I’ve known Sharon for almost two decades. She is brilliant, compassionate, and driven—the type of lawyer who could (if she wanted to) take a case on any subject and handle it better than 95% of lawyers out there. But instead, she’s chosen to be laser-focused on toxic torts, particularly helping clients affected by asbestos-related illnesses. As a result of that devotion, she is at the absolute pinnacle of her practice. If you are a victim of toxic exposure or are representing someone who has been, Sharon should be your first phone call.
About Us
Zinns Law stands out by balancing fierce advocacy with genuine compassion.
Expect us to be actively involved from the start, ready to discuss your case and listen to your story in the comfort of your own home, often within days of your initial contact.
MISSION
Zinns Law is dedicated to seeking justice and compensation for individuals wrongfully harmed, focusing on maintaining compassionate client relationships.
VISION
To be a beacon of support and expertise in litigation, ensuring seamless legal processes for our clients while prioritizing their health and well-being.
WHAT WE DO
Zinns Law offers specialized legal services in asbestos lawsuits, leveraging our experience and knowledge to hold profit-over-people corporations accountable and provide unwavering support to our clients.
Meet Sharon Zinns
In April 2020, Sharon Zinns established Zinns Law, embarking on a journey driven by her passion for justice and advocacy for those affected by asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Sharon’s dedication is not just a profession; it’s a calling where she finds her purpose in giving a voice to the voiceless and securing compensation for their suffering and loss.
Sharon’s legal journey is marked by distinction, having graduated from Emory University School of Law as a Robert W. Woodruff Scholar, the most prestigious award for incoming students, and engaging actively in the Emory International Law Review and leadership roles within the student community. Her legal foundation was further strengthened through significant clerkships, including one at the American Cancer Society’s Office of Corporation Counsel.
Prior to her law career, Sharon completed her undergraduate studies at Columbia and Emory Universities, excelling in interdisciplinary studies and gaining invaluable experience through internships with the American Civil Liberties Union and the DeKalb County Juvenile Court.
With over 20 years of experience, Sharon has become a formidable advocate for individuals nationwide suffering from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions. Her practice encompasses a range of asbestos exposure cases, including those involving secondary household exposure and cosmetic talc products, alongside wrongful death litigation for families of the deceased.
Sharon’s commitment extends beyond the courtroom. She actively contributes to the legal community, serving on various boards and committees, and has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Litigation. Her community service efforts, particularly during the 2020 Presidential election, have also earned her the American Association for Justice’s Trial Lawyers Care Award.
A respected voice in the legal field, Sharon regularly shares her expertise on asbestos litigation at conferences nationwide and through media appearances. Beyond her professional life, Sharon is a devoted mother, an avid yoga practitioner, runner, and community volunteer, embodying the principles of service and advocacy in all areas of her life.
LICENSES
California (2005)
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (2006)
Georgia (2007)
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (2013)
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia (2013)
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia (2013)
Washington, District of Columbia (2007)
New York (2009)
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (2010)
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (2010)
New Jersey (2009)
- U.S. District Court of the District of New Jersey (2021)
Florida (2011)
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (2015)
Awards & Organizations:
AWARDS
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Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020; Super Lawyers 2021, 2022, 2023
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Elizabeth Cady Stanton Award, Women of PALS (Plaintiffs Asbestos Litigation Seminar) 2019 – The award recognizes a lawyer who supports, initiates and sustains the advancement and progress of women in our field; contributes to materially altering the structural barriers to the success of women in our field within his or her firm or practice area; provides leadership in his or her firm and the wider legal community on issues related to gender equity; and effectively and consistently speaks truth to power.
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American Association for Justice Trial Lawyers Care Award, July 2021 – The Trial Lawyers Care Award recognizes the efforts of members and trial lawyer-affiliated individuals who serve the community and foster positive relationships with the public through volunteer activities.
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Robert W. Woodruff Scholarship, Emory University School of Law – Full tuition scholarship awarded for outstanding achievement in academics, leadership, and out-of-school activities as well as the potential to make a significant impact on the Emory Law community.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- American Association for Justice
- Women’s Trials Lawyer Caucus
- WTLC Representative to the Board of Governors, 2022-present
- Convention Committee Co-Chair, 2021-2022
- Membership Oversight Committee, 2020-present
- Voter Protection Action Committee, Co-Chair, 2022- present
- Leadership Academy, Graduated Class of 2023
- Women’s Trials Lawyer Caucus
- Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
- Executive Committee member 2019-present
- Mental Health and Wellness Committee Co-Chair, 2023-present
- Education Committee co-chair, 2022-2023
- Verdict (quarterly magazine) Editorial Committee
- Co-Chair, 2019 – 2022
- Member, 2017-2019
- Membership Committee Member, 2017-2018
- Women’s Caucus Committee Member, 2016-2017
- Leadership Education & Advanced Direction (LEAD), Class of 2016
- Southern Trial Lawyers Association
- Board of Governors, 2019-present
- Georgia Association for Women Lawyer
- Public Affairs Committee
- Co-Chair, 2018-2019
- Member, 2019-2020
- Membership Committee, Co-Chair 2017-2018
- Special Events Committee Member 2015-2017
- Girl Scout Program, Co-Chair 2014 – 2020
- Public Affairs Committee
- Ahavath Achim Synagogue
- Board of Directors, June 2016 – May 2018
- State Bar of Georgia
- Law School Outreach Committee, 2014 –2016
- Lawyers Club of Atlanta, 2014-present
Speaking Presentations:
PRESENTATIONS
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February 24, 2011 – Federal Rules of Evidence: What You Really Need to Know, Harris Martin National Asbestos Conference, Litigation and Trial of MDL Asbestos Claims in Federal Court.
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August 2016 – Chair, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association Paralegal CLE Program.
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Spring 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 – Being Your Best Professional Self, Georgia Association of Women Lawyers “GAWLEdu,”
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February 24, 2017 – Asbestos: When The Past Comes Calling…Techniques For Identifying Exposures 20 to 50 Years Ago, Southern Trial Lawyers Association, New Orleans, LA
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April 13, 2018 – Dodging Daubert: Lessons from a 3 Day Daubert Hearing, Handling Big Cases CLE, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
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May 14-15, 2018- Founder and Moderator, Women of PALS, Las Vegas, NV
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October 11, 2018 – Asbestos and Mesothelioma, Beasley Allen Co-Counsel Retreat, Atlanta, GA
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November 2, 2018 – When Do You Really Have A Talc Case?: Identifying and Evaluating Alternative Exposures to Asbestos, HarrisMartin’s Talc, Asbestos, and the Cancer-Causing Properties of Talcum Powder Conference, Miami, FL
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November 15, 2018 – Asbestos and Mesothelioma, Beasley Allen Alabama Law Conference, Montgomery, AL
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January 23, 2019 – Personal Branding/Marketing/Networking, Seneca Group Annual Conference (Founder and Moderator), Napa, CA
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February 16, 2019 – Ethics in the Age of Swiping: Dos and Don’ts For Interacting With Other Lawyers On- and Off-Line, Southern Trial Lawyers Association, New Orleans, LA
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April 30, 2019 – Johnson & Johnson Wins Losses & Settlements – Harris Martin Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Litigation Conference, Charleston, SC
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May 14, 2019 – Women of PALS – Organizer and Moderator, Las Vegas, NV
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May 15, 2019 – Substance Abuse Among Attorneys, Plaintiffs Asbestos Litigation Seminar, Las Vegas, NV
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September 6, 2019 – Winning at Trial with Expert Witnesses: Defending Your Expert Before and During Trial, Cobb County Trial Lawyers CLE, Marietta, GA
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September 10, 2019 – Update on Southern States, Perrin Asbestos Litigation Conference, San Francisco, CA
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September 20, 2019 – Asbestos: What It Is, How It Kills, and How to Protect Your Clients, Tennessee Personal Injury Lawyers Conference, Nashville, TN
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October 25, 2019 – Mesothelioma and Cosmetic Talc, Southern Trial Lawyers Association Fall Conference, Nassau, Bahamas
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January 20-23, 2020 – Seneca Group – Organizer and Moderator, Austin, TX
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April 14, 2020 – Women of PALS Virtual Conference, Organizer and Moderator
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July 2020, Fighting Families: Asbestos Litigation Examples and Recommendations, American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Family Law Section (Virtual)
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September 18, 2020 – Toxic Torts: Proving the Cause of Your Client’s Cancer, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention (Virtual)
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September 29, 2020 – Understanding and Appreciating Diversity: Creating and Standing Behind a Workplace Diverse of Gender, Race and Thought, Perrin Asbestos Litigation Conference (Virtual)
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November 11, 2020 – Being Your Best Professional Self, Georgia Association of Women Lawyers “GAWLEdu” (Virtual)
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September 18, 2021 – Ethics and Mental Health In Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: What I Learned Watching Too Much Netflix During Covid, Southern Trial Lawyers Association Fall Conference, Louisville, KY
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September 28, 2021 – Lung Cancer Update, Perrin Asbestos Litigation Conference, San Francisco, CA
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November 17, 2021 – Being Your Best Professional Self, Georgia Association of Women Lawyers “GAWLEdu”
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November 19, 2021 – Ethics and Mental Health In Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: What I Learned Watching Too Much Netflix During Covid, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association Alumni Conference, Savannah, Georgia
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May 9, 2022 – Women of PALS, Organizer and Moderator, Las Vegas, Nevada
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November 22, 2022 – Being Your Best Professional Self, Georgia Association of Women Lawyers “GAWLEdu”
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July 16, 2023 – Physical Balance to Your Work Life: Helping Stress Relief and Methods to Implement, American Association For Justice, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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August 25, 2023 – Being Your Best Professional Self, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, LEAD Program
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April 4, 2024 – Seneca Group, Organizer, Nashville, Tennessee
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May 14, 2024 – Women of PALS, Organizer and Moderator, Las Vegas, Nevada
Meet the Team
Terri Young
Paralegal/Office Manager
Madison Riiska
Legal Assistant