With an office within walking distance of the State Capitol in Atlanta, and our offices in Brunswick, Gilbert, Harrell, Sumerford & Martin, P.C. provides public affairs and administrative law services at the state, local, and federal level to a variety of large corporations, small businesses, government vendors, governmental authorities, and professional associations.
GHSM’s regulatory lawyers are at the forefront of law and policy across a broad spectrum of industries and issues. Combining decades of experience in public service and the private sector, our team is uniquely positioned to help navigate the ordinary, and extraordinary, challenges of government relations and regulations.
Through our experience, we know that even the best laid plans can easily become tangled in the web of government regulation, but we also understand how to prevent the common pitfalls and mitigate the unavoidable. We help our clients achieve their goals by navigating the complexities of each industry, developing solutions to ensure compliance with existing rules, and anticipating new developments that could impact their long-term success.
From environment to education to elections, and everything in between, we can assist with all of your licensing, permitting, redevelopment, legislative, and regulatory needs.
Education Law
Charter schools, independent schools, education service providers, and school systems
Environmental Law
Compliance counseling, permit navigation, enforcement defense, and regulatory advocacy
Government Relations
Legislative drafting, state lobbying, appropriations advocacy, & public affairs strategy
Education Practice: Comprehensive Legal Support for Schools
GHSM's attorneys possess decades of experience helping their education clients navigate complex issues, including successful litigation of prominent and precedential cases in front of the Georgia Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Our education practice focuses on advising K-12 independent schools, charter schools and school systems, as well as education service providers, on a variety of corporate and operational issues.
Charter schools occupy a unique and increasingly complicated area of law. Funded predominantly by local, state, and federal government sources, charter schools are given enhanced autonomy relative to traditional public schools as an incentive to develop and implement innovative solutions to the educational challenges facing today's students.
Our Education Team
- Former Georgia Department of Education General Counsel
- Chief of Staff to Georgia State School Superintendent
- Senior education policy analyst for Georgia Senate Research Office
- U.S. Department of Education legal counsel attorney
Charter School Legal Services
At GHSM, we understand the diversity and complexity of legal issues confronting charter schools. In addition to being a school, a charter is also a non-profit and a small business, and as such, faces a variety of legal and political concerns that require specialized expertise and strategic guidance.
Charter Applications & Renewals
Advocacy and organization during the petition process, FTE allotment and appropriations issues
Board Governance
Corporate governance, non-profit tax law compliance, management of money and investments
Vendor Relations
Technology and insurance procurement, retention of professional services, vendor negotiations
Facilities & Financing
Facility acquisition, leasing, real estate development, and start-up period concerns
Compliance & Operations
IDEA and 504 compliance, student discipline, teacher evaluation, employment disputes
Curriculum & Policy
Creating and updating educational policies, curriculum development and implementation
Strategic Value: Given the complex, and often unpredictable, government, regulatory, and business environments in which schools operate, the ability to access subject matter experts is essential not only to achieving superior results but can also help avert many legal problems before they arise. Receiving timely, efficient, and effective legal advice gives traditional, charter and independent schools the freedom to maximize their resources in the classroom and minimize the diversion of time, attention and funding into other areas.
Environmental Law: Navigating Complex Regulatory Frameworks
Environmental law is a keystone of GHSM. Our team has years of experience developing solutions that enable clients to successfully operate within complex and evolving regulatory frameworks. Not only does our team have experience in virtually all environmental and natural resources statutes, we actively foster and maintain relationships with federal and state regulators and policymakers throughout the country.
Regulatory Expertise
Our attorneys have served in key policy development and enforcement roles with state agencies, including the EPD Director and Land Chief. We have the credibility with decision-makers needed to resolve conflicting interpretations of regulations and develop innovative solutions that allow clients to achieve their business objectives.
Comprehensive Solutions
Known for building strategies that protect and further clients' interests, we help at all stages of project development and operation in environmental and natural resource matters—from rulemaking to enforcement defense.
Rulemaking & Legislative Advocacy
Strategic guidance on environmental policy development and regulatory initiatives
Permit Navigation
Expert guidance through complex approval processes at state and federal levels
Compliance Counseling
Proactive advice to ensure operations meet all environmental requirements
Enforcement Defense
Multi-million-dollar enforcement and citizen suit action representation
Public Affairs & Government Relations Services
At Gilbert Harrell, our public affairs practice attorneys have experience successfully handling a comprehensive range of matters that require sophisticated understanding of governmental processes, regulatory frameworks, and legislative dynamics. Our team delivers strategic counsel that advances client objectives while maintaining the highest standards of professional integrity.
Administrative Law Representation
Expert representation before Environmental Protection Division, EPA, Georgia Department of Insurance, and other state and federal agencies
Appropriations Advocacy
State appropriations strategy and representation to secure funding priorities
Contract Procurement
Navigation of Georgia state government procurement processes and requirements
State Lobbying
Strategic advocacy with General Assembly and executive branch offices to advance client interests
Legislative Drafting
Technical expertise in crafting legislative language and policy proposals
Public Affairs Strategy
Comprehensive strategy development, political assessment, and stakeholder engagement
Our Clients Include:
AAA Auto Club South
AT&T
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia
Brunswick Glynn County Development Authority
Cable Television Association of Georgia
Council of Probate Judges
Art Institute of Atlanta
Explore Information Services
Georgia Association of Realtors
Georgia Industry Association
Georgia Printing and Imaging Association
K12, Inc.
Santa Fe Auto Insurance Co.
State Bar of Georgia
The Walt Disney Company
