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Ronald T. Coleman, Jr.

ronald t. coleman, jr.

Partner

Atlanta

rcoleman@phrd.com

t: (404) 420-1144

f: (404) 522-8409

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"A very smart and accomplished litigator."

Chambers USA 2020

  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Thought Leadership

Overview

Ron Coleman is an accomplished trial lawyer who thrives in big, complex cases. Throughout his 30-year career, Ron has helped his clients successfully resolve all manner of legal disputes, whether via negotiation, motion practice, alternative dispute resolution, trial, or appeal. Whether representing a plaintiff or defendant, his creative, sophisticated approach to resolving disputes is designed to help his clients reach the best possible outcomes consistent with their business goals.

Ron represents manufacturers, technology companies, franchisors, and other clients in a variety of commercial, intellectual property, and product liability cases. His intellectual property experience includes trade secret, trademark, copyright, and patent infringement matters. Ron also regularly represents national franchisors in all manner of disputes, including disputes with franchisees and claims arising from competition between franchise systems.

Ron invests in learning about his clients and focuses on helping them navigate through often business-defining disputes. Ron is particularly proud that he has developed a group of long-standing litigation clients, some of which have worked with him for more than 20 years.

It is a testament to Ron’s tenacity and results that he is often called upon to handle the biggest, most complex pieces of litigation facing businesses in the Southeast.

Experience

  • Represented the owner of one of Atlanta's signature high rise buildings in two parallel federal lawsuits against a major Atlanta restauranteur for breach of a commercial lease. The Firm obtained two judgments in the client's favor and utilized the post-judgment collection process to leverage a significant monetary recovery.
  • Represented Crystal Farms in a successful appeal reversing a bench trial judgment applying incorrect legal standard in construing easement at issue. This case clarified Georgia law regarding the correct standard for interpreting easements.
  • Represented a Fortune 500 diagnostic testing company in successfully challenging and reversing a significant adverse jury verdict. Following a nearly $5.5 million adverse jury verdict prior to our firm’s involvement, our firm handled post-trial briefing, a new trial, and an appeal, which ultimately resulted in a complete defense verdict and no liability to our client. The firm was initially retained after a trial, in which our firm was not involved, resulted in a jury verdict against our client and its subsidiary on a medical malpractice claim for nearly $5.5 million. Once retained, the Parker Hudson team first obtained a new trial on damages, and then convinced the trial court to vacate the remaining portion of the jury’s verdict (the liability finding) and award a new trial on all issues. The parties tried the case to a jury in March 2014. The plaintiff sought at least $7 million at trial. After a six-day jury trial, the jury entered a complete defense verdict, which was then affirmed by the Georgia Court of Appeals.
  • Successfully represented our client, a national franchisor, in both the trial court and before the Georgia Court of Appeals in obtaining an order compelling the arbitration all of the plaintiff's claims in a seven-count, 42-page Complaint. The plaintiff argued that the parties' agreement to arbitrate had been superseded by another contract, but the trial court (Fulton County Superior Court, Business Court) granted the firm's motion to compel arbitration of all claims. The firm then handled the appeal before the Georgia Court of Appeals, which unanimously affirmed the trial court's decision compelling arbitration. The Court of Appeals' decision is reported at Samaca, LLC v. Cellairis Franchise, Inc., 345 Ga. App. 368 (2018).
  • Represented a national restaurant franchisor in pursuing and obtaining injunctive relief in federal bankruptcy court against a former franchisee for misuse of our client's trademarks. The firm successfully asserted claims arising under the Lanham Act (trademark infringement and false origin claims) as well as claims for unfair competition and breach of contract. The court granted our client's motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction and ordered the defendants immediately to stop using our client's trademarks and cease operation of the restaurants at issue.
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  • Represented the subsidiary of a Fortune 500 diagnostic testing company in successfully enforcing restrictive covenants against a top sales representative. Despite having agreed to restrictive covenants, including a non-compete, the sales representative resigned and went to work for a competitor in the same territory. We filed suit on behalf of our client and obtained a preliminary injunction in federal court against the sales representative. Then, based on evidence obtained during discovery, the firm moved for summary judgment on behalf of our client. The Court granted summary judgment as to liability in favor of our client, finding that the sales representative had breached both his non-compete and his non-solicitation covenants. Shortly thereafter, the case settled favorably to our client.
  • Represent 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.
  • Represented a national franchisor of units selling wireless accessories and performing repairs of wireless devices, in a precedent-setting case enforcing a non-compete under the new Georgia restrictive covenants statute against a former employee and a guarantor of one of our client's franchisees. After the defendant began to work with one of our client's competitors, our client sued to enforce a non-compete in his guarantee agreement restricting his ability to work in the wireless accessory and repair industry within a 10-mile radius of any of our client's franchise units anywhere in the United States. In a case of first impression under the still-new Georgia restrictive covenant statute, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction enforcing the non-compete to the full extent of its terms – i.e., nationwide for 10 miles around any business unit. The Court's decision represents a major victory for franchisors because it recognizes a franchisor’s legitimate business interest in preventing unfair competition nationally by a former franchisee or its principals, and grants much broader relief than previously was available under Georgia law.
  • Represent large car part manufacturing facility in response to OSHA investigation of press operator injury and possible product liability issues.

Thought Leadership

  • Client Alert: FTC Proposes Complete Ban on Non-Competes (January 2023)
  • Presenter, "Disputes regarding Supply Arrangements and Rebates – Franchisors’ Rights vs. Franchisee Revolts," International Franchise Association (IFA) 2022 Legal Symposium (May 2022)
  • Speaker, "Legal Considerations for When a Nonprofit Uses IP Created by its Founder," Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta (April 2021)
  • Speaker, "Effective Witness Preparation and Presentation in a Franchise Case," Advanced Topics in Franchising and Distribution Seminar, State Bar of Georgia ICLE Series (2020)
  • Speaker, "Spotlight on Advanced Termination Issues and Incurable Defaults," ABA Forum on Franchising Annual Conference (October 2020)
  • Speaker, "Effective Witness Preparation and Presentation in a Franchise Case," ABA Forum on Franchising (October 2019)
  • Author, "Proving Damages in an Emerging Industry: Lessons From Waymo v. Uber," ABA Section of Litigation Intellectual Property Committee Newsletter (May 2019) (co-author, Anne Baroody)
  • Speaker, "Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act – Key Developments After the First Two Years," ABA Section of Litigation (Webinar, February 2019)
  • Panelist: "New Year/New Challenges: Hot Topics for In-House Counsel in 2019," Association of Corporate Counsel Monthly Luncheon (January 2019)
  • "Fundamentals of Franchising: Intellectual Property and Antitrust" - ABA Forum on Franchising Annual Conference (October 2018)
  • Speaker, Trade Secrets Panel: Balancing Business and Protection, The Fourth Annual IP Strategy Summit (April 2018)
  • "Intellectual Property and Data Security: Strategies for Protection and Enforcement" – Georgia Society of CPAs Southeast Accounting Show (August 2017)
  • "Franchisors' Use of Customer Satisfaction Survey Results in Disputes With Franchisees", ABA Franchise Law Journal, Summer 2016
  • "How to Ensure Your Franchisees Knock It Out of the Park: Use of Key Performance Indicators" – International Franchise Association Legal Symposium (May 2016)
  • Moderated panel on "Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act - New Options and Strategies for Trade Secret Litigation" – ABA Section of Litigation Annual Conference (April 2016)
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  • "Fair or Foul? The Use of Guest Surveys and Customer Feedback in Franchise Systems," ABA Forum on Franchising Annual Meeting (October 2015)
  • "Irreparable Harm and Trademark Law Demystified," Knowledge Group webcast (October 2015)
  • "Hiring Between Competitors: Practical Tips and Legal Issues," Fulton County Daily Report Seminar for In-House Counsel (September 2015)
  • Panelist for "Trending Trade Secret Topics" – State Bar of Georgia YLD Labor & Employment Committee Trade Secrets Seminar (December 2014)
  • "Drafting Dispute Resolution Clauses from a Litigator's Perspective" – ABA Forum on Franchising Annual Meeting (October 2014)
  • "False Advertising in Franchise Systems" – ABA Forum on Franchising Annual Meeting (October 2013)
  • "Applicability of the Presumption of Irreparable Harm After eBay" – Co-author with Trishanda Treadwell and Elizabeth Loyd, ABA Franchise Law Journal, Summer 2012
  • "Secrecy in the Age of Email and Social Media" – ABA Section of Litigation Regional CLE Workshop (June 2012)
  • “Protecting Trade Secrets and Confidential Information in Franchising” - Georgia Bar Franchise and Distribution Section Roundtable Luncheon (April 2012)
  • Covenants Against Competition in Franchise Agreements (2d ed.) Co-author of chapter on Georgia law, ABA Forum on Franchising, 2012
  • “What’s New in the Law of Trade Secrets and Non-Competes” - ABA Section of Litigation Regional CLE Workshop (June 2011)
  • Moderated panel on Georgia’s new restrictive covenant statute for Georgia Bar Franchise and Distribution Law Section seminar (February 2011)
  • Annual Franchise and Distribution Law Developments 2005 - Co-author with Joe Schumacher, ABA Forum on Franchising, 2005
  • Covenants Against Competition in Franchise Agreements (1st ed.) - Regional Editor for Eleventh Circuit States; author of chapter on Georgia law, ABA Forum on Franchising, 2002
  • How to Develop and Implement an Effective Corporate Compliance Program - Co-author of chapter entitled "Termination, Nonrenewal and Transfer," ABA Forum on Franchising, 2000
  • "The Constitutionality of Retroactive Franchise Laws," ABA Franchise Law Journal, Summer 2001
  • Franchise Law and Forums - Author of chapter entitled "Franchise Litigation from the Franchisee's Perspective," Matthew-Bender, 1992

Areas of focus

  • Franchise
  • Manufacturing
  • Professional Services
  • Technology
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Appellate Litigation
  • Business Torts & Unfair Competition
  • Commercial Disputes
  • Corporate Governance & Ownership Disputes
  • Employment Litigation & Counseling
  • Financial Services Litigation
  • Franchise Disputes
  • Intellectual Property
  • Intellectual Property & Restrictive Covenants
  • Product Liability Defense
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Estate Litigation
  • Mediation & Arbitration Neutral Services

Education

  • Duke University School of Law (J.D., with honors, 1986) Editorial Board, Duke Law Journal 1985-1986
  • Duke University (A.B., cum laude, 1983)

Accolades

  • Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© as "Lawyer of the Year" in Georgia in the practice area of Franchise Law (2012, 2017, 2020)
  • Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© for Franchise Law (2007-2023), Litigation - Intellectual Property (2013-2023) and Commercial Litigation (2021-2023)
  • Recognized by Chambers USA in Litigation: General Commercial - Georgia (2010-2022)
  • Recognized as a Georgia "Super Lawyer," for Business Litigation by Super Lawyers magazine (2004-present)
  • Recognized by the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, Franchise Law (2004-present)
  • Recognized by the Franchise Times as a Legal Eagle
  • Selected as one of Georgia's "Legal Elite" for Intellectual Property Law by Georgia Trend Magazine (2004)
  • Charter Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America

Professional affiliations

  • American Bar Association: Section of Litigation; Section of Intellectual Property Law; Forum on Franchising, Chair (2021-present)
  • Governing Committee member, ABA Forum on Franchising (2014-present)
  • Topic and Article Editor and Associate Editor, ABA Franchise Law Journal (2008-2014)
  • Co-chair, Trade Secret Litigation Subcommittee, Section of Intellectual Property Litigation Committee
  • Pro bono intellectual property law advice for National Center for Civil and Human Rights

Admitted to practice

  • Georgia
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

clerkship

  • The Honorable James C. Hill, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 1986-1987

news & insights

view all news

Thirteen Parker Hudson Attorneys Named As 2023 Georgia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars


Feb 09, 2023

FTC Proposes Complete Ban on Non-Competes


Jan 13, 2023

43 Parker Hudson Attorneys Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America 2023 Edition


Aug 18, 2022
more

Parker Hudson Recognized in the Prestigious Chambers USA 2022 Guide


Jun 01, 2022

Ron Coleman to Present at the International Franchise Association 2022 Legal Symposium


May 06, 2022

Ron Coleman Selected for the 2022 Franchise Times Legal Eagles


Apr 07, 2022
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