In his 59 years, Mark Levy, head of Kilpatrick Stockton’s Supreme Court practice, achieved more than many lawyers ever hope to. But friends and former colleagues believe he felt the pressure to accomplish even more.

After spending the past five years at Kilpatrick, Levy was found dead in his office the morning of April 30, in what police are investigating as a gun-related suicide. Friends describe Levy as an upbeat, but reserved person, who always turned out top-quality briefs and often arrived at the office before the sun came up. His career included stints at some of the most prestigious law firms around, as well as the Department of Justice.