Why Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele’s legal legacy is a dedicated work in progress
By Michael J. Pallerino
The team at Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele (MIJS) knew. Before the rest of metro Atlanta and the baseball world heard about the Braves moving from Turner Field to Cobb County in fall 2013, members of the MIJS law firm were hard at work behind the scenes. In what would be one of those game-changing moments for Cobb County, the City of Atlanta, and Major League Baseball overall, the secret (as it is fair to call it) was entrusted to one of the metro area’s most respected legal teams.
In the lead up to the announcement, MIJS lawyers from its real estate, zoning and land development areas were doing due diligence on all the tax consequences and governmental red tape involved. For its part, the firm was representing both the landowner where Truist Park sits, as well as the governing authority for The Battery Atlanta and the park.
“We actually knew about the Braves coming to Cobb County before it was announced publicly and obviously kept it a secret,” recalled Administrative Partner Bill Johnson. “It was a great project for Cobb County and one about which we remain proud.”
With eight offices in six states (Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania), 100-plus attorneys, 13 practice areas, and over 20,000 clients, Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele is entering its 40th year of operation as one of the most respected firms in the nation.
Founded in 1984 by John Moore, the original offices were housed in what was once the old Greyhound bus terminal, which stood one block from the Cobb County courthouses until 1982. Over the years, MIJS updated and expanded the historic Greyhound building to help house its growing legal team and support staff. In 2008, the office relocated to its current location at Emerson Overlook, a seven-story building in the heart of Marietta developed specifically with Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele in mind.
The expansion that John Moore envisioned continued with offices in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee, and a Jacksonville, Florida office to serve parts of Southern Georgia and Northern Florida. More growth followed with offices in Lexington, Kentucky (2011), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (2017), Orlando, Florida (2018) and Fairfield, New Jersey (2024).
With each expansion, MIJS remained true to John Moore’s originating philosophy that for quality legal representation, a firm must address the law and the specialized needs of each individual client. He believed that to provide the best quality legal services, each attorney must be committed to giving its client personalized attention. There were no shortcuts or exceptions.
“That one is fairly easy,” Johnson said. “It’s the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It sounds very simple, but if you treat your clients and others with that simple principle, everything else will fall into place.”
Johnson, along with Partners Robert Ingram, Phillip Beggs, and Kevin Moore, are core members of the MIJS team. Joining the firm in 1986 to assist in the formation of a civil litigation department, the Atlanta native’s areas of concentration include civil litigation, insurance defense litigation, and product liability defense.
“The opportunity and lessons that John Moore gave me with this firm [live on],” Johnson said. “First, he emphasized professionalism when dealing with all people. He was a master of that. Sometimes, I fail in that regard, but I always try. John also always told me there were many good lawyers in the practice, and what would set you apart was how you responded to clients and treated other people.”
Johnson was just 29 when John Moore gave him the opportunity to head up the business side of the firm. “I would always consult with my other partners on big issues, but many of the day-to-day operations were my decision. That gave me a chance to build a business as well as being a lawyer. My dad was a businessman, and that was extremely important to me.”
One of the most important lessons Johnson learned — and one that every member of the MIJS team has taken to heart — is the ability to stay connected to his family and the community at large. “Being in Marietta allowed me to be extremely involved in my children’s activities. I coached both boys’ baseball into high school and made all my daughter’s plays when she was performing at Pebblebrook [High School in Mableton]. There were times when I may have to come back to the office to do work after those events, but the flexibility that John gave me, and that we still give our attorneys, allowed me to take part in my children’s lives that I would have never been able to take if I had remained downtown.”
Giving Back
Today, one of the legacies that MIJS has bestowed upon its team is the firm’s connection with the community. Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele encourages its legal team to be involved in the community service initiatives that interest them. “We do not stipulate a particular cause or activity,” Johnson said. “We allow them the freedom to choose.”
From an overall firm standpoint, the community service initiative that stands out is the Moore Scholarship Program, which is named in honor of founding Partner John Moore, who passed away in 2018. In 2006, John created the MIJS Scholarship Foundation in conjunction with Marietta High School. Through the program, the two work together to identify promising students who need financial assistance.
The first “Moore Scholars” recipient, as it was called, graduated in 2011. Since then, an additional 26 Moore Scholars have graduated from various colleges, including Georgia State University, University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State University, Clayton State, University of South Carolina, University of North Carolina, Armstrong Atlantic State, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Texas Christian University.
To date, the MIJS Scholarship Foundation has provided more than $470,000 in scholarship funding. “We give yearly scholarships, usually around $40,000 a year, to deserving students,” Ingram said. “It is a way for the students to change not only their lives, but their family’s lives in the future. It is something about which we are very proud to be able to do. We want to be good members of Cobb County. We also donate to numerous causes in Cobb County because Cobb County has been good to us. We want to ‘pay it forward.’”
Ingram said that the “pay-it-forward” philosophy continues to be at the true heart of what John Moore’s vision stands for. “God’s word teaches us that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected.’ MIJS has truly been blessed over the past 40 years starting as a small firm with a few lawyers and growing to where we are today. In recognition of that blessing, we have made it a priority to give back to the community and to do our best to provide the highest quality legal services to our clients.”
History + Commitment = Legacy
As MIJS looks to the next 40 years, the firm continues to stand as a testament to John Moore’s vision, which was created to provide the Cobb County area with specialized legal services that could rival any downtown Atlanta firm.
The caveat was that each of these services would include a personal touch that would help keep its clients from becoming faceless in a corporate sea. The firm’s ability to remain rooted in these founding principles while expanding its reach across multiple states reflects a remarkable balance between tradition and growth.
In those early days, John’s first hire — a tax partner — set the tone for what would become a full-service law firm dedicated to addressing the diverse needs of its clients. John believed deeply in providing personal, high-quality service, and he knew that the key to long-term success would be the relationships built with each client.
“He also demanded respect from his lawyers for all people with whom they came in contact, such as judges, staff, clerks, et cetera,” said Beggs, who joined the firm in 1986. “He thoroughly believed that there was a great deal of very good attorneys in the community, but what set our firm apart was the service and courtesy with which we treated everyone.”
John’s vision wasn’t about expansion for expansion’s sake, but about being where his clients needed the firm to be. This approach led to the opening of MIJS’ first satellite office in Knoxville, Tennessee, a decision born out of client demand and the firm’s commitment to maintaining those close relationships. “Expansion was never the primary goal,” Beggs recalled. “It was always about being responsive to the needs of the firm’s clients. This adaptability has helped shape our success.”
As MIJS’ client roster expanded and moved into new regions, the firm’s growth followed, ensuring it could continue to offer the same level of specialized, personalized service regardless of geographic location. All the while, John’s vision was kept intact. “Respect, courtesy and professionalism have always been at the core of MIJS’ culture,” Beggs said. “John emphasized that the firm’s success wasn’t just about legal expertise, but also about how clients, adversaries, and colleagues were treated. He knew that there were plenty of skilled attorneys, but what would set Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele apart was our unwavering commitment to respect and courtesy in every interaction. It’s a philosophy that continues to define the firm to this day.”
MIJS’ areas of expertise are wide-ranging, including real estate, corporate work, litigation, tax, estate planning, and captive insurance. Unlike many firms where attorneys may cross over between specialties, MIJS prides itself on ensuring that each attorney remains a specialist in their field. This guarantees that clients receive the highest level of expertise and attention, no matter their legal needs.
Staying at the forefront of legal developments is another cornerstone of MIJS’ success. The firm is committed to continuous professional development, both attending and speaking at seminars across the country. This commitment to education allows MIJS to stay ahead of changes in legislation and case law, ensuring that its attorneys are always equipped with the most up-to-date knowledge to serve their clients effectively.
As MIJS enters its fifth decade, the firm remains steadfast in its commitment to the principles John Moore established 40 years ago. The firm’s success, rooted in personal relationships, specialized expertise, and a deep respect for others, is a living testament to John’s vision. And as the firm looks to the future, it does so with the same spirit of service, integrity, and community that has guided it from the beginning. Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele is not just a legal firm; it’s a legacy in progress, one that will continue to shape the legal landscape for years to come.
, 100-plus attorneys, 13 practice areas, and over 20,000 clients, Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele is entering its 40th year of operation as one of the most respected firms in the nation.){kind=link}