David B. 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.

Press Coverage

Troutman Atty Gives Back In Leading Ga. Univ. System Board
Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Awards

David leads the firm’s Regulatory + Economic Investment Practice in the Southeast, 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.

  • Negotiated settlement of a multidecade dispute with the state of Alabama on behalf of Georgia related to water rights in the Apalachicola Chattahoochee Flint basin.
  • 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.
  • Provides strategic counsel to the legal and community engagement teams of a U.S.-based renewable energy company, engaging with local and state regulators from initial site planning through project completion.
  • Supported a rideshare company in securing state permits to enable a partnership for a driverless car rideshare service in the metro Atlanta area.
  • Assisted a Fortune 100 company in resolving a tax liability exceeding $15 million per year.
  • Collaborated with local governments across the Southeast on behalf of a renewable energy developer to advance the siting and approval of battery energy storage systems (BESS).
  • Obtained a preliminary injunction against a county government for violating state constitutional home rule powers in adopting ordinances targeting an independent government authority.
  • Assisted a manufacturer with recruiting state tax incentives for a $400 million expansion, creating more than 600 new jobs.
  • Assisted a Japanese manufacturer in obtaining a local tax abatement through a bond-for-title transaction for a more than $20 million expansion.
  • 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.
  • Negotiated a settlement resolving litigation over water withdrawal permits for the Hyundai Metaplant, the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history, representing a $7.59 billion investment.
  • Created and led a crisis response team to manage legal and public relations issues for a client facing terroristic threats, environmental enforcement actions, and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigation arising from the removal of a bald eagle nest, which drew national media coverage. 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.
  • “Top Lawyer in Administrative/Regulatory Law,” GaBiz Magazine (2026)
  • 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 the Southeast, 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
  • Negotiated settlement of a multidecade dispute with the state of Alabama on behalf of Georgia related to water rights in the Apalachicola Chattahoochee Flint basin.
  • 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.
  • Provides strategic counsel to the legal and community engagement teams of a U.S.-based renewable energy company, engaging with local and state regulators from initial site planning through project completion.
  • Supported a rideshare company in securing state permits to enable a partnership for a driverless car rideshare service in the metro Atlanta area.
  • Assisted a Fortune 100 company in resolving a tax liability exceeding $15 million per year.
  • Collaborated with local governments across the Southeast on behalf of a renewable energy developer to advance the siting and approval of battery energy storage systems (BESS).
  • Obtained a preliminary injunction against a county government for violating state constitutional home rule powers in adopting ordinances targeting an independent government authority.
  • Assisted a manufacturer with recruiting state tax incentives for a $400 million expansion, creating more than 600 new jobs.
  • Assisted a Japanese manufacturer in obtaining a local tax abatement through a bond-for-title transaction for a more than $20 million expansion.
  • 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.
  • Negotiated a settlement resolving litigation over water withdrawal permits for the Hyundai Metaplant, the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history, representing a $7.59 billion investment.
  • Created and led a crisis response team to manage legal and public relations issues for a client facing terroristic threats, environmental enforcement actions, and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigation arising from the removal of a bald eagle nest, which drew national media coverage. 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

Press Coverage

Troutman Atty Gives Back In Leading Ga. Univ. System Board

Articles + Publications

Troutman Pepper Locke Regulatory Oversight Newsletter – January 2026

Press Coverage

All Eyes On 2026 Elections As Ga. Lawmakers Get Into Gear

Podcasts

12 Days of Regulatory Insights: Day 9 – The Economic Development Edge

See all insights from David B. Dove

Awards
  • “Top Lawyer in Administrative/Regulatory Law,” GaBiz Magazine (2026)
  • 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

  • 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
  • Trustee, Woodruff Arts Center
  • Public Affairs Committee, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
  • 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
  • Special attorney general, State of Georgia, August 2025 – present
  • 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.