VALDOSTA – Coleman Talley LLP has welcomed four new associate attorneys to our team.

The arrival of the four new associates marks another significant milestone in Coleman Talley LLP’s ongoing expansion, the law firm said in a press release this week.

“We are thrilled to have these four new associates join us. The addition of these talented individuals to our team reflects our commitment to attracting top talent and providing exceptional legal services to meet the needs of our clients. We’re excited about the fresh perspectives and ideas they will bring to Coleman Talley LLP,” said Justin Scott, the firm’s managing partner.  

The newest members of the team are:

Abigail “Abby” Arnold is an associate in the firm’s Atlanta office, where she focuses her practice on commercial transactions. Arnold graduated with her Juris Doctorate from Georgia State University College of Law, where her dedication to academic excellence is underscored by her receipt of the Merit-based 20th Anniversary Endowment Scholarship, laying a solid foundation for her legal career. While at Georgia State University’s College of Law, she participated as a student attorney at the Phillip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic. Her commitment to professional development is also reflected in her active membership in the Atlanta Bar Association and the Georgia Bar Association. Prior to law school, Arnold graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and economics. While at UNC, her dedication to academic excellence was underscored by her receipt of the Merit-based 20th Anniversary Endowment Scholarship and inclusion on the Dean’s List. She was also a member of Carolina’s Firsts and received the Carlton Douglas Eye Fyfe Scholarship.

 Jaylee Layfield is an associate in the firm’s Valdosta office, where she focuses her practice in the areas of litigation.  Layfield graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Writing and Communication from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. She was actively involved in campus activities, including serving as vice president of the ABAC Ambassadors.

She then pursued her Juris Doctor at Mercer University School of Law, graduating magna cum laude. She ranked in the top 10% of her class and received numerous accolades, including the Dean’s Scholar Scholarship and the CALI Excellence for the Future Awards. Layfield received the Ruth T. West Award for advocacy and leadership and was inducted into the Brainerd Currie Honor Society and the Order of the Barristers. During law school, she was deeply involved in advocacy and leadership roles, serving as president of the Mercer Advocacy Council and Phi Delta Phi Honor Society. She also competed in and won the 2022, 1L Closing Argument Competition.  Beyond her legal pursuits, Layfield has contributed to her community as a media center paraprofessional at J.T. Reddick Elementary School and as a social media marketing intern at ABAC School of Arts and Sciences.

 Josef “Joe” Raszewski is an associate in the firm’s Valdosta office. Raszewski’s practice focuses primarily on affordable housing, commercial transactions, and commercial real estate. Prior to joining Coleman Talley, he honed his skills in corporate law and litigation through internships at UPMC in Pittsburgh, the Supreme Court of Costa Rica, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts of Western Pennsylvania. He also served as a summer associate at Philips, Cantor, and Shalek P.A. where he focused on complex construction arbitration. Raszewski completed his Juris Doctor degree at the Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Duquesne University, where he distinguished himself as president of the Corporate Law Society and co-competitor on the school’s Trial Advocacy Team. In addition to his legal education, Raszewski holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Grove City College where he was a council member of the SFRC as well as cofounder of the Lux Mea Film Festival and Events. His academic achievements include receiving the Alumni Merit Scholarship, making the Dean’s List, and being awarded the Mckinley Grant. Outside of work, Raszewski is actively involved in community events and is affiliated with the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association and the Italian American Law Society.

Grayson Thomas is an associate in the firm’s Atlanta office, where his practice focuses on affordable housing, commercial transactions, and commercial real estate. Thomas grew up in Valdosta and graduated from Lowndes High School. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics, cum laude, from the University of Alabama, where he was involved in the Real Estate Law Society.  Thomas then attended Mercer University Law School, graduating in 2024.  During his time at Mercer, he was a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society, an invitation-only organization recognizing the top 15% of college and university students based on their academic achievements.  Prior to joining Coleman Talley as an associate, Thomas gained valuable experience through summer clerkships, where he developed a strong foundation in commercial transactions and real estate law.