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Sally Akins
Sally Akins Senior Neutral
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Overview

Sally Akins

Sarah B. “Sally” Akins was the 60th president of the State Bar of Georgia from June, 2022-2023. She was installed as the 60th president of the 52,000 member State Bar of Georgia on June 4, 2022. She is the sixth woman to serve as president of the organization. Akins has previously served as secretary and treasurer of the State Bar, and for the past year, as president-elect. Service to others has been instilled in her since childhood and she is excited to lead the State Bar of Georgia with the help of her fellow officers, Executive Committee members, and Board of Governors.

Additionally, the Supreme Court of Georgia appointed Sally to a six-year term on the Board of Bar Examiners; where she served as chair in 2020. She serves on the U.S. District Court Advisory Committee for the Southern District of Georgia and the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Court Advisory Committee.

After nearly 30 years of handling civil jury trials, Akins chose to focus on mediation and has been a full-time mediator for the past four years throughout the state with Miles Mediation. Having been with the firm since its inception, she has recently taken of counsel status at Ellis Painter in Savannah.

Sally has handled cases involving premises liability, automobile and trucking accidents, professional negligence (medical, legal and pharmaceutical) litigation involving counties and municipalities including civil rights cases and zoning cases, insurance coverage litigation, and products liability. After working solely with litigation with Ellis Painter, she chose to focus on mediation, and is a registered mediator and arbitrator.

Sally has also received the General Practice & Trial Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia Tradition of Excellence Award and was recognized by the Daily Report with its Distinguished Leader Award. She has been selected by her peers as a Super Lawyer since 2010 and as a Top 50 Female Super Lawyer since 2012.

Sally is married to Dale Akins, her law school sweetheart. Dale is a Georgia and South Carolina barred plaintiffs’ lawyer practicing primarily in Bluffton, South Carolina, at Akins Law Firm. They share their home with their new puppy, Boudreaux, a French Pointer.

 

Admitted to Practice

  • All Georgia State and Superior Courts
  • Supreme Court of Georgia
  • Court of Appeals of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Education

  • University of Florida (B.A., 1987)
  • Mercer University (J.D., 1990)

Professional or Trade Affiliations

  • President, State Bar of Georgia, 2022-2023
  • Board of Bar Examiners, 2014-present
  • President of the South East Georgia Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), S.E. Georgia Chapter (President, 2017; Charter Member; Vice-President, 2015; Secretary, 2014; Treasurer, 2011-13)
  • Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (GDLA) (Member, Board of Directors, 2006-present; President- Elect, 2016- present; Treasurer, 2015-2016; Vice-President, 2012-2015; Editor, Georgia Defense Lawyers Association Law Journal, 2011; Vice Chair and Faculty, Trial Academy, 2012; Editor-in-Chief, Georgia Defense Lawyer, 2013-2015)
  • State Bar of Georgia (Executive Committee, General Practice & Trial Section 1995-present, Chairman 2000-2001; Member, Review Panel of State Disciplinary Board 2000-2006 and 2010-present, Chairman 2002-2003; Member, Disciplinary Rules & Procedures Committee 2005-2016; Chair – Law Practice Management Committee 2011-2012; Member, Advisory Committee on Legislation (2010-present); Member – Bench & Bar Committee (2010-present).
  • Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (President, Savannah Chapter, 1994-1996)
  • Eleventh Circuit Historical Society, Inc., Georgia Trustee
  • Savannah Bar Association (Executive Committee 1999-2000; Chairman, Public Relations Committee 2001-2002; Chairman, Public Service Committee 2005-2006)
  • American Bar Association (Georgia Delegate, Woman Advocate Committee, Litigation Section)
  • National Council of Lawyer Discipline Boards, Treasurer, 2005
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Leadership Savannah Graduate, 2006
  • Lawyers Foundation of Georgia, Fellow

Honors and Awards

  • Top 50 Female Georgia Super Lawyer (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
  • Georgia Super Lawyer (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
  • Georgia’s Legal Elite by Georgia Trend Magazine (2009)
  • The Best Lawyers in America (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
  • Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia (Eastern Judicial Circuit, Post 1, 2010 – present)
  • Appointed by Chief Judge to Local Rules Committee for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, U.S. District Court Advisory Committee for the Southern District of Georgia and to the Planning Committee for 2013 11th Circuit Judicial Conference
  • Litigation Counsel of America – Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
  • Awarded Best Newsletter by State Bar of Georgia during three year tenure as Editor-in-Chief of GDLA’s Georgia Defense Lawyer (2013, 2014, 2015)
  • GeorgiaTrend – Georgia 500, Georgia’s Most Influential Leaders, 2023

Testimonials

“Hi Sally,

I hope this finds you well. I wanted to say thank you for all your hard work, diligence and genuine concern over the settlement you oversaw for my legal case.

Thank you for giving me a ( safe) space to voice my concerns and I truly feel you had the case’s best outcome at heart.

You are kind, fair, honest and your integrity and humor shines through your work.

Many thanks and much respect for all you do.” ~anonymous for privacy

Rates and Fees

Rates - Sally Akins

If you have questions regarding our rates and fees, please contact support@milesadr.com

Savannah/Jacksonville Rates 4hr Min. Atlanta Rates4hr Min.
2 Party Case: $400 per party; per hour 2 Party Case: $500 per party; per hour
3 Party Case: $350 per party; per hour 3 Party Case: $450 per party; per hour
4 Party Case: $300 per party; per hour 4 Party Case: $400 per party; per hour
5+ Party Case: Flat Rate Available Upon Request 5+ Party Case: Flat Rate Available Upon Request
Arbitration Hourly Rate: $650; Hearing - $8,500 per day

Travel time and expenses, including meals and lodging, billed separately and split equally among the parties at the Neutral's hourly rate.
Pre/Post Consultation & Document Review: Hourly Mediation/Arbitration Rate

Mediation /Arbitration Admin Fees
Atlanta Mediation Admin Fee - $500 per party
Savannah - Elite Mediation Admin Fee - $300 per party
Arbitration Commencement And Administration Fee: $1500 per party

MEDIATION CANCELLATION POLICY

Mediations cancelled within 10 days of the mediation will be charged a cancellation fee of $1000. However, mediations cancelled, rescheduled or settled within 24 hours of the mediation will be charged 4 hrs. of the Neutral's hourly rate . Cancellation fees shall be sent to the cancelling party unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.

ARBITRATION FEE PAYMENT POLICY

Arbitration Commencement and Administrative Fee is $1500.00 per party, per arbitrator. At the commencement of arbitration, each party will be invoiced $1500.00. This fee is refundable minus $500.00 per party until the initial case management order has been issued. All arbitration related invoices are due upon receipt.

ARBITRATION CANCELLATION POLICY

If a single-day Arbitration Hearing scheduled on the merits of the case cancels or reschedules within 15 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 4 hours of the Arbitrator’s hourly rate. However, if the single-day Arbitration Hearing cancels or reschedules within 2 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 8 hours of the Arbitrator’s hourly rate.

If a multi-day Arbitration Hearing scheduled on the merits of the case cancels or reschedules within 28 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 4 hours of the Arbitrator's hourly rate for each day reserved for the hearing. However, if the multi-day Arbitration Hearing cancels or reschedules within 7 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 8 hours of the Arbitrator's hourly rate for each day reserved for the hearing.

Issuance of the Final Arbitration Order/Award

Arbitration Awards/Orders will not be issued to either party until Miles has received full payment for all fees and expenses associated with the arbitration.