Matthew B. Ames

I am privileged to represent a diverse range of clients throughout the Southeast, with most concentrated within in the Atlanta community. The three principal categories of clients I represent are software/technology companies, clients in the financial services industries, and clients in the arts, hospitality, and entertainment industries. My practice is drawn to creative, energetic businesses and personalities.  

A big part of my practice involves helping companies through business break-ups or what we call "business divorces" -- whether in the form of the buy-out of a partner or investor, a dispute over how to value a member's interest in the enterprise, or other fiduciary matters that may need to be resolved to finalize the separation. I have also invested great effort towards helping clients safeguard their intellectual property and trade secrets, which is a matter of increasing importance in the information age. Finally, I have represented numerous buyers and sellers in disputes over the purchase of goods, industrial equipment, and other types of business assets.  
All of that said, while there is great variation among the matters I have handled, the common thread is that it is always with an eye towards resolving or avoiding a legal problem so that the client can get the focus back to where it belongs -- running its business.  

Establishing relationships. Really getting to know your clients is its own reward. The approach that has made the most sense to me over the years has been to understand all of the details of the client's business objectives, and then devise a legal strategy that aligns with those objectives. This allows you to focus on solving the problem in the cost effective manner, and also hopefully enables you to devise a strategy to keep the same problem from coming up the next time. This approach has led to very productive and satisfying relationships over the years.  While notching victories in court is always great too, at the end of the day it ultimately boils down to relationships.

Community service is hugely important. For the past decade, I have served very proudly as a either a volunteer or a board member for Dad's Garage Theatre Company, one of the leading and innovative theatres in the Southeast. In 2008, I helped organize an "improv for attorneys" workshop that is accredited by the Georgia Bar. That program still runs today. I have also served in a variety of board service, volunteer service, and pro bono functions for Jewish Family & Career Services, a stellar non-profit organization that provides a vast array of services and programs to a diverse population, both Jewish and non-Jewish.