David Blanton Dove

Partner

404.885.3680

More ways to contact David Blanton Dove

Drawing from his experiences as a high-ranking government official, David advises clients on a wide range of regulatory, litigation, and economic investment matters. His clients benefit from his strategic insights and problem-solving approach to client needs as they navigate the complexities of doing business in highly regulated sectors.

Firm News

Law360 Again Names Troutman Pepper Locke a Georgia Regional Powerhouse
Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Awards

David leads the firm’s Regulatory + Economic Investment Practice in Georgia, an interdisciplinary practice group that counsels clients on a range of legal and public policy matters. Drawing on broad leadership experience at the highest levels of state government, David helps clients advance their business objectives and resolve regulatory hurdles, particularly as they relate to environmental, health care, and tax issues as well as economic investment.

Through his service in positions, including executive counsel to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, interim director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, and as a lead attorney on Georgia’s tri-state water wars, David has gained deep insights into the legal, political, and governmental mechanisms that impact the business community. This unique, firsthand perspective adds value to clients as they seek to tailor efficient solutions to a range of challenges.

As the former chief architect of policies and procedures impacting sectors ranging from health care to state tax, David brings a clearcut understanding of the government’s regulatory approach and provides strategic insight to forward clients’ goals. He is also a litigator with experience in the government and in private practice, resolving disputes in state and federal courts as well as in administrative proceedings.

  • Provided strategic counsel on coordinating with the state of Georgia for the development of one of the largest undeveloped sites on the East Coast. This included advising on potential transactions with the state and private entities.
  • Assisted a Fortune 100 company in resolving a tax liability exceeding $15 million per year.
  • Represented a large metropolitan business association in a petition for discretionary appeal at Georgia Court of Appeals.
  • Assisted a manufacturer with recruiting state tax incentives for a $400 million expansion, creating more than 600 new jobs.
  • Advising on tax credits to various real estate developers on filing for a high technology data center tax credit with the Georgia Department of Revenue.
  • Represented a client as a third-party intervenor in the Office of State Administrative Hearings, where a challenge was made against the EPD’s permit authorizing a 6.5 MGD withdrawal from the Floridan River Basin.
  • Advised a clean energy company on tax incentives, permitting, and zoning-related issues for an energy storage project.
  • Counseled a client on public relations, terroristic threats, environmental enforcement, and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigation due to the removal of a bald eagle nest.
  • Provided strategic advice on legislation related to the redevelopment of Atlanta’s South Downtown development.
  • Advised a health insurance provider on the procurement of Medicaid services in the state of Georgia.
  • Advised a government contractor in response to an open records access request, focusing on protecting trade secrets.
  • UGA Law Young Alumnus of Excellence, 2023
  • Blue Key Honor Society Young Alumni Award, 2021
  • Leadership Georgia, Class of 2020
  • UGA 40 Under 40 Honoree, 2019
  • Fulton County Daily Report, “On the Rise,” 2020
  • James Magazine, “Top Georgia Lawyers,” 2019-2022
Overview

David leads the firm’s Regulatory + Economic Investment Practice in Georgia, an interdisciplinary practice group that counsels clients on a range of legal and public policy matters. Drawing on broad leadership experience at the highest levels of state government, David helps clients advance their business objectives and resolve regulatory hurdles, particularly as they relate to environmental, health care, and tax issues as well as economic investment.

Through his service in positions, including executive counsel to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, interim director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, and as a lead attorney on Georgia’s tri-state water wars, David has gained deep insights into the legal, political, and governmental mechanisms that impact the business community. This unique, firsthand perspective adds value to clients as they seek to tailor efficient solutions to a range of challenges.

As the former chief architect of policies and procedures impacting sectors ranging from health care to state tax, David brings a clearcut understanding of the government’s regulatory approach and provides strategic insight to forward clients’ goals. He is also a litigator with experience in the government and in private practice, resolving disputes in state and federal courts as well as in administrative proceedings.

Representation Matters
  • Provided strategic counsel on coordinating with the state of Georgia for the development of one of the largest undeveloped sites on the East Coast. This included advising on potential transactions with the state and private entities.
  • Assisted a Fortune 100 company in resolving a tax liability exceeding $15 million per year.
  • Represented a large metropolitan business association in a petition for discretionary appeal at Georgia Court of Appeals.
  • Assisted a manufacturer with recruiting state tax incentives for a $400 million expansion, creating more than 600 new jobs.
  • Advising on tax credits to various real estate developers on filing for a high technology data center tax credit with the Georgia Department of Revenue.
  • Represented a client as a third-party intervenor in the Office of State Administrative Hearings, where a challenge was made against the EPD’s permit authorizing a 6.5 MGD withdrawal from the Floridan River Basin.
  • Advised a clean energy company on tax incentives, permitting, and zoning-related issues for an energy storage project.
  • Counseled a client on public relations, terroristic threats, environmental enforcement, and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigation due to the removal of a bald eagle nest.
  • Provided strategic advice on legislation related to the redevelopment of Atlanta’s South Downtown development.
  • Advised a health insurance provider on the procurement of Medicaid services in the state of Georgia.
  • Advised a government contractor in response to an open records access request, focusing on protecting trade secrets.
Insights

Firm News

Law360 Again Names Troutman Pepper Locke a Georgia Regional Powerhouse

Press Coverage

Ga. PFAS Liability, DEI Bills Among Those To Not ‘Crossover’

Articles + Publications

Regulatory Oversight Newsletter — February 2025

Podcasts

Understanding Georgia’s Civil Justice Climate With Commissioner John King

See all insights from David Blanton Dove

Awards
  • UGA Law Young Alumnus of Excellence, 2023
  • Blue Key Honor Society Young Alumni Award, 2021
  • Leadership Georgia, Class of 2020
  • UGA 40 Under 40 Honoree, 2019
  • Fulton County Daily Report, “On the Rise,” 2020
  • James Magazine, “Top Georgia Lawyers,” 2019-2022

Top areas of focus

  • Vice chairman of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia
  • Master, Clarke-Carley Inn of Court
  • Adjunct professor, The University of Georgia School of Law, Athens, Georgia
  • Georgia commissioner, Uniform Law Commission
  • Advisory Committee on Legislation, State Bar of Georgia
  • Executive Board, Federalist Society Atlanta Chapter
  • Atlanta Bar Association, Litigation Section
  • UGA Law School Alumni Council
  • Past chairman, UGA School of Public & International Affairs Alumni Board
  • Eleventh Congressional District Representative on the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia
  • Member, City of Atlanta Task Force on Ethics and Inspector General Legislation
  • Executive counsel, Georgia Governor’s Office, January 2019 – January 2024
  • Interim director, Georgia Environmental Protection Division, July 2023 – August 2023
  • Chairman, Georgia Opioid Settlement Advisory Commission, April 2023 – January 2024
  • Member, Georgia ARPA Water and Sewer Infrastructure Grant Committee, June 2022 – January 2024
  • Member, Coronavirus Consumer Fraud Task Force, April 2020 – June 2021
  • Legal counsel, Georgia Coronavirus Task Force, March 2020 – June 2021
  • Chairman, City of Marietta Ethics Committee, January 2017 – January 2019
  • Member, State Records Committee, April 2016 – September 2017

Education

  • University of Georgia School of Law, J.D., Order of Barristers; The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, London, Moot Court Exchange
  • University of Georgia, School of Public and International Affairs, B.A., political science

Bar Admissions

  • Georgia

Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia
  • Supreme Court of Georgia
  • Court of Appeals of Georgia
  • Georgia State Courts
  • Panelist, “Policy, Projects and Winning Factors: Navigating the Evolving Site Selection Landscape,” Southern Economic Development Council Annual Meeting, April 29, 2025.