Mr. Painter was an active civil trial lawyer in the state and federal courts of Georgia for more than forty years before becoming “of counsel” to the Firm in 2015 for health reasons. His civil trial practice emphasized business litigation, including matters involving breach of commercial contracts, business torts, corporate governance, shareholder disputes, financial institutions, professional liability (lawyer, accountant), product liability and class actions. He continued to serve as a consultant and mentor to other lawyers in the firm until his passing.
Education
- University of Georgia School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1974)
- Senior Editor, Georgia Law Review
- Member, General Moot Court Board
- College: Georgia Tech (B.S. Industrial Management 1968)
Memberships
- American College of Trial Lawyers (Fellow, 1992; Georgia State Chairman, 2002-2004)
- Savannah Bar Association (President 1993-1994)
- Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (President 1986-1987)
- State Bar of Georgia (Chairman, Gen. Practice and Trial Section 1992-93; Chairman, Insurance Law Section; Member, State Disciplinary Board Review Panel 1986-1989)
- American Bar Association (Section of Litigation, Section of Business Law)
- Georgia Bar Foundation, Fellow
Court and Other Appointments
- Member, Georgia Board of Bar Examiners (appointed by Supreme Court of Georgia, 1998-2003; Chairman, 2003)
- Member, Committee on Lawyer Qualifications and Conduct, Eleventh Circuit United States Court of Appeals, 1995-2003 (appointed by three Chief Judges of 11th Circuit to this nine-lawyer disciplinary board)
- Member, Court Advisory Committee, United States District Court, Southern District of Georgia, 1991-2000, 2004-2010
- Member, Georgia Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency (appointed by Supreme Court of Georgia), 1995-1999
- Former Trustee, Georgia Institute of Continuing Legal Education
Ratings
- Selected as Georgia “Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine for Business Litigation and as one of Georgia’s “Top 100” lawyers from their initial ratings in 2004 until his retirement in 2014 when he was also recognized as one of Georgia’s “Top 10” lawyers
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America in Litigation since 1994 (Specialties of bet-the-company litigation, commercial litigation, product liability and personal injury litigation)
- Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory’s highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards (AV)
Bar and Court Admissions
- Georgia State and Superior Courts
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- Court of Appeals of Georgia
- United States District Courts: Northern, Middle, Southern Districts of Georgia
- United States Courts of Appeal: Eleventh and Federal Circuits
- United States Supreme Court
Honors/Awards
- President, University of Georgia Law School Association (law school’s alumni association), 2002-2003, Member, Board of Visitors, 2004-2006
- Tradition of Excellence Award (State Bar of Georgia 1998)
- Chief Justice Thomas O. Marshall Professionalism Award (State Bar of Georgia 2006)
- Distinguished Service Scroll Award (University of Georgia School of Law 2006)
- Savannah Bar Association Professionalism Award (2004)
- Paul W. Painter, Jr. Award for Civility and Professionalism (Southeast Georgia Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates 2013)
Community Activities
- Georgia Appleseed, Inc. (Member, Founding Board of Directors; Board of Advisors)
- Savannah Arthritis Foundation (President 1982)
- Georgia Arthritis Foundation (Member, Board of Directors 1983-1984)
- Royce Learning Center (Former Member, Board of Directors)
- Member, Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church
- Member, Gridiron Society
Military
- Officer, United States Navy 1968-1971 (USS Independence, CVA-62)