Lester Tate has tried hundreds of cases in federal and state courts throughout Georgia, and has won several million dollar personal injury verdicts and settlements. He has successfully defended individuals against murder charges and obtained acquittals for countless others facing felony charges. Lester has also handled a number of complex commercial disputes, and argued more than a dozen cases before Georgia's state and federal appellate courts.

Lester's recent victories include a $1.3 million verdict against the Georgia Department of Transportation for a man whose wife was killed because of a downed stop sign, and a $2 million judgment for a man who suffered severe brain injury as a result of the inhalation of natural gas. Lester has also been retained by a large Electric Membership Corporation to represent the Board of Directors and its Chairman in a multi-million dollar derivative suit.

Lester is consistently cited as one of the state's top trial lawyers by various independent authorities. He truly is a recognized leader among his peers, most recently serving as the 48th President of the State Bar of Georgia, the governing authority of the state's legal profession. He served as President-elect from 2009-2010 and, for the two years prior, he oversaw the State Bar's $9 million budget and investments as Treasurer. The Supreme Court of Georgia appointed him to the State Disciplinary Board's Investigative Panel, where he later served as Chairman, managing the prosecution of unethical attorneys. In addition, judges of the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Georgia elected Lester to the Federal Defender Board, where he also served as President.

Lester has always been active in various civic and political associations (shown below). Prior to law school, he served on the staff of then-U.S. Senator Sam Nunn and as Press Secretary to then-Congressman George (Buddy) Darden. For several years, Lester wrote a weekly political column for the Cartersville Daily Tribune. He has also served as a legal and political commentator on various radio and television broadcasts.

Bar Admissions:

• State Bar of Georgia, 1987
• Supreme Court of Georgia, 1988
• Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1988
• U.S. District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, 1988
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1988
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2000

Education:

• J.D., University of South Carolina School of Law, 1987
  University of South Carolina Law Review
• B.S., Industrial Management, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1982

Professional Memberships:

State Bar of Georgia

• President, 2010-2011
• President-elect, 2009 - 2010
• Treasurer, 2007 - 2009
• Executive Committee, 2005 - Present
• Board of Governors, Member, 1996 - Present
• General Practice & Trial Section; Chairman, 2002
• State Disciplinary Board Investigative Panel; Chairman, 2005
• Federal Defender Board, Member

Atlanta Bar Association

Georgia Trial Lawyers Association

Cartersville-Bartow County Bar Association

American Association of Justice

American Bar Association

Honors and Awards:

• Named one of "Georgia's Legal Elite" by Georgia Trend magazine, 2006
• Named a "Georgia Super Lawyer" by Atlanta Magazine and the Journal of Law & Politics
• AV-Rated, Martindale-Hubbell, since 1996

Civic Involvement:

• Bartow County United Way of Bartow County, Campaign Chairman, 1995
• Advocates for Bartow's Children, Volunteer Lawyer
• Bartow County Democratic Party, Chairman, 2003 - 2007
• State Democratic Committee, Member, 2004-2006
• U.S. Presidential Election Voter Protection Operation, Bartow & Paulding County Counsel, 2008

Publications and Speeches:

Finding the Bottom of a Bottomless Pit: Cross Examining Witnesses, Georgia Bar Journal, October 1999

How I Got Justice for My Client, Verdict (a Georgia Trial Lawyers Association publication), 2009