Born in Hannibal, Missouri, April 16, 1947, Mr. Phears has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri (B.A., 1969, M.S. Economics, 1971) and George Washington University (J.D., with honors, 1974). At George Washington, Mr. Phears was Order of the Coif, a member of the George Washington Law Review (1973 - 1974), and co-author of "Federal Trade Commission: Developments in Advertising Regulation and Antitrust Policies," 41 George Washington Law Review 880, 1973. Mr. Phears is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.

Mr. Phears has over 30 years of practice experience. His practice areas include land use and zoning, antitrust, and healthcare law. Mr. Phears has also assisted start-up technology companies in choosing a business form, executing appropriate nondisclosure, shareholder, buy/sell, employment and other agreements, obtaining venture capital, and setting up stock option plans.