Editor’s note: Miller & Martin PLLC Partner Tom Harrold is an icon in Atlanta’s international law and business communities, renowned for introducing international firms to Georgia and fostering relationships between the region and the world.

Global Atlanta had a recent opportunity to sit down with Mr. Harrold and hear some of his stories about Atlanta’s development as an international city. This article and accompanying video were made possible by Miller & Martin’s annual partnership with Global Atlanta.  

Atlanta’s rise as a global business hub didn’t occur by chance. Among the influential figures contributing to this transformation is Tom Harrold, a senior partner at Miller & Martin PLLC, whose pivotal role in Atlanta’s internationalization efforts has cemented his reputation as a leader in the city’s legal and business communities. 

Mr. Harrold’s extensive legal career spans decades and has placed him at the forefront of international business expansion in Atlanta. He recalls how Gov. George Busbee’s initiatives during the late 1970s laid the foundation for Japanese and German companies to invest in Georgia.  

Reflecting on this period in an interview with Global Atlanta, Mr. Harrold noted that the foreign companies’ lawyers were all from other states; there were none from Atlanta.   

“I thought, it couldn’t be that hard. I just told everybody I was an international lawyer in Atlanta. And soon enough, I started getting calls from different companies,” he said.  

With this bold start, Mr. Harrold built an international practice that would later anchor Atlanta’s emergence as a go-to city for global investment. 

A Bold Start to Internationalization 

Mr. Harrold recognized early on that Atlanta’s legal community could play a much larger role in supporting international clients. He was one of the founders of the World Law Group, a worldwide network of law firms that collaborate on cross-border projects, offering clients more comprehensive services.  

The group’s initial six firms met in 1988 at Taiwan‘s Grand Hotel in Taipei. This network helped Atlanta establish itself as a hub for international legal services, enabling Mr. Harrold and his colleagues to better serve global clients while growing the city’s international business reputation. 

Mr. Harrold was also instrumental in the creation of the German American Chamber of Commerce in 1978, recognizing the need for such an organization to support German companies entering the Southern U.S. market.  

His friendship with one of the chamber’s founders, Eike Jordan, played a significant role in this effort, with Mr. Jordan often acting as the first point of contact for German firms.  

“When those companies needed legal counsel, I was there to help guide them through the complexities of U.S. law,” Mr. Harrold said. 

This foundation of international relationships and business collaboration was a major reason Mr. Harrold was a natural fit for Miller & Martin’s expansion into Atlanta. The firm, one of the oldest in the South, had long represented Coca-Cola Enterprises and recognized the importance of an Atlanta office to serve its growing international client base.  

“I was contacted by Miller & Martin when they decided they needed an Atlanta office,” Mr. Harrold explained. “They were great people, and it was a natural fit for me.”  

Since its opening in 1998, the firm’s Atlanta office has played a vital role in facilitating foreign investment and fostering international business relationships. 

Mr. Harrold’s contributions to Atlanta’s international growth extend beyond his firm. His leadership and foresight have made him Georgia’s de facto international legal ambassador, positioning Atlanta as a gateway for companies seeking to enter the U.S. market.  

His work with chambers of commerce, law firms and international organizations has transformed the city into a magnet for foreign investment and collaboration. 

Building Atlanta’s Global Reputation 

Atlanta’s international reputation wasn’t always what it is today. Mr. Harrold recalls an early challenge when someone in Dubai mistook Atlanta for Atlantic City, New Jersey.  

“It was hard to promote the city globally back then,” he admitted. “We’ve overcome most of that.” 

However, thanks to a combination of political leadership, business visionaries like Coca-Cola’s Robert Woodruff and civil rights leaders, the city began to emerge as a business powerhouse. 

“Mayor Hartsfield’s slogan ‘A city too busy to hate’ really encapsulates Atlanta’s resilience and progress,” Mr. Harrold noted, adding that this mindset was crucial in distinguishing Atlanta from other Southern cities like Birmingham and Charlotte. 

Several key factors played pivotal roles in Atlanta’s growth, including the development of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which Mr. Harrold emphasized as a critical asset.  

Delta Airline’s international connectivity has been a game-changer for the city. Mr. Harrold pointed out the significance of direct flights from Atlanta to key cities around the world.  

Delta’s first flights to places like Shannon, Ireland, and Munich, Stuttgart and Dusseldorf, Germany, made a huge difference, Mr. Harrold said, noting that these routes not only increased Atlanta’s accessibility but also played a crucial role in attracting businesses from Japan and Europe.  

“The ability to offer non-stop flights to major international cities has been one of the biggest draws for foreign investment,” Mr. Harrold asserted. 

Additionally, the advent of air conditioning was a surprisingly important factor, initially making Atlanta more appealing as a place to live and work, he recalled. But the bigger contributor to Atlanta’s international reputation was undoubtedly the 1996 Olympics, he said. 

A Global Future for Atlanta and Georgia 

As Atlanta continues to expand its international footprint, Mr. Harrold highlighted several industries that will drive the city’s future growth.  

“We’re seeing tremendous opportunities in the electric vehicle space,” he said, referencing the investments by Hyundai, Kia and their suppliers in Georgia’s growing EV ecosystem.  

Georgia’s leadership in green energy is also on the rise, with new technologies making it economically feasible to use solar and hydrogen for power generation, he added. 

The fintech industry is another area where Mr. Harrold sees significant potential.  

“Georgia is known as one of the fintech capitals of the world, and that will only continue to grow,” he remarked, pointing to the increasing number of international fintech companies setting up operations in the state. 

Mr. Harrold expressed optimism for Georgia’s future, citing the state’s strong workforce initiatives, such as the Quick Start program that offers training in multiple languages, and the global efforts of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. 

As he looks ahead, Mr. Harrold remains confident that Atlanta and Georgia’s competitive advantages—combined with a welcoming business environment—will continue to attract foreign investment for years to come. 

“At the end of the day, we need people that can communicate with workers in the workforce, and then great incentives that the state and local governments provide to new industries coming in,” Mr. Harrold said.  

“We need our young people to look out and see there’s a whole other world out there. They need to travel and go see these other countries, so they can have a real appreciation for an international career—and then come back to Georgia.” 

Learn more and contact Mr. Harrold via Miller & Martin’s website. 

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