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Kathryn M. Zickert
Partner / AtlantaKathryn M. Zickert is a Partner in and the leader of the Zoning, Planning and Land Use Practice Group of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.
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Full Bio
Ms. Zickert practices in all aspects of land use and zoning including environmental and land use litigation, condemnation, re-zonings, variances, special or conditional use permits, special exceptions, subdivision approvals and all other permitting, fair housing, developments of regional impact and historic preservation.
Ms. Zickert has extensive experience in zoning and land use related law, representing primarily developers, property owners, and some municipal governments in administrative and litigation matters. Her development practice covers a broad range of commercial real estate projects, including retail, office, industrial and mixed use, as well as various residential projects, including attached and detached single family and multi-family units.
In recognition of her expertise in land use/environmental law, Ms. Zickert has been selected for inclusion in Georgia Super Lawyers and Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel edition, Georgia Trend magazine’s Legal Elite for multiple years, the Legal 500 U.S. for Georgia Real Estate Lawyers in 2009 and as one of The Best Lawyers in America© for both Land Use and Zoning Law and Litigation – Land Use and Zoning for over a decade. In 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022, she was named the Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for either Zoning and Land Use or Litigation – Land Use and Zoning in Georgia.
Ms. Zickert is a member of Legal Action Network for Development Strategies (LANDS), a national group of zoning and land use lawyers who represent only private property interests. She is the author of a number of zoning and other land use ordinances used throughout Georgia. Additionally, she is a regular speaker at national and local land use seminars sponsored by the Atlanta Regional Commission, the National Business Institute, Law Seminars International, Lorman, the Georgia Institute for Continuing Legal Education, the National Association of Homebuilders, the American and Georgia Planning Associations and the American Bar Association. Ms. Zickert has served as an Adjunct Professor for Emory University School of Law, teaching advanced litigation courses, and as a DeKalb County Magistrate. She has also served as a Board Member for the Metropolitan Atlanta Transit Authority (MARTA), and currently serves on the Board of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.
Ms. Zickert received her B.A., cum laude, from Vanderbilt University and her J.D. from Emory University School of Law. She is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Georgia, as well as the Fifth Circuit and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal.
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Bar Admissions
Georgia
Georgia State Courts
U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia
U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia
Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit -
Education
Undergraduate- Vanderbilt University
Law School- Emory University
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Memberships
Legal Action Network for Development Strategies (LANDS)
Lawyer’s Club of Atlanta
State Bar of Georgia Real Property and Local Government Sections
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Recognitions
The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Land Use and Zoning Law, Atlanta (2015-2026)
Best Lawyers®, Atlanta "Lawyer of the Year" Land Use and Zoning Law (2016, 2022, 2025)
Best Lawyers®, Atlanta "Lawyer of the Year" Litigation – Land Use and Zoning (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021)
Georgia Super Lawyers (2004-2009)
Georgia Trend magazine - Legal Elite
Leadership Atlanta
Outstanding Atlanta
Legal 500 U.S. Georgia Real Estate Lawyers (2009) -
Publications and Speaking Engagements
“Tree Preservation Ordinances: Sacrificing Private Timber Rights on the Diminutive Altar of Public Benefit”, Mercer Law Review, Winter 2001
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SGR Publications
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Press
- SGR’s Dana Bradford, Kenneth Crane, Justice Leah Ward Sears, Jeffrey Tenen and Kathryn Zickert Named Best Lawyers® 2025 “Lawyer of the Year”
- The Best Lawyers in America® Recognizes 102 SGR Attorneys in 2024 Edition
- Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 91 SGR Attorneys in 2023 Edition
- SGR Partner Kathryn Zickert Honored with 2022 Leading the Charge Award from DeKalb Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
- SGR Partners Randall Constantine, Melissa Dearing, Jeffrey Tenen, Alan Wachs, and Kathryn Zickert Named 2022 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year”
- Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 66 SGR Attorneys in 2022 Edition
- SGR Partners Randall Constantine, Jeffrey Tenen, Andrew Thompson, and Kathryn Zickert Named The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 “Lawyer of the Year”
- Best Lawyers in America© Recognizes 63 SGR Attorneys in 2021
- Best Lawyers® Recognizes 45 SGR Attorneys in 2020
- Smith, Gambrell & Russell Partner Kathy Zickert Appointed to Board of Directors of Georgia Regional Transportation Authority by Governor Deal
- SGR Partners Dana Bradford, Leah Ward Sears, and Kathy Zickert Named The Best Lawyers in America© 2019 “Lawyer of the Year”
- Best Lawyers in America© Recognizes 34 SGR Attorneys in 2019
- Best Lawyers in America® Recognizes 25 SGR Attorneys in 2018
- SGR Boosts Land Use and Development Litigation Capabilities, Adds Five New Attorneys