Jeffrey B. Bogart '72
Trials & Teaching: A Winning Combination
by Margaret Beccavin | December 18, 2023
Jeffrey B. Bogart ‘72 is the founder and managing partner of his private firm, Bogart & Bogart P.C., where he represents clients from a variety of industries including professional sports, TV and music entertainment, and more. He enjoys taking time to give back to the legal community through educating and training the next generation of lawyers, as well as practicing attorneys.
Graduating from The University of Toledo College of Law in 1972, Bogart's career has been marked by a diverse array of experiences, from prosecuting cases involving government corruption and organized crime to representing high-profile individuals in the private sector.
As an undergraduate student, Bogart's aspirations were set on becoming a TV sports director. While visiting Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles, Bogart was walking down the executive hallway and was told that behind nearly every other door sat a lawyer. In recognizing the potential that a legal foundation could have in shaping his future, Bogart decided to pursue law school.
Having no preparation for law school and knowing very little about the LSAT, Bogart applied to top-tier law schools in the nation and was denied by each one. Despite his initial setbacks with his law school applications, a connection through a fraternity brother led him to The University of Toledo, where he was admitted and excelled as a law student.
Bogart was involved in numerous activities as a student, including being a member of the Toledo Law Review and serving as a student public defender during his 3L year. “The law school didn’t have its own building, so law students took their classes on the third floor of the library” recalls Bogart. “Our common area included two couches and a bulletin board – maybe a vending machine. It was modest to say the least!” He remembers having one large classroom and a hallway where the professors' offices were.
Upon graduating from law school, Bogart applied for, and was accepted into, the honors program of the United States Department of Justice. He was told to go to Washington D.C. and interview with three departments, one which would choose him to work there. In his last interview, the lawyer closed his file and said, “You’re a really good law student, but you have no political juice, and you will never get a letter telling you where to report.”
Bogart, realizing he had no job with the DOJ despite his letter of acceptance to the honors program, went to visit a friend who attended NYU School of Law. His friend directed him to the placement board, which led to Bogart securing his first professional legal position at the Kings County District Attorney's Office.
Bogart later received an offer from the United States Attorney’s Office in Atlanta as an assistant U.S. attorney. Accepting the offer, he continued his government service focusing on white-collar crime and corruption cases. Bogart also served as a special prosecutor for the State Bar of Georgia disciplinary committee.
Eventually, Bogart decided to transition into private practice. His career flourished as he became a partner in a large Atlanta law firm founded by former governor Ellis Arnall and again when he established his own boutique litigation firm in the 1980s.
Many years later, he received a call from John Ehrlichman, a key player in the Nixon administration, and infamous during the Watergate scandal, during the time Bogart had interviewed with the DOJ. Bogart ended up representing Ehrlichman for many years until his passing. During that time, Bogart told him, “You know, I was accepted into the honors program and told that because I had ‘no political juice’ there was no way I would be directed to one of the three departments I interviewed with, even though I had a letter that said ‘Congratulations, you’re accepted to the honors program in the DOJ.’” Bogart recalls Ehrlichman laughing as he said, “Well of course you weren’t going to get a spot during the Nixon administration.”
Throughout his career, Bogart has represented many high-profile figures, including the wives of former world boxing champion Evander Holyfield, Hall of Fame Atlanta Braves baseball players Chipper Jones and Tom Glavine, and two of the children of President and First Lady Carter. Two of his trials were televised by Court TV, gaining national attention.
Bogart's contributions to the legal profession extend beyond individual cases. He has been a dedicated educator, sharing his knowledge and expertise with the legal community. He has served as an instructor at Emory University School of Law in the National Institute for Trial Advocacy program, and at the University of Georgia trial practice program. He also created the KISS trial practice program, recognized as one of the top programs by the Georgia Bar.
When asked what his best advice is for future lawyers, Bogart shared three things: “1- Listen. Lawyers are good at talking, bad at listening. 2- Always act in a professional manner. And 3- There is no substitute for preparation.”
Since 2004, Bogart has been voted a Georgia Super Lawyer, and in 2006 was voted one of the top 100 lawyers in Atlanta. He was voted one of Georgia’s Legal Elites in both criminal and family law by Georgia Trend magazine, the only Georgia lawyer to be selected in both disciplines in a single year. He has been continuously recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America by U.S. New & World Report.
Bogart is married to attorney Christine C. Bogart. They have a combined family of seven children and eight grandchildren.
SIDE BAR
THE PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING
Having recently returned to Toledo for an event to help prepare and train Toledo Law
trial students, Bogart was able to visit the Law Center for the very first time. It
opened just months after he had graduated in 1972, and he was amazed by the dedicated
building and spaces for students and faculty that weren’t available during his time
as a law student.
While Bogart was impressed with the facilities, he noted that “It’s not just the building, but the desire of the students to learn and the quality of the faculty that truly matters.” Bogart thoroughly enjoyed the few days he had working with Toledo Law students.
Reminiscing on his own facilities as a student, Bogart shared, "I remember having to navigate my way through a tucked-away stairwell that led to an attic area. Judge Carr, who was a professor at the time, had his office there and managed the internship program for students. It’s just funny to think that this now notable Judge used to have his office basically in an attic.”
ITS A SMALL WORLD
After he left his large firm in Atlanta and decided to venture out on his own, Bogart
considered who he would like to work with. One attorney came to mind – Susan Hurst.
He met her when she was the opposing counsel in a case he worked on. Bogart had filed
an appeal that he believed he would win without a doubt. Yet somehow Hurst was able
to get a split decision. Bogart was so impressed with her work that, even though she
was opposing counsel, he knew she was a force of an attorney.
Bogart called Hurst and asked how she would feel working with him. As they spoke, they came to learn that Hurst had also graduated from Toledo Law in 1984. While there, she served as the managing editor of the Law Review ten years after Bogart had been a member.
“She’s a trailblazer, defining in Georgia the role of a Guardian ad Litem,” said Bogart. The two of them worked together seamlessly in Atlanta for 25 years and remain great friends today.