Dentons, the global law firm, announces the arrival of former Georgia Attorney General Samuel S. Olens. He joins Dentons' award-winning Public Policy practice, strengthening the Firm's State Attorneys General team, as well as its State and Local Government Affairs team.

Olens was elected Georgia's 53rd AG in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. During his tenure, he navigated many of the state's most pressing legal issues, including litigating Georgia/Florida water disputes; securing federal approval for the deepening of the Port of Savannah -- one of the fastest growing ports in the US; promoting a pro-business climate to attract multi-million dollar business deals; strengthening the state's Medicaid Fraud Division;  addressing transportation and economic development issues; and enacting legislation to curb human trafficking and prescription drug abuse in Georgia.  In addition, he worked alongside legislators to pass a re-write of Georgia's Open Meetings and Open Records Laws.

Prior to his election as AG, Olens served as the elected chairman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, the third largest county in Georgia, chair of the Atlanta Regional Commission, and vice-chair of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water District. Concurrent with these public service roles, Olens maintained a private practice for nearly 30 years where he focused on civil trials. He is a registered arbitrator, general civil mediator and early neutral evaluator with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution and is licensed to legal practice in both Georgia and Washington, DC.

"Sam brings two decades of public service and leadership experience to our Atlanta Public Policy practice," said Eric Tanenblatt, chair of Dentons' Public Policy practice. "He joins an impressive team of former attorneys general and deputy attorneys general, including fellow former Georgia AG Thurbert Baker and former Florida AG Bill McCollum. Together, they will offer guidance to clients on federal and state business and regulatory issues, investigations and litigation."

"Sam will be an asset to our clients who are seeking thoughtful and innovative solutions in navigating the intersection of law, business and government," said Sharon Gay, managing partner of Dentons' Atlanta office. "His connectivity in the legal, political and business communities is precisely what our clients in Atlanta and across the country need to leverage the growing global business platform that Georgia offers."

Olens' move to Dentons' Atlanta office comes on the heels of nationally-recognized litigator Mark Trigg.

Olens joins the ranks of Dentons' diverse Atlanta Public Policy partners and principals, including Thurbert Baker, former Georgia Attorney General; Gordon Giffin, former US Ambassador to Canada; Eric Tanenblatt, former chief of staff to Governor Sonny Perdue; Sharon Gay, former Deputy Chief of Staff and Executive Counsel to the mayor; Steve Labovitz, former Chief of Staff for the City of Atlanta; Mark Burkhalter, former Speaker of the House (GA); Dan Baskerville, former director of the Fulton County Manager's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs; Lemuel Ward, former Chief Counsel in the City of Atlanta Law Department; Edward Lindsey, former Georgia State Representative and House Majority Whip; Virgil Fludd, former state representative in the Georgia General Assembly; Elmer Stancil, former executive deputy director of Georgia's State Road and Tollway Authority and Georgia Regional Transportation Authority; and Robert Sills, former counsel to the House Minority leadership in the Georgia General Assembly. Speaker Newt Gingrich is also a member of Dentons' Public Policy team.