Your Legal Team

IN MEMORIAM: SAMUEL  "SAM" 2/5/2001-5/14/2015)

Samuel "Sam", Mr. Villanueva's faithful and loyal dog of 14 years ended his long fight with cancer. Sam would often accompany Mr. Villanueva to the office and keep watch over him during the long nights working on complex cases. Sam would also go with Mr. Villanueva to court as well as travel to military bases with Mr. Villanueva during his reserve drill weekends. Sam enjoyed watching sports, playing with other children and dogs and fishing with his "Dad" on the lake. Sam was loved by all who knew him and will be missed dearly. Sam is currently buried at Oakrest Pet Cemetary in Bethlehem, Georgia. 

Legal Staff Contact:

Phone: 770-220-0818

Fax:      770-220-0814

Kaitlyn  (Legal Assistant)                                    staff@galegalpro.com

Sam (General Legal Support)                              support@galegalpro.com

Andre (Paralegal-Manager)                                 help@galegalpro.com

DERICK C. VILLANUEVA, ESQ.

Attorney and Founding Principal

Email:  derick@galegalpro.com 

Biography: 

Born: 1977 Agana, Guam (US Naval Base), Education: Emory University Magna Cum Laude Political Science and Economics 2000, JD, Syracuse University College of Law 2003 , Executive Editor Syracuse Law and Technology Journal, MA in Economics Syracuse University, 

Military Lieutenant, US Navy Reserve, Deployments: Africa, Middle East and Korea; Honors and Awards To Date: National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Navy Expert Pistol Medal, Navy Marksman Rifle Medal. Education: Graduate Officer Training Command, Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, Joint Forces Staff College, Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, Supply Corps School, Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, USS Mt. Whitney (LCC-20) 

Areas of Practice

• Automobile Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Trucking Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Premises Liability
• Dog Bites
• Slip and Fall
• Consumer and Business Bankruptcy
• Simple Wills/Estate Planning
• General Civil Matters

Pro Bono/Community Service

• Georgia Legal Services Program
• Wounded Warrior Project  
• Furkids​​
• Gwinnett County Police Department
• National Police and Troopers Association
• University of Georgia Veterinarian School
• National Association of Disabled Veterans
• American Veterans Foundation
• National Veterans Legal Services Program
• Atlanta Children's Hospital
• Atlanta Community Food Bank
• Alzheimer's Association

​Memberships and Associations

• Military/Veterans Section, Georgia State Bar
• Veterans of Foreign Wars, Member at Large
• The American Legion, Member
• Gwinnett County Bar Association
• Georgia Hispanic Bar Association

Awards and Accolades

• AVVO Rating: Superb
• Martindale Hubble and Lawyers.Com Client Distinction Award
• The National Association of Distinguished Counsel Top One Percent
• Super Lawyers Georgia Rising Stars 2016, 2017 
• Top 40 Under 40 American Society of Legal Advocates 2016, 2017
• Top 10 Under 40, American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 2016, 2017
• Top 10 Under 40, National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys 2017

Attorney Villanueva graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Political Science and a Minor in Economics from Emory University in 2000 and then attended Syracuse University where he obtained both his Juris Doctor in Law and his Masters in Economics in 2003. Attorney Villanueva was a former judicial clerk to the Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to opening his law practice in 2007, Attorney Villanueva worked for a mid-sized law firm in Atlanta, Georgia as well as some notable mortgage companies in the real estate finance industry. 

Attorney Villanuvea served as a Lieutenant in the US Navy Reserve and served in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Korea.

Aside from practicing law, Attorney Villanueva volunteers his time as a professionalism and legal ethics mentor each year at the John Marshall Law School in Atlanta. Further, Attorney Villanueva is heavily involved with supporting our military veterans through his membership with the Military/Veterans Section of the State Bar of Georgia, The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.