Thomas "Tom" Church

Tom became a lawyer to represent people, not big corporations or powerful government agencies. Since graduating from law school and joining Pate & Johnson, Tom has been able to fight for individuals by getting successful results in criminal cases and personal injury litigation across Georgia and the rest of the country. In 2020, Tom was selected as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer in Georgia by the National Trial Lawyers. Membership in the Top 40 Under 40 is by invitation only and limited to the top 40 attorneys in the state based on their qualifications, leadership skills, and proven results as a trial lawyer. Tom received this recognition in only his third year of practicing law.Prior to joining Pate & Johnson, Tom graduated with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law, where he was a member of the school’s Moot Court and Mock Trial teams. Tom also won awards for achieving the highest marks in his Torts and Constitutional Law classes. Tom served as a research assistant to Professors Dan Coenen and Michael Wells, experts in constitutional law and constitutional litigation, respectively. In his last year of school, Tom was one of a few students selected to participate in a week-long seminar with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

In his criminal practice, Tom handles a variety of cases at the federal and state level, including drug trafficking and conspiracy charges, white collar crimes, immigration offenses, and sex crimes. Most recently, Tom got criminal racketeering charges dismissed against a client in Fulton County after filing a motion challenging the State’s indictment. In federal court, Tom filed a motion in a high-profile bribery case that resulted in a federal judge finding that the U.S. Government breached our client’s plea agreement. Tom has also filed sentencing motions that have resulted in our clients receiving no jail time, a rare outcome in federal criminal cases.Tom also represents low-risk individuals seeking removal from the Georgia sex offender registry and has helped eligible individuals restore their rights throughout the state of Georgia from Atlanta to Tifton. On the civil side of the firm’s practice, Tom has litigated cases involving daycare and nursing home injuries, wrongful arrests, and catastrophic personal injuries. Last year, for example, Tom helped a young family obtain a six-figure settlement after their child was negligently injured at a daycare.Outside of the office, Tom is an active member of his community and is especially interested in local efforts to combat poverty and protect the environment. Tom also enjoys hiking through Georgia’s beautiful state parks and traveling to see his family in Peru. Tom is also a songwriter and guitarist who occasionally performs around the metro Atlanta area.