The Georgia Supreme Court’s retiring chief justice, Harold Melton, is joining Troutman Pepper, a national law firm with deep ties in Atlanta.

Melton, 54, will start as a partner in the firm July 19, days after leaving the state’s high court where he has served for 16 years. He will handle business litigation cases.

Steve Lewis, who chairs the 1,200-plus attorney firm, said in a press release that Melton’s clients “will benefit from his experience and expertise, particularly in appellate litigation and state attorneys general matters.”

Melton, a former assistant attorney general in the Georgia Department of Law, was executive counsel to Gov. Sonny Perdue. Perdue named him to the state Supreme Court, where he became chief justice in 2018.

In February, Melton announced his retirement, effective July 1. David Nahmias was later elected by the justices to succeed Melton as chief justice.

Troutman Pepper is one of the 50 largest law firms in the nation, by revenue, following last year’s merger between Troutman Sanders and Pepper Hamilton. The firm’s largest office is in Atlanta, with 214 attorneys.

Earlier this year, Charlie Peeler, former United States attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, joined the firm.

About the Author

Keep Reading

This is a rendering of the Rowen Convergence Center, a 10,000-square-foot facility central to the planned Rowen life sciences district in Gwinnett County. (Courtesy of Rowen)

Credit: Courtesy of Rowen

Featured

A native of Columbus and a fine arts graduate of Clark Atlanta, Amy Sherald was chosen as the official portrait artist of former first lady Michelle Obama. On the same week that the portrait was unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, it was also announced that Sherald was awarded the High Museum's 2018 David C. Driskell Prize. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Credit: Andrew Harnik