Sonja R. Tate

Sonja Tate has been shepherding her clients through the litigation process for nearly 25 years. Understanding that the most nerve-wracking part of litigation is not knowing what to expect, Sonja works to ensure that her clients, whether they be individuals, families or businesses, understand the process, the possibilities, and what to expect, giving them a better sense of control. An advocate for alternative dispute resolution, she became a certified mediator in 2018.

Sonja grew up in Fort Mill, South Carolina, but went on to become a Double Dawg, graduating from the University of Georgia in 1993 and the University of Georgia School of Law in 1996. She moved to the CSRA in 1997, clerking for the Superior Court Judges of the Toombs Judicial Circuit. Sonja joined Fulcher Hagler in 1999, where she has been defending clients for anything from car accidents to chemical spills. She also handles contested probate litigation when families need her help.

Committed to “passing it on,” Sonja is the President of the Augusta Bar Foundation, which raises money and awards grants to local organizations supporting at-risk, underserved or underprivileged youth here in the Augusta and Columbia Circuits. She is a member of the Georgia State Bar, the South Carolina State Bar, the Southern District of Georgia, the District of South Carolina, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Outside of the office, Sonja is happy to share photos and bore you with stories about her dogs, two German Shepherds and a Belgian Malinois. She supports local rescue centers, specifically Canine Pet Rescue, where she adopted her dogs. She is also a certified dog trainer, having obtained her CCPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed) certificate in 2022. Sonja enjoys hiking locally and visiting the National Parks. During the fall, you can find her screaming at the television while the Dawgs play.

• Helped obtain a defense verdict, twice, for a chemical manufacturer after the plaintiff claimed injuries resulting from a chemical spill. After a more than two-week trial and a defense verdict, an issue of first impression was certified to the state Supreme Court and the case was ultimately tried again, where the jury returned yet another defense verdict for her client.
• In a dispute where a construction company claimed the defendant caused property damage, Sonja represented the Defendant at trial and obtained a defense verdict.
• Sonja represented a family member in a probate dispute with his sibling over the treatment of their mother and ultimately the distribution of her assets, helping him regain control over the family business.