Lee A. Summerford, Business Attorney in Savannah, Georgia
Over 30 years of legal practice · focused on Business, Contracts, and Estate Planning · 4.6/5 rating from 19 verified client reviews
PartneratOliver Maner LLP
Savannah, GA
Practicing business in Savannah since 1996.
- 30+
- Years practicing
- 4.6 ★
- 19 client reviews
- 1
- Bar admission
Are you Lee A. Summerford?
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Quick answer
Lee A. Summerford is a partner based in Savannah, GA. The practice focuses on Business, Contracts, and Estate Planning. Lee has over 30 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Oliver Maner LLP. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 19 client reviews.
- Based in
- Savannah, GA
- Experience
- over 30 years
- Known for
- Business · Contracts · Estate Planning
- Handles Business, Contracts, and Estate Planning matters from Savannah, GA.
- Over 30 years of practice as a licensed attorney.
- Recognized with AV Preeminent.
About Lee A. Summerford: Lee A. Summerford is a partner based in Savannah, GA. The practice focuses on Business, Contracts, and Estate Planning. Lee has over 30 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Oliver Maner LLP. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 19 client reviews.
Areas of practice
Lee's practice areas in Savannah
Lee concentrates on business, contracts, estate planning, general, and health care. Each area below outlines the kind of case Lee handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
Business
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Contracts
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Estate Planning
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General
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Health Care
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Litigation
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Probate
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Tax
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Trusts
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Business cases in Savannah, Georgia
Lee takes business matters in Savannah, Georgia. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Lee agrees to represent you.
Contracts cases in Savannah, Georgia
Lee takes contracts matters in Savannah, Georgia. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Lee agrees to represent you.
Estate Planning cases in Savannah, Georgia
Lee takes estate planning matters in Savannah, Georgia. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Lee agrees to represent you.
General cases in Savannah, Georgia
Lee takes general matters in Savannah, Georgia. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Lee agrees to represent you.
Health Care cases in Savannah, Georgia
Lee takes health care matters in Savannah, Georgia. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Lee agrees to represent you.
Biography
Lee A. Summerford, business attorney serving Savannah
Lee A. Summerford is a partner based in Savannah, GA. The practice focuses on Business, Contracts, and Estate Planning. Lee has over 30 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Oliver Maner LLP. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 19 client reviews. Lee works from Savannah, Georgia and takes on business matters across the region.
Lee A. Summerford is a Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent rated partner in the Tax and Corporate section of the firm. Mr. Summerford concentrates his practice in the areas of business law and estate planning. His business practice includes corporate, partnership and LLC formation, contract preparation and negotiation, sales and acquisitions, buy-sell agreements, and succession planning. His estate planning practice ranges from simple wills to complex tax-motivated estate planning, and he handles all aspects of probate, estate and trust administration. In addition, Mr. Summerford regularly deals with the Internal Revenue Service and State Department of Revenue on estate and income tax issues.
Mr. Summerford handles a number of issues peculiar to physicians and medical practices including shareholder agreements, employment contracts, covenants not to compete, hospital privileges, and state and federal regulatory issues and compliance.
Mr. Summerford attended Mercer University, graduating in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science. Upon earning his undergraduate degree, Lee attended the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University and received his Juris Doctor cum laude in 1996. While at Mercer, he served as Senior Managing Editor of the Mercer Law Review and was a member of the Brainerd Currie Honor Society and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He was also named the 1996 Tax Scholar by the Georgia Federal Tax Conference.
Mr. Summerford has been included in "Best Lawyers in America" for Trusts and Estates from 2003 through the present including “Lawyer of the Year” for 2016. In addition, Mr. Summerford has been named as first a "Rising Star" and now a “Super Lawyer” by Atlanta Magazine in the area of Closely Held Businesses. He has also been named to Georgia Trend’s “Legal Elite” in the areas of Taxes/Estates/Trusts several times. In 2001, Lee was recognized as one of the top "40 Business Leaders Under 40" in the Savannah Business Report and Journal.
He is admitted to practice before the Georgia state courts, the Georgia Supreme Court, and the United States Tax Court.
Lee is also a family man and is most proud of his wife, Mary Dekle Summerford, who has been a public school history teacher for 28 years, his daughter Katie who is at UGA Law School, and his son Jake who is a college freshman and State and National Champion shotgunner. Lee is an avid outdoorsman and competitive skeet and sporting clays shooter and was named to the 2017 National Sporting Clays Association Georgia All State Team. He has coached his children in many sports over the last 20 years and is very involved in youth shooting in the Savannah area as a founder and director of the Forest City Juniors National Champion youth shooting team and as founding Head Coach of the Varsity Sport Shooting Team at Benedictine Military School. He also serves as Vice President of the Forest City Gun Club in Savannah.
Lee's approach to business cases
Lee A. Summerford is a Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent rated partner in the Tax and Corporate section of the firm. Mr. Summerford concentrates his practice in the areas of business law and estate planning. His business practice includes corporate, partnership and LLC formation, contract preparation and negotiation, sales and acquisitions, buy-sell agreements, and succession planning. His estate…
The kind of cases Lee takes
Lee reviews new inquiries case-by-case for business, contracts, and estate planning matters in Savannah and the surrounding Georgia area.
Credentials
Credentials — where Lee studied and practices
Walter F. George Law School at Mercer University
J.D. · 1996
Mercer University
B.A. · 1993
Jurisdictions
Lee's state bar admissions
Georgia Supreme Cour
1996 · ACTIVE
Lee studied at J.D. in Walter F. George Law School at Mercer University and B.A. in Mercer University.
Law school and academic background
Lee completed J.D. in Walter F. George Law School at Mercer University and B.A. in Mercer University. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Lee runs in Georgia is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Recognition
Lee's legal honors and published work
Lee has received 1 formal recognition from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.
AV Preeminent
Legal awards and honors
AV Preeminent.
Affiliations
Lee's professional memberships and bar associations
Savannah Bar Association State Bar of Georgia Savannah Estate Planning Council American Health Lawyers Association
membership
Locations
Lee A. Summerford's office in Savannah
Lee's primary office is at 218 West State Street, Savannah, GA, 31401. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
Client feedback
Client reviews of Lee A. Summerford — 4.6/5 rating from 19 verified client reviews
Every review below is from a verified client of Lee. Reviews cover communication, case outcome, and value — the three signals that matter most when comparing business attorneys in Savannah.
4.6
19 client reviews
Client ratings are sourced from public records and editorial research. Reviews on LawyersListed are accepted from verified clients once Lee A. Summerford claims this profile.
Read all reviewsHiring guide
How to hire Lee A. Summerford — what to expect in your first consultation
Working with a new business attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Lee usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
Lee charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Lee's office.
What to bring to your first meeting
Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Lee will tell you what matters and what doesn't.
Questions to ask a business attorney in Savannah, Georgia
A short list to run through before you commit: How many business matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?
Fees & payment
Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Lee
Lee discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in business practice — ask which fits.
Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options
Every business matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Lee confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
Lee's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many business practices work with clients on structured schedules.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about Lee A. Summerford
How much does it cost to hire Lee for a business case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Lee walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does Lee offer a free consultation?
Lee charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Lee's office. Some business attorneys offer free consults — check Lee's current terms during booking.
How long do business cases in Georgia typically take?
Simple business matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Lee gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can Lee take my case if I'm outside Savannah?
Lee is licensed in Georgia. Matters governed by Georgia law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Lee will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with Lee?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Lee will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is Lee accepting new business clients right now?
Lee's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.
Areas served
Business attorneys serving Savannah, Atlanta and Marietta in Georgia
Lee handles business matters throughout Georgia. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified business attorneys in that community.
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