Emma “Maggie” Hastings

Emma “Maggie” Hastings joined Cathey & Strain in January 2026, bringing more than fifteen years of Georgia legal experience across prosecution and appellate practice.

A third-generation lawyer, Maggie earned her undergraduate degree from Clemson University in 2007 and her J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2010, and she is admitted to practice in both Georgia and South Carolina. She began her career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Mountain Judicial Circuit, serving under District Attorney Brian Rickman from 2010 to 2016. During her tenure, she prosecuted high-profile murder and child abuse cases, along with a wide range of other felony and misdemeanor matters.

In January 2016, Maggie joined the Court of Appeals of Georgia as a staff attorney to Judge Brian Rickman, where she served for the next decade. In that role, she analyzed and helped resolve a broad range of civil and criminal appeals, drafted opinions, handled motions practice including emergency motions, and built deep expertise in Georgia appellate practice, legal research, and complex issue analysis. Maggie drew on that experience to help teach continuing legal education courses on evidence and to help train law enforcement officers.

Maggie brings this combined trial and appellate experience to Cathey & Strain, where she represents clients in wrongful death, personal injury, medical malpractice, and products liability matters and helps lead the firm’s new embedded appellate practice.

Outside the office, Maggie enjoys spending time with her husband and children, attending all Clemson sporting events, and traveling with her family.