Margaret Campbell
Atlanta Partner
Environmental & Natural Resources

Margaret Campbell is a partner in the Environmental & Natural Resources Practice Group in Atlanta.  She joined the firm as a lateral associate in 1994 and became a partner in 1999.  Her practice focuses on issues arising under the Clean Air Act and state air quality statutes and includes clean air policy advocacy, regulatory counseling, advice in corporate transactions, and litigation, including enforcement defense.  She has served on the Atlanta Office Recruiting Committee, the firm-wide Hiring Committee, and the Associate Review Committee.  She is currently the Chair of the Of Counsel Review Committee and the Women’s Forum Committee and she serves on the firm’s Executive Committee.

How many children do you have and what are their ages?

My husband, John, and I have two children, Anna, 9 and Charles, 6.

What was the last book you read?

I am just finishing Three Cups of Tea.  I still read to my kids every night, so I read lots and lots of children’s books. 

Who has been your legal mentor?

I have had a few but the best has been and still is Dan Reinhardt, who I can always count on to give me good advice, honest feedback and remind me to keep my sense of humor.

What is the best advice from your mother or father? 

My parents have given me great advice over the years, but the best advice was from my grandfather.  In his toast to John and me at our rehearsal dinner he said, “You have to work hard to be happy.”  Whether it’s your marriage or your career -- happiness does not just come to you; it requires attention and effort to make it happen. 

How do you give back to the community?

I try to stay involved in at least one organization that has some relevance to my interests and/or my practice.  For example, for a few years I helped with the children’s choir at my church; one year, I helped raised money for Piedmont Park; and another year I helped raise money for a candidate for governor who I strongly supported. Currently, I serve on the board of trustees of the Georgia Conservancy.

How do you manage the demands of work and family?

That is always a work in progress.  It requires a lot of thought and good communication at work and at home.  I have tried to be realistic about my expectations, and I think my family is also realistic and supportive of my career.  We don’t expect to have perfect balance all the time; it’s more like a see-saw.  Sometimes, my work requires time that would normally be family time.  At the same time, work is flexible enough that I can attend important school and sports events and otherwise be involved in my kids’ lives.  I have also learned from experience that it’s essential to have very reliable and flexible childcare.