Sharese Shields

Sharese Shields was appointed to the Atlanta Citizen Review Board by Mayor Shirley Franklin on May 21, 2007 for a one-year term. During this time, board members elected her as Chair. Ms. Shields played an integral role in organizing the newly created Board. Under her leadership, the Board prepared written bylaws and complaint procedures and secured furnishings, equipment and office space. The Board also conducted a nationwide search for an Executive Director that resulted in over 170 applicants. After narrowing the number of applicants to the top 14, a well-qualified Executive Director, top in her field was selected and approved by the Board. Ms. Shields' hard work and commitment earned her the confidence and respect of her peers. In July 2008, Mayor Franklin reappointed her to the board for a term of three years.

Ms. Shields is a proud graduate of Clark Atlanta University, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in journalism in 1993. She graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1999.

Following law school, Sharese joined the Cook County State's Attorney's Office in Chicago as an Assistant State's Attorney. In 2001, she joined Hooks Law Offices in downtown Chicago, where she practiced state and federal criminal defense and represented individuals, public officials, corporate entities in a broad range of civil litigation.

Ms. Shields is currently affiliated with the law firm of Carlock Copeland & Stair, LLP located in downtown Atlanta with other offices in Columbus, Ga.; Rome, Ga.; and Charleston, S.C. During the past ten years, Ms. Shields has represented a broad clientele, including corporations, small business owners, hospitals, doctors, athletes, school systems, nightclubs, restaurants, insurance companies and individuals in all types of civil and criminal litigation. In 2006 she was recognized as a "Rising Star," one of the top lawyers in the state, under the age of 40. In 2009, the Atlanta Business League recognized Sharese as one of Atlanta's Top 100 Women of Influence.