Top Rated Criminal Defense Attorney in Athens, GA

Edward Tolley is a renowned criminal defense attorney, a crack civil and business litigator, a leading authority on the law and legal ethics, and an active community leader.

As a criminal attorney, Edward often represents defendants in high-profile cases.   From murder to racketeering, business fraud, environmental, and domestic terrorism cases, Edward’s career has covered the spectrum of state and federal criminal cases.  Over the years, he has succeeded in helping several clients avoid the death penalty.

As a civil litigator, Edward has won multi-million-dollar judgments in business and contract disputes and substantial settlements for plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death cases.  Known for being a quick study, Edward often is associated into cases by lawyers with a niche practice to help litigate their clients’ cases.  Like his criminal cases, Edward’s civil cases have covered the spectrum, recently including business, intellectual property, and securities disputes.

Edward is a frequent lecturer at continuing education programs, on various topics in the law and professional ethics.  He has an AV® Preeminent™ rating by Martindale-Hubbell.

Edward also is a past president of the Clarke County Board of Education and a retired officer in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Edward attended the University of Georgia, earning a Bachelor in Business Administration in 1971 and a Master of Business Administration in 1974. He went on to receive a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1975.