Commencement Speaker 2024
Mercer Law School is pleased to announce that Mr. Ivy Cadle, ’07 will serve as this year’s commencement speaker on Saturday, May 11, 2024. Born and raised in Swainsboro, GA, he graduated cum laude in 2000 from the University of Georgia with a bachelor of science degree in biology, and a master of accountancy in 2002. He earned his juris doctor from Mercer University Law School in 2007.
Ivy started his career in Macon as an associate with Baker Donelson. He is now the office managing shareholder for Baker Donelson’s offices in Atlanta and Macon. In his law practice, Ivy is a renowned “dirt lawyer” who litigates issues surrounding real estate, eminent domain, land use, zoning, and conservation easements. Ivy’s litigation skills have been recognized by The Counselors of Real Estate, an international association of trusted advisors who find solutions to complex real estate challenges. Before law school, Ivy served as an audit associate at a big four accounting firm in Atlanta. He is a certified public accountant. In 2022 and 2015, Ivy’s pro bono work was recognized by Baker Donelson. His many other honors include being listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law (2021-2024) and Litigation – Land Use and Zoning (2023-2024); selected to Georgia Super Lawyers in the area of Eminent Domain (2018 – 2024); and awarded Mercer University School of Law Young Alumni Council Volunteer of the Year Award (2023).
Outside of the office, Ivy is a highly sought-after speaker, and a committed volunteer to Mercer Law School, the Macon legal community, and the State Bar of Georgia. At Mercer Law School, he serves as an adjunct professor, teaching accounting for lawyers. Additionally, he routinely volunteers for moot court preparation, mock interviews and as a guest speaker.
Ivy’s bar service began with the Macon Young Lawyers Division where he served as president. From 2017-2018 he was the president of the Macon Bar Association and from 2016-2017 he was the president of the William Augustus Bootle Inn of Court.
At the same time, Ivy was extensively involved in the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division (YLD) where he received the Award of Achievement for Outstanding Service to the YLD in 2014, the Award of Achievement for Outstanding Service to the Bar, Leadership Academy, in 2013, and the Award of Excellence for Dedication to the YLD in 2022.
Ivy continued his volunteer work with the State Bar of Georgia where he was elected to its board of governors in 2017, and its executive committee in 2019. He was elected to the office of secretary in 2021. On June 8, 2024 Ivy will be sworn in as the 62nd president of the State Bar of Georgia.
Ivy‘s home is in Macon, Georgia where he lives with wife of nearly twenty-two years, Leslie L. Cadle, ’07, and their chocolate lab Stella. When he is not dealing with land issues, Ivy takes to the sky. He is an aviation enthusiast and currently holds a multi-engine commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating.
