Pearson K. Cunningham

Pearson represents state and local governments, public officials, employers, and private entities in state and federal courts across a wide variety of matters. Much of his work has involved defending governmental entities and employees in complex litigation involving constitutional issues, immunity defenses, and other matters of public-sector liability. The experience gained through handling these cases has informed his approach to litigation more broadly, including the defense of employment and general liability claims from trial to appeal.

Pearson also maintains an active appellate practice. He has handled numerous appeals before state and federal appellate courts and has argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the Supreme Court of Georgia, and the Court of Appeals of Georgia.

A native of Covington, Georgia, Pearson received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Georgia. After serving as a legislative aide to State Representative Barry Fleming, he earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Georgia State University College of Law.

During law school, Pearson served as Legislation Editor of the Georgia State University Law Review, where he supervised and edited the Law Review’s annual publication of the “Peach Sheets,” detailing the legislative history of significant legislation enacted by the Georgia General Assembly. He was also an active member of the College of Law’s Moot Court Board and clerked for then-Judge Ellington of the Georgia Court of Appeals.

Pearson and his wife, Holley, live in Athens, Georgia, with their two daughters.

Presentations

•Legal Climate Panel
Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia, Young Agents Sales & Leadership Conference; February 8, 2023

Publications

•Whose Precedents Count for Qualified Immunity?
HBS Governmental Liability Blog; December 28, 2021
•Local Government Law
Mercer Law Review, December 2022
•Local Government Law
Mercer Law Review, December 2021
•Local Government Law
Mercer Law Review, December 2020
•Local Government Law
71 Mercer L. Rev. 189 (Fall 2019) (Georgia Whistleblower Act section)
•Local Government Law
72 Mercer L. Rev 223 (Fall 2020) (Georgia Whistleblower Act section)
•Sword and Shield: A Practical Approach to Section 1983
(ABA, State and Local Gov’t Law ed., 5th ed.) (Chapter Ten: The Fourteenth Amendment)

Recognition

•Top Lawyers , Appellate Practice, GaBiz Magazine, 2026
•Georgia Rising Star , Super Lawyers, 2025

In the Press

HBS Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Georgia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars Lists

February 16, 2026

HBS is excited to announce that nine attorneys have been recognized on the 2026 Georgia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars list.