Ali Sabzevari is a Partner in Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP's Atlanta office. He practices in the firm's Commercial Litigation and Government Liability practice teams. Mr. Sabzevari represents public and private companies in complex commercial litigation, business disputes, and class actions. He also represents local government entities, including counties and municipalities, in state and federal lawsuits involving a wide range of claims, including civil rights and personal injury. He has represented clients in several high-profile cases at both the trial and appellate levels as well as in mediation and arbitration proceedings. Mr. Sabzevari has been named in Georgia Super Lawyers – Rising Stars and recognized on the Benchmark Litigation “40 & Under Hot List,” an exclusive ranking of the most talented U.S. litigators 40 years of age or younger.

Mr. Sabzevari has tried multiple cases to verdict and has also obtained numerous favorable results in pre-trial proceedings. Examples of his trial work include:

• Bullard v. Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., Case No. 01-16-0004-4651 (2017) (successfully represented one of the largest automotive retailers in the U.S. in arbitration by achieving award denying all claims against dealership) 
• McDonough Village South, LLC v. Sowards, Civil Action File No. 2015-CV-01012-5 (2016) (achieved six-figure judgment on behalf of commercial lessor and management company in breach of contract action)
• Ford v. Woodforest National Bank, Civil Action File No. 2016-CM-2439 (2016) (defended a national bank through trial and achieved defense verdict in client’s favor)
• Grant v. Clayton Cnty., Ga., No. 1:14-CV-1279-TWT, 2015 WL 4744623 (N.D. Ga. Aug. 11, 2015) (achieved dismissal of employment discrimination lawsuit on behalf of employer)
• Thrasher v. Hall Cnty., No. 2:14-CV-00148-RWS, 2015 WL 751715 (N.D. Ga. Feb. 23, 2015) (achieved dismissal of lawsuit filed by individual raising federal Constitutional claims for violations of his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, as well as state law claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, wrongful/false arrest, false imprisonment, and negligence)
• Bagwell v. Hall Cty., No. 2:14-CV-00195-RWS (N.D. Ga.) (achieved summary judgment for a sheriff’s deputy on allegations of unlawful search, excessive force, and denial of medical care under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and negligence under state law based on the denial of medical care)

As part of his appellate practice, Mr. Sabzevari has handled cases in the United States Supreme Court, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Georgia Supreme Court, and Georgia Court of Appeals. Examples of his appellate work include:

• Authored brief in the United States Supreme Court in Dukes v. Deaton, 199 L.Ed.2d 23 (2017) (successfully obtained denial of petition for writ of certiorari from Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling in favor of clients)
• Authored brief in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Ducre v. Archer, 2016 WL 3006843 (2016) (affirming district court's grant of summary judgement to police officer on the basis of qualified immunity)
• Authored brief in the Georgia Supreme Court in Mosley v. Lowe, 298 Ga. 363 (2016) (obtained clarification from the Supreme Court of Georgia that retroactive application of statutory amendments that expanded the right to restrict access to criminal records did not violate state constitutional prohibition against retroactive laws)
• Authored brief in the Georgia Court of Appeals in City of Lovejoy v. Clayton Cty., 335 Ga. App. 881 (2016) (affirming trial court’s decision declaring city’s annexation ordinance null and void)

Mr. Sabzevari received his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law, magna cum laude, finishing 12th in his class of 232 students. While in law school, Mr. Sabzevari served as an advocate on Georgia Law’s Mock Trial team and was selected to serve as a pupil in the Chattahoochee Inn of Court. Also while in law school, Mr. Sabzevari interned for Congressman Jack Kingston in Washington, D.C. and the Honorable Richard W. Story of the Northern District of Georgia. He served as a volunteer mediator at the Athens-Clarke County Magistrate Court. As a result of his academic success, Mr. Sabzevari was elected to the Order of the Coif.

He received his B.B.A. in Economics from Georgia Southern University, where he was a member of several honor societies, served as a Student Government Association Senator, and served as President of Phi Alpha Delta, President of Alpha Tau Omega, and President of the Interfraternity Council.

Court of Appeals of Georgia

Georgia

Supreme Court of Georgia

Supreme Court of the United States

U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia

U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia

U.S. District Court Southern District of Georgia

• “Georgia Court of Appeals tacitly affirms homeowners associations’ ability to utilize covenants not to sue,” FMG Blogline (November 2025)
• “Coronavirus and Impact on Landlords and Tenants,” FMG BlogLine (April 2020)
• “Split in the Circuit May Force SCOTUS to Revisit Kinglsey,” FMG BlogLine (March 2019)
• “New York High Court Narrows Statute of Limitations Under Martin Act,” FMG Blogline (June 2018)
• “The Militarization of Police and the Status of Qualified Immunity,” DRI, For the Defense (June 2017)
• “Georgia Supreme Court Upholds Awarding City Legal Fees Under OCGA 9-15-14 Despite Fees Being Borne By City’s Insurer,” FMG Blogline (May 2017)
• “Georgia Supreme Court Rules No Pre-Suit Notice Required to Sue Cities for Intentional Acts,” FMG BlogLine (March 2017)
• “Georgia City Sues County Over Dispute In Providing Emergency Services,” FMG BlogLine (September 2016)
• “District Court Dismisses Suit For Failure To Meet The Pleadings Requirements Under The U.S. Telephone Consumer Protection Act,” FMG BlogLine (October 2016)
• “Eleventh Circuit Finds that Officers are Entitled to Qualified Immunity in Fourth Amendment Flashbang Lawsuit Handled by FMG,” FMG BlogLine (February 2017).
• “Municipal Liability: No Action For Damages Against A Municipality In Georgia For Its Failure To Provide Medical Care To An Inmate,” FMG BlogLine (March 2015)
• “Storage And Maintenance Of Seized Property: Liability Update,” (September 2015)
• “Municipal Liability: Failing To Provide Inmates With Adequate Medical Attention,” FMG BlogLine (July 2014)
• “Blowing The Whistle: Georgia’s Whistleblower Act Waives A County’s Entitlement To Sovereign Immunity,” FMG BlogLine (February 2014)
• “Disability or Criminal Behavior? ADA Claims Involving Law Enforcement,” FMG LawLine (February 2013)
• “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Misdemeanors,” FMG BlogLine (November 2013)
• “How Far Is Too Far When It Comes To Invasive Searches Of The Body?” FMG BlogLine (September 2013)
• “Get In Focus: Law Enforcement Departments Should Strongly Consider Body Cameras,” FMG BlogLine (August 2013)
• “Law Enforcement Officers Permitted To Take DNA Cheek Swabs From Arrestees,”FMG BlogLine (June 2013)
•  “Temporary Flooding May Give Rise to a Takings Claim,” FMG LawLine (January 2013)

• Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
• Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution
• State Bar of Georgia, Local Government Section
• Buckhead Business Association
• Claims & Litigation Management Alliance
  • Municipal Law Committee

• Recognized by Benchmark Litigation in their “40 & Under List” 2019-2026
• Recognized in Georgia Super Lawyers – Rising Stars 2020-2026

 

• Supreme Court Update – Government Law​,2024 Term, October 2025, Atlanta, Georgia
• Municipal Tort Reform, Georgia Municipal Association’s Cities United Summit, January 2025, Atlanta Georgia
• Update on Sovereign Immunity for Local Governments, September 2024, Athens, Georgia
• Law Enforcement: Critical Incident Response, March 2019, Atlanta, Georgia
• Litigating Excessive Force Claims – Developments, Defenses and Settlement Strategies, November 2017, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Southeast Conference, Atlanta, Georgia
• Militarization of Police and the Status of Qualified Immunity for Flash Bang Use, April 2017, Atlanta, Georgia
• Legal Update: Current Issues Affecting Municipal Liability and Law Enforcement, Public Risk Management Association, October 2016, Atlanta, Georgia
• Complications Arising From Multi-Jurisdiction Task Forces, July 2016, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance 2016, Boston, Massachusetts
• Risk Management Issues Related to High Speed Pursuits and The Effect of Pursuing and Arresting Mentally Disabled Suspects, December 2015, Atlanta, Georgia