Courtroom 1708 in the Richard B. Russell Federal Building was packed for opening statements Monday in Atlanta lawyer Nathan Hardwick IV’s embezzlement trial, which pitted federal prosecutor J. Russell Phillips against longtime Atlanta criminal defense attorney Ed Garland.

U.S. Attorney BJay Pak, was there, as was the former lead prosecutor for the case, David Chaiken, who almost two years ago became a partner in Troutman Sanders’ white-collar practice.