Attorney Dossier · Atlanta · Published October 30, 2026
Five Atlanta-area gun defense lawyers, checked on office, firearms focus, prosecutor background, fee terms and Google reviews before you call.
Since April 12, 2022, most Georgia adults can carry a handgun without a license, so many gun cases now turn on whether the person was a lawful weapons carrier or had the gun during another felony. That makes a lawyer’s command of the carry statutes and the five-year add-on worth checking before you sign anything.
0 of 5
firms here publish a dollar fee for a gun case
5 years
mandatory consecutive prison term for a gun during certain felonies
$50
public defender application fee, waived if you cannot pay
The Law Office of Ahmad R. Crews holds the first slot on this page as a paid placement. The order of the other four is not a ranking. Every fact below was checked in October 2026.
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The scorecard: 5 checks, 5 law firms
✓ meets the check ◐ partly or self-reported ✗ does not, or not published
The Law Office of Ahmad R. CrewsState or federal gun cases where you want a Midtown office and a flat fee discussed up front
Office in Atlanta
✓MidtownFirearms focus
✓Own gun pageFormer prosecutor
✗Not statedFee terms published
◐Flat fee, plansGoogle rating checked
✓4.7 / 86 Law Office of Matthew T. McNallyDefendants who want a former Coweta circuit and Cobb County prosecutor with an Old Fourth Ward office
Office in Atlanta
✓Old Fourth WardFirearms focus
✓Two weapons pagesFormer prosecutor
✓Coweta, Cobb ADAFee terms published
◐Payment plansGoogle rating checked
✓4.9 / 104 The Law Offices of Matthew W. KilgoGun owners whose case turns on carry eligibility, self-defense or getting firearm rights back
Office in Atlanta
✗MariettaFirearms focus
✓Firearms-centeredFormer prosecutor
✓Fulton, Cobb, AtlantaFee terms published
✗Not publishedGoogle rating checked
✓4.2 / 20 Elbaz & Elbaz, LLCGwinnett County gun arrests, Spanish-speaking clients, and anyone who wants two attorneys on the file
Office in Atlanta
✗LawrencevilleFirearms focus
◐Listed areaFormer prosecutor
◐Self-statedFee terms published
✗Not publishedGoogle rating checked
✓5.0 / 216 The Katz Law Group LLCFirearm cases with federal exposure or a professional licence at stake, handled by a lawyer admitted since 1986
Office in Atlanta
◐Marietta; Atlanta unconfirmedFirearms focus
◐Federal gun pageFormer prosecutor
✗Not statedFee terms published
✗Not publishedGoogle rating checked
✓5.0 / 12 02
Before you hire: what the numbers mean for a gun case in Atlanta
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0 of 5: firms here publish a dollar fee for a gun case
The Law Office of Ahmad R. Crews states it offers flat fees and payment plans, and the Law Office of Matthew T. McNally lists payment plans and a financing page. The other three advertise free consultations only. Whoever you call, ask for the fee in writing and whether it covers motions and a jury trial.
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5 years: mandatory consecutive prison term for a gun during certain felonies
Under O.C.G.A. 16-11-106(b), having a firearm on or within arm’s reach during listed felonies, such as crimes against a person, entering a home or car to steal, or drug trafficking, is its own felony carrying five years that must run consecutively to the underlying sentence. It is often the count that drives plea talks.
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$50: public defender application fee, waived if you cannot pay
Georgia provides appointed counsel to people who qualify as indigent. O.C.G.A. 15-21A-6 sets a single $50 application fee, and the court must waive it for inability to pay or hardship. The Court of Appeals held in 2018 that a judge cannot add other conditions to that waiver. You can still hire private counsel later.
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The 5 law firm dossiers
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The Law Office of Ahmad R. Crews
State or federal gun cases where you want a Midtown office and a flat fee discussed up front
Why it made the list
The Law Office of Ahmad R. Crews is the only firm in this group with an office in Midtown Atlanta, at 1800 Peachtree Road, and its gun defense lawyer in Atlanta page goes past the basics into the felon and first offender possession bans and Georgia’s forcible felony rule. Ahmad R. Crews earned his law degree at Howard University and was admitted in Georgia in 2017. The firm states he has handled about 1,000 criminal matters, including jury trials and appeals, in state court and in the Northern and Middle District federal courts. It is one of two firms here that state fee terms: flat fees and payment plans.
Proof file
- Office1800 Peachtree Rd NE #335, Atlanta, GA 30309 (Midtown)
- Phone404-996-1366; firm states it is answered 24/7
- Lead attorneyAhmad R. Crews; J.D., Howard University, 2016; admitted in Georgia 2017
- CourtsFulton, Cobb, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Paulding and Coweta counties; Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia
- Fee termsFlat fees and payment plans; free initial consultation
- Track recordStates about 1,000 criminal matters handled; lists Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2019 to 2026
- Gun page coversFelon and first offender possession, forcible felonies, self-defense, unlawful search
- Google rating4.7 from 86 reviews
Your first-call script
QIs your flat fee for my case good through a jury trial, or does trial cost extra?
QIf my gun case also has a federal side, will you handle the state case and the Northern District case together?
QYou say you prepare every case for trial: when would you file a motion to suppress the gun in my case?
From the reviews we read
+ Keeps clients informed+ Answers calls after hours+ Outcomes beat expectations~ Charges not named in reviews
Reviewers return to the same points: steady communication, calls returned late in the evening, and outcomes they describe as better than they expected. Several write as parents or relatives of the client and say they were treated like family. The reviews we read do not name the charges involved, so they speak to service more than to gun cases in particular.
Fit and watch-outA good fit for a state or federal firearm case where you want the fee structure settled early and an office inside the city. The trade-off: the firm’s materials center on one lawyer, so ask who else appears in court on your file, and the dismissals it lists are its own selection.
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Law Office of Matthew T. McNally
Defendants who want a former Coweta circuit and Cobb County prosecutor with an Old Fourth Ward office
Why it made the list
The Law Office of Matthew T. McNally works from Auburn Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward. Its Atlanta weapons charges lawyer page lists unlawful possession, sale and distribution, minor in possession, concealment, assault with a deadly weapon and trafficking, with a second page on unlawful gun possession. Matthew T. McNally spent five years as an assistant district attorney, three in the Coweta judicial circuit and two in Cobb County, before opening a defense practice. He is a 2001 Georgia State law graduate admitted in the Northern District of Georgia. The firm states it keeps a small caseload and lists payment plans and financing.
Proof file
- Office659 Auburn Ave NE, Suite 153, Atlanta, GA 30312; Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM
- Phone678-918-4421 on the site; 678-386-4968 on the Google profile
- Lead attorneyMatthew T. McNally; J.D., Georgia State, 2001; Northern District of Georgia
- Prosecutor yearsAssistant district attorney, Coweta circuit then Cobb County, five years
- Fee termsPayment plans and a financing page; free consultation
- CaseloadStates it keeps its caseload small
- Google rating4.9 from 104 reviews
Your first-call script
QYour weapons page says these charges are felonies: is my charge a misdemeanor or a felony under Georgia law?
QWhich number reaches you directly, the one on your website or the one on your Google profile?
QHow does your financing plan work, and is interest charged if I pay over time?
From the reviews we read
+ Fast replies+ Works well with out-of-state clients+ Quick resolution~ Two phone numbers in use
Reviewers describe quick replies and a fast resolution, and several were out-of-state clients who handled the whole case from a distance. One names a staff member alongside him, which points to a small team that clients reach directly. At 104 reviews this is the second largest base here, and the reviews we read were all positive.
Fit and watch-outA good fit for someone who wants a lawyer who once charged these cases in Cobb and the Coweta circuit. The trade-off: weapons work is two pages among many DUI, drug and traffic pages, and the site says all weapons crimes are felonies, which is not true of every Georgia gun charge, so get the classification in writing.
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The Law Offices of Matthew W. Kilgo
Gun owners whose case turns on carry eligibility, self-defense or getting firearm rights back
Why it made the list
The Law Offices of Matthew W. Kilgo trades as Georgia Gun Lawyers and is the only firm in this group whose whole identity is firearms law: use-of-force defense, Weapons Carry License denial hearings, retroactive First Offender filings, pardons and restoration of rights. Matthew W. Kilgo prosecuted for the Cherokee County Solicitor, the City of Atlanta, Cobb County and, as a felony trial prosecutor, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. He wrote the book Georgia Gun Law: Armed and Educated and lists himself as the 2023 president of the American Council of Second Amendment Lawyers. The office is in Marietta, near the Cobb courthouse.
Proof file
- Office274 Washington Ave NE, Marietta, GA 30060; Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 6 PM
- Phone678-842-4331
- Lead attorneyMatthew W. Kilgo; J.D., Georgia State, 1999; B.A., Auburn, 1996
- Prosecutor yearsCherokee County Solicitor, City of Atlanta, Cobb County, Fulton County DA felony trials
- Firearms workUse of force, WCL denial hearings, retroactive First Offender, pardons, rights restoration
- Recognition listedAuthor of Georgia Gun Law: Armed and Educated; 2023 ACSL president; AV and Avvo rated
- Fee termsNot published; free consultation offered
- Google rating4.2 from 20 reviews
Your first-call script
QWas I a lawful weapons carrier on the day of my arrest, and what does that do to the charge?
QIf I plead or am convicted, what is the realistic path to getting my firearm rights back?
QHow often do you appear in Fulton County and City of Atlanta courts compared with Cobb?
From the reviews we read
+ Realistic about outcomes+ Old records cleared+ Quick to return calls~ Lowest average in this group
Reviewers describe him as calm and realistic about outcomes, and one credits him with clearing a two-decade-old charge that had blocked a career. Others mention quick replies by phone and email and knowledge of courts beyond Cobb. The 4.2 average means lower ratings sit among the 20 reviews; the ones we read were mostly positive, so read the rest directly.
Fit and watch-outThe clearest firearms-only practice in this group, with rights restoration under the same roof. The trade-off: the office is in Marietta rather than Atlanta, and its Google rating of 4.2 is the lowest here, so read the lower reviews before you call.
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Elbaz & Elbaz, LLC
Gwinnett County gun arrests, Spanish-speaking clients, and anyone who wants two attorneys on the file
Why it made the list
Elbaz & Elbaz, LLC is a two-attorney criminal defense firm on South Perry Street in Lawrenceville, steps from the Gwinnett courthouse, and lists gun crimes defense among its practice areas alongside violent, drug and sex offenses. Joshua Elbaz describes himself as a former assistant district attorney who prosecuted felonies; he was admitted in Georgia in 2022 and to the Northern District of Georgia. Falon Elbaz is listed on the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 for 2023 and 2024. The firm offers free consultations, virtual appointments and card payments, and its LawInfo listing says Spanish is spoken.
Proof file
- Office368 S Perry St, Lawrenceville, GA 30046
- Phone678-573-4444
- AttorneysJoshua Elbaz (Georgia 2022, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School) and Falon Elbaz
- Prosecutor yearsJoshua Elbaz states he served as an assistant district attorney
- Firm founded2023; two attorneys
- Fee termsNot published; free consultation, cards accepted
- LanguagesEnglish; Spanish listed
- Google rating5.0 from 216 reviews
Your first-call script
QWhich of you, Joshua Elbaz or Falon Elbaz, will handle my gun case day to day?
QHow many firearm cases have you taken to a jury in Gwinnett Superior Court?
QCan my case be handled in Spanish from the first meeting through sentencing?
From the reviews we read
+ Both attorneys involved+ Explains each step+ Gwinnett felony experience~ Gun cases not named in reviews
At 216 reviews this is the largest base in the group by a wide margin. Reviewers name both attorneys, describe clear explanations at each step, and one describes a felony case in Gwinnett County. Several were parents of the client. The reviews we read do not mention firearm charges directly.
Fit and watch-outA good fit for a Gwinnett arrest, with the biggest review base here and Spanish service listed. The trade-off: the firm was set up in 2023 and Joshua Elbaz was admitted in 2022, so its gun case history is shorter than the older practices here, and we could not read its own website this month.
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The Katz Law Group LLC
Firearm cases with federal exposure or a professional licence at stake, handled by a lawyer admitted since 1986
Why it made the list
The Katz Law Group LLC files its federal gun and weapons charges page under federal crimes, and that is where it differs from the rest of this group. Stephen M. Katz was admitted in Georgia and New York in 1986 and lists admission in all three Georgia federal districts, the Eleventh Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court, where he worked on Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools. The firm states 30 years of criminal defense from Marietta and Atlanta, and directories list white collar, drug and professional licensing work. Martindale lists French and Hebrew among his languages.
Proof file
- Office137 Johnson Ferry Rd, Suite 2230, Marietta, GA 30068; Mon to Fri, 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Atlanta addressDirectories list different Atlanta addresses; not confirmed
- Phone770-870-5344
- Lead attorneyStephen M. Katz; J.D., Mercer; admitted Georgia and New York, 1986
- Federal courtsNorthern, Middle and Southern Districts of Georgia; 11th Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court
- Fee termsNot published; free consultation
- Google rating5.0 from 12 reviews (Marietta profile)
Your first-call script
QIs there a risk my gun case gets referred for federal charges, and how would we find out early?
QWill Stephen M. Katz appear in court himself, or another attorney at the firm?
QShould I meet you in Marietta or Atlanta, and which address is current?
From the reviews we read
+ Fast callbacks+ Patient explanations~ Reviews from non-gun matters~ 12 reviews, a small base
The 12 reviews we read praise prompt callbacks, including one returned late at night, and patient explanations. None involved a gun charge: they cover a nursing board matter, a minor’s mental health placement and a personal injury consultation. Treat them as a read on service rather than on firearms defense.
Fit and watch-outWorth a call when a gun charge comes with federal exposure or a professional licence at risk. The trade-off: the firm’s listed focus leans to white collar and licensing work, the reviews we read were about other matters, and we could not confirm a current Atlanta office address.
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Six things to settle before you hire a gun defense lawyer
The fee in writing. Get a signed agreement that says flat or hourly, and whether the fee covers motions to suppress, a jury trial and any appeal.
Who handles the case. Name the lawyer who will appear at arraignment, motions and trial, and who covers if that lawyer is in another courtroom.
Your carry status. Ask whether you were a lawful weapons carrier under O.C.G.A. 16-11-125.1 and 16-11-129 on the day of arrest. Since SB 319 took effect on April 12, 2022, that question decides many carry charges.
Any add-on counts. Find out whether a five-year count under O.C.G.A. 16-11-106 is charged or likely, since it runs consecutively to the underlying felony.
State or federal. If ATF or a federal agency is involved, confirm the lawyer is admitted in the Northern District of Georgia and has handled federal firearm cases.
Your rights afterward. Ask how a plea or First Offender sentence affects your right to possess a firearm, and what restoration or record restriction would take.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to carry a gun in Atlanta?
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Not if you are a lawful weapons carrier. Since SB 319 took effect on April 12, 2022, anyone eligible for a Georgia Weapons Carry License and not otherwise barred may carry a handgun openly or concealed without one. People who are not eligible, such as most felons, can still be charged.
What happens if I had a gun during another felony in Georgia?
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O.C.G.A. 16-11-106 makes it a separate felony to have a firearm on or within arm’s reach during listed crimes, including crimes against a person and drug trafficking. The sentence is five years, served consecutively to the sentence for the underlying felony.
How much does a gun defense lawyer in Atlanta cost?
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None of the five firms here publishes a dollar figure. The Law Office of Ahmad R. Crews states it offers flat fees and payment plans, and the Law Office of Matthew T. McNally lists payment plans and financing. Ask any firm for the fee in writing and what it covers.
Can I get a public defender for a gun charge in Georgia?
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Yes, if you qualify as indigent. Georgia law sets a single $50 application fee for public defender services, and the court must waive it if you cannot pay or would face hardship.
Does my gun defense lawyer need an office in Atlanta?
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No. Of the five firms here, The Law Office of Ahmad R. Crews and the Law Office of Matthew T. McNally have verified Atlanta offices; The Law Offices of Matthew W. Kilgo and The Katz Law Group LLC work from Marietta and Elbaz & Elbaz, LLC from Lawrenceville. What matters more is regular work in the court where your case is filed.
Can a gun charge in Atlanta become a federal case?
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Yes. Some firearm conduct, such as possession by a prohibited person, can be charged under federal law and heard in the Northern District of Georgia. The Law Office of Ahmad R. Crews and The Katz Law Group LLC both state federal court practice.