Profiles: Meet Your Newest Board Members Dar’shun Kendrick and Annie Caiola

We members of the DeKalb Bar Association are fortunate to have an active and involved membership, which makes luncheons and networking opportunities fun and enjoyable. More importantly, we are fortunate to have dedicated volunteers willing to take on the various functions of officers, board members, section and committee chairs. Over the next few newsletters, we will be introducing you to the newest members of the DeKalb Board, et al. Please introduce yourselves to them at the various functions in the upcoming year.

Dar’shun Kendrick

Dar’shun Kendrick was born in Atlanta, Ga., and raised in South DeKalb. Her parents, Ricky and Daisy Kendrick, are lifelong DeKalb County residents and have been married more than 28 years. She attended DeKalb County public schools and Oglethorpe University on a partial scholarship, double majoring in political science and communications, and graduating cum laude in 2004.

While attending Oglethorpe, Dar’shun worked as the youth coordinator for Young Democrats of Georgia, served as a Congressional intern for then-Congresswoman Denise Majette on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and served as a committee intern for the MARTOC (MARTA Oversight Committee) chairman, Rep. George Maddox, for two years at the State Capitol. She was student body president her senior year, founded the university’s Young Democrats Chapter, and worked as a resident assistant for three years.

Upon graduating from Oglethorpe University, Dar’shun attended the University of Georgia School of Law and obtained her law degree in May 2007. She founded the university’s first Business Law Society, which trains and encourages law students in the practice of business transactional law. She also worked on the International and Comparative Law Journal, serving as an editor her last year. She passed the Georgia bar in November 2007 and began working as a civil litigator at a small downtown Atlanta law firm. Subsequently, she became the communications director for Young Democrats of DeKalb and still serves in this position.

Dar’shun is now the owner of Kendrick Law Practice, based in Lithonia, Ga., and practices exclusively in the area of business law. She is actively involved in the business communities of DeKalb and Rockdale counties. Recently she has worked with the Lithonia City Council and local business owners to revitalize the Lithonia Business Association. She also works with the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce to serve business owners and she speaks at local high schools. In addition to serving on the board of directors of the DeKalb Bar Association, Dar’shun is a member of the DeKalb Chamber, Georgia Association of Black Woman Attorneys, and the Decatur Business Association. She has been a member of Divine Faith Ministries International, Jonesboro, Ga., for more than 18 years.

Annie Caiola

Annie Caiola received her B.A. in English and her J.D. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 2002 and 2005 respectively. While in law school, Annie competed on the trial team and won first place in the 2004 National Trial Competition. She served as president of UNC’s Women In Law organization where she worked to advance and promote women’s concerns in the legal profession. She also worked in UNC’s criminal law clinic representing juveniles charged with felony offenses.

Since graduating from law school, Annie has been an associate with Troutman Sanders’ litigation practice group. She represents various businesses and individuals in commercial disputes, but has particular expertise in real estate and banking litigation including disputes involving property, loan defaults, personal guaranties, shareholder derivative actions, participation interests, and landlord/tenant disputes. She also represents individuals in estate litigation involving claims for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. Annie continues to work on challenges unique to female attorneys as a member of Troutman’s Women’s Forum Committee.

When Annie moved to the Atlanta area, it took her no time to decide that Decatur would be her home. She loves Decatur’s history, character, small-town charm, and the strong sense of family that emanates from the residents. Annie lives in the Oakhurst neighborhood of Decatur with her husband and two daughters. She is a parishioner of St. Thomas More Church and a volunteer with City Schools of Decatur and the Decatur-DeKalb YMCA.