John Rutherford Seydel II

John Rutherford Seydel II is a partner in the firm of Davis, Pickren, Seydel & Sneed, LLP with a corporate practice focusing on environmental and conservation law, commerce and residential real estate, nonprofit organization structuring and operation, and general for-profit business matters. Seydel coordinates and manages the firm’s corporate practice group.

Seydel was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1989. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia (B.A. in Political Science, 1986) and graduated from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law (J.D., 1989). Seydel is a member of the Atlanta and American Bar Associations (Member: Real Property, Corporate, Entertainment and Environmental Law Practice Sections) and the State Bar of Georgia.

Seydel is co-founder and chairman of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Inc.; chairman of the board of the School of Ecology at the University of Georgia; chairman of The Conservation Fund; and board member of Georgia Conservation Voters, Vasser Woolley Foundation and Allconnect, Inc. He is an officer and board member of Paul B. and Mildred Seydel Foundation; an officer of United Nations Foundation; and board member of Turner Foundation, Turner Endangered Species Foundation, the Better World Fund, Inc., Ted’s Montana Grill and Captain Planet Foundation. Seydel is a member of the board of directors for the Turner Environmental Law Clinic at Emory University School of Law as well as a member of the advisory board of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. In addition, Seydel is a  Trustee for the Park of the National Parks Conservation Association.

Seydel is also co-owner of Atlanta Spirit which owns the Atlanta Hawks NBA Franchise and operating rights to Philips Arena and all associated parking. He is a founding investor/co-owner and a board member of Allconnect, Inc. and Promove. Additionally, he is associated with and represents numerous downtown Atlanta business ventures and properties.

Seydel and his wife, Laura, live in northwest Atlanta and have a long history of involvement in Atlanta business, and charitable and foundation work. They have a son, John R., and two daughters, Florence Vasser and Laura Elizabeth.

Representative Experience

• As a member of the Georgia State Properties Commission, Seydel was instrumental in preparing a model conservation easement for use by the Georgia Greenspace Program, and has been a leader in designing and implementing conservation easements for numerous clients.
• Specializes in structuring nonprofits and coordinating charitable opportunities.
• Coordinates with federal and state governments on matters of sustainability.
• Represents numerous real estate clients ranging from brownfields to fully developed projects.
• Worked with a premier developer in transforming one of the nation’s largest brownfields to a mixed-use, LEED-certified community.
• Played a key role in the formation of a public charity organized to provide $1 billion in support for United Nations causes.
• Recently worked on shareholders’ and voting agreements in connection with one of the nation’s largest corporate mergers, and continues to serve as legal counsel for the largest individual landowner in the United States.
• Coordinates all aspects of legal and financial structures, and provides key strategic planning for numerous clients.