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Leslie J. Bryan
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Leslie J. Bryan is an experienced litigator who has tried over 40 cases to successful jury verdict, including class actions involving up to 35,000 members and claims of $300 million in damages. Leslie brings to her cases more than 30 years of insight into how to masterfully examine witnesses on the stand masterfully. She is able to translate complex fact patterns into key determining factors that assist judges and juries in arriving at verdicts that are reflective of her client's position. Drawing on her experience as a plaintiff trial attorney earlier in her career, Leslie is able to view a case both from the defense and opposition sides to assess risk, anticipate strategy, predict a jury's probable response, and foresee potential outcomes. A skilled orator, Leslie has argued cases before judges in state and federal court as well as the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court. One of her arguments resulted in the restoration of 20,000 voters in a contested voting rights case. Leslie was also instrumental in leading a team of attorneys in the preparation of a 180-page Congressional Report that was utilized by both the United States House and Senate Judiciary Committees detailing the history of voting rights violations in Georgia. As a masterful legal strategist with the ability to spot key issues and develop insightful strategies to support them, Leslie assists her clients in effectively navigating every stage of litigation. She is highly skilled at leading teams through every aspect of pretrial proceedings, electronic discovery, expert witness depositions, Daubert-based challenges, witness preparation and examination, oral and written arguments, and appeals. Brown v. NL Industries –Plaintiffs’ verdict, Circuit Court of Wayne County (Michigan) (second chair) Warrick v. R.J. Reynolds – mistrial, Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County (Florida) (trial team) Warrick v. R.J. Reynolds – defense verdict, Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County (Florida) (trial team) Brown v. Philip Morris, continued at the time of jury selection, Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County (Florida) (trial team) Sury v. R.J. Reynolds, Plaintiff’s verdict ($1,000,000), Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County (Florida) (second chair) Brown v. Philip Morris (retrial) – mistrial following disqualification of trial judge, Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County (Florida) (trial team) Brown v. Philip Morris (retrial) – Partial Plaintiff’s verdict, Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County (Florida) (trial team) Clayton v. R.J. Reynolds – Plaintiff’s verdict ($600,000 before the application of comparative fault), Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County (Florida) (second chair) Ellis v. R.J. Reynolds – defense verdict, Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County (Florida) (second chair) Brown v. Philip Morris (retrial) – Plaintiff’s verdict ($6,375,000), Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County (Florida) (trial team) Jordan v. Philip Morris – Plaintiff’s verdict ($11,000,000 including $3,000,000 in punitive damages), Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County (Florida) (trial team) Gamble v. R.J. Reynolds – defense verdict, Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County (Florida) (trial team) Faricy v. R.J. Reynolds – mistrial during jury selection, Circuit Court of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Alachua County (Florida) (trial team) Dubinsky v. Philip Morris – defense verdict, Circuit Court for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Brevard County (Florida) (second chair) Fair Fight Action, Inc. v. Raffensperger, Voting rights bench trial in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (trial team) Significant Representations and Reported Decisions In re Dow Corning Corp., pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel In re Silicone Gel Breast Implants Products Liability Litigation (MDL-926), pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Plaintiffs’ Representative on the Quality Assurance Committee Altrichter v. INAMED Corp., pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Settlement Class Counsel Butler v. Mentor Corp., pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Settlement Class Counsel Gold v. DeKalb County School Dist., 346 Ga.App. 108 (2018) (argued) DeKalb County School Dist., 307 Ga. 330 (2019) (argued) Rogers v. State, 282 Ga. 659 (2007) Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. v. Gault, 280 Ga. 420 (2006) (argued) Altrichter v. INAMED Corp., 2006 WL 263669 (11th Cir. Feb. 2, 2006) (argued) Kennedy v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 348 F.3d 1073 (8th Cir. 2003) Toole v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 235 F.3d 1207 (11th Cir. 2000) Allison v. McGhan Medical Corp., 184 F.3d 1200 (11th Cir. 1999) Leslie Bryan and Lovita Tandy, Litigating Proportionality Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(1), American Bar Association, February 2023 L. Bryan and K. Johnson, Welcome to the Federal Rules of Evidence: Georgia’s New Evidence Code, GTLA Verdict 28 (Summer 2011). Leslie J. Bryan, What’s New: Fed.R.Civ.P. 26 Amendment, Verdict (Winter 2011) Leslie J. Bryan and Lyle Griffin Warshauer, Now that Georgia is a “Daubert State” . . . Some Practical Suggestions, Verdict (Spring 2009) Leslie J. Bryan and Kimberly J. Johnson, Ed., The Economy and the Plaintiff’s Lawyer, A Roundtable Discussion, Verdict (Summer 2009) Leslie J. Bryan, Expert Witnessing and Scientific Testimony: Surviving in the Courtroom by Kenneth S. Cohen, 44 Trial 6 (65) (2008) (book review) Leslie J. Bryan and Robert Shields, Expert Opinion Evidence Under O.C.G.A. § 24-9-67 and § 24-9-67.1, 29 Verdict (5) 12 (2005) Robert E. Shields and Leslie J. Bryan, Georgia’s New Expert Witness Rule: Daubert & More, 11 Ga.Bar J. (2) 17 (2005) Professional Memberships and Honors American Bar Association American Association for Justice Education Chair, Expert Witness Litigation Group (2006-2007) Chair, Expert Witness Litigation Group (2007-2010) Lawyers Club of Atlanta (2011) Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (2008) Vice President, Editorial Board, The Verdict; Best Lawyers (2012-2017) Super Lawyers (2004, 2012-2017) Best Lawyers: Women in Law (2016) Mass Tort Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation Professional Committees State Bar of Georgia Evidence Committee (Appointed 2010) State Bar of Georgia – Task Force on Discovery of Electronically Stored Information (Appointed 2012; Chair 2015-2016) Trustee, Common Benefit Trust created as part of MDL-926 (2016 – Present) Civic Involvement Former Member, City of Atlanta Zoning Review Board Board of Trustees The Children’s School Morningside Lenox Park Association Board (President 2009-2011) Atlanta Girls’ School (Board of Trustees 2011 – 2017) (Board Chair 2014 – 2017)
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PRACTICE AREAS
Complex Commercial Litigation Political Law Voting Rights Labor & Employment Financial Services Litigation Class & Collective Actions Discrimination, Harassment & Retaliation Claims EDUCATION
Emory University School of Law J.D. Georgia State University M.S. Hollins College B.A. BAR ADMISSIONS
Georgia Florida RECOGNITION Best Lawyers® Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year Super Lawyers |
