Debra E. LeVorse

Biography

Debra LeVorse has devoted her career to representing clients in the healthcare industry. She was named the 2025 "Lawyer of the Year" for Professional Malpractice Law in Atlanta by Best Lawyers for her notable record defending professionals from virtually every medical field.

Debra's vast experience spans advising C-suite executives and general counsels on litigation strategy to defending large hospital systems, publicly traded healthcare companies, medical practices, and professionals before federal and state courts, arbitration panels, and administrative proceedings. She has successfully tried high-stakes trials involving a range of malpractice allegations and medical issues. She has also argued and won important appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the Supreme Court of Georgia.

From the onset of litigation, Debra focuses on protecting a client's reputation and minimizing exposure. Her proactive approach aims to take control of the narrative and create leverage for cost-effective resolution. Using her hands-on insights from representing healthcare professionals in thousands of depositions, she prepares witnesses to navigate even the most unexpected circumstances. Debra's knowledge and ability to counter plaintiff strategies have led to hundreds of dismissals or favorable outcomes for her clients.

Long Term Care

Debra has represented the nation's largest facilities and providers in the long-term care, home health, hospice, and assisting living sectors. She is well-versed in intricate federal and state regulations governing the operations of these healthcare entities. She has successfully defended clients against a myriad of serious allegations, such as fraud and medical malpractice. Not only has Debra handled the fairly typical malpractice cases (falls, wounds, medication errors, elopements), she also has assisted clients with sexual abuse allegations, drug diversion issues, and social media concerns.

Services

Education

  • University of Georgia School of Law  (J.D.)
    • Editor, Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law
  • Furman University  (B.A., summa cum laude)
    • Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Admissions

  • Georgia

Courts

  • Supreme Court of Georgia
  • Georgia Court of Appeals
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Professional Affiliations

  • State Bar of Georgia
  • Atlanta Bar Association
  • DRI
  • Lawyers Club of Atlanta
  • Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
  • Georgia Health Care Association
  • Georgia Senior Living Association, f/k/a Assisted Living Federation of America
  • Women Lawyers Alliance
  • National Association of Professional Women
  • Georgia Association for Home Health Agencies

Honors

  • Best Lawyers® Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Atlanta (2025)
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (2022-2025)
    • Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
    • Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Top Lawyers, GA BIZ Magazine (2024)

Trials

Debra has tried cases involving various issues, including several chiropractic malpractice cases, a case representing a physician in a supposed failure to diagnose an aneurysm and a dentist in a malpractice action. A sample of her recent trials at Hawkins Parnell include:

  • Alexander v. Tapestry Hospice, State Court of Cobb County, Georgia
  • Mildred Cantrell v. VistaCare U.S.A., Inc. d/b/a VistaCare Hospice, Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia
  • First Bancorp Mortgage Corp. v. Fagan, Superior Court of Cobb County
  • City of Senoia v. Coweta County, Superior Court of Coweta County

Presentations

  • “Preventing Litigation in Long-Term Care Facilities,” Atlanta, Georgia (2016)
  • Georgia Medical Directors Association, Summer Symposium, Savannah, Georgia (2006)
  • “Avoiding the Lawsuit,” Assisted Living Federation of America, Atlanta (2006)