Vernon M. Strickland

Partner

vstrickland@wargofrench.com

404-853-1535

999 Peachtree Street, NE
26th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30309

vCard

Practice Areas:

Complex Commercial Litigation

Employment Litigation and Preventative Services

Internal Investigations

Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets

Entertainment Litigation

Financial Services Litigation

Class and Collective Action Litigation

First Name:

Vernon

Middle Name:

Last Name:

Strickland

Tabs

Overview

Education and Background:

Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law

J.D., with honors, 2006

Dean’s Distinguished Service Award

Dean’s List

Moot Court Board

Georgia Institute of Technology

Bachelor Textile Engineering, 1998

Dean’s List

Varsity Football - Team Captain, Special Teams

National Comeback Player of the Year Nominee

Mechanical Engineer

Automotive Electronics Manufacturing, 2001-2003

Professional Athlete - Linebacker

New York Giants, 2000-2001

San Francisco 49ers, 1998-1999

Berlin Thunder (NFL Europe), 1999

Berlin Adler (German League of American Football), 1997

Professional Activities:

Leadership Georgia Class of 2020
Member of the Intellectual Property Section of the Atlanta Bar Association
Member of the Entertainment & Sports Section of the State Bar of Georgia
Member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys
White House Fellows Program regional finalist, 2012

Bar and Court Admissions:

State Bar of Georgia
Admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals.

Representative Matters

Representative Matters:

Represented private equity fund and shareholders of investment company in a two-week jury trial against international law firm, winning a $4.7 million verdict. The case involved allegations that law firm had committed malpractice and breached fiduciary duties by giving the fund bad tax advice and then failing to disclose that error to the fund and the shareholders.
Represented manufacturer and patent holder of electric turkey fryers in patent infringement litigation against publicly-traded national retailer; reached favorable settlement after expedited fact discovery and exchange expert reports prior to preliminary injunction hearing.
Defended automated water meter supplier in a purported class action brought by residential and commercial water users.
Defended major supplier of medical devices to Veterans Administration hospitals in defense of antitrust claims; obtained a dismissal of action following two hearings for temporary restraining orders.
Defended CEO of publicly traded company against claims relating to alleged Ponzi scheme and CEO’s purported role as venture capitalist in another company; obtained dismissal of action following motion to dismiss.
Defended antitrust claims and a purported class action challenging mandatory electronic filing in Texas and Georgia, obtaining summary judgment in both cases; Georgia case also affirmed on appeal.
Prosecuted copyright infringement actions throughout Georgia on behalf of members of one of the world’s largest performing rights licensing societies to protect those members' copyrighted musical compositions.
Obtained summary judgment in defense of Fortune 100 beverage company in copyright infringement action claiming the plaintiff to be the author of song used in worldwide marketing campaign.
Prosecuted numerous trademark applications before USPTO.
Represented certified platinum and U.S. Billboard Hot 100 hip-hop recording artist in publishing dispute against his former managers.
Represented major ride-share technology company’s automotive lease provider in obtaining dismissal of citations concerning vehicle registrations.
Obtained reversal of $32 million premises liability plaintiff’s verdict against amusement park.
Represented and advised companies and institutions regarding technology services agreements.
Represented employers in litigation concerning claims of unlawful discrimination based on color, gender, race, national origin, and religion.
Conducted numerous investigations concerning allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct.
Conducted large scale investigations, involving more than 10 witnesses, concerning allegations that employers maintained a hostile culture or a discriminatory work environment.
Prosecuted claims in various jurisdictions on behalf of biomaterial products company for misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of restrictive covenants, and associated breaches of duty against former employees and competing companies.
Represented data analytics airline industry company and its chief executive in defending claims for misappropriation of trade secrets and enforcement of restrictive covenants.
Advised employers on compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Negotiated NFL player contracts.
Represented NFL player in arbitration grievance proceedings.
Conducted sexual harassment prevention training in the post-Weinstein era for employees and managers of entertainment entity.
Defended college and university clients in litigation involving claims of wrongful termination and wrongful expulsion filed by former employees and students.
Provided advice to college and university clients on Title IX compliance and investigation procedures.
Conducted SAG-AFTRA training for entertainment and media client.
Secured monies on behalf of on-screen talent and talent agencies in resolving disputes with producers over compensations owed pursuant to negotiated rates under collectively bargained SAG-AFTRA agreements.
Advised and prepared agreements for literary acquisition, producer agreements and on-screen talent in film and television productions.
Represented automotive financial services company in prosecuting rogue automobile dealerships for providing false information to induce the purchase of several vehicle retail installment contracts.
Represented automotive financing companies in state and federal courts for claims involving state and federal forfeiture, replevin, warranty of title.

Published Decisions

Published Decisions:

Martin v. Six Flags Over Georgia II, L.P., 801 S.E.2d 24 (Ga. 2017)
Best Jewelry Mfg. Co., Inc. v. Reed Elsevier Inc., 780 S.E.2d 689 (Ga.App. 2015)
Six Flags Over Georgia II, L.P. v. Martin, 780 S.E.2d 796 (Ga.App. 2015)
Hermosilla v. Coca-Cola Co., 492 Fed.Appx. 73 (11th Cir. 2012)
Hermosilla v. Coca-Cola Co., 446 Fed.Appx. 201 (11th Cir. 2011)
City of Atlanta v. Benator, 714 S.E.2d 109 (Ga.App. 2011)
Vergara Hermosilla v. Coca-Cola Co., No. 10-21418-CIV, 2011 WL 744098 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 23, 2011)
Khattab v. Morehouse Sch. of Med., No. 07-CV-196, 2009 WL 2600523 (N.D. Ga. Aug. 20, 2009)
Zyman v. O’Gara Aviation, L.L.C., 2008 WL 11411603 (N.D. Ga. Dec. 8, 2008)

Publications

Publications:

Mentioned, Alston & Bird Liable for $4.7M in Legal Malpractice Case, Law.com Daily Report (December 19, 2019)
Georgia's New Sexual Misconduct Policy, Inside Higher Ed (August 11, 2016)
Court Rules That Student-Athletes Are Not Employees Under the FLSA, Employee Benefit Plan Review (May 2016)
Hiring, Firing and Discipline for Georgia Employers, American Chamber of Commerce Resources, LLC (May 2008)

Speaking Engagements

Speaking Engagements:

Faculty, "Protecting the Privilege for In-House Counsel, " CLE. (September 2019)
Speaker, media industry client’s legal summit, “SAG-AFTRA 101 - the union, its collectively bargained agreements and coverage as to employees, employers, child performers and non-SAG-AFTRA members.” (April 2018)
“Sexual Harassment Prevention in the Post-Weinstein Era” – Management and Employee Training for Entertainment Client, Atlanta Georgia. (February 2018)
Keynote Speaker, Mercer University School of Law Empowerment Dinner. (February 2018)
Keynote Speaker, 25th Transportation Battalion United States Army, Daegu, South Korea, “What Shall My Life and My Service to Humanity Be.” (January 2017)
Moderator, The Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA), Latest Trends in Sports Law in Europe and the United States, “Crossing Borders.” (March 2016)
Speaker, firm wide CLE, “Simplifying the eDiscovery Review.” (July 2014)
Speaker, Cannes (France) Film Festival, “Legal issues in Development, Producing and Delivering Your Film.” (May 2014)
Speaker, firm wide CLE, “Social Media as Evidence in Litigation.” (January 2014)
Speaker, Entertainment and Sports Law Symposium, John Marshal Law School, Atlanta, “Sports Law, Agency, and Venue.” (February 2012)

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