C.G. "Sonny" Jester, Jr., JD, MCIArb

Mediator/Arbitrator

Sonny Jester
Phone

Main:

678-222-0248


Fax:

404-252-3376


Email

[email protected]

Fees

  • View Fees

    Administrative Fee
    $200.00 per party/per day

    Mediation / Arbitration Hourly Fees
    2 Party Case: $215.00 Per Party Per Hour
    3 Party Case: $185.00 Per Party Per Hour
    4 Party Case: $150.00 Per Party Per Hour

    Fees are the same for any additional time spent on document review, research, written findings of fact/law and other outside time, if any, necessary to prepare or make an informed award or evaluation.

    TRAVEL TIME:
    For travel time charges for mediations & arbitrations held at locations other than at BAY’s offices in Atlanta, please contact BAY.>

    ALL CHARGES WILL BE SHARED EQUALLY AMONG ALL PARTIES, UNLESS OTHERWISE AGREED IN WRITING. RATES MAY BE ADJUSTED FOR SPECIAL SITUATIONS. THE FEE IS TO BE AGREED UPON IN ADVANCE.

    OUR CONTRACT FOR SERVICES IS WITH THE ATTORNEY(S). WE EXTEND CREDIT, WITH NO ADVANCE DEPOSIT REQUIREMENT, BASED ON THE ATTORNEY’S CREDIT. THE ATTORNEY, IN TURN, COLLECTS FROM HIS/HER CLIENT. THEREFORE, WE EXPECT PAYMENT FROM THE ATTORNEY(S) REGARDLESS OF CLIENT ACTIVITY. ALL FEES MUST BE PAID IN FULL ON EVERY ARBITRATION PRIOR TO THE AWARD BEING PUBLISHED.

    *** A FINANCE CHARGE OF 1.50% PER MONTH (18% PER YEAR) WILL BE CHARGED ON BALANCES DUE OVER 45 DAYS.

Schedule

  • Schedule with Sonny

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    Our staff will contact you on receipt of your Appointment Request form.

    Please note that a requested date is not fully booked until confirmed by our scheduling coordinator, Sam Kinghorn.

Schedule

Connect with Sonny

C.G. Sonny Jester, Jr. is currently Director, Dispute Resolution and Avoidance at Cumming Construction Management. He is charged with providing expert analysis and advice, and leading a team of professionals providing solutions and advice to the Construction and Development Industries. These areas of expertise include risk assessment and management, claims analysis, claims avoidance and resolution advice for the construction industry and the provision of expert consulting and testifying services nationally and internationally.

He was formerly Managing Director in the Construction Solutions group at FTI Consulting, an international forensic and litigation consulting company. Prior to assuming this position, he was Vice President in the Claims and Consulting Group (Americas) for Hill International, Inc., an international construction consulting company. Before its acquisition by Hill, Sonny headed the Expert Services Group for Boyken International, Inc., and was a member of the Management Team.

Prior to 2006, Sonny was in private practice for over 25 years and represented various parties in construction disputes, including contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, owners, vendors and sureties. Sonny is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and is admitted to and has practiced in the various Georgia Courts, District Courts in Georgia and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.  Sonny is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated1 by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest rating available for a lawyer by his or her peers, and has held this distinction for 25 years. He was recognized by Atlanta Magazine in its “2014 Top Lawyers of Georgia” edition. While in private practice, he was also recognized by Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers in areas of commercial and construction litigation. Sonny is a Registered Civil Mediator and a Registered Arbitrator with the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the Atlanta International Arbitration Society.

Sonny has participated in hundreds of mediations, arbitrations and trials, both as an advocate and as a consultant. He has also presented on construction issues and dispute resolution at National Conferences of the Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) and Associated Owners and Developers (AOD), at the Construction Superconference in San Francisco, at the annual University of Texas Risk Management Conference, to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Construction Division, at the Texas College and University Facilities Conference. Sonny is also the author of articles and papers on a variety of construction issues.

¹ AV®Preeminent™ is a certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings Fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.

Areas of Expertise

  • Construction
  • Injuries + Accidents
  • Business + Commercial

Locations

  • Atlanta
  • Macon

Languages Spoken

  • English

Credentials

ADR Training
  • State of Georgia Civil Mediation Training
  • State of Georgia Arbitration Training
  • Multi-day mediation training (AAA)
  • Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
  • Member of the Atlanta International Arbitration Society
Education
  • University of Georgia School of Law, J.D., 1982
  • University of Georgia, B.A. (Honors Program), 1979
    • Phi Alpha Theta National Honor Society
Bar Admissions
  • Georgia
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia
  • Supreme Court of Georgia
  • Georgia Court of Appeals
Employment
  • Cumming Construction Management, Atlanta, Georgia (Director, Dispute Resolution and Avoidance) January 14, 2019 – Present.
    • Providing expert analysis and advice, and leading a team of professionals providing solutions and advice to the Construction and Development Industries, including risk assessment and management, claim analysis, claims avoidance and resolution advice for the construction industry and the provision of expert consulting and testifying services nationally and internationally.
  • Gleeds USA, Atlanta, Georgia (Vice President & Director of Dispute Advisory Services) June 1, 2015 – January 11, 2019.
    • Developing and leading a team of professionals providing solutions and advice to the Construction and Development Industries, including risk assessment and management, claims analysis and resolution advice. His team’s services include risk mitigation, claims avoidance and dispute resolution for the construction industry and the provision of expert
  • FTI Consulting, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia (Managing Director, Construction Solutions Group) May 14, 2012 – May 29, 2015
    • Provide claims and document analysis, and consulting expertise in forensic, risk mitigation and claims engagements for public and private construction concerns
    • Develop, implement and pursue Business Development strategy and plans throughout Southeast and Texas
    • Supervise Consulting staff and independent contractors
    • Provide Quality Control on client deliverables
    • Professional publications and presentations
    • Support Consulting operations and Business Development internationally
  • Hill International, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia (Vice President, Claims & Consulting Group – Americas) 2009 – May 11, 2012
    • Manage Atlanta construction claims office including P&L, Business Development, projections and budget
    • Develop, implement and pursue Business Development strategy nationally for Atlanta office, and support Florida and Texas offices
    • Plan and conduct Claims Group Americas Business Development efforts internationally
    • Supervise Claims and Consulting staff and independent contractors
    • Direct Operations, including managing projects and engagements, QA and billing
    • Provide claims and document analysis, and consulting expertise in forensic, risk mitigation and claims engagements for public and private construction concerns (see attached representative project list)
    • Professional publications and presentations
  • Boyken International, Inc, Atlanta, Georgia (Vice-President, Expert Services Group) 2006-2009 (company acquired by Hill International in 2009)
    • Developed and Managed international Expert Services Group, including P&L, Business Development, QA, billing and budget, projections; Tripled unit revenue in 3 years
    • Member of company Management Team
    • Legal advisor to Chairman/CEO and Management Team
    • Developed, implemented and supported Business Development efforts for all areas of company, supporting Atlanta, Florida and Texas offices
    • Developed, implemented and trained staff on procedures and protocols for presenting expert opinions and testimony, technical and legal writing, billing and client communication
    • Developed, reviewed, revised and authored contracts and legal documents for company
    • Liaison with outside counsel for company, and oversaw claims and collection efforts
    • Prepared and presented professional publications and presentations
  • Mozley Finlayson & Loggins (Equity Partner) 1997-2006
    • Lead and first chair trial counsel and appellate practice in State and Federal courts in commercial, construction and personal injury defense matters
    • Managed individual book of business, including billing, collection, budget
    • Developed, implemented and pursued firm-wide and individual practice Business Development plans
    • Oversaw associate attorneys, paralegals and administrative support staff
    • Assisted in management of firm, including developing budgets, projections and training
  • Goldner Sommers Scrudder & Bass (Equity Partner) 1989-1997
    • Lead and first chair trial counsel and appellate practice in State and Federal courts in commercial, construction and personal injury defense matters
    • Develop and implement firm-wide Business Development plan
    • Staff and firm management
  • Swift Currie McGhee & Hiers (Associate Attorney) 1985-1989
    • Lead, first chair and second chair trial counsel and appellate practice in State and Federal courts in commercial and construction litigation
    • Develop and implement individual practice Business Development plan
  • Rogers Magruder Hoyt Sumner & Brinson (Associate Attorney) 1982-1985
    • Research and drafting, motions practice, second chair and subrogation first chair trial counsel and appellate practice in State and Federal courts in insurance defense and commercial litigation practice
    • State Bar of Georgia
    • The American Bar Association (Forum on the Construction Industry; Tort Trial Insurance Practice Section)
    • Atlanta Bar Association (Construction Law Committee)
    • Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas
    • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
    • Construction Owners Association of America (COAA)
    • Institute of Energy Law, Board of Advisors
    • International Bar Association
  • Presentations
    • The Ethics of the Proposal…an Oxymoron?  Guiding Owners through Procurement Pitfalls,
      Construction Owners Association of America Spring Owners Leadership Conference,
      Houston, Texas, May 14, 2014
    • Scheduling 101—Tips for Contractors, Associated General Contractors, Nashville Chapter,
      Nashville, Tennessee, April 1, 2014
    • The Ethics of Procurement, San Antonio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association,
      Government Contracting Committee, San Antonio, Texas, January 21, 2014
    • The Ethics of Applying for the Job: Responding to RFPs, Effective Pitches and Interviews,
      American Bar Association’s Forum on the Construction Industry Annual Meeting, Dana
      Point, California, April 27, 2013
    • Finding Your Ace in the (Sink) Hole, COAA Owners Training Institute webinar, February
      2013
    • Identifying and Mitigating Risk on Your Construction Project, AACEI Port of Spain chapter,
      Port of Spain, Trinidad, 2012
    • Finding Your Ace in the (Sink) Hole, Construction Owners Association of America (COAA)
      National Conference, Las Vegas, NV, November, 2011; (rated #2 presentation at
      Conference by participants)
    • Mediation Presentation, Lamar Inn of Court, Atlanta, Georgia, January 25, 2011
    • Strategies for Turning Around Troubled Projects, Vanderbilt University Construction Project
      Management Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (March 11, 2011)
    • Keeping Your Project Out of the Ditch, The Association of Texas College and University
      Facilities Professionals Conference, Lubbock, Texas, 2010
    • 50 Ways to Leave Your Vendor, University of Texas System Risk Management
      Conference, Galveston, Texas, 2009
    • 10 Warning Signs, City of Houston, Texas Engineering Department, 2009
    • Managing Construction Projects, Lorman Conference, Houston, Texas, 2008 & 2009
    • Construction Technology, Associated Owners &Developers (AOD) East Conference,
      Atlanta, Georgia, 2008
    • Control of Construction Documents, AOD West, Santa Monica, California, 2008
    • Construction Changes, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Huntsville, Texas, 2008
    • Managing Construction Projects, Lorman Conference, Savannah, Georgia, 2008
    • Construction Issues, Southern Methodist University CM Class, Dallas, Texas, 2007 & 2008
    • 10 Warning Signs Your Project May Be in Trouble, COAA Fall Conference, Las Vegas,
      Nevada, 2007; (rated #1 presentation at conference by participants)
    • Construction Disputes, University of Texas System Risk Management Conference,
      Galveston, Texas, 2007
    • Construction Disputes, Houston, Texas, 2007
    • Before the Concrete Sets, Construction Superconference, San Francisco, California,
      December, 2006
    • Applying for the Job: The Ethics and Practicalities of Responding to RFP/RFQs and Conducting Presentations to Prospective Clients, American Bar Association’s Forum on the
      Construction Industry, Annual Meeting Program Materials (2013)
    • Constructability Reviews, CMAA South Atlantic Chapter Newsletter, (2010)
    • Mid-Project Intervention, Development Newsletter, (2009)
    • Constructability Reviews, Development Newsletter, (2009)
    • Claims for Expenses of Litigation, Georgia Defense Lawyers Association Journal, (1995)
    • Trends in Premises Liability Law, SE Regional Insurance Law Seminar for The National
      Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters, (1995)
    • CGL Coverage for Business Risks and Expected Consequences, Georgia Defense
      Lawyers Association Journal, (1993)
Publications