Anne Baroody

Overview

Anne is an associate in the firm’s Litigation practice group. She focuses on complex commercial disputes and litigation before federal and state courts, the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and alternative dispute resolution bodies. While Anne’s prior clerkship experience helps her adeptly navigate federal and state courts, she also works hard to find pre-litigation and negotiated solutions for her clients.

Anne enjoys guiding clients in numerous industries through commercial, unfair competition, and branding disputes. Her matters often involve trade secrets, restrictive covenants, business torts, deceptive practices, trademarks, franchise systems, marketing, contract disputes, employment discrimination, and consumer protection statutes, such as the TCPA. In every matter, Anne channels her analytical style and attention to detail to develop and highlight the strengths of her client’s case.

Experience

Currently representing a leading producer and seller of nutraceuticals in response to opposition proceeding before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) filed by competitor seeking to prevent our client from registering trademarks associated with client’s new online business segment.
Currently representing an international franchisor in defense of multiple putative class actions filed across the country by franchisees challenging business decisions and programs implemented by client in connection with operating the system.
Advise national and multi-national franchisors in initiatives to restructure or enforce system standards across their franchise brands.
Currently representing a Georgia-based manufacturing and technology company in multiple multi-million-dollar commercial disputes (in both offensive and defensive posture) concerning failures of products manufactured and sold for installation in commercial and industrial buildings.
Represented multiple clients in trademark infringement and advertising disputes (in both offensive and defensive posture), including obtaining transfer of infringing registered domain names pursuant to the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)
Represented various national and regional banks in Georgia in lawsuits and arbitrations asserting claims under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), frequently resolving such matters on behalf of firm clients for settlement payments representing a small fraction of the damages demanded in case-initiating pleadings.
Represented a large financial services institution in a series of lawsuits with a major competitor that involved allegations of corporate raiding, misappropriation of trade secrets, and alleged violation of restrictive covenants. The firm successfully defended against competitor’s effort to obtain a temporary restraining order preventing enforcement of our client’s contractual restrictive covenants, pursued claims against competitor and former employee to enforce the restrictive covenants and for misappropriation of trade secrets. Our team was able to obtain a substantial settlement in favor of our client.
Represented two entrepreneurs in defense of claims for alleged misappropriation of trade secrets, misuse of confidential information, trademark infringement, and related claims. The case involves new, cutting-edge technology relating to small satellites (cube satellites) and the internet of things. The firm obtained summary judgment for our clients on several claims, including on the plaintiff's claims for trademark infringement, breach of contractual client and employee non-solicits, and violation of the Georgia computer systems protection statute.

Pro Bono

Represent inmate in appeal to the Eleventh Circuit from adverse judgment on First Amendment retaliation claims against prison officials.
Assisted the Lawyers’ Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation (LCCHP) in drafting an Amicus Brief in support of a Petition for Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court in Schoeps v. Free State of Bavaria, Federal Republic of Germany, Docket No. 15-447. The LCCHP argued that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 should be read to permit the heirs of Nazi-confiscated-art victims to bring suit for restitution of those artworks held in foreign public art collections in federal court in New York, a prominent hub in the global art market, consistent with modern personal jurisdiction principles.
Represented multiple tenants in eviction and housing conditions disputes through participation in the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation Saturday Lawyer Program and Eviction Defense Program. In one such matter, successfully vacated a prior writ of possession and won monetary judgment following a bench trial on behalf of a tenant who was wrongfully evicted by former roommate. In another such matter, obtained substantial monetary settlement prior to trial reflecting actual and enhanced damages suffered by tenant.

thought leadership

Co-presenter, “Impacts of the Great Resignation,” for the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Small Law Department Committee Webcast (September 8, 2022)
Co-presenter, "Georgia's State-wide Business Court: Observations and Experiences During the First 18 Months," for the Georgia Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel (March 8, 2022)
Speaker, “Death by 1,000 Cuts: Defending Against Non-Franchise-Specific Lawsuits over ADA Website Compliance, TCPA Violations, IP Infringement, and Other Ancillary Claims,” ABA Forum on Franchising Annual Conference (October 2021)
Author, "Franchisor v. Franchisor: Asserting Tortious Interference Claims after Losing a Franchisee to a Competing System," The Franchise Lawyer, Vol. 24, No. 01, pages 10-12 (Winter 2021)
Presenter, Hot Topics in Financial Services Litigation in 2019, CLE for major financial institution. Presented latest developments in Telephone Consumer Protection Act litigation and compliance.
Co-author, "Providing Damages in an Emerging Industry: Lessons from Waymo v. Uber," ABA Section of Litigation Intellectual Property Committee Newsletter (May 2019)

Areas of focus

Alternative Dispute Resolution
Appellate Litigation
Business Torts & Unfair Competition
Commercial Disputes
Financial Services Litigation
Franchise Disputes
Intellectual Property & Restrictive Covenants

Education

University of Georgia School of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2014) Georgia Law Review (Managing and Editorial Boards); Appellate Litigation Clinic; Order of the Coif
Davidson College (B.A., cum laude, 2009) Phi Beta Kappa

Accolades

Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Appellate Practice (2021-2023)
Selected as a Georgia Super Lawyers "Rising Star" in Business Litigation by Super Lawyers magazine (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) (top 2.5% of attorneys in Georgia 40 years old or younger or in practice 10 years or less)
Winner of the Andrew P. Vance Memorial Writing Competition - Hosted by the Customs and International Trade Bar Association and Brooklyn Law School
Winner of the LCCHP Student Writing Competition - Hosted by the Lawyers’ Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation

Professional affiliations

Barrister, Lumpkin Inn of Court (2018-2021)
Volunteer Lawyer, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
Advisory Board Member, Georgia Lawyer for the Arts
Advocacy Committee Member, Lawyers' Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation
Meritas® Young Lawyer Representative