Cathy Hampton is a nationally-recognized senior executive in the areas of corporate governance, commercial transactions, governmental relations, inclusion and law department management. She serves as an Independent Director and Sales Committee Chair for Ameritech Facility Services, a renovation and construction industry leader with offices in the Atlanta area, Orlando, Dallas and Scottsdale. As the City of Atlanta’s Chief Legal Officer, Cathy led an 85-member Department of Law that delivered legal advice to the executive and legislative branches of local government. Cathy oversaw all civil legal matters for the city and its 8,000 employees, including the city’s water utility and the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. During her six-year tenure, Cathy negotiated financing for the new Atlanta Falcons/Mercedes-Benz Stadium, facilitated the development of the city’s first Office of Film and Entertainment and spearheaded the city’s historic pension reform. Cathy is the creator of Atlanta’s “Take A Stand” initiative to end sexual assault, which includes the production of a short film, public service announcements and a national media campaign
Under Cathy’s leadership, the Department was recognized by the Fulton County Daily Report as one of the In-House Legal Departments of the Year. Cathy also received the Outstanding General Counsel Award from the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Cathy began her career as a corporate associate at the New York law firm of Shearman and Sterling. Next, she practiced marketing, advertising and general corporate law at the National Basketball Association before moving to Atlanta to serve as Counsel for Turner Entertainment Group. Cathy was then appointed Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for EarthLink, Inc. and General Counsel and Secretary for EarthLink’s PeoplePC subsidiary. Prior to joining the City of Atlanta, Cathy worked as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at RARE Hospitality.
Cathy is a member of the Bar in Georgia, New York and the District of Columbia. Her professional affiliations include the General Counsel Roundtable, American Bar Association, National Bar Association, Association of Corporate Counsel, Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, and the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys.
Cathy serves her community with the State Bar of Georgia Committee on Professionalism, Atlanta Women’s Foundation, Leadership Atlanta, VOX Youth Communications, the Women’s Resource Center and Planned Parenthood.
Cathy is a graduate of Spelman College and Harvard Law School. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Cascade United Methodist Church, she mentors high school, college and law students across the country. A native Mississippian, Cathy now resides in East Atlanta.