G. Wayne Hillis, Jr.
Partner | Atlanta Officewhillis@phrd.com
T: (404) 420-5547
F: (678) 533-7759
F: (678) 533-7759
Practice Group
Services
- Employment Litigation and Counseling
- Securities Litigation, Arbitration and Counseling
- Employment Discrimination Litigation
Education
- University of Georgia - (B.A., 1983)
- University of Georgia - (J.D., cum laude, 1986) Member, Editorial Board, 1984-1985 and Member, Managing Board, 1985-1986, Georgia Law Review
Admitted to Practice
- Georgia
About Wayne
Securities Litigation and Arbitration: Wayne has been representing securities broker/dealers and individual brokers in litigation in state and federal courts, arbitrations, and regulatory enforcement proceedings since 1986. Mr. Hillis has tried hundreds of securities arbitrations before the National Association of Securities Dealers, the New York Stock Exchange, the Pacific Stock Exchange, and other arbitration forums. He is experienced defending many different legal claims, including claims based on the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, state securities statutes, and common law based on allegations of churning, unsuitability, fraud, negligence, and failure to supervise. Wayne has handled cases involving virtually all types of securities, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options, limited partnerships, annuities, and complex derivative products. Wayne also has represented securities broker/dealers in class actions, mass actions, and multidistrict litigation in state and federal court.
Complex Business and Commercial Litigation and Arbitration: Wayne has over 20 years of experience in successfully litigating complex business and commercial disputes in state and federal court and in arbitration. Wayne has handled cases involving a variety of commercial contracts, including stock and asset purchase agreements, software development contracts, agency agreements, promissory notes, and guarantees.
Employment Litigation and Arbitration: Wayne has represented clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, in state and federal court, and in arbitration in cases involving employment disputes. Wayne has successfully defended many employment discrimination claims before the EEOC, in federal court and in arbitration before the NASD, NYSE, and AAA, including claims for discrimination based on age, gender, race, disability, and religion and claims for sexual harassment and retaliation. He also has successfully represented securities broker/dealers on claims against former employees for amounts owed on promissory notes, and he has successfully defended those firms and other employer clients against claims by former employees for unpaid compensation and benefits, wrongful termination, and breach of employment agreements. He also has represented plaintiffs and defendants in restrictive covenant litigation in court and in arbitration. Finally, Wayne also advises clients on a routine basis on various employment issues relating to hiring, termination, and other personnel decisions.
Complex Business and Commercial Litigation and Arbitration: Wayne has over 20 years of experience in successfully litigating complex business and commercial disputes in state and federal court and in arbitration. Wayne has handled cases involving a variety of commercial contracts, including stock and asset purchase agreements, software development contracts, agency agreements, promissory notes, and guarantees.
Employment Litigation and Arbitration: Wayne has represented clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, in state and federal court, and in arbitration in cases involving employment disputes. Wayne has successfully defended many employment discrimination claims before the EEOC, in federal court and in arbitration before the NASD, NYSE, and AAA, including claims for discrimination based on age, gender, race, disability, and religion and claims for sexual harassment and retaliation. He also has successfully represented securities broker/dealers on claims against former employees for amounts owed on promissory notes, and he has successfully defended those firms and other employer clients against claims by former employees for unpaid compensation and benefits, wrongful termination, and breach of employment agreements. He also has represented plaintiffs and defendants in restrictive covenant litigation in court and in arbitration. Finally, Wayne also advises clients on a routine basis on various employment issues relating to hiring, termination, and other personnel decisions.
Professional and Civic Involvement
- Serves on the Firm's Executive Committee, Partnership Committee and Diversity Committee
- Atlanta Bar Association
- State Bar of Georgia
- American Bar Association
- Fellow; Litigation Counsel of America
- Member, State Bar of Georgia Diversity Program Steering Committee
- Fellow, Lawyers Foundation of Georgia (2009- )
- Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Committee
- Board of Trustees, Dunwoody United Methodist Church (2003 - 2005)
- Youth baseball coach
- Dunwoody High School Baseball Booster Club - President 2007-2008
- Murphey Candler Little League - Board Member 1997-2002; President 1999 and 2000
- Manager, Peachtree Middle School baseball team (2004)
Honors
- Recognized for outstanding business and professional achievements by Strathmore's Who's Who (2009 - present)
- Recognized as a leading Commercial Litigation practitioner by Best Lawyers in America (2010)
Representative Engagements
- Currently represent broker/dealer in numerous FINRA arbitrations involving several open end and closed end high yield bond mutual funds.
- Currently represent national securities broker/dealer in a case brought in the bankruptcy court in Charleston, South Carolina in which a customer of the debtor who lost money in the debtor's ponzi scheme is bringing the debtor's securities and fraudulent conveyance claims purchased from the trustee.
- In 2008, represented concrete manufacturing company in defense of claims filed in federal court for same-sex sexual harassment and retaliation.
- In 2007-2008, represented a Health System in Savannah, Georgia in defense of claims brought by former director of cancer center for wrongful termination, breach of employment contract, defamation, and other claims.
- In 2006, represented a major securities broker/dealer in an NYSE arbitration brought by a former customer seeking over $3 million in compensatory damages plus punitive damages in which customer received nothing and the client received an award of over $275,000 in attorney's fees, which amount the client subsequently collected.
- In 2006, represented a national securities broker/dealer in defense of a securities arbitration brought by a former customer for $2 million in investment losses in which the NYSE arbitration panel awarded the customer nothing.
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of two financial institutions in two separate cases in federal court in Atlanta filed by former employees alleging age and race discrimination
- Represented a manufacturer of credit card devices in a case brought by a national retail chain in federal court in Tennessee alleging breach of a purchase contract and fraud
- Represented a national securities broker/dealer nationwide in over 20 arbitrations arising from the collapse of a stock recommended by the firm
- Represented a Health System in South Georgia in a highly publicized dispute with the practice administrator of a surgical practice
- Represented the world's largest money transfer company in a case brought in federal court in Chicago based on the termination of an agency agreement
- Responsible for the firm's representation of a national securities/broker dealer in defending over 50 cases involving claims of gender discrimination and sexual harassment stemming from the firm's settlement of a class action
- Responsible for the firm's defense of a securities broker/dealer in over 800 arbitrations arising out of the settlement of a major class action stemming from the broker/dealer's sale of limited partnership investments
Publications and Presentations
- Speaker, “Financial Regulatory Reform: The Fiduciary Standard and Harmonization of Broker/Dealer and Investment Advisor Regulation,” Atlanta BD/IA Continuity Group (December, 2009)