Sam Thomas joined the practice of law in 1975 with the predecessor firm of Bovis, Kyle, Burch & Medlin, LLC. He has been a partner/member of the firm since 1981. He is a life-long resident of the Atlanta area, having been born February 20, 1950, in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He attended Georgia State University in Atlanta where he received a BBA with honors in 1972. He also attended the University of Georgia in Athens, having received his J.D., cum laude, in 1975. While at the University of Georgia, he served as Recent Decisions Editor of the Georgia Law Review. Sam and his wife Dale were married in 1977 and currently reside in the north Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, Georgia. Sam and his wife have three children. Their oldest son a graduate of The University of Georgia, is currently the CEO of a public affairs firm. Their youngest son is attending the University of Georgia and their daughter, a graduate of North Georgia College and State University, is a teacher at Holy Innocents Episcopal School in Atlanta.

Sam’s practice areas include municipal law, business law, real estate, and employment law. He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, including memberships in the local government law and the corporation, banking and business law sections. He is admitted to practice in various courts. He is also a member of the International Municipal Lawyers Association. Sam has served as City Attorney for Alpharetta, Georgia since 1985. During that period of time, he has guided the City in its growth from less than 5,000 residents to more than 50,000. He has developed various model ordinances which have been adopted by other jurisdictions in Georgia as well as other states. Sam developed and successfully implemented the first Development Impact Fee Ordinance in the State of Georgia. He also participates in various zoning and local government law seminars. Sam also serves as counsel to the Alpharetta Conventions & Visitors Bureau and the Alpharetta Development Authority. While Sam devotes a substantial portion of his practice to the City of Alpharetta, he also has a substantial number of private clients whom he enjoys advising in business, development, zoning and employment matters.

Sam is active in his local community, having served as a youth sports coach for many years as well as an officer and board member of various youth sports organizations. He also serves as a mentor for local high school students interested in the practice of law, including school-sponsored job shadowing and moot court programs. He has served as a board member of North Fulton Senior Services, a non-profit organization assisting senior citizens in the North Atlanta area. Sam and his wife attend North Point Community Church in Alpharetta.