Michele L. Stumpe

Michele Stumpe is a seasoned litigator with both plaintiff and defense experience who is a trusted adviser to clients in the hospitality and retail industries. Ms. Stumpe is a certified mediator both in Georgia and East Africa. At Taylor English, she focuses her practice on hospitality and dram shop litigation, alcohol licensing and consulting, premises liability and dispute resolution. Known as one of the top attorneys in the Southeast for alcohol licensing and permits, Ms. Stumpe provides clients with a full range of services, including licensing, training, policy implementation, risk management, and legal representation.

In addition to her hospitality practice, Ms. Stumpe represents individuals and corporations in general litigation matters. She is a strategic partner who helps evaluate clients’ policies, procedures and implementation to minimize litigation risks. Ms. Stumpe is also passionate about early case assessment and resolution. She provides consulting services for various trade associations, including the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA), Georgia Food Industry Association (GFIA) and the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores (GACS). In 2002, she developed “The Responsible Alcohol Sales & Service” (RASS) workshops to educate hospitality owners on the legal responsibilities of serving alcohol to consumers. The program was so well received that many Georgia jurisdictions now require attendance as a prerequisite to obtaining an alcohol license.

Business groups frequently ask Ms. Stumpe to speak on early case resolution, negotiation, conflict resolution and alcohol sales compliance issues. She has been a featured speaker at trade associations, legal education and law enforcement seminars, and consumer radio programs. Her exemplary work has been recognized through a host of awards including the Georgia Restaurant Association Chairman’s Award, Atlanta Magazine’s Women Making a Mark and a special Conservation Award presented by Jane Goodall.

Ms. Stumpe enjoys volunteer work, scuba diving, gardening and golf when not practicing law. She is a co-founder of The Giving Kitchen, an Atlanta non-profit organization that provides crisis medical funds to employees in the hospitality industry. Ms. Stumpe also travels to Africa annually to work with underprivileged children and endangered wildlife through another non-profit that she co-founded, Children of Conservation. The organization provides scholarships to over 400 schoolchildren in Africa.

Affiliations

• ABA Animal Law Sub-Committee on Great Apes, Co-Chair, 2009-present
• American Bar Association
• Atlanta Bar Association
• Children of Conservation, Founder/CEO, 2009-present
• Dewar Wildlife Trust Inc., Board of Trustees, 2004-present Camp Twin Lakes, Legal Advisory Board, 2009-present Orange Duffel Bag Initiative, Board Member, 2010-2012
• Great Ape Project, International, President, 2005-2009; Board of Directors, 2004-2009; Legal Advisory Board, 2002-2009
• Les Dames d’Escoffier International
• Pan African Sanctuary Alliance, President, 2015-present; Board of Directors, 2012-present; Governance Committee, 2011-present
• The Giving Kitchen, Co-Founder and Board Member, 2013-present

Recognitions

• Atlanta Magazine 2021 Women Making a Mark
• Voyage Atlanta Rising Stars, 2021
• National Law Journal Crisis Leadership Trailblazer, 2020
• Jane Goodall Excellence in Conservation Award
• Best Self Atlanta Over 40 & Fabulous, 2020
• Daily Report’s 2019 Georgia Trailblazers
• Stevie® Awards for Women in Business, Most Innovative Woman of the Year – Government or Non- Profit, 2019
• StyleBlueprint Faces of Atlanta, 2016
• Traditional Home Magazine, Classic Woman Award, 2015
• Atlanta Business-Chronicle, Women Who Mean Business, 2015
• Diversity Journal’s 2015 Women to Watch
• Georgia Restaurant Association 2013 Chairman’s Award