In the 26 years since he earned his law degree, Brian Steel has handled hundreds of cases in Georgia and elsewhere: The Georgia Supreme Court alone lists him as an attorney of record on 61 cases.

On Monday, he was back arguing to sustain a trial judge's decision dismissing criminal charges against his client and two co-defendants in a case that could have a chilling effect on litigators. The underlying question addresses whether presuit demand letters can be used to file extortion charges against attorneys or their clients.

The case has made him a finalist for the Daily Report's Attorney of the Year Award.