Thompson Hine LLP is pleased to announce that Roy E. Hadley, Jr. and John L. Watkins and have joined the firm’s Atlanta office as partners in the Corporate Transactions & Securities and Business Litigation practice groups, respectively.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome John and Roy to our Atlanta office to further expand our corporate and litigation capabilities,” said Russell J. Rogers, partner-in-charge of the firm’s Atlanta office. “These are superb lawyers whose strengths complement our existing practices, and their considerable experience and skills will benefit our clients significantly. In addition, both have strong international practices that will greatly enhance our abilities to meet the needs of clients who conduct business globally.”
These additions are part of a strategic growth trend in Thompson Hine’s Atlanta office. Recent top-notch laterals include Suzanne M. Aprin in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice, Gregory D. Chafee in the Corporate practice, Gary S. Freed and J.A. Schneider in the Litigation practice, Rocky Horde in the Real Estate practice and J. Timothy McDonald in the Labor & Employment practice.
Watkins focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, insurance coverage litigation and advising international businesses on transactions in the United States. His complex commercial litigation experience encompasses matters involving trade secrets and confidential information, construction claims, shareholder disputes, and claims involving commercial contracts and financial institutions. In view of his substantial experience representing business policyholders in connection with large and complex coverage issues, Watkins will lead the insurance recovery work in Atlanta. Watkins advises Canadian, German and other European companies on doing business in the United States, providing guidance on minimizing the risks of conducting business under the U.S. legal system. In addition, he represents international companies in arbitration or litigation of business disputes. Watkins will work closely with lawyers in Atlanta and the firm’s other offices in further developing the international business litigation and arbitration practice. Watkins has previously been a partner of other national law firms.
Hadley counsels clients in complex corporate and outsourcing transactions, with a focus on transactions involving cloud computing, intellectual property, technology and information security. He advises C-level executives and boards on information security risk management, provides information security and technology accessibility assessments/audits and compliance training, and counsels on data breach remediation, electronic records management and e-discovery. His international practice includes facilitating cross-border transactions involving technology transfers, establishing distribution channels, and advising on business processes and services, information security and privacy, and immigration issues in a broad range of global jurisdictions. Hadley also helps clients establish and maintain corporate governance and compliance programs, and has extensive knowledge of risk management and insurance, mergers, acquisitions and regulatory matters. Hadley’s prior experience includes serving as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of AirGate PCS, Inc., and as vice president, corporate counsel and chief privacy officer for WorldTravel BTI. He also was in-house counsel for Turner Entertainment Group/AOL Time Warner and MCI WorldCom. From 1993-1994, he was special counsel to the president of the American Bar Association. In addition, he previously served as special assistant attorney general for the state of Georgia.
Both partners noted the extensive resources available to their existing clients and, in particular, were attracted to the firm’s strong Atlanta office. Watkins explained, “There are three primary reasons I joined Thompson Hine: first, my litigation work has recently concentrated on insurance coverage, and the opportunity to lead the insurance recovery litigation work in Atlanta is extremely attractive. Second, I work with many German and European companies, and the opportunity to join a firm with significant capabilities for international businesses was just too good to pass up. Finally, Thompson Hine’s Atlanta office already has an extremely deep bench in commercial litigation and product liability litigation. Collaborating with such a great team is very important to me. I have a great deal of respect for Russ Rogers, having worked with him in the past, and the opportunity to once again team up with him and contribute to the growth and success of Thompson Hine and its Atlanta office proved irresistible,” Watkins concluded.
“My clients will benefit from the tremendous talent and resources available in Atlanta and throughout the firm – particularly in the areas of intellectual property, emerging technologies and global sourcing and procurement,” said Hadley of his decision to join Thompson Hine. “The firm’s robust practice capabilities mesh well with my existing practice, and I look forward to bringing new perspectives and additional value to Thompson Hine’s clients,” he added.
