Parker Hudson Attorneys Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition
Aug 15, 2024
r. david gallo
Of Counsel
Atlanta
overview
David Gallo helps businesses, governments, and individuals navigate complex commercial, contract, partnership, securities, construction, employment, bankruptcy, regulatory, criminal, and other matters, in federal and state court, arbitration, and mediation. David uses skill, experience, compassion, and creativity to guide clients through their disputes big and small.
David has experience in all phases of litigation, from inception through discovery, trial, and appeal, as well as significant expertise in arbitration, both international and domestic. David is an arbitrator and mediator at Miles Mediation & Arbitration and a co-author of the Arbitration chapter of the 2024 edition of Georgia Business Litigation, a one-volume, comprehensive guide to matters business litigators encounter.
Prior to joining Parker Hudson, David practiced at two international law firms in New York City and at a boutique law firm in Atlanta. He also served as a law clerk to the late Judge Richard W. Goldberg of the U.S. Court of International Trade. During David’s clerkship, Judge Goldberg sat by designation in the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Eighth, and Eleventh Circuits, and in multiple federal district courts. David was an adjunct professor at Fordham Law School for four years and now teaches a course on advocacy in international law at Emory Law School.
experience
- Briefed and argued appeal in Georgia Court of Appeals concerning contract and employment law.*
- Represented minority shareholder in six-day arbitration against majority shareholder.*
- Represented importer in defense of employment discrimination action.*
- Represented investor in RICO action involving alleged violations of securities law.*
- Represented municipalities and counties in civil rights, construction, and tort actions.*
- Represented multinational pharmaceutical company in securities class action and related opt-out actions.*
- Represented aviation technology company in international commercial arbitration.*
- Represented investment banker in two-week, federal criminal insider trading trial.*
- Represented secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy proceedings.*
- Advised non-party bulge bracket investment bank in multi-billion dollar tax controversy.*
- Represented private equity firm in federal appeal in connection with challenge to international commercial arbitration award.*
- Represented bulge bracket investment bank in mortgage-backed securities actions.*
- Co-authored amicus brief urging the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold Circuit precedent barring courts from vacating international arbitration awards rendered in the U.S. under domestic vacatur standards. Corporación AIC, SA v. Hidroelectrica Santa Rita S.A., 20-13039.*
- Represented Coin Operated Amusement Machine (COAM) Master licensees in statutory arbitration proceedings.*
*Denotes experience prior to joining Parker Hudson.
thought leadership
- Panelist: "Facilitated Sessions on the Award and Post-Award Issues," American Bar Association 2024 Arbitration Training Institute, June 7, 2024
- Panelist: "Getting Started and Staying Active: Lessons from Providers and Practitioners," American Bar Association 2024 Arbitration Training Institute, June 6, 2024
- Co-Presenter: "Recent Cases Update," American Bar Association 2024 Arbitration Training Institute, June 6, 2024
- Panelist: "Contract Drafting with a Litigator’s Eye," Atlanta Bar Association CLE By The Hour, February 15, 2024
- Co-Author: "Arbitration," Georgia Business Litigation, 2024 Edition, August 24, 2023
- Presenter: “Choosing your Arbitrator/Mediator: What You Should be Looking For,” Association of Corporate Counsel/Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta CLE Challenge, August 16, 2023
- Author: “Designing Efficient Discovery Processes in Arbitration,” Miles Mediation and Arbitration Newsletter, May 31, 2023
- Panelist: “Practical Approaches to Managing International Commercial Arbitrations: Diverse Perspectives of Industry Players,” Atlanta International Arbitration Society 11th Annual Conference, September 12, 2022
- Discussion Leader: “Recent Developments in Enforcement and Annulment,” Atlanta International Arbitration Society 11th Annual Conference, September 12, 2022
- Panelist: “Arbitration Masterclass: Recent Trends in International Arbitration,” Arbitration Forum Reboot – Dispute Resolution Section of the State Bar of Georgia, June 14, 2022
- Author: “U.S. Supreme Court: Federal Arbitration Act Does Not Apply to Employment Contracts of Airline Cargo Loaders,” Krevolin & Horst Arbitration Blog, June 8, 2022
- Author: “Choice-of-Law Clauses: Which Law(s) Are You Actually Choosing?” Krevolin & Horst Arbitration Blog, April 18, 2022
- Author: “The Supreme Court Further Limits Federal Courts’ Jurisdiction Over FAA Petitions,” Krevolin & Horst Arbitration Blog, March 31, 2022
- Author: “Eleventh Circuit Provides Common Sense Guidance on Confirming and Vacating Arbitration Awards,” Krevolin & Horst Arbitration Blog, October 20, 2021
- Author: “Can Arbitration ‘Prevent’ Litigation?” Krevolin & Horst Arbitration Blog, September 15, 2021
- Author: “Georgia Court of Appeals Strictly Construes Requirement that Parties Must Initial Arbitration Clauses in Employment Contracts,” Krevolin & Horst Arbitration Blog, August 13, 2021
- Author: “Georgia Court of Appeals Rules that “Speculation” About High Arbitration Fees is Not Enough to Resist Arbitration,” Krevolin & Horst Arbitration Blog, August 4, 2021
- Author: “For a Good Clause – Part I: The Who, What, When, Where, and How of Your Arbitration Agreement,” Krevolin & Horst Arbitration Blog, July 28, 2021
- Author: “The Law Applicable to Your Arbitration in Georgia,” Krevolin & Horst Arbitration Blog, July 13, 2021
- Co-Author: “Sixth Circuit Creates Circuit Split Regarding Whether Discovery in Aid of Private Commercial Arbitration Is Available,” New York Law Journal, October 25, 2019
- Author: “The Second Circuit and the Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards Against Non-Signatories,” Young ICCA Blog, May 16, 2017
areas of focus
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Appellate
- Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Creditor Rights
- Business Torts & Unfair Competition
- Closely Held Businesses
- Commercial Disputes
- Financial Services
- Related Services - Mediation & Arbitration Neutral Services
- Professional Services
- Securities Litigation & Arbitration
education
- Columbia University School of Law (J.D., with high honors); James Kent Scholar; Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar; American Review of International Arbitration, Senior Editor; Parker School of Foreign and Comparative Law Certificate of Achievement; Vis Moot Court Team
- University of Florida (B.A., cum laude); Dean’s list
accolades
- Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch for Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2023-2025)
- Recognized as a Georgia “Super Lawyer - Rising Star” by Super Lawyers magazine (2023-2024)
professional affiliations
- Atlanta Bar Association
- Chair of Programming, Executive Committee and Board of Directors member, Atlanta International Arbitration Society (AtlAS)
- Barrister, Bleckley Inn of Court
- Member and Events Chair, Service Council, Atlanta Legal Aid Society
- The Lawyer's Club of Atlanta
Admitted to practice
- Georgia
- New York
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Northern District of Georgia
- Southern District of New York
- U.S. Court of International Trade
- U.S. Tax Court
clerkship
- U.S. Court of International Trade, Judge Richard W. Goldberg