Litigation: General Commercial: Georgia

THE FIRM This outstanding Atlanta team continues to impress clients with its robust trial experience and full-service litigation capabilities. The attorneys are frequently called upon to advise on complex national disputes, from general commercial and securities litigation to product liability and white-collar crime matters. Recent work includes representing Coca-Cola Enterprises in shareholder litigation surrounding the sale of its North American operations to The Coca-Cola Company.

Sources say: "Alston & Bird has such strength at the top end that it can offer attorneys who are experts in a number of different areas."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Market commentators agree that Judson Graves "really is an excellent lawyer" and "someone you automatically think of as a leader at the Bar." He is hugely experienced in product liability, medical malpractice and intellectual property disputes.

The "tenacious and practical" Todd David "quickly establishes how to best litigate a case," enthuse interviewees. He is lead partner for Coca-Cola Enterprises on the aforementioned shareholder litigation, and also recently advised The Home Depot on a dispute surrounding its purchase of Home Decorators' Collection.

Bernard Taylor attracts widespread praise as a formidable trial attorney. His practice has an emphasis on complex commercial litigation and class actions, including product liability disputes and chemical exposure and toxic tort lawsuits.

James Grant is a "fine lawyer" who demonstrates a keen sense of strategy and excellent organizational skills. In one recent highlight, he achieved a $37.9 million award for Norit Americas following its long-running trade secrets dispute with ADA-ES.

The highly regarded Michael Kenny is an expert authority on antitrust matters. He is currently representing Dell in a cross-border antitrust price-fixing case against a major supplier of liquid crystal display (LCD) products used in computers and notebooks.

Peter Kontio co-heads the litigation group, and is another attorney at the firm with considerable experience in antitrust litigation. His impressive client portfolio includes the likes of Nokia and T-Mobile.

Sources say John Latham is "bright, experienced and extremely responsive." He sits within the firm's securities litigation group, and has a strong track record for his work advising public companies on government investigations.

Market observers highlight Cari Dawson as a "phenomenally gifted lawyer." She is currently lead defense counsel to Toyota Motor Sales on a high-profile class action alleging Toyota owners have suffered economic loss due to the widespread recall of vehicles with faulty acceleration.

Peter Bassett is senior counsel at the firm. Though he may be less active now than he once was on cases, he remains a seasoned authority on a wide range of litigation and trial work, including securities claims, class actions and complex commercial disputes.

Mitch Mitchelson is held in high esteem for his work defending clients against government investigations and False Claims Act litigation. While his practice spans a range of industries, he has a particular focus in the healthcare sector.

Michael Brown continues to impress as co-leader of the firm's government and special investigations group. His areas of expertise encompass securities and tax fraud, antitrust violations and immigration offenses, among others.

THE FIRM This superb litigation boutique has long been a firm of choice in Georgia for complex commercial disputes. It maintains a broad base of expertise, regularly acting for both plaintiffs and defendants on a wide array of matters. Areas of specialty include class actions, shareholder litigation, whistle-blower claims and professional liability matters.

Sources say: "Excellent from top to bottom - you never come across a bad lawyer at this firm."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Emmet Bondurant scarcely needs an introduction. Widely acknowledged to be "a dean of the Bar," he has over four decades' experience trying the most complex commercial disputes at both state and federal level.

The superb Jeffrey Bramlett has particular experience in professional liability matters, including corporate governance disputes and special investigations.

The excellent Lamar Mixson is a popular choice for 'bet-the-company' cases. His practice encompasses business torts, partnership and fiduciary disputes and proxy and securities litigation.

John Floyd enjoys an excellent reputation for his RICO practice, which incorporates plaintiff and defendant representation at both state and federal level.

Jill Pryor is a talented litigator with experience in both high-profile jury trials and appellate cases. Her areas of focus include fraud, RICO, breach of fiduciary duty and professional malpractice matters.

Edward Krugman stands out as a versatile practitioner with experience across a broad spectrum of commercial disputes. He has a particularly strong track record working with direct selling, manufacturing and financial services companies.

Market commentators identify Michael Terry as "a real up-and-comer, particularly for appellate work and class actions." 

THE FIRM King & Spalding's Atlanta office remains an undisputed market leader for high-stakes litigation. The attorneys have the capacity to handle disputes which are both national and international in scope, and demonstrate particular expertise in complex class actions and financial products litigation. Key clients include Beazer Homes, Credit Suisse and The Home Depot.

Sources say: "The level of commitment these attorneys show to the client is really phenomenal."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Senior partner John Chandler is deemed an "absolutely outstanding business litigator." In his highly accomplished career, which spans three decades, he has acted as lead counsel to all of the Big Four accounting firms as well as various prominent law firms, insurance companies and healthcare providers. 

Commentators single out the "incredible" Chilton Davis Varner as "one of the best lawyers nationally for product liability work." She maintains a formidable trial and appellate practice.

Ray Persons is another "superb lawyer" at the firm. He has a wealth of experience in jury trials, most notably in relation to class actions, mass torts and product liability cases.

Joseph Loveland is highlighted as "an excellent, 'big-case' courtroom attorney." In one recent matter, he achieved summary judgment for XLHealth in a Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) class action.

David Balser recently joined King & Spalding from McKenna, Long & Aldridge and is praised as a robust advocate who works in partnership with his clients. "There is no arrogance with David. He really listens to my concerns, and coordinates a strategy accordingly," notes one interviewee.

Elizabeth Vranicar Tanis is lauded for her meticulous attention to detail. She co-leads the firm's professional liability group, and is currently advising a Big-Four accounting firm on securities and professional negligence litigation.

Robert Thornton maintains an impressive practice advising on shareholder claims, director liability, securities litigation and consumer fraud class actions. He recently successfully defended Beazer Homes against a shareholder derivative action alleging the company's directors had breached their fiduciary duty to shareholders.

Richard Schneider is "an excellent litigator for product liability and toxic tort cases" thanks to his "superb organizational skills and ability to master scientific/medical issues," say sources. He co-leads the firm's e-discovery practice group.

Stephen Cowen elicits praise for his tactical acumen and acute understanding of his clients' needs. He has core expertise in white-collar crime and government investigations, and acted for Allergan in relation to the Department of Justice's high-profile investigation into the company's sales and marketing of Botox. 

Christopher Wray also focuses his practice on white-collar crime, and is endorsed as a "deep thinker and forceful advocate" who can be relied upon to provide "high-level strategic advice."

THE FIRM This firm has a well-regarded litigation practice and is routinely appointed to handle big-ticket cases. It has a particularly strong track record in IP and construction matters, and offers further expertise in consumer fraud class actions, insurance coverage disputes and product liability matters. Notable clients include GP Chemicals Equity and Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center.

Sources say: "An excellent law firm."

KEY INDIVIDUALS The superb William Boice is noted for his experience handling patent and trade secret litigation matters. He also acts for corporate clients on general business disputes, business torts and class actions. 

Susan Cahoon is one of the most experienced practitioners within the group and continues to impress market observers with her work on complex commercial disputes, securities litigation and patent infringement claims.

George Murphy handles an impressive array of work, from patent disputes and product liability cases to litigation surrounding corporate acquisitions and disposals. His client base is equally diverse and includes companies from the financial services, chemical, manufacturing and healthcare sectors.

David Zacks is widely recognized as an excellent trial attorney. He advises both plaintiffs and defendants on matters ranging from catastrophic injury to business and healthcare litigation. 

James Bogan focuses his practice in civil RICO, business tort and class action cases. His recent successes include achieving a procedural victory for YellowPages.com in relation to several consumer fraud actions filed against the company.

Stephens Clay is one of the firm's senior statesmen. He excels in domestic and international arbitration work.

THE FIRM This boutique firm has a superb reputation for its handling of complex commercial disputes. It regularly represents clients from a broad range of industry sectors, including energy companies, financial services institutions and nonprofit organizations. Recent representative work includes defending numerous national brokerage firms against an action brought by TASER International alleging short-selling of TASER stock. 

Sources say: "These attorneys are focused, knowledgeable and work hard to protect their clients' interests."

KEY INDIVIDUALS According to interviewees, the "extraordinary" Richard Sinkfield is a "top-notch litigator for all kinds of cases." He is preeminent at both trial and appellate level, and demonstrates specialist expertise in securities and professional liability litigation.

Not only is Robert Remar "responsive and an excellent communicator," he is also "thoughtful in his analysis and practical in his advice," say clients. His body of work includes successfully representing the majority owners in a high-profile dispute concerning ownership of the Atlanta Hawks and Thrashers and operating rights to Philips Arena.

Tony Powers stands out as a strong strategist with excellent business acumen. His practice has a particular emphasis on antitrust matters and securities litigation.

The excellent John Almond has wide-ranging experience, spanning business torts and RICO matters, securities and shareholder litigation and professional liability cases.

CB Rogers is one of the firm's founding partners. Though he acts on a more consultative basis now, he is a distinguished trial lawyer with an excellent track record in corporate and commercial litigation.

THE FIRM This litigation group continues to thrive, and is praised for the depth and breadth of resources it brings to bear on complicated matters. Recent notable work includes acting for Gwinnett County on the long-running Tri-State Water Rights Litigation, and advising SunTrust Banks on class action lawsuits alleging misconduct in the assessment of overdraft fees. 

Sources say: "A strong bench of attorneys who offer top-notch client service."

KEY INDIVIDUALS With nearly 40 years' experience handling complex commercial litigation, white-collar crime and government investigations, and media and entertainment disputes, John Dalton is widely acknowledged to be a dean of the Atlanta trial Bar.

Daniel Reinhardt is regarded as a tough litigator with razor-sharp cross-examination skills. He is perhaps best known for his expertise in product liability cases and environmental litigation, though general business litigation and insurance coverage disputes also form a notable part of his practice. He recently obtained summary judgment on behalf of Alabama Power Company in the Alabama Power Clean Air Act enforcement litigation.

Karen Deming is "first-rate for product liability work," say sources. She has a strong track record for her work on cases with complex technical and scientific elements, including pharmaceutical litigation and medical device disputes.

Class action expert William Withrow attracts recognition as "an experienced trial lawyer and litigator." He is currently defending Sanofi against a nationwide class action alleging the company fraudulently marketed the prescription drug Ketek.

THE FIRM Doffermyre Shields Canfield & Knowles is a formidable force in plaintiff-side representation. The firm's seven attorneys act for businesses and individual clients throughout the state and nationally on complex business litigation, environmental disputes, class actions and personal injury cases.

Sources say: "Excellent trial lawyers"

KEY INDIVIDUALS Kenneth Canfield is revered as a "brilliant litigator," particularly in relation to his work on complex class actions.

Everette Doffermyre is managing partner of the firm. His wide-ranging practice spans breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, trade secrets and patent infringement matters.

Ralph Knowles is hugely accomplished in product liability, toxic torts and consumer class action work.

Robert Shields excels in environmental matters, including hazardous waste and toxic tort litigation.

THE FIRM Jones Day has a terrific national reputation for litigation work, and the Atlanta office plays an important part in this. The Georgia team's recent notable work includes defending Yamaha against 175 product liability cases relating to the Georgia-manufactured 'Rhino' vehicle, and advising Skywest Airlines on a $50 million contract dispute with Delta Air Lines.

Sources say: "There is a deep talent pool so the firm can address just about any problem you might have."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Lee Garrett "has excellent judgment," making him a sound choice for the most complex of disputes. He has remained busy in the past year acting on both the Yamaha Rhino litigation and the Skywest Airlines/Delta Air Lines dispute, and also recently advised The Scott Fetzer Company on a putative class action under RICO.

Stephanie Parker has a great reputation for her work defending product liability and mass tort cases. She remains a key adviser to R.J. Reynolds on various smoking and health-related litigation matters.

Kendrick Smith is "an excellent litigator," and elicits praise for being "very focused on and responsive to his client's needs." He has core expertise in tax litigation matters, and is currently lead counsel defending Expedia and other online travel companies against an action commenced by the City of Atlanta relating to certain hotel occupancy taxes.

Michael McConnell is an "experienced and astute litigator." He specializes in securities litigation and corporate governance matters.

Richard Deane is widely regarded as an expert white-collar crime attorney. His client portfolio includes the likes of The Public Warehouse Company and the Fulton County District Attorney's Office.

THE FIRM McKenna Long & Aldridge saw the departure of David Balser earlier this year, but retains an impressive litigation team with expertise across a wide range of commercial disputes. In a standout matter, the firm is acting for the State of Georgia in the high-profile Tri State Water Rights Litigation. Other notable clients include Dow Chemical and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Bruce Brown has an "uncanny ability to process complex information, boil it down to its core, and present it effectively in court," say sources. He is lead trial counsel to the State of Georgia in the aforementioned interstate 'water wars.'

Matthew Martin is hugely experienced in product liability and toxic tort cases and also routinely handles bankruptcy and insolvency-related litigation.

THE FIRM Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs is renowned for its work in the financial services sector, and the firm's excellent litigation team is regularly called upon to advise national and state chartered banks and securities firms on commercial disputes. Recent representative matters include successfully defending BB&T against allegations of fraud and negligent misrepresentation.

KEY INDIVIDUALS William Holley regularly handles complex jury trials on behalf of banks and other financial services institutions. His current caseload includes defending Regions Bank, BB&T and Bancorp South in federal multidistrict litigation challenging overdraft charges.

Litigation group head Ronald Coleman impresses with his breadth of practice. He is well versed in general commercial disputes as well as IP, franchise and distribution litigation.

Marbury Rainer continues to receive ringing endorsements from market sources. He has particular expertise representing public companies on general corporate disputes, and securities, antitrust and bankruptcy litigation. Rainer is currently advising Outback Steakhouse International on an action brought against a former senior officer for breaches of fiduciary duties.

THE FIRM This group wins accolades for its high levels of client service and ability to draw on the firm's stellar national and international resources to achieve impressive trial results for clients. It specializes in defending securities and consumer class actions, and counts GE Capital and the City of Atlanta within its impressive clientele list.

Sources say:  "Their personal attention to clients is excellent."

KEY INDIVIDUALS William Whitner is a key contact.

THE FIRM This impressive team offers a rounded litigation service encompassing securities enforcement, construction, consumer finance, property and casualty insurance class actions and professional liability. The attorneys have considerable experience appearing before both state and federal courts, as well as administrative agencies and arbitration panels. Key clients include Morgan Keegan, Ford and SunTrust Banks.

Sources say: "These attorneys are intelligent, creative and quick - they work in excellent partnership with clients."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sources note that department head John Fleming brings astute analysis and thorough preparation to the table when handling complex cases. His broad-based practice includes securities, professional liability, IP and tax litigation.

Thomas Curvin continues to stand out as an excellent up-and-coming lawyer within the firm's litigation group. He has expertise in professional liability defense as well as insurance litigation and franchise disputes.

Peter Anderson enters the rankings this year having been singled out as an outstanding attorney for securities enforcement and litigation. He recently successfully defended Morgan Keegan against a federal securities fraud action brought by the SEC.

THE FIRM This reputable firm undertakes a broad swath of contentious work, from antitrust and securities litigation to IP and healthcare disputes. It is currently acting as lead defense counsel to SavaSeniorCare in relation to allegations of aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty and breach of loan agreements. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Robert Rothman is deemed a "wonderful trial lawyer" with a "tremendous depth of expertise." His expertise spans contract and partnership disputes as well as securities and media law issues.

THE FIRM This well-regarded team handles disputes in a range of areas, including class and derivative actions, product liability, securities litigation and white-collar defense and investigations. Its impressive client base includes Bank of America, Kimberly-Clark and The Langdale Company.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Practice head William Custer is "a very strong attorney" whose broad-based expertise spans banking, commercial and antitrust litigation.

THE FIRM This firm boasts one of the preeminent white-collar and criminal defense practices in the state. Areas of specialty include tax, mortgage and healthcare fraud as well as securities violations.

Sources say: "One of the premier boutiques in town."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Anthony Cochran is widely considered "one of the best lawyers in Georgia" for complex white-collar crime litigation and corporate investigations. He is also noted for his expertise in product liability cases.

Thomas Dean Bever excels in white-collar criminal defense and also has experience in general commercial litigation.

THE FIRM DLA Piper established a Georgia office in 2006 and continued to make great strides in the local market in the past year. In line with the firm's excellent geographic coverage, the Atlanta team regularly handles national and cross-border disputes. The attorneys' most prominent strengths include construction and engineering litigation and arbitration, as well as class action defense.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Mark Grantham is co-managing partner of the Atlanta office. He has substantial experience in litigation and arbitration matters, and is routinely involved in complex international work. As an example, he is currently part of a DLA Piper team advising Turkey's Ministry of Transport and Communication in an ICC arbitration concerning the termination of a contract between the Ministry and a construction consortium.

Paul Monnin is a rising star within the firm. His practice focuses on white-collar crime, securities enforcement and government investigations. 

THE FIRM This compact and dedicated team is able to provide clients with a tailor-made service and a high level of support throughout every aspect of a dispute. The attorneys are routinely involved in a variety of state and federal litigation, from breach of contract and shareholder disputes to business torts and shareholder derivative actions.

Sources say: "An excellent boutique litigation firm."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Henry Fellows has a stellar reputation for commercial litigation work, as exemplified by his appointment as special master in the TASER International v Morgan Stanley case, a dispute surrounding alleged short sales and market manipulation of Taser shares. Market sources widely recognize him as an "excellent attorney" and powerful advocate.

THE FIRM The litigation team at this revered firm's Atlanta office continues to handle significant product liability trials. Notable recent work includes acting as national counsel for Teva Pharmaceuticals in multidistrict litigation alleging cardiac injuries resulting from the drug Propoxyphene. The team is also well versed in general commercial disputes, securities litigation and white-collar crime investigations. 

Sources say: "These attorneys are extremely professional, well prepared and provide excellent case evaluations."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Market sources cannot help but notice that Lori Cohen "keeps winning." Singled out as "one of the best trial attorneys in the country," she has a tremendous reputation for her work on medical device and pharmaceutical product liability litigation. In one recent matter, she secured a complete defense verdict for Medtronic, who had faced allegations that its InterStim device and related surgeries caused neurological injuries and chronic pain.

Terry Weiss has emerged as a true client favorite for his securities law expertise. Impressed sources call him "the most responsive attorney I have ever seen" and "professional, well prepared and fully knowledgeable."

THE FIRM The compact size of Holland & Knight's Atlanta litigation team belies the scope of its practice. The six-partner group is equipped to deal with a wide range of commercial disputes, from antitrust and securities matters to significant product liability cases. The firm also boasts an impressive appellate practice, as demonstrated by its recent victory on appeal for Coleman Technologies, a supplier of GPS devices which faced allegations of manufacturing defects in some of its units. 

Sources say: "The firm's client service and commercial awareness were impressive."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Harold Daniel is "a cool and collected attorney" with "excellent knowledge of all parts of the disputes 'battlefield', from settlement negotiations to appeal processes," say clients. His broad practice spans antitrust, securities, RICO, business torts and general commercial litigation.

Interviewees commend Laurie Webb Daniel's "ability to dissect very complex issues and present the facts and their components in a readily understandable manner." She is particularly renowned for her work in handling appeals.

Since publication, Allen Maines has joined the team from Paul Hastings. He ticks a number of boxes for clients: "He's responsive, accessible, efficient and solution-oriented," note interviewees.

THE FIRM This firm has long been a leader in the Savannah market. The litigation team is noted for its expertise in general business disputes, product liability, real estate litigation and insurance coverage and defense.

KEY INDIVIDUALS John Tatum is a key contact.

THE FIRM This impressive team's workload encompasses high level commercial disputes, class action defense and insurance coverage issues. It is also highly adept in mass tort and product liability litigation.

Sources say: "Very experienced, practical attorneys - their strategic ability really shines through."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sources report that Lawrence Bracken is "excellent to work with from an in-house perspective: he is very responsive and really thinks about the business issues facing clients." He has particular expertise in class action matters, from defending allegations of unfair trade practices to complex contract disputes.

Matthew Calvert has gained a reputation for being "an iron fist in a velvet glove." He has trial and appellate experience at both state and federal level, and is well versed in a wide range of commercial litigation. In one recent matter, he represented a national restaurant company in a real estate dispute.

THE FIRM This midsized firm handles a wide variety of commercial disputes, and is often selected to act as national counsel on multistate litigation. The attorneys' areas of expertise include product liability, IP, securities, partnership and joint venture litigation. The group is also noted for its expertise in class actions.

Sources say:  "In terms of litigation practice, they have a very diverse group with a lot of different skill sets - they can cover just about any matter."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Clients appreciate John MacNaughton's creative approach to problem solving, and further note that he is "a terrific consensus builder: he is very good at bringing everyone to the table in multiparty disputes." He heads the firm's product liability, mass tort and class action practices.

THE FIRM Ashe Rafuse & Hill is best known as an employment litigation boutique, but also demonstrates considerable skill in handling complex commercial disputes at both trial and appellate level. Areas of expertise include contract and warrant disputes, product liability, professional negligence and securities litigation.

Sources say: "A very good firm with a number of effective attorneys."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Peers highlight William Hill as a "formidable opponent" while clients appreciate his "great knowledge of the law and thoughtful and deliberate preparation of cases." His commercial practice has a particular emphasis on product liability and trade mark disputes

Joseph Sharp continues to impress with his breadth of expertise, which spans real estate, IP, financial services and entertainment disputes. He has successfully represented Veracity Payment Solutions in a number of IP and restrictive covenant matters.

THE FIRM With a strong bench of litigators in Atlanta and a wide network of offices across the Southeast, this firm is well placed to advise regional and national clients on commercial disputes. Recent highlights include achieving the dismissal of three class action complaints brought against NCR following its $1.2 billion tender offer for the outstanding shares of Radiant Systems. The firm also continues to act for Reynolds American, parent of R.J. Reynolds, in personal injury litigation.

KEY INDIVIDUALS William Ragland is a highly adept litigator. His practice covers complex commercial and corporate disputes, with a particular emphasis on intellectual property litigation.