Sally Akins
Sally Akins Senior Neutral
See Rates Below

Overview

Sally Akins

Sarah B. “Sally” Akins is a Savannah-based mediator and arbitrator who handles cases including premises liability, automobile and trucking accidents, professional negligence (medical, legal, and pharmaceutical), litigation involving counties and municipalities including civil rights cases and zoning cases, insurance coverage litigation, and products liability.

After nearly 30 years working solely with litigation with Ellis Painter, Sally decided to focus on her ADR career. She is now counsel status and now works as a fulltime mediator and arbitrator.

Sally has received the General Practice & Trial Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia Tradition of Excellence Award and was recognized by the Daily Report with its Distinguished Leader Award. She has been selected by her peers as a Super Lawyer since 2010 and as a Top 50 Female Super Lawyer since 2012.

Sally served as the 60th president of the State Bar of Georgia from June 2022 to June 2023 and has previously served as president-elect, secretary, and treasurer of the State Bar. She serves on the Board of Bar Examiners; the U.S. District Court Advisory Committee for the Southern District of Georgia; and the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Court Advisory Committee.

Sally is married to Dale Akins, her law school sweetheart. Dale is an attorney at Akins Law Firm in Bluffton, South Carolina. They share their home with Boudreaux, a French pointer.

 

Admitted to Practice

  • All Georgia State and Superior Courts
  • Supreme Court of Georgia
  • Court of Appeals of Georgia
  • S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
  • S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
  • S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • S. Supreme Court

Education

  • Mercer University (J.D., 1990)
  • University of Florida (B.A., 1987)

Professional or Trade Affiliations

  • President, State Bar of Georgia, 2022-2023
  • Board of Bar Examiners, 2014-present
  • President of the Southeastern Georgia Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Southeastern Georgia Chapter (president, 2017; charter member; vice-president, 2015; secretary, 2014; treasurer, 2011-13)
  • Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (GDLA) (member, Board of Directors, 2006-present; president- elect, 2016- present; treasurer, 2015-2016; vice-president, 2012-2015; editor, Georgia Defense Lawyers Association Law Journal, 2011; vice chair and faculty, Trial Academy, 2012; editor-in-chief, Georgia Defense Lawyer, 2013-2015)
  • State Bar of Georgia (Executive Committee, General Practice & Trial Section 1995-present, chairman 2000-2001; member, Review Panel of State Disciplinary Board 2000-2006 and 2010-present, chairman 2002-2003; member, Disciplinary Rules & Procedures Committee 2005-2016; chair – Law Practice Management Committee 2011-2012; Mmmber, Advisory Committee on Legislation (2010-present); member – Bench & Bar Committee (2010-present).
  • Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (president, Savannah Chapter, 1994-1996)
  • Eleventh Circuit Historical Society, Inc., Georgia trustee
  • Savannah Bar Association (Executive Committee 1999-2000; chairman, Public Relations Committee 2001-2002; chairman, Public Service Committee 2005-2006)
  • American Bar Association (Georgia delegate, Woman Advocate Committee, Litigation Section)
  • National Council of Lawyer Discipline Boards, treasurer, 2005
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Leadership Savannah graduate, 2006
  • Lawyers Foundation of Georgia, fellow

Honors and Awards

  • Top 50 Female Georgia Super Lawyer (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
  • Georgia Super Lawyer (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
  • Georgia’s Legal Elite by Georgia Trend Magazine (2009)
  • The Best Lawyers in America (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
  • Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia (Eastern Judicial Circuit, Post 1, 2010 – present)
  • Appointed by Chief Judge to Local Rules Committee for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, U.S. District Court Advisory Committee for the Southern District of Georgia and to the Planning Committee for 2013 11th Circuit Judicial Conference
  • Litigation Counsel of America – Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
  • Awarded Best Newsletter by State Bar of Georgia during three-year tenure as editor-in-chief of GDLA’s Georgia Defense Lawyer (2013, 2014, 2015)
  • Georgia Trend – Georgia 500, Georgia’s Most Influential Leaders, 2023

 

Testimonials

“Hi Sally,

I hope this finds you well. I wanted to say thank you for all your hard work, diligence and genuine concern over the settlement you oversaw for my legal case.

Thank you for giving me a (safe) space to voice my concerns and I truly feel you had the case’s best outcome at heart.

You are kind, fair, honest and your integrity and humor shines through your work.

Many thanks and much respect for all you do.” ~anonymous for privacy

Rates and Fees

Rates - Sally Akins

If you have questions regarding our rates and fees, please contact support@milesadr.com

Savannah/Jacksonville Rates 4hr Min. Atlanta Rates4hr Min.
2 Party Case: $400 per party; per hour 2 Party Case: $500 per party; per hour
3 Party Case: $350 per party; per hour 3 Party Case: $450 per party; per hour
4 Party Case: $300 per party; per hour 4 Party Case: $400 per party; per hour
5+ Party Case: Flat Rate Available Upon Request 5+ Party Case: Flat Rate Available Upon Request
Arbitration Hourly Rate: $650; Hearing - $8,500 per day

Travel time and expenses, including meals and lodging, billed separately and split equally among the parties at the Neutral's hourly rate.
Pre/Post Consultation & Document Review: Hourly Mediation/Arbitration Rate

Mediation /Arbitration Admin Fees
Atlanta Mediation Admin Fee - $500 per party
Savannah - Elite Mediation Admin Fee - $300 per party
Arbitration Commencement And Administration Fee: $1500 per party

MEDIATION CANCELLATION POLICY

Mediations cancelled within 10 days of the mediation will be charged a cancellation fee of $1000. However, mediations cancelled, rescheduled or settled within 24 hours of the mediation will be charged 4 hrs. of the Neutral's hourly rate . Cancellation fees shall be sent to the cancelling party unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.

ARBITRATION FEE PAYMENT POLICY

Arbitration Commencement and Administrative Fee is $1500.00 per party, per arbitrator. At the commencement of arbitration, each party will be invoiced $1500.00. This fee is refundable minus $500.00 per party until the initial case management order has been issued. All arbitration related invoices are due upon receipt.

ARBITRATION CANCELLATION POLICY

If a single-day Arbitration Hearing scheduled on the merits of the case cancels or reschedules within 15 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 4 hours of the Arbitrator’s hourly rate. However, if the single-day Arbitration Hearing cancels or reschedules within 2 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 8 hours of the Arbitrator’s hourly rate.

If a multi-day Arbitration Hearing scheduled on the merits of the case cancels or reschedules within 28 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 4 hours of the Arbitrator's hourly rate for each day reserved for the hearing. However, if the multi-day Arbitration Hearing cancels or reschedules within 7 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 8 hours of the Arbitrator's hourly rate for each day reserved for the hearing.

Issuance of the Final Arbitration Order/Award

Arbitration Awards/Orders will not be issued to either party until Miles has received full payment for all fees and expenses associated with the arbitration.