On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled on the petition for voluntary surrender of license filed by Atlanta attorney Nathan E. Hardwick IV.

The case, titled In the Matter of Nathan E. Hardwick IV, was brought by the State Disciplinary Board. Case #S23Y0502.

The petition cited Respondent’s violation of Rule 8.4(a)(2) of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, which states:

It shall be a violation of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct for a lawyer to be convicted of a felony.

The Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct can be found on the State Bar of Georgia’s website.

According to the court document, Hardwick was suspended by the Court on January 22, 2019, pursuant to a petition for voluntary suspension of his license pending the termination of appeal concerning his indictment for a federal grand jury for numerous felonies related to his law practice.

According to a press release by the Northern District of Georgia Attorney’s office, Hardwick has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme to defraud his law firm out of millions of dollars. On October 12, 2018, following a four-week trial, a federal jury convicted Hardwick of wire fraud, conspiracy, and making false statements to a federally insured financial institution.

Hardwick engaged in a scheme to defraud his law firm, together with Asha R. Maurya. Hardwick is a managing partner of the firm and a CEO. Hardwick also ran the law firm’s closing division in Atlanta while Maurya managed the law firm’s accounting operations under Hardwick’s supervision and control.

The attorney’s office said Hardwick stole more than $26 million from MHS’s accounts between January 2011 and August 2014 to cover his personal debts and expenses as well as to support his lavish lifestyle. Money from MHS’s attorney trust accounts totaling more than $19 million was taken. Of the fraud proceeds, Hardwick spent about $18.5 million on gambling, private planes, and more than 50 different social acquaintances.

Both Hardwick and Maurya made numerous false statements to Hardwick’s law partners concerning the amount of money that Hardwick was taking out of the firm. And Hardwick and Maurya conspired to cover up the fraud.

Hardwick sought the voluntary surrender of his license prior to the filing of a formal complaint, saying that his convictions have been affirmed.

The State Bar responded and requested that the Court accept Hardwick’s petition.

Accordingly, the Court after reviewing the records agreed to accept Hardwick’s petition for voluntary surrender of his license.

The dispositive portion of the Opinion reads:

“Accordingly, the name of Nathan E. Hardwick IV is hereby removed from the rolls of persons entitled to practice law in the State of Georgia. Hardwick is reminded of his duties pursuant to Bar Rule 4-219 (b).

Voluntary surrender of license accepted. All the Justices concur.”

Mr. Hardwick IV practices in Atlanta, Georgia, and has been licensed in Georgia, license #325686.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.