Meet the team
Of counsel
Lisa S. Morchower
Practice Areas
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Biography
Lisa Steinmetz Morchower is Of Counsel with Berman Fink Van Horn. Lisa concentrates her practice in state and local government law, with a particular emphasis in the areas of alcoholic beverage licensing and hospitality law, zoning and land use matters, business licensing, police licensing and permitting and general litigation. Lisa’s practice includes representation of individuals and business owners regarding alcoholic beverage licensing; business licensing; police power licensing; issues related to special land use permits, variances and special exceptions; permitting (sign permits, certificates of occupancy, building permits, demolitions, etc.); text amendments to zoning ordinances and other land use related issues.
During her career, Lisa has successfully represented clients before administrative agencies such as city councils, county boards of commissioners, local government license review boards, zoning review boards and boards of zoning appeals. She has also represented clients in Georgia and federal trial courts, the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and in the U.S. Supreme Court. Most recently, Lisa has litigated cases involving lease disputes and landlord-tenant matters, successfully represented clients on both sides of the fence regarding alcohol licenses and other government permits in courts around metropolitan Atlanta and has been appointed Special Counsel to the City of Loganville to handle litigation involving revisions to the City’s Alcoholic Beverage Code and permitting process.
Prior to joining Berman Fink Van Horn, Lisa was a Senior Assistant City Attorney for the City of Atlanta, where she was employed for more than 11 years. In her position with the City, Lisa was responsible for providing legal advice and counsel to high level government officials, including the Mayor, City Council, Chief of Police and various city departments regarding alcoholic beverage and general police licensing, land use and various other matters. While working for the City of Atlanta, Lisa served as chief counsel to the Licenses and Permits Unit of the Atlanta Police Department and the Bureau of Taxicabs and Vehicles for Hire. She also represented the Planning Department, including the Bureau of Buildings and the Zoning Enforcement Division, the Civil Service Board, the Bureau of Cultural Affairs and the Bureau of Sanitary Services. During her employment with the City, Lisa litigated a myriad of lawsuits, including the revocation of the Gold Club’s alcoholic beverage license; lawsuits by Olympic Vendors against the City; challenges to the City’s Alcoholic Beverage Code, Zoning Ordinance, Wrecker Service Code and Vehicles for Hire Ordinance; and cases involving sovereign immunity, wrongful shootings and deaths and employment actions.
After graduating from the University of Alabama with a business degree, Lisa received her law degree from Emory University School of Law. She has lived in Atlanta since graduating from law school in 1989. Lisa is married to Scott Morchower, a commercial realtor, and they have two daughters. When not practicing law, Lisa enjoys reading, travel, exercise, skiing, and watching her daughters perform in musical theater, compete in cheerleading and play lacrosse.
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Credentials
Bar Admissions
- Georgia (1990)
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- Florida (1989)
- Federal (1989)
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
Education
- B.S., The University of Alabama, 1986
- J.D., Emory University School of Law, 1989
PROFESSIOnAL MEMBERSHIPS
- American Bar Association
- Atlanta Bar Association
- Atlanta Technical Advisory Group II
Confirmed by Mayor Kasim Reed and the Atlanta City Council to serve as the Atlanta Bar Association’s representative to recommend revisions to the provisions of the City of Atlanta Alcoholic Beverages Code (2012-2013)
- Atlanta Technical Advisory Group II
- Atlanta Board of Realtors
- Certified instructor (CAPITUS)
- Atlanta Technical Advisory Group III
- Confirmed by Mayor Andre Dickens and the Atlanta City Council to serve as the Georgia Alcohol Dealers Association’s representative to recommend revisions to the provisions of the Atlanta Alcoholic Beverages Code (2022)
- Georgia (1990)
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News & Insights
Blog Posts
Presentations
- Lisa presented “It’s all about Zoning” at an Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors program (April 20, 2023).
- Lisa presented “Land Use and Zoning Litigation” during a National Business Institute OnDemand seminar (January 2023).
- Lisa presented “It’s all about Zoning” at an Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors program (August 2021).
- Lisa presented “Ethics in Zoning and Land Use Law” at a National Business Institute seminar (September 10, 2019).
- Lisa presented during a National Business Institute video webcast, “Land Use and Zoning Bootcamp.” (June 6, 2019).
- Lisa presented “Georgia Alcoholic Beverage Laws” at a National Business Institute seminar (November 9, 2018).
- Lisa presented “Ethics in Zoning and Land Use Law” at a National Business Institute seminar (September 17, 2018).
- Lisa has lectured on the “Practical Guide to Zoning and Land Use Law” at the National Business Institute’s Continuing Legal Education Seminar (November 2016).
- Lisa has lectured on “Regulating Adult Entertainment” at The Metro City and County Attorneys seminar on Continuing Legal Education (March 2001).
- Lisa is invited frequently to present to local business associations, including the Association of Georgia Real Estate Exchangers, the Georgia Hotel Lodging Association, local commercial real estate groups and for her clients in the hotel, restaurant and alcoholic beverage retail store industries.
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Publications
- Seek Zoning and Land Use Counsel Before Signing Your Name on the Line, BFV E-News, November 2013
- Preemption and Local Government Regulation of the Towing Industry: A Troubling Split Between the Circuits, “Municipal Lawyer,” January/February 2000
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Community
- Achieve Through Education, Inc.
- Board Member for non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for education and training of lower income persons
- Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta
- Member, Legal Council
- Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
- Volunteer lawyer
- Coventry Green Subdivision Homeowner’s Association
- Vice President, Board of Directors (2007)
- Hadassah Organization Life Member
- Hightower Trail Middle School PSTA & Foundation, Pebblebrook High School for Performing Arts, Tritt Elementary School Foundation & PTA
- Held several executive leadership, chairperson and committee positions
- U.S. Holocaust Museum, Member
- Achieve Through Education, Inc.