By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher
JAN. 8, 2019 | The oldest continuing law firm in Gwinnett is changing its name—again.
The new firm is named Powell and Edwards of Lawrenceville. It was previously known as Webb, Tanner and Powell. Jones Webb and Bill Tanner both have retired from management of the firm, though continue as “of counsel” with offices at the firm.
Tradition at the firm is to change its name when partners retire. The firm was originally begun at Allison and Pittard, back in 1929, when Marvin Allison and Charles Pittard joined forces from their previous private practices. Allison also began publishing the Lawrenceville News-Herald in 1941.
Webb
Jones Webb joined the firm in 1952. Later, at Allison’s death and with Pittard being elected the first judge of the Gwinnett circuit (out of the Piedmont Circuit). Webb was the sole lawyer at the firm before bringing in Howard Fowler. The two had grown up across the road from each other in Etowah, Tenn.
Webb had graduated from the University of Tennessee, and married Marian Allison while in the Army in 1950. He then attended the University of Georgia law school, and began his legal practice in 1959 with Allison and Pittard.
Webb recruited Fowler, an Air Force veteran, and who was an Emory University law graduate, having practiced in Tifton and Macon before accepting a post with a Gainesville law firm. Shortly after Allison died and Pittard became a Superior Court judge, Webb asked Fowler in 1960 to join him in practice.
Tanner
Bill Tanner, a Lawrenceville native, came to the firm in 1966, soon after first starting in law with an Atlanta firm. When joining the firm, there was a lot of land speculation in Gwinnett, and Tanner specialized in real estate law. Soon the firm was known as Webb, Fowler and Tanner.
Over the years, about 50 now prominent Gwinnett attorneys began their careers with the firm, and later went on to their own practices. One of the most prominent was Larry Edmundson, who became a partner at the firm, and was the attorney for the Gwinnett School Board. Later he would leave the firm to become a judge on the U.S. Fifth Circuit of Court of Appeals.
Tony Powell
Anthony (Tony) Powell, 61, grew up in Lawrenceville and joined the firm in 1982. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and the Mercer University Law School. He has specialized mostly in municipal law, representing the City of Lawrenceville for 25 years; and the city of Snellville for 10 years. He and also represents the cities of Auburn and Social Circle. It’s been a tradition for the firm to represent cities back to the original Allison-Pittard days.
The current Powell-Edwards firm has three partners and six associates. Besides Tony Powell, the other two partners are Nathan Powell (Tony’s son), and Brian Edwards.
Edwards
Nathan Powell
Nathan Powell is a graduate of Greater Atlanta Christian School and the Georgia State University Law School. He became a partner in the firm in 2016. He and his wife live in Dacula. His special interest is in civil litigation and estate planning. His mother, Emily Powell, is a senior magistrate judge in Gwinnett.
Brian Edwards, who is from Snellville, is a graduate of Shiloh High School, and earned both his bachelor’s and law degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife live in Tucker. He has been with the firm since 2004 and his specialty is commercial real estate transactions.
First known as Allison-Pittard, today Powell and Edwards continues that line of succession and is the oldest continuing practice in Gwinnett.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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