John Tatum is a Partner in the Firm's Savannah office. Mr. Tatum concentrates his practice on Business Litigation including business torts, contractual and commercial disputes, fraud cases, RICO, ERISA, business governance and financial disputes, intellectual property disputes, and class actions. He is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, ERISA Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, and Trusts and Estates Litigation. He was named Lawyer of the Year for 2012 in Bet-the-Company Litigation for Savannah.

Mr. Tatum graduated with a B.A. in 1965 and an LL.B. in 1968 from the University of Georgia. In law school, he was a justice on the Honor Court, and served as Decisions Editor for the Georgia Law Review from 1967 to 1968.

He is admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 11th Circuits, the U.S. Court of Claims, the U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Georgia, and in all Georgia courts. Mr. Tatum served as a member of the Lawyers' Advisory Committee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit from 1998 to 2002. He is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and the Georgia Bar Foundation, a member of the American Judicature Society, the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, and an associate member of American Association for Justice.

Mr. Tatum served as general counsel to Savannah Foods & Industries, Inc. from 1988 to 1997, and he has been on the Board of Directors of SunTrust Bank of Savannah since 1988. His many civic commitments include serving on the CEO Council for the Savannah Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Union Mission, and as Clerk of Session for First Presbyterian Church.

• Publications

  • State, Federal Laws on Unfair, Deceptive Trade Practices

• Professional Affiliations and Awards

  • American Association for Justice: Associate Member 
  • American Bar Foundation: Fellow
  • American College of Trial Lawyers: Fellow
  • American Judicature Society
  • Best Lawyers in America: Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; ERISA Litigation; Intellectual Property Litigation; and Trusts & Estates Litigation 
  • Georgia Bar Foundation: Fellow
  • Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
  • Georgia Super Lawyer: Business Litigation
  • Lawyer Advisory Committee: U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit 1998 - 2002
  • National Moot Court Competition Committee: Past Member
  • 11th Circuit Historical Society: Treasurer