Parker Hudson Strengthens Litigation Team with Three New Additions in Atlanta
Jul 28, 2023
drew stevens
Of Counsel
Atlanta
overview
An accomplished civil litigator, Drew Stevens has represented clients in complex commercial litigation across multiple industries. Drew has represented franchisors and other employers in enforcing post-termination non-competes, commercial real estate developers in leasing and construction disputes, and hospitals and health systems in defense of claims under the False Claims Act. Drew also has extensive experience litigating intellectual property disputes, particularly trademark infringement matters, and his practice includes national insurance-coverage disputes in the context of mass-torts, in addition to class-action defense.
Drew is also passionate about using the law to advance health equity and has developed nationally recognized expertise in the nondiscrimination provisions of the Affordable Care Act. In his healthcare practice, Drew regularly advises and represents health systems in connection with investigations and litigation related to compliance with federal nondiscrimination law, including in connection with investigations brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office for Civil Rights within HHS.
Drew is a native Texan and an avid Baylor Bears fan. Outside of the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.
experience
Intellectual Property Litigation
- Conducted oral argument and assisted in obtaining summary judgment against $24 million RICO and trademark counterfeiting claims brought by a Fortune 50 airline company. Delta Air Lines, Inc. v. Wunder, 2015 WL 11347586 (N.D. Ga. Dec. 28, 2015).*
- Second-chair defense counsel for three-day bench trial on damages in $50 million trademark infringement matter in Eastern District of Virginia.*
- Assisted in obtaining summary judgment on behalf of celebrity client against trademark infringement claims based on laches; assisted in obtaining affirmance in Fifth Circuit. Brown v. Bridges, 692 F. App’x 215 (5th Cir. 2017).*
- Successfully prosecuted Motion for Preliminary Injunction to stop trademark infringement by former licensee in the Northern District of Georgia.*
- Assisted national CBD brand in defense against trademark infringement claims.*
- Assisted in the successful defense of multi-million-dollar international patent inventorship dispute. Heat Techs., Inc. v. Papierfabrik Aug. Koehler SE, No. 1:18-CV-01229-SDG, 2020 WL 12309512 (N.D. Ga. June 5, 2020) (ruling that plaintiff’s common law tort claims for monetary damages were preempted under the Patent Act).*
- Assisted international e-commerce platform in successful defense against trademark infringement claims brought by nationally recognized fitness brand.*
- Assisted in defense of national homebuilder against claims of copyright infringement asserted by former consultant.*
- Assisted in defense of trade secret misappropriation claims and successfully dismissed California common law unfair competition claim on the basis of preemption. Applied Biological Lab’ys, Inc. v. Diomics Corp., No. 3:20-CV-2500-AJB-LL, 2021 WL 4060531 (S.D. Cal. Sept. 7, 2021).*
Franchise Litigation
- Successfully obtained Temporary Restraining Order to stop breach of post-termination non-compete by former franchisee of an emerging franchise system.*
- Represented national franchise system in multi-jurisdictional litigation concerning allegations of wrongful termination of franchise agreement.*
- Represented national multi-brand franchise system to resolve allegations of fraud in connection with financial representations in its Franchise Disclosure Document.*
Commercial Litigation
- Assisted in obtaining dismissal of state law claims against common carrier based on preemption under the Carmack Amendment. George E. Warren Corp. v. Colonial Pipeline Co., No. CV 17-1205-KM-JBC, 2017 WL 3038251 (D.N.J. July 17, 2017).*
- Assisted in successful prosecution of fraud and recission claims related to purchase of bottled-water distribution facility in the Eastern District of Texas.*
- Assisted in successful defense of architectural firm in breach of fiduciary duty claims brought by estate of former partner.*
- Assisted in successful defense of breach of contract claims brought against employer by former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer.*
- Counseled and advised Fortune 50 e-commerce brand on economic incentive obligations and Prevailing Wage obligations on a national basis.*
Appellate Litigation
- Assisted in obtaining partial reversal in Georgia Court of Appeals based on the running of statute of limitations for a breach of express warranty claim. S. States Chem., Inc. v. Tampa Tank & Welding, Inc., 359 Ga. App. 731, 737, 858 S.E.2d 72, 77 (2021), reconsideration denied (June 14, 2021), cert. denied (Sept. 21, 2021).*
- Assisted in multiple successful Revenue Bond validation trials over intervenors’ challenges; assisted in obtaining multiple affirmances in the Georgia Court of Appeals. Long v. Dev. Auth. of Fulton Cty., 352 Ga. App. 815, 816–17, 835 S.E.2d 717, 719–20 (2019); Bene v. State, No. A21A1143, 2021 WL 4987582 (Ga. Ct. App. Oct. 27, 2021), reconsideration denied (Nov. 18, 2021).*
- Assisted in seeking interlocutory appeal to Federal Circuit on novel issue under Section 256 of the Patent Act.*
Healthcare Litigation
- Represented one of the largest health systems in the Southeast in an investigation by the Department of Justice into an allegation of discrimination against a patient with mobility disabilities.*
- Counseled and advised Georgia health system on allegations of discrimination against transgender individual.*
- Counseled and advised national medical brand on language access requirements and best practices for individuals with Limited English Proficiency.*
- Assisted in defense of $100 million False Claims Act investigations, qui tam actions, and Government interventions.*
Pro Bono Advocacy
- Represented single mother pro bono at trial in Fulton Magistrate Court against former landlord on claim for breach of lease; successfully obtained Plaintiff’s verdict with an award of damages at the maximum extent of the court's jurisdiction.*
- As a part of the Clemency Project 2014, submitted clemency petition to President Obama on behalf of inmate sentenced to life in prison for non-violent drug offense.*
* Denotes experience prior to joining Parker Hudson.
thought leadership
- Contributor, Parker Hudson Boosts Litigation Team In Atlanta, Law360, July 28, 2023
- Co-presenter, Franchise & Distribution Law Section - Non-Compete Clauses and Agreements CLE, State Bar of Georgia, March 30, 2023
- Author, When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It: De-identification of Former Franchised Units, The Franchise Lawyer, Winter 2023 Vol. 26, No. 01
- Contributor, The Pursuit of Health Equity Through Section 1557: The Foundation of Health Care Civil Rights, AHLA’s Speaking of Health Law Podcast, March 14, 2023
- Author, The Pursuit of Health Equity Through Section 1557: The Foundation of Health Care Civil Rights, AHLA Journal of Health and Life Sciences Law, November 2022, Volume 17 Issue 1
- Co-author, Third Time’s a Charm? Biden Administration Publishes New Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Under Section 1557 of the ACA, AHLA Health Law Weekly, August 12, 2022
- Co-presenter, Language Access Rights in Healthcare: Improve Equity and Avoid Litigation, AHLA Physicians and Hospital Law Institute, February 3, 2022
- Presenter, Federal Nondiscrimination Law and Health Equity, Iowa Hospital Association 2021 Annual Meeting, October 7, 2021
- Co-presenter, Preventing Sex Discrimination in Healthcare under Section 1557 of Affordable Care Act, AHLA: Physicians and Hospitals Law Conference, February 1, 2021
- Co-author, Law as a Social Determinant of Health and the Pursuit of Health Justice, AHLA Health Law Weekly, August 21, 2020
- Author, 30 Years After the ADA: Disability Discrimination in Health Care Under Section 1557 of ACA, AHLA Health Law Connections, May 2020, Volume 1, Issue 2
- Contributor, AHLA Health Care Compliance Legal Issues Manual, April 1, 2019, 5th Edition
areas of focus
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Appellate
- Business Torts & Unfair Competition
- Business Disputes
- Commercial Disputes
- Consumer Class & Mass Action Defense
- Corporate Governance & Ownership Disputes
- Corporate Investigations
- Employment Litigation & Counseling
- Franchise Disputes
- Healthcare Litigation
- Government & Internal Investigations/False Claims Act & Qui Tam Defense
- Intellectual Property & Restrictive Covenants
- Mass Tort Insurance Coverage and Bankruptcy
- Real Estate Litigation
education
- Emory University School of Law (J.D., with High Honors); Order of the Coif; Robert W. Woodruff Scholar in Law (2011-2014); “Outstanding Articles Editor,” Emory Law Journal (2014); ABA/BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Health Law (2014); Dean’s Awards in Regulation of Health Care Providers, Constitutional Law, Property, Legislation and Regulation; 1st Place, First Annual Moot Court Competition in Law and Religion at Touro Law School (2014); Top 10%: Emory Law Spring 2012 Oral Arguments
- Baylor University (B.A., cum laude); Charles M. and Jean Furr Tolbert Endowed Scholar in Sociology (2010); John S. Belew Award for Outstanding Male in Community Service (2010)
accolades
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation (2021-2023)
- American Health Lawyers Association, Hospital and Health Systems Practice Group Leadership Development Program (2018-2019)
Admitted to practice
- Georgia
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia