Photo of Jonathan R. Friedman

Jonathan R. Friedman

Partner

With a broad and winning first-chair litigation practice, Jonathan (“Johnny”) Friedman serves as national counsel, regional counsel, and trial counsel for companies in the automotive, consumer products, industrial, hospitality, and transportation industries.

A recipient of ALM Law.Com's "Legal Innovator" Award in 2023, Johnny is a problem-solver, managing large volume dockets and high-value matters with data analytics, deep thinking, and strong “soft skills.” He uses legaltech and novel tools; and he is hyper-focused on the “more for less” challenge. Johnny is the Co-Founder of DataGavel, a legaltech platform designed to transform tort litigation and reduce its costs. As a trusted advisor, Johnny also counsels clients on risk avoidance, litigation management, and lean solutions. He works with and trains lawyers across the nation, teaching early assessment, right-sizing (ensuring that the work “fits” the risk), and smart pre-trial and trial practices.

Johnny has been recognized for his litigation skills and business acumen by ALM Law.Com, Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers®, and Martindale-Hubbell®. He has been profiled in The AmLaw Litigation Daily for taking a novel, “data-centric approach” to tort claims. He has been inducted as a Fellow into two invitation-only honorary societies, the American Bar Foundation (ABF) and Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), because of his effectiveness and accomplishments in litigation and superior ethical reputation.

Johnny graduated with honors from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was an editor of The Georgetown Law Journal.

Education

George Washington University, B.A.

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., cum laude
Editor, Georgetown Law Journal

Bar & Court Admissions

  • State Bar of Georgia
  • The District of Columbia Bar
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Representative Experience

Johnny is a thought leader in efficient litigation management. He has 10+ years of experience serving as national counsel for multiple clients, including United Parcel Service, Inc., and Rollins, Inc. His national counsel experience includes managing product liability and catastrophic injury claims across the United States involving consumer products, passenger vehicles, and light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles.

Relying on his experience, grit and persistence, Johnny has achieved uncommon success in trial and appellate courts across the United States, including venues identified as “Judicial Hellholes” (ATRF, Judicial Hellholes 2023/2024). Examples of his experience include:

  • Successful recovery of $70 million for Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa against 18 contractors for, among other things, the use of improper combustible exterior wall panels, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, in litigation venued in New Jersey.
  • Successful defense and prosecution of appeals in California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma.
  • Successful defense of a global hotel in a one-week premises liability trial venued in Georgia.
  • Successful recovery of $34 million for KBR, Inc., against one of the world’s largest corrugated packaging companies in commercial litigation venued in Georgia and Delaware.
  • Successful defense of a pipeline owner in multiple personal injury lawsuits venued in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi seeking damages in excess of $45 million after a pipeline explosion.
  • Successful defense of a consumer products manufacturer in a seven-day jury trial venued in Georgia.
  • Successful defense of a transportation services company in a three-week wrongful death trial venued in Florida.
  • Successful defense of a commercial truck warrantor on a bad faith claim in a five-day jury trial in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
  • Successful defense of a consumer products manufacturer in a product liability lawsuit venued in New Jersey after claimant’s chief expert was struck and summary judgment granted.
  • Successful prosecution of an anti-suit injunction for an engineering company in RockTenn CP, LLC v. BE&K Eng'g Co., LLC, 103 A.3d 512, 2014 WL 5304952 (Del. Oct. 16, 2014).
  • Successful dismissal of a government contractor in two personal injury cases arising from wartime accidents in Iraq, see Carmichael v. Kellogg, Brown & Root Services, 572 F.3d  1271 (11th Cir. 2009), and Whitaker v. Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc., 444 F.Supp.2d 1277 (M.D. Ga. 2006).
  • Successful dismissal of a class action in Coffey v. Kellogg Brown & Root, Civil Action No. 1:08-CV-2911-JOF, 2009 WL 2515649 (N.D. Ga. Aug. 13, 2009).
  • Successful denial of class certification in Roland v. Ford Motor Company, 656 S.E.2d 259 (Ga. App. 2007), cert. denied (March 10, 2008).

Awards & Recognitions

ALM Law.com, "Legal Innovator" Award (Southeastern Legal Awards (2023))

Best Lawyers in America®, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2017-2024)

Best Lawyers in America®, Products Liability Litigation - Defendants (2017-2024)

Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2022 - 2024)

Martindale-Hubbell®, Client Distinction Award (2013-2024)

Super Lawyers Magazine, Georgia Super Lawyers List, Civil Litigation Defense (2016-2024)

American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell ®, Top Rated Lawyer, Product Liability (2013-2022)

Corporate America News, Legal Elite - Georgia (2015) 

Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Rating 5.0/5.0, with "high ethical standing"

Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine, Rising Star, Georgia (2009) 

Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow

American Bar Foundation, Fellow

Professional & Community Activities

American Bar Association, Litigation Section

Atlanta Bar Association

Claims and Litigation Management Alliance 

Defense Research Institute

District of Columbia Bar Association

Georgia Lawyers for the Arts, Board of Directors (2014)

Lawyer's Club of Atlanta

Morris Brandon Elementary School Foundation, Inc., Board of Directors (2013-2015)

North Atlanta High School Foundation, Board of Trustees (2010-2014)

News & Publications

In-House Counsel and the Privilege Problem” (Atlanta Bar Association March 1, 2012).  Co-author.