Anthony A. “Tony” Rowell is Managing Partner of Hall Booth Smith’s Tifton office. Tony received his Juris Doctor in 1990 from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. He was admitted to the Georgia State Bar the same year.
Before attending law school, Tony attended Valdosta State College where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in Philosophy. Tony also has a degree in Agri-Business with Applied Sciences.
He grew up in Douglas, Georgia, working in the family dry cleaning business. After graduating from high school, he worked for the United States Postal Service where he continued to be employed during law school.
Tony is AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, an independent peer review organization. AV Preeminent is the highest rating bestowed on attorneys by such an organization. He practices in the areas of local government, governmental liability, medical malpractice defense, risk management, insurance law, business litigation, premises and retail liability, motor vehicle liability, common carrier liability, contractual liability, construction litigation, and employment law.
He has maintained a significant trial practice since 1990 and has tried over 75 jury trials in many different areas of the law. He has extensive appellate practice experience, and in the last 20 years, he has made approximately 50 appearances in either the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, or the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He also has mediated hundreds of cases and has extensive experience with alternative dispute resolution.
Tony also writes newsletter articles and conducts seminars on local government, governmental liability, medical malpractice, and risk management. He often is called upon to help his clients avoid business losses from unnecessary employment and liability claims. He practices in all state and federal Courts in Georgia and is admitted to the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Georgia, and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Tony is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, Defense Research Institute, Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, Georgia Hospital Association, US Law, and maintains firm membership in the Tift and Coffee County Chambers of Commerce.
Experience
Governmental Liability
Tony now serves as the County Attorney for Coffee, Tift, and Ware counties. Tony brought to those positions his extensive experience representing governmental entities in a wide array of liability settings. In his private practice, Tony has had to “pick up the pieces” and litigate cases after legally significant mistakes had been made by governmental employees.
As County Attorney, he now brings a large dose of “preventative medicine” to County government. He recognizes liability pitfalls and is able to assist the County in avoiding those mistakes that result in litigation.
Health Care
Tony represents a variety of health care providers and managed care organizations on a broad range of issues including medical staff credentialing, business transactions, and contract management. Tony is extremely accessible and frequently travels to medical facilities to do in-service training of it employees.
Medical Malpractice
Tony has extensive experience litigating medical malpractice lawsuits. He represents both physicians and hospitals and is a zealous advocate for the medical industry and his medical clients. Presently, Tony has the privilege of representing many doctors and hospitals throughout Georgia.
Premises Liability
Tony has extensive experience litigating and trying retail liability cases. Tony has had the privilege of representing national retailers on many different issues. He is familiar with liability issues facing retailers, as well as, familiar with retail business models which make those companies successful.
Tony believes in risk management and prevention as a primary means of reducing damage and loss to property as well as injury to customers and employees.
Transportation
Tony has extensive experience handling both liability and cargo claims for trucking entities. Tony makes himself available to perform on-site investigation at any hour and has extensive contacts with accident reconstructionists and law enforcement officials through out the state.
In addition to being familiar with all liability issues surrounding tractor-trailer accidents, Tony is also familiar with the federal regulations which govern - and often impact - the liability picture in many cases.
Recognition
•The Best Lawyers in America , Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Best Lawyers, 2007-2026
•AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
•Georgia Super Lawyer; Super Lawyers; 2009, 2012-2018
In the Press
58 HBS Attorneys Recognized as The Best Lawyers in America Award Recipients
August 16, 2024
Hall Booth Smith, P.C. is pleased to announce that 58 lawyers have been included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
