- Brought breach of contract and Lanham Act claims on behalf of a manufacturing company against a distributor who created a competing product. Obtained injunctive relief prohibiting use of deceptive trade names, and recovered a multi-million dollar damages judgment and attorney’s fees.
- Defended a major international hotel company in a lease dispute in which the building owner sought $35 million in damages. Obtained summary judgment on all the building owner’s claims and a ruling that the owner had wrongfully terminated the lease and owed damages to our client.
- Successfully defended copier supply wholesalers in $3.8M federal lawsuit; obtained summary judgment on most claims and a jury verdict awarding our client over $1M more than the opposing party recovered.
- Represented a national insurance company in breach of contract and fiduciary duty claims following a raid of 20 employees. Secured a Georgia Supreme Court ruling upholding all restrictive covenants and prohibiting the former employees from soliciting the company’s customers and staff.
- Defended a departing employee against breach of non-solicitation and trade secret claims brought by a tech company. Secured Eleventh Circuit ruling affirming dismissal of all claims.
- Defended an international hotel company in disputes over fiduciary duties and a resort operating agreement. Successfully blocked injunctive relief that would have forced the client to surrender the property.
- Pursued ERISA claim on behalf of a former employee seriously injured in a plane crash. Secured injunctive relief requiring the plan administrator to provide coverage; damages claim resolved for a confidential amount.
- Defended an international printing supplies distributor against claims by a foreign manufacturer. Obtained summary judgment on eight counts; all client counterclaims survived and proceeded to trial.
- Defended officers and directors of a failed insurance company against RICO claims.
- Acted for a carpet manufacturer in an antitrust class action.
- Successfully secured commissions for a broker in a dispute over a co-brokerage agreement involving a New York skyscraper.
- Advised former owners of a defibrillator company in a dispute over an earn-out provision.
- Handled fraud and breach of contract claims on behalf of former owners of an automotive parts company following the sale of the business.
- Counseled orthotic device manufacturers in a patent dispute with a former employee.
- Litigated patent claims for orthotic device manufacturers in conflict with a former employee.
- Resolved contract dispute for a distributor against a consumer electronics company.
- Defended a shopping mall owner in a foreclosure action brought by a bank.
- Atlanta Bar Association, Georgia’s Lawyer vs. Lawyer Dispute Resolution Program, Chair
- State Bar of Georgia, Administrative Rules Committee, Member
- State Bar of Georgia, Study Committee for the Restrictive Covenants Act, Member
- Atlanta Bar Association, Litigation Section, Member
- Georgia Bar Association, Member
- Lawyer’s Club of Atlanta, Member
- Lumpkin Inn of Court, Barrister, 2001-2002
- Georgia Rising Star, 2006 – 2007
Education
- Northern Illinois University College of Law, J.D., 1993, Summa Cum Laude
- Dean’s Prize
- Articles Editor, Editorial Board, Northern Illinois Law Review
- University of Colorado, B.A., 1990
Previous Experience
- Senior Law Clerk, Judge John L. Nickels, Illinois Supreme Court, 1993-1998
Admissions
- State Bar of Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- State Bar of Illinois
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- Speaker, ACC-Georgia Chapter Value Challenge Event
- Author, “Standing Erie on its Head: Should Federal Law Govern Pleading Standards for Section 1983 Claims in Illinois State Courts?” – 16 DuPage Co. Bar J. 38, 1998
- Author, “Federal Restrictions on Forum Selection Clauses” – 13 Northern Illinois University Law Review, 145
