James L. (“Jay”) Roberts, IV is a partner in the firm. He is a litigator and trial attorney who practices civil litigation and advises clients in risk management and corporate matters. Mr. Roberts has extensive experience in numerous types of litigation, with a particular focus on business, commercial, personal injury and complex litigation and class actions. He has served as lead counsel in numerous class actions, partnership disputes, fraud and racketeering claims. He has developed a sub-specialty in advising clients in ad valorem tax matters and has assisted clients in obtaining over a billion dollars in market value reductions. He is one of the foremost authorities on ad valorem taxation in the State and is often called upon for input in proposed legislative charges in this area. His knowledge of the effective techniques for litigating value have created a demand for his services in condemnation and other cases with complicated issues concerning property and its value. Additionally, Jay has an active practice in land use matters and related litigation. His experience also extends to toxic torts, medical malpractice, construction, fiduciary and real estate litigation at both the trial and appellate level. Jay also routinely represents injured parties in personal injury claims.
As an active member of the State Bar, he serves as a member of the Board of Governors of the Georgia Bar. He is a past President of the Glynn County Bar Association. He is regularly a special invitee to the Advisory Committee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.
Mr. Roberts is admitted to practice law in the State of Georgia, as well as before the United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Georgia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh and Federal Courts.
Mr. Roberts earned his Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law and his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Georgia. Prior to forming Roberts Tate, Jay was a partner in the law firm of Gilbert, Harrell, Sumerford & Martin, P.C. He is a former law clerk for the late Honorable Anthony A. Alaimo in the Southern District of Georgia.
Jay was named “Rising Star” for 2006, 2009 – 2011 and 2014- 2016 and “Super Lawyer” for 2017 – 2020 in the publications of Super Lawyer Magazine in the area of Business Litigation and is an AV rated lawyer by Lawyers.com and Martindale.com. This is the highest rating available for lawyers in terms of legal skill and professionalism.
He has served as a Board Member for the United Way of Coastal Georgia, Golden Isles Soccer Association, Southeast Georgia Health System Ethics Committee, Brunswick Judicial Circuit Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules Committee and Wesley United Methodist Church Staff Parish Relations Committee. He also serves on the United Community Bank Advisory Board, on the Bar Board of Governors for the State Bar of Georgia and is a member of the Southern District of Georgia Advisory Committee where he serves on the Local Rules Committee.
