After graduating from Mercer University School of Law, cum laude, in 1987, Jay Rollins spent two years as law clerk to the Honorable Duross Fitzpatrick in the Middle District of Georgia. Following his federal clerkship, in 1989, Jay joined the Atlanta office of the national management labor and employment law firm of Fisher & Phillips. In 1993, he teamed with three other lawyers to launch a firm in Atlanta specializing in employment law for both individuals and small businesses and has had some version of his own firm since then. In 1999, he and Debra Schwartz became partners when their firms merged to form the firm of Thompson, Rollins, Schwartz & Borowski. Twenty-five years later, Debra and Jay remain partners at Schwartz Rollins LLC.

Jay’s career has been entirely focused on representing business and individual clients in employment matters. Today, Jay’s law practice focuses on mediation and providing strategic counsel to both individual and business clients throughout the country facing employment challenges and workplace issues. Through collaborative engagement, he helps executives and employees navigate employment challenges including employment contract and severance agreement negotiations, charges filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, litigation, mediations and settlements. On the business front, he advises companies on compliance, day-to-day employment issues, and contracts. For his business clients, Jay reviews and prepares policies and handbooks, conducts employee training and handles charges, litigation and other claims filed by current and former employees. His clients span a variety of industries, including medical, veterinary, construction, computer program development, hospitality, water treatment, pharmaceutical, and real estate. Jay has extensive experience as lead counsel in employment litigation in the federal courts in Georgia. Jay’s extensive experience representing both employers and employees in all types of employment law matters gives Jay a unique perspective on what it takes to resolve an employment matter.

Jay regularly speaks about employment law matters and mentoring less experienced attorneys at Continuing Legal Education and bar seminars in Georgia and across the country. He is an active member of the Georgia Bar Association, serving on the Labor and Employment Section Executive Committee and assuming the role of Chair in 2010-2011, when the Section was named “Section of the Year.” Jay has served on the Board of the Georgia Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association in many capacities, including twice as President of the Chapter. In 2022, he was awarded NELA-GA’s Advocacy Award. In 2013, he was instrumental in starting a mentoring program for the Georgia Chapter of NELA. This initiative proved so successful that the Georgia Bar Labor and Employment Section in 2016 approached Jay to use the NELA-GA program as a model in creating the L&E Mentorship Academy.

Jay chaired that program until 2023 and continues to regularly participate in mentoring newcomers to the practice of Labor and Employment law. The Mentorship Academy has been the inspiration for similar programs in Georgia and around the country.

Jay was inducted into the American Bar Association’s College of Labor & Employment Lawyers in 2015 and serves on the College’s 11th Circuit Credentials Committee. Jay has been included on the Georgia SuperLawyer list, published in Atlanta Magazine, since its inception in 2004, identified as one of the Legal Elite by Georgia Trend Magazine, selected to GaBiz Magazine’s 2025 list of Top Lawyers in Georgia. received the Inspiration Award from the Georgia Bar Health Law Section and was named as Best Mentor by the Fulton Daily Report in 2017. Jay’s firm, Schwartz Rollins LLC, have been recognized by US News & World Report as a Best Law Firms since that listing began in 2013, and the firm has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for inclusion in its 2025 edition as one of America’s Best Labor and Employment Litigation Firms.

Jay has served on the Board of several local and professional theaters in Georgia, including Theatre Macon, Stage Door Players and Impact Theatre Atlanta. Jay now resides in Cordele, where he grew up, and continues to practice with his partner. In his spare time, Jay is an avid reader, gardener and horseman.

 

Rates

Administrative Fee:

· $150.00 per party

Hourly Rates:

· $225.00 per hour per party for two parties

· $175.00 per hour per party for three parties

· $125.00 per hour per party for four or more parties