Jay Sewell
Practice Areas:
Business and commercial disputes, professional liability, internal and special investigations, white-collar criminal defense, general civil litigation
Jay’s professional career has been dedicated to the law. A native of Decatur, Georgia, Jay graduated summa cum laude from Auburn University, graduated at the top of his police academy class, and then graduated at the top of his class from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Jay first began working as a police officer for the City of Auburn. While policing, Jay investigated a variety of cases—narcotics, theft, fraud, violent crimes. Several cases garnered national attention, including his investigation of Harvey Updyke, the infamous poisoner of the Toomer’s Corner oak trees.
Looking for his next challenge, Jay went to law school where he served as a Junior Editor and then Executive Editor for the Cumberland Law. He was the Chief Justice of the Sims Moot Court Board and traveled as an advocate with the moot court team. As a law student, Jay clerked for two local prosecutors’ offices and in the criminal appeals division for the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. His studies focused on criminal procedure, litigation skills, and trial evidence. Jay’s professional experiences in law school allowed him to participate in trials and to prepare post-conviction briefings to state and federal courts.
Following law school, Jay worked for a litigation boutique based in Birmingham with a southeastern and national footprint. He handled a variety of cases—personal injury defense, commercial litigation, toxic torts, special investigations, and white-collar criminal defense. Jay has defended business owners and professionals in federal criminal courts at the trial and appellate levels. His commercial experience includes representing manufacturers, energy companies, commercial landlords, and national retailers. In addition, Jay has served government clients through independent investigation of responses to demonstrations, successful representation of a local elections official in a federal voting rights lawsuit, and procedural representation of the Office of the Secretary of State of Georgia before a grand jury and before the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Jay brings his broad experience to provide clients with comprehensive counsel. He believes in open, compassionate, and candid communication to effectively serve clients and to reach the best results.
Outside of work, Jay is an avid fan of his hometown Atlanta Braves and the Auburn Tigers. Also, he can usually be found at least a couple of times a week at a ballfield or gym watching his son on the field or the court.