Mathis L. Gales

Biography

Mathis L. Gales is an Associate in our Atlanta office, where he focuses his practice on health care liability defense and catastrophic injury general liability litigation. He routinely defends health care organizations and individual health care providers in high-stakes litigation from inception through resolution, and regularly represents businesses—both small and large—in catastrophic injury general liability matters.

Mathis has significant experience defending high-exposure catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. He helped secure a defense verdict in a federal-court wrongful death catastrophic injury dram shop action on behalf of a Fortune 500 company, where the plaintiff’s demand exceeded $95 million. He also secured a favorable mediated resolution of a catastrophic injury wrongful death case in Clayton County, in which the plaintiff asserted an eight-figure demand, resolving the matter for $300,000.

In addition, Mathis has achieved notable dispositive and trial results in complex civil litigation. He secured summary judgment in Fulton County Superior Court for a health care organization in a medical malpractice action, and secured summary judgment for the City of Atlanta in a catastrophic injury general liability case, resulting in dismissal of all claims prior to trial. He also obtained a defense verdict as a solo attorney in a general liability trial in Cobb County on behalf of a local small business.

His practice spans all phases of litigation, including dispositive motion practice, expert discovery, depositions, mediation, and trial preparation. Mathis regularly collaborates with institutional clients, insurers, and national defense teams to develop litigation strategies focused on risk mitigation and efficient, favorable outcomes.

Prior to joining Hall Booth Smith, Mathis served as an Associate County Attorney with the Gwinnett County Law Department, where he represented the County in federal and state court litigation involving tort claims and governmental liability. Earlier in his career, he gained experience in a corporate legal department and in land use and workers’ compensation matters.

Mathis earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from North Carolina Central University School of Law, where he served as Executive Editor of the Science and Intellectual Property Law Review. He received his Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from North Carolina State University. He is admitted to practice in Georgia and North Carolina, as well as the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.