Robbie Ashe represents both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts.
With a background in politics and government, much of his work involves governments and governmental authorities in Georgia, particularly the City of Atlanta, metro Atlanta and the state.
Robbie’s government and political experience includes:
- Negotiating the financing, acquisitions, disposals, and construction of numerous government assets and properties, including spearheading multi-year, highly successful public communications and advocacy campaigns culminating in the passage of multiple multi-billion dollar sales tax referenda.
- Leading teams of governmental finance experts and attorneys in evaluating, negotiating and implementing various issues, including government procurement codes; redevelopment matters such as condemnation, impact fees, and bonded indebtedness; issuance of commercial paper by local government enterprise funds; compliance with Georgia's Open Records Act and Open Meetings Act; sales and property tax disputes, exemptions, and appeals; and government ethics and campaign finance matters.
- Providing guidance and counsel in the election and re-election campaigns of several Atlanta mayors, members of the Atlanta City Council, state and local judges, and numerous Georgia General Assembly members.
- Serving on the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) from 2010 until 2023, and chairing the Board from 2014 to 2018, becoming the longest-serving Board Chair in MARTA history.
- Serving as a Mayoral Appointee on the Piedmont Park Conservancy Board of Directors beginning in 2022.
Representative Governmental & Government-Related Work
- In 2022 and 2023, successfully represented the City of Atlanta against the secessionist Buckhead City Committee (BCC), including getting BCC’s lawsuit alleging various constitutional and tort claims against the City dismissed with prejudice.
- Successfully defended the City of Atlanta’s public comment policy against a First Amendment challenge, including through appeal and oral argument to the 11th Circuit. See Cardinale v. City of Atlanta, 2022 WL 2983366 (11th Cir., July 28, 2022).
- Successfully defended a $250 million food and beverage concessions contract at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport through administrative proceedings and litigation, and advised other concessionaires and vendors as to various compliance issues.
- In 2020, successfully represented Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the Atlanta City Council against Governor Kemp's lawsuit challenging the City of Atlanta’s Mask Order during COVID.
- Successfully represented Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, in a lawsuit defending COVID-related ordinances.
- Guided and successfully defended the City of Atlanta’s annexation of Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control, resulting in the largest expansion of the City of Atlanta in several decades.
- Led a trial team securing a unanimous ruling for a major annexation by the City of Brookhaven, facilitating a major mixed-use development in north DeKalb County.
- Successfully defended a major annexation and development of hundreds of units of affordable housing in the City of Clarkston, Georgia, including through appeal. See City of Tucker v. City of Clarkston, et al., Civil Appeal No. A23A0511 (Ga. Ct. of Appeals, June 15, 2023).
- Successfully defended the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority against Open Meetings Act claims.
General Civil Litigation Experience
- Successfully defended a major national developer sued over a zoning dispute in Savannah, Georgia, including winning sanctions against the plaintiff developer. See Vista Acquisitions, LLC v. West Shore Walden, LLC, Case No. 1:22-cv-739-MLB, 2023 WL 2145515 (N.D. Ga. Fe. 21, 2023).
- Successfully defended a plaintiff’s verdict under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) at the 11th Circuit. See Leslie Cephus v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 771 Fed. Appx. 883 (11th Cir. Apr. 29, 2019).
- Won an extraordinary motion for a new trial on behalf of a bank seeking to enforce a guaranty.
- Successfully represented a commercial landlord in arbitration against a tenant regarding lease performance.
- Successfully represented employers and former employees in employment covenant litigation, including non-compete and non-solicitation covenants.
- Secured a confidential settlement for TASER International, Inc., and shareholders in a RICO and securities violation lawsuit.
- Served as plaintiffs' counsel in a class action breach of contract/RICO case against a major shipping company, settling for $21.5 million.
- Won a trial defending an international hotel company against charges of theft of government property.
Professional Activities
Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Former Advisory Committee Member
Bleckley Inn of Court, Master
Central Presbyterian Church, Elder
Central Presbyterian Outreach Advocacy Center, Former Board Chair
Georgia State Law Alumni Council, Former Class Representative
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Former Chairman, Board of Directors
Piedmont Park Conservancy, Board Member
Red Clay Democrats, Founder and Former Board Member
Woodward Academy Alumni Association, Former Secretary and Board Member
Publications/Speaking Engagements
Honors and Awards
Atlanta Magazine, Atlanta’s Most Powerful Leaders, 2019
Fulton County Daily Report, "On The Rise"
Georgia Rising Star, 2016 - 2019
Georgia Super Lawyer, 2020 - 2024
Georgia Trend, 100 Most Influential Georgians, 2018 and 2019
Leadership Atlanta, Graduate
Marshall Memorial Fellow
Woodward Academy Distinguished Alumni Award, 2016
News
- February 9, 2024
- January 11, 2024Daily Report
- December 28, 2023Daily Report
- February 10, 2023
- February 23, 2021Super Lawyers
- September 4, 2020
- August 14, 2020Atlanta Journal Constitution
- August 14, 2020
- July 24, 2020
- March 4, 2019Daily Report
- February 16, 2019Super Lawyers
- January 7, 2019GeorgiaTrend
- February 21, 2018
- January 3, 2018
- February 23, 2017
- February 21, 2017Super Lawyers
- September 20, 2016
- February 28, 2016Harvard Political Review
- February 19, 2016Super Lawyers
- October 2, 2015
- August 21, 2014
- January 13, 2014Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- December 9, 2013
Education
Georgia State University College of Law, J.D., 2009, summa cum laude
- Legislative Editor, Georgia State Law Review
- Board Member, Moot Court
- Bleckley Inn of Court Pupil
Dartmouth College, B.A., 1997, Honors
Previous Experience
Intergovernmental Affairs Manager, Mayor’s Office of the City of Atlanta
Law Clerk, Chief Justice Carol Hunstein, Georgia Supreme Court
Law Clerk, Chief Judge Anne Barnes, Georgia Court of Appeals
Admissions
- State Bar of Georgia
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee