Shatorree Bates is a highly respected counselor at law and the managing attorney of Bates Law Firm, LLC – a boutique law firm in Atlanta, Georgia which specializes in family law. In addition to her juris doctorate degree, Shatorree has a bachelor’s degree in business management, an associate degree in arts and was a licensed cosmetologist for many years. Prior to receiving her law license, Shatorree interned in the district attorney’s office, in juvenile court, and at an entertainment law firm.

She has over 20 years of experience managing her own businesses and working with clients to resolve a wide range of personal, family, financial and business related issues. Shatorree has published articles (articles and publications listed below) and is a frequent speaker ( features and presentations listed below) and chair of Continuing Legal Education seminars (CLE’s listed below) which educate attorneys throughout Georgia.

When counseling and advising clients pre-divorce, in addition to being a business, bankruptcy and family law attorney, Shatorree relies on more than 20 years of experience honing her skills as a social worker, a parental guardian, a crisis intervention specialist, a thriving entrepreneur, a small business owner, a college teacher and a mortgage consultant.  Her strengths include her attention to detail, her financial acumen, her compassion and her creative and practical approach to problem solving. Through her “gift of counseling,” she offers considerate, measured guidance to her clients on a wide range of issues they face with their families and finances when contemplating divorce. Client confidentiality is of utmost importance at Bates Law Firm, LLC.

When representing clients post-divorce, Shatorree focuses on protecting their relationships, she carefully considers the best interests of any children involved and she strives to preserve her clients’ resources through negotiation and participation in mediation.    Shatorree was certified as a mediator in 2008, completed the Alternative Dispute Resolution training at Atlanta Justice Center in 2016 and is a registered neutral in Georgia. As a trained mediator and former staff attorney, Shatorree intuitively identifies the strengths and weaknesses of all cases she is involved in.  Her insight and direct approach helps facilitate resolutions, minimize costs and preserve clients’ privacy regarding their personal matters when they are able to settle short of trial.

When settlement is not possible, Shatorree confidently proceeds to trial as an experienced, zealous and bold advocate. In every case, she focuses intently on solutions that will benefit her clients long-term. Her broad range of experience makes her astute in resolving complex family, financial and business related issues.

Shatorree’s courtroom litigation training began in 2007 when she was hired as a law clerk for a judge at a district court while attending law school. She also worked as a full-time staff attorney in the Family Division of Fulton County Superior Court and at a large law firm specializing exclusively in family law cases.  In these capacities, Shatorree managed thousands of family law cases, including those involving custody, child support, divorce, alimony, modification of prior court orders, family violence, contempt actions for violation of court orders, equitable division of personal and real property and division of business interests.

Shatorree has litigated bankruptcy cases in Federal Court, litigated civil and family law cases in Superior Courts and litigated cases involving minor children in Juvenile Court. She has testified on behalf of minor children as a Guardian ad Litem. Working in the courts provided Shatorree with tremendous insight into judges’ perspectives which she uses to develop successful litigation strategies for her clients.

Shatorree is an accomplished and skilled attorney who litigates in metro-Atlanta counties, including Fulton County and DeKalb County. When she is not working or volunteering (volunteer activities listed below), Shatorree enjoys traveling, partaking in the arts, visiting new restaurants, playing volleyball and spending quality time with her family and friends.

State Bar of Georgia

All Georgia State and Superior Courts

Court of Appeals of Georgia

Supreme Court of Georgia

U.S. District Court – Northern District of Georgia

U.S. Court of Appeals – 11^th Circuit

Atlanta Bar Association

Gate City Bar Association (“GCBA”)

Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (“GABWA”)

National Bar Association (“NBA”)

•  Multi-Bar Leadership Counsel (past Co-Chair of the Board)

•  Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (Executive Board)

•  Lawyers for Equal Justice, Inc. (Board of Directors)

•  Gate City Bar Association (past Committee Chair)

•  State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division (“YLD”) Leadership Academy (Alumna)

•  GABWA Professional Development Academy (Faculty)

•  State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division (past Committee Founder, Past Committee Chair, Northern District of Georgia Representative)

•  Fulton County Family Division Task Force (Member)

•  National Bar Association Trailblazer Under 40

•  Atlanta Habitat for Humanity

•  Atlanta Humane Society

•  Atlanta Track Club Peachtree Jr. Race

•  Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation

•  Bay Area Turning Point, Inc.

•  Carrie Steele-Pitts Home

•  Crossroads Community Ministries

•  Distinguished Women Making a Difference Sister-to-Sister Conference at Tri-Cities High School

•  Families First

•  GABWA Economic Empowerment Seminar at Emory School of Law

•  GABWA Gala & Auction Scholarship Fundraiser Committee

•  Gate City Bar Association Community Law Clinic

•  GAWL and NAWL National Night of Giving in Support of Girls, Inc.

•  Georgia Department of Family & Children Services

•  Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition

•  Georgia Justice Project

•  Georgia Legal Food Frenzy Fundraiser

•  Georgia Legal Services Program

•  Hosea Feed the Hungry & Homeless

•  Houston Volunteer Lawyers, Inc. Free Legal Clinics

•  Mary Hall Freedom House

•  MBLC High School Pipeline Program

•  Morehouse School of Medicine

•  Nicholas House, Inc.

•  Partnership Against Domestic Violence

•  Perkerson Playground Project

•  State Bar of Georgia CJCP Community Service Awards

•  State Bar of Georgia YLD Suit & Cell Phone Drive

•  Triple Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser

•  United Way Women’s Legacy Shoebox Project

•  W.W. Daniel National Mock Trial Competition

•  Court Considerations: 7 Case Management Tips for Non-Lawyers, 2017 Guest Speaker

•  Emory Law School Negotiations Class to Juris Master Students, 2016 Guest Speaker

•  Georgia State University College of Law Presents to Horizons Kids, 2014 Speaker

•  Dress for Success Atlanta: Financial Literacy Conference, 2012-2014 Speaker

•  NBLSA Convention: “Teach Me to Fly Solo,” 2013 Speaker

•  Life Coach Retreat: “Super Smart Money Management,” 2013 Speaker

•  Atlanta John Marshall Law School: New Lawyer Training Day, 2010-2012 Speaker

•  BLSA Retreat: “Networking, Mentoring, Marketing & Rainmaking,” 2012 Speaker

•  YLD “Solo & Small Firm Success: Tips, Resources & Considerations,” 2012 Chair & Speaker

•  Cobb County Family Law Workshop, 2012 Speaker & Advisor

•  Morehouse School of Medicine: Community Voices Legal Forum, 2012 Speaker

•  YLD “Tips, Trials & Tribulations of Small Firm Partnerships,” 2011 Chair & Moderator

•  GABWA Family Law Section: Legislative & Case Law Updates, 2011 Presenter

•  John Marshall Law School: Ethics & Professionalism Program, 2011 Moderator

•  State Bar of Georgia Transition into Law Practice Program, 2011 Group Mentor & Speaker

•  Tri-Cities High School: National Law Day Forum, 2011 Speaker

•  Georgia State University College of Law: “Be Your Own Boss,” 2010 Speaker

•  Atlanta Younger Women’s Task Force: Spotlight on Women in Business, 2009 Featured

•  Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia (“ICLE”) Seminar: “Mental Health and Cultural Considerations in Family Law Cases,” 2017 Moderator

•  Atlanta Bar CLE: “Pro Bono in a Busy Billable Practice,” 2017 Speaker

•  ICLE Seminar: “Navigating Fulton Family Division,” 2016 Program Chair

•  GCBA Judicial Section CLE: “Judicial Ethics and Social Media: Why Can’t We Be Friends,” 2015 Moderator

•  ICLE Seminar: “Appellate Road Map for Family Lawyers,” 2014 Program Chair

•  NBA CLE: “Family Law Hot Topics Every Family Lawyer Needs to Know,” 2014 Chair & Moderator

•  NBA Webinar Series: “Affordable Care Act: How it Affects the Small Firm Lawyer,” 2014 Planning Committee

•  GCBA CLE: “From Voir Dire to Closing: Effective Trial Techniques Every Civil Litigator Should Know,” 2014 Co-Chair

•  ICLE Seminar: “What Every Family Lawyer Needs to Know,” 2013 Program Chair & Speaker

•  ICLE Seminar: “Fulton Superior Court Family Division Boot Camp,” 2012 & 2013 Speaker

•  ICLE Seminar: “CJCP Convocation on Professionalism,” 2012 Speaker

•  ICLE Seminar: “Select Topics in Family Law,” 2012 Program Chair & Speaker

•  GABWA Seminar: “Hanging Your Own Shingle,” 2012 Moderator

•  Atlanta Bar CLE: “Deciding to Start Your Law Firm,” 2012 Speaker

•  GABWA Seminar: “Legislative Changes Affecting Family Law,” 2011 Presenter

•  American Bar Association CLE: “Pro Bono Bankruptcy for Seniors,” 2011 Speaker

•  ICLE Seminar: “GABWA’s Family Law,” 2011 Speaker

•  ICLE Seminar: “Solo Practice Mini-Boot Camp,” 2010 Speaker

•  “What’s It Worth to You? Financial Considerations of Divorce,” Author (2017)

•  “Best Practices When Dealing with [Judges] Chambers,” Co-Author (2016)

•  “Georgia Child Support Guidelines: Fulton County Enforcement,” Author (2016)

•  “Fulton Family Division Task Force Report and Recommendations,” Editor, Contributor (2015)

•  “Registration, Enforcement & Modification of Foreign Orders in Georgia,” Author (2013)

•  “Overview of Bankruptcy Law & Divorce Timing Considerations,” Author (2013)

•  “Demystifying Money: Understanding & Maintaining Good Credit,” Author (2013)

•  “Calculating Child Support: Wages, Worksheets & Withholding,” Author (2012)

•  “Georgia Child Support and the Administrative Process,” Author (2012)

•  “Deciding to Start Your Law Firm,” Author (2012)

•  “Debunking the Myths of Your New Practice,” Author (2012)

•  “Child Support: An Overview and Often Overlooked Issues, Author (2011)

•  “Five Must Haves for a Successful Solo Practice,” Author (2010)