William A. Trotter III
Member
Location: Augusta, Georgia
Phone: Call (706) 737-3138
Fax: (706) 738-3973
Email: E-mail Me
Bill concentrates his practice in handling commercial litigation, with emphasis on real property law. He also has substantial experience in commercial transactions and banking law.
Active in his profession and community, Mr. Trotter is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Augusta Bar Association, the Bar of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia and the Bar of the United States Courts of Appeal for the Eleventh Circuit.
Representative cases:
- Johnson v. Fleet Finance, Inc., 4 F.3d 946 (11th Cir. 1993)
- Johnson v. Fleet Finance, Inc., 785 F. Supp. 1003 (S.D. Ga. 1983)
- Sims Crane Service, Inc. v. Ideal Steel Products, Inc., 800 F.2d 1553 (11th Cir. 1986)
- In re Ferris, 764 F.2d 1475 (11th Cir. 1985)
- Ga. Railroad Bank & Trust Co. v. FDIC, 758 F.2d 1548 (11th Cir. 1985)
- FDIC v. Willis, 497 F. Supp. 272 (S.D. Ga. 1980)
- Fleet Finance v. Jones, 263 Ga. 228; 430 S.E.2d 352 (Ga. 1993)
- Pollman v. Swan, 305 Ga. App. 369 (2010).
Mr. Trotter served as general counsel and member of the Board of Directors of First Columbia Bank and FCS Financial Corporation, a single-bank holding company acquired by Georgia Bank & Trust Company through a merger; served as counsel and co-counsel to numerous financial institutions in the defense of consumer class action litigation in the Superior Courts of the Augusta Judicial Circuit and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia; member of the Board of Directors of University Health Care Foundation, Inc.; appointed by former Governor Zell Miller as the consumer member of the Composite Board of Medical Examiners of the State of Georgia and a member and Chairman of the Board of Directors of St. Joseph Hospital Foundation.
Mr. Trotter received his B.S. from the University of Georgia in 1968 and his J.D., cum laude, from the Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University in 1971. Bill was born and raised in Augusta, Georgia. He is married to Susan and has 3 children and 7 grandchildren.
Areas of Practice
- Commercial Litigation
- Real Property Law
- Commercial Transactions
- Banking Law
Litigation Percentage
- 25% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Georgia, 1971
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
Education
- Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law, Macon, Georgia
- J.D. cum laude – 1971
- University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
- B.S. – 1968
- Major: Business Administration
Representative Cases
- Johnson v. Fleet Finance, Inc., 4 F.3d 946 (11th Cir. 1993)
- Johnson v. Fleet Finance, Inc., 785 F. Supp. 1003 (S.D. Ga. 1983)
- Sims Crane Service, Inc. v. Ideal Steel Products, Inc., 800 F.2d 1553 (11th Cir. 1986)
- In re Ferris, 764 F.2d 1475 (11th Cir. 1985)
- Ga. Railrod Bank & Trust Co. v. FDIC, 758 F.2d 1548 (11th Cir. 1985)
- FDIC v. Willis, 497 F. Supp. 272 (S.D. Ga. 1980)
- Fleet Finance v. Jones, 263 Ga. 228; 430 S.E.2d 352 (Ga. 1993)
- Pollman v. Swan, 305 Ga. App. 369 (2010)
Professional Associations and Memberships
- State Bar of Georgia, Member
- Augusta Bar Association, Member
- First Columbia Bank, General Counsel
- FCS Financial Corporation, General Counsel
- First Columbia Bank, Member of the Board of Directors
- FCS Financial Corporation, Member, Board of Directors
- University Health Care Foundation, Inc., Member, Board of Directors
- Medical Examiners of the State of Georgia, Consumer Member, Composite Board
- St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, Member
- St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, Chairman of the Board of Directors
James B. Trotter
Location: Augusta, Georgia
Phone: (706) 737-3138
Fax: (706) 738-3973
Email: E-mail Me
James B. Trotter was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 2000. Jim’s practice concentrates on complex corporate and real estate transactions. He has represented clients in a wide variety of corporate transactions, including business organizations, mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, shareholder agreements, operating agreements, consulting agreements and employment agreements. He also has experience in a broad range of real estate transactions, including acquisitions, development, development of build for rent communities, tax-free exchanges, development and sale of single tenant retail, and loan transactions. In addition to corporate and real estate work, Jim assists clients with estate planning, probate and estate administration services.
Furman University
- B.A. cum laude – 1997
- Major – Political Science
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity
University of Georgia School of Law
- J.D magna cum laude – 2000
- Law Review: Georgia Law Review, Notes Editor, 1998-1999
Experience
- Represented client in sale of package of car washes to a private equity investor.
- Represented client in $7,000,000 retail and builder supply business to private equity.
- Represented client in connection with the development and financing of a $35,000,000 warehouse facility.
- Represented sponsor member in joint venture for development, financing and sale of an 89 unit residential build for rent community.
- Represented client in division of assets with business partner, including the separation of nearly one hundred entities and over forty parcels of real estate.
- Represent local medical practices with buy-sell agreements, property acquisitions, employment agreements and leases.
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Augusta Bar Association
- State Bar of Georgia
- Real Property Section of State Bar of Georgia
- Realtors of Greater Augusta, Inc.
Community Activities
- Deacon, Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2010-2013
- University of Georgia Parents Leadership Council
- Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Easter Seals East Georgia, Inc. 2005-2011
- Board of Directors of Augusta Country Club 2015-2021; Chairman of Golf Committee and Golf
- Long Range Planning Committee – 2019-2022.
- Board of Trustees, Episcopal Day School 2009-2015; Chairman of the Board 2011-2013
- Board of Directors, CSRA Community Foundation, 2015 – Present; Chairman of the Board of
Directors – 2024 – Present
David C. Jones
Location: Augusta, Georgia
Phone: (706) 737-3138
Fax: (706) 738-3973
Email: E-mail Me
David C. Jones was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1997. David’s practice concentrates on complex corporate and real estate transactions. He has represented clients in a wide variety of corporate transactions, including business organizations, mergers and acquisitions, secured and unsecured commercial lending transactions, joint venture agreements, shareholder agreements, operating agreements, consulting agreements and employment agreements. He also has experience in a broad range of real estate transactions, including acquisitions, development, commercial lease transactions, tax-free exchanges and loan transactions. In addition to corporate and real estate work, David assists clients with estate planning, probate and estate administration services.
Furman University
- B.A. cum laude – 1993
- Major – Economics
- Member of Golf Team
University of Georgia School of Law
- J.D cum laude – 1997
Experience
- Represented client in $5,150,000 sale of medical practice
- Represented client in $2,600,000 acquisition of warehouse facility through a tax free exchange
- Represented client in connection with a $13,372,901 loan to finance and renovate a senior housing facility
- Represented sponsor member in joint venture for development of a multi-million dollar storage facility
- Represented client in $12,000,000 acquisition of manufacturing facility
- Represent local lender with closings of SBA-504 Loans, Georgia Meat and Poultry Facility Loans and Direct Loans
- Represent local medical practices with buy-sell agreements, property acquisitions, employment agreements and leases
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Augusta Bar Association
- State Bar of Georgia
- Real Property Section of State Bar of Georgia
- Home Builders of Greater Aiken – Augusta Region, Inc.
- Realtors of Greater Augusta, Inc.
Community Activities
- Board of Directors of BPAC for Home Builders of Greater Aiken – Augusta Region, Inc.
- University of Georgia Parents Leadership Council
- Board of Directors of Augusta Free School
- President of Augusta Golf Association, 2021
- Board of Directors of Augusta Golf Association, 2010-2012 and 2019-2022
- Performance Review Committee, Forest Hills Golf Course, 2021
- Board of Directors of Augusta Country Club 2009-2014
- Board of Directors of Augusta Chapter of American Red Cross, 2012-2014
- Board of Directors of Exchange Club of Augusta, 2009
- Vestry of Church of the Good Shepherd, 2009-2011
- President of Ronald McDonald House of Augusta, 2002
Michael L. Downing, Jr
Location: Augusta, Georgia
Phone: (706) 737-3138
Fax: (706) 738-3973
Email: E-mail Me
Michael joined our firm in the fall of 2022 following his graduation from Mercer Law School. Michael’s practice involves business and real estate development and transactions, commercial litigation, estate planning, and probate.
Michael was born and raised in Augusta. He is married to Jamie.
Bar Admissions
- South Carolina, 2023
- Georgia, 2022
Education
- Mercer University School of Law, Macon, Georgia
- J.D. Summa Cum Laude – 2022
- Legal Writing Certificate
- Mercer Law Review, 2020 – 2022
- Brainerd Currie Society
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
- B.S. Highest Honors – 2018
- Major: Business Administration
Honors and Awards
- Mercer University School of Law
- Edward J. Henning Memorial Award
- Outstanding Solicitor Award
- CALI Award for Jurisdiction and Judgements, Advanced Legal Research, Local
Government Law, Advanced Litigation Drafting, and Corporate Issues Seminar
- 2021-22 American Bar Association Negotiation Competition Regional and National Champion
Publications
- Downing, Michael (2022) "The Party Respectfully Requests a Jury Trial on All Issues So
Triable" Mercer Law Review: Vol. 73: No. 3, Article 15.
J. Noel Schweers III
Noel’s practice focuses on real estate and business-related matters. He has represented numerous individuals and businesses in the acquisition and sale of a variety of businesses, as well as the acquisition, financing, development, and sale of real estate throughout the US. Noel has handled hundreds of residential and commercial real estate closings, including transactions involving thousands of acres of farmland, timberland, and recreational properties.
Noel’s legal experience includes a combination of 21 years in private practice, followed by 8 years as General Counsel for a large privately-owned international conglomerate. A life-long resident of Augusta, he began his career working in his family’s real estate company.
Areas of Experience
- Real Estate Acquisitions, Financings, Development and Divestitures
- Business Acquisitions, Financings and Divestitures
- Environmental Investigations and Clean Up
- Disposal of Troubled Real Estate
- Conservation Easements
- Alternative Investments Due Diligence, Investigations and Analysis
- Tax-Deferred Exchanges of Real Estate and Personal Property
- Business Operations and Risk Mitigation
- Employment Matters
- Franchise Laws
- Hotel Operations
- Outdoor Advertising
- Federal Contracting by Lessors and Suppliers
- Equine Laws – breeding, purchase and sale transactions, equine insurance, and owner liability
- Software and Literary License Agreements
- Trademarks and Service Marks – registration, transfer, and enforcement
- Copyright Laws, including Digital Millennium Copyright Act claims and claims of unauthorized use of photos on the internet
Bar Admissions
- Georgia, 1992
- South Carolina, 1992
Education
- Georgia State University, Robinson College of Business
- Master of Business Administration – 2012
- Georgia State University, College of Law
- Juris Doctor – 1992
- College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – 1987
Prior Experience
- Hull, Towill, Norman and Barrett, PC.
- J. Noel Schweers, II, PC.
- General Counsel, Morris Communications Company, LLC
- Schweers Law, LLC
Honors and Professional
- Martindale-Hubbell Peer Rating of AV® Preeminent
- Member Augusta Bar Association
- Real Property Law Section, past presenter, newsletter contributor and editor
- Past Executive Committee Member, Secretary, Treasurer and President of the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia
Community and Cultural Activities
- Member of the Augusta Canal Authority
- Member of the Board of Trustees for Historic Augusta, Inc.
- Past Trustee, Vice Chairman, and Chairman of the Board of the Sacred Heart Cultural Center
- Kiwanis Club of Augusta, Member and Past Board Member
- Past Trustee, Secretary, Treasure, Vice Chairman, and Chairman of the Board for the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art
- Past Member of the Board of Directors of Trinity Hospital of Augusta
- Past Counsel and ex-officio Member of Historic Augusta, Inc. and the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau
