Email Patrick
(912) 470-7456

J. Patrick Connell is a partner in Connell, Thaw & Ruberti’s Savannah office. Patrick has successfully litigated a wide range of cases involving catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, professional malpractice, products liability, and premises liability. He has significant experience handling trucking and automobile accidents, fire investigations, and natural gas claims.

Patrick also specializes in land use planning and zoning law and routinely assists clients with real estate development and permitting issues before government agencies and in the courtroom, if necessary. Patrick’s practical knowledge of land use law began with his study of landscape architecture at the University of Georgia and his work as a city planner for Athens-Clarke County prior to law school.  

Patrick is General Counsel for the Tourism Leadership Council, the leading trade organization for the hospitality industry in the Savannah area. He represents numerous clients in the industry in business negotiations, litigation, regulatory compliance, and policy matters.

Patrick is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and is admitted to practice in all courts of Georgia and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Georgia.

Outside of the office, Patrick is the Chairman of the Savannah Exploratory Charter Academy (SECA), a startup charter school authorized by Georgia’s State Charter School Commission seeking to open its doors in Fall of 2023. Over the years, Patrick has been an active supporter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, serving as a competitor (2014), then as co-chair (2015-2017), for Savannah’s Man and Woman of the Year Campaign. Patrick has also served on the boards of the Habersham YMCA, the Savannah Downtown Neighborhood Association, the Savannah Technical College Foundation, the Savannah Bar Association, and the Young Lawyers Divisions of the Savannah Bar Association (President) and the State Bar of Georgia (Executive Council). 

Patrick is a 2014 graduate of Leadership Savannah and will graduate from Leadership Southeast Georgia in 2022. Patrick received a 2016 Generation NEXT Award from Savannah Magazine and BiS Journal. He was named a Rising Star by Georgia Super Lawyers/Atlanta Magazine every year between 2012 and 2017. 

At home, Patrick loves spending time with his wife Korry, his stepdaughters Stella and Alice, his son Jack, and his dog Baxter on Skidaway Island. He and his family are active members of Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church in historic downtown Savannah. He is a guitarist and singer, loves UGA football, and likes to play golf, albeit rarely and poorly.

Education: 
University of Georgia College of Environment + Design, BLA, 2001

Georgia State University, JD, 2006 (Cum Laude)

Email Jay
(912) 470-7458

D. Jay Thaw, Jr. is a seasoned attorney specializing in assisting businesses and individuals with legal services including business formation, general counsel, transactions, administration and policy making. Mr. Thaw also has significant litigation experience in professional and medical malpractice, trucking liability, construction and general liability.

Email Andrew
(912) 470-7457

Andrew M. Ruberti is an attorney practicing in the firm's St. Simons Island office. Mr. Ruberti represents individuals, businesses, and insurance companies in cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, and other related claims arising out of automobile and trucking accidents. Mr. Ruberti also represents and advises businesses of all sizes with all legal issues from conception and beyond, including business formation and transactions, employment-related matters, and litigation. Mr. Ruberti also assists individuals with estate planning and probate matters.

Outside of the office, Mr. Ruberti serves on the board of directors of Communities in Schools of Glynn County, an affiliate of the nation's largest dropout prevention organization serving over 1.4 million students nationally. Locally, CIS seeks to provide assistance to children in Glynn County who are at risk for failing to earn a high school diploma through its coordination with community partners to bring much-needed outside resources into schools throughout Glynn County.

Mr. Ruberti grew up on St. Simons Island and is proud to serve the legal needs of the local community. Following graduation from Glynn Academy, Mr. Ruberti went on to receive his B.S. in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama. He then went on to receive his joint JD/MBA degree from Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law and Stetson School of Business. Mr. Ruberti is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and Glynn County Bar Association, including its Young Lawyers Division. He is admitted to practice before all State and Superior Courts of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court of Georgia, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Georgia.

Mr. Ruberti lives on St. Simons and enjoys spending time with his fiance, Anna, and their dog and cat, Ophelia and Ozzie. Mr. Ruberti is an avid musician and enjoys playing guitar and bass. They enjoy spending their time outdoors in the beautiful Golden Isles, and are members of Christ Church Frederica.