For the last 18 years of his career, Bates’ practice has centered around civil litigation, concentrating on business litigation matters. Specifically, Bates’ practice areas include complex commercial matters, real estate and environmental disputes including condemnation/eminent domain work, business disputes, toxic torts, wrongful death and personal injury claims, and government litigation.

He spends considerable time representing investors with their complex commercial property tax issues. Mainly, that practice centers around property tax appeals for multifamily housing including market rent, Low Income Housing Tax Credits (“LIHTC”), USDA and HUD funding. However, Bates also has success in appealing the values of warehouses, car dealerships, commercial shopping centers, farmland, fast food restaurants, convenience stores, marinas, and other commercial property throughout Georgia and South Carolina. In total, Bates has appealed ad valorem taxes for properties in excess of $450 million.

Bates also serves as the appointed City Attorney for the City of Savannah. In that role, Bates provides legal advice and services to the Mayor and Aldermen of Savannah, the City Manager, and city staff to ensure that policies, recommendations and administrative procedures undertaken are legally sound. He supervises all litigation as well as the drafting of all ordinances and the preparation of legal documents, reviews and consults on city services and contracts, and provides legal advice and counseling to Savannah’s City Council, the City Manager, and city staff.

Before transitioning to civil litigation, Bates started his legal career as an assistant district attorney where he tried over 50 cases to jury verdict. He was an ADA for the Cobb County Crimes Against Women and Children Unit. There, he prosecuted felony cases in which the victim was a woman or child, such as murder, rape, child molestation, cruelty to children, and aggravated stalking. Bates was also an assistant district attorney in Rockdale County where he was the Domestic Violence Prosecutor.

Bates earned his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Georgia, cum laude. He then earned his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law, cum laude, where he was a recipient of the Bryant T. Castellano academic scholarship. While in law school, Bates was a member of the Moot Court Team and served on the editorial board of the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law. He is happily married and has two boys.