Biography

While Greg Sowell has over four decades of legal experience in many areas of law practice, Greg’s practice is focused in the areas of business formations, dissolutions, and transfers (and any disputes that may arise); commercial real estate; and, in providing general counsel and trial services in both state and federal courts to local and state governments, including the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Athens Housing Authority, the Athens Downtown Development Authority, and the Joint Development Authority of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County and the City of Winterville. 

Greg is an AV rated attorney (highest confidential peer rating for legal ability and ethical standards) and is included in the list of Georgia Super Lawyers (limited to the top 5% of practitioners in Georgia). He is a member of the Lawyers Club of Atlanta, the Old War Horse Lawyers Club, and the Lawyers Foundation of Georgia.

Greg’s many bar-related service activities include a term as President of the University of Georgia Law School Association and membership on the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia and the Disciplinary Board of the State Bar. Greg is a past president of the Western Judicial Circuit (Athens and Oconee) Bar Association and he continues to serve as Editor of Calendar Call, the publication of the General Practice and Trial Section of the State Bar.

He also developed a clinical course known as Solo and Small Firm Practice and taught it at the UGA Law School for five years. In continuing service to his alma mater, Greg has served a number of times as a guest lecturer at the law school, particularly in the area of Georgia Practice and Procedure, and he is also an instructor in local government at the University of Georgia for the Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

A native of South Georgia, Greg was born in Vidalia and later moved to Tifton. Greg graduated from the University of Georgia College of Business with a B.B.A. in economics. He then received his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1983.

Greg and his wife, Leah, reside in the Athens area. They have three children and six grandchildren.

Practice Areas

• Business and Commercial Litigation
• General Litigation
• Local Government Law
• Business Law
• Real Estate
• Litigation
• Eminent Domain

Professional Organizations/Activities

• State Bar of Georgia

• American Bar Association
• Former Member of Board of Governors of State Bar of Georgia
• Former Vice Chair and Chair of the Member Benefits Committee
• Former Member of the Disciplinary Board of the State Bar of Georgia
• Past President, Tifton Bar Association
• Past President, Western Circuit Bar Association (Athens-Clarke and Oconee Judicial Circuit)
• Editor of Calendar Call – publication of the General Practice and Trial Section of the State Bar of Georgia
• Past President, UGA Law School Association
• Former Member of the Executive Committee of the UGA Alumni Association
• Fellow, Lawyers Foundation of Georgia
• Lawyers Club of Atlanta
• Old War Horse Lawyers Club

Education

• Harvard Law School (Program of Instruction for Lawyers, 2000)
• University of Georgia School of Law (J.D., 1983)
• University of Georgia College of Business (B.B.A., Economics, 1980)
• President of Gridiron, Blue Key and Business School Council; Sphinx; UGA Orientation Leader

Admitted

• Georgia, 1983 all state and federal courts

CIVIC ACTIVITIES

• Member of Athens Rotary Club; Former Member of Board of Directors
• Former Deacon Chair and Former Finance Chair of Watkinsville First Baptist Church
• Former Member, Board of Directors of Mercy Health Care
• Former Member, Board of Directors of Bethel Haven
• Athens Touchdown Club

Administrative/Legal Assistant Contact

Name: Carly Van Laar
Title: Legal Assistant
Phone: 706.215.8336