from the Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. Following law school, she served as a staff attorney with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and was promoted to Assistant District Counsel. She defended the agency in cases involving claims of employment discrimination, personal injury, medical malpractice, and contract disputes. She also has served as a volunteer with Interfaith Volunteer Lawyers representing indigent defendants in Fulton County Municipal Court.

In 1991, Ms. Kitchens left the government for private practice. Her representation has included individuals, small businesses, government agencies, and municipalities. She has had extensive involvement in the areas of employment discrimination, including representation of federal employees.

Joyce Kitchens is the past national President of the Federal Bar Association, the association of lawyers who practice in the United States federal courts. She is a frequent speaker for continuing legal education seminars.

In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Kitchens was appointed guardian of the property for forty-seven wards, safeguarding their estates. She has also served as a mediator, arbitrator, and court-appointed Guardian Ad Litem.

She has authored a number of professional articles, including Alternative Dispute Resolution in Federal Court, Federal Civil Practice, April 22, 1999; Judicial Profile - The Honorable Joseph A. Hatchett, The Federal Lawyer, September, 1997; Developing/Protecting the Record for Appeal, Federal Appellate Practice, May 31, 1996; and Attorneys Fees Petitions under Fee Shifting Statutes, Federal Practice and Procedure, April 28, 1995, and a book, Federal Sector Guide to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rightsw Act and the Veterans employment Opportunities Act, Dewey Publications, Inc., 2006.

Ms. Kitchens is listed in the Directory of Pre-eminent Lawyers, International Who's Who of Professionals, and Who's Who of American Women.