Profile
Taylor English’s value-driven model allows me to partner with clients to find creative, cost-effective resolutions to their legal disputes so they can get back to their primary mission of achieving the company’s business goals.
LeeAnn Jones is a problem solver. As a trial lawyer with more than 30 years’ experience, she helps clients resolve complex litigation disputes in federal and state courts, multidistrict litigation (MDL), and arbitration proceedings throughout Georgia and nationwide. She gains an in-depth understanding of the client’s business and industry to develop and execute litigation strategies designed to achieve an optimal legal outcome consistent with the client’s business goals and objectives. She has used this approach to successfully represent companies of all sizes in commercial, personal injury, product liability, and pharmaceutical and medical device litigation and consumer class actions. Her cases frequently involve technical, scientific and medical issues, and she excels at mastering complex issues to communicate them simply and effectively to a judge or jury.
Ms. Jones has developed and implemented national and regional coordinating counsel programs to assist clients in efficiently managing and coordinating discovery and litigation arising in multiple similar cases around the country. She has led and served on coordinating counsel teams representing clients in the pest control, manufacturing, retail, automotive, pharmaceutical and health care industries.
Ms. Jones also has represented companies, community banks, and national/regional banks as both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of complex commercial, financial institution, and business litigation matters, including claims for breach of contract, lender liability, business torts, fraud, RICO, wrongful foreclosure and other business disputes.
Ms. Jones draws upon her experience as a trial lawyer and her problem-solving skills to assist in pre-litigation claim investigations, risk assessments and early case evaluations to achieve cost-effective outcomes for her clients. She has successfully resolved numerous cases through mediation and is a trained civil mediator registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution.
Ms. Jones began practicing at a full-service law firm, where she was a partner from 1994-2008, and was counsel in the Atlanta office of an international law firm from 2009-2013.
She has been a frequent speaker and presenter on a variety of topics, including trial skills, expert witness issues, toxic tort developments, causation in personal injury litigation and workplace diversity issues.
Ms. Jones is an active community leader and volunteer, serving on the Boards of national and local non-profit organizations and is a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2015. She is an avid sports fan and recreational runner who enjoys gardening, politics, music and outdoor activities.
Memberships
State Bar of Georgia
Atlanta Bar Association, Dispute Resolution, Litigation and Women in the Profession Sections
State Bar of Georgia, Alternative Dispute Resolution, General Practice and Trial, and Product Liability Sections
Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia Inc.
Community Involvement
Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2015
Jerusalem House, Board of Directors, 2008-2014; Executive Committee, 2010-2014
Human Rights Campaign, National Board of Directors, 2007-2013; Board of Governors, 2003-2007; Atlanta Steering Committee, 2002-2014
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training, volunteer fundraiser participating in half-marathons, marathons, and triathlons, 2001-2008
Chattahoochee Weimaraner Club, Board of Directors, 2009-2012
Practice Highlights
Experience
Filed suit on behalf of an ethanol producer in a business dispute with its raw material supplier that was successfully resolved by re-negotiating long-term supply agreement.
Represents clients defending and pursuing claims under federal environmental statutes, including RCRA and CERCLA cost-recovery actions. Recent successes include obtaining summary judgment in favor of a client in a multi-party environmental cleanup cost recovery action.
Defended packaging component manufacturer in pre-suit claim by the client’s customer, a consumer product manufacturer, to recover product recall costs and other damages arising out of alleged package defect.
Assisted client in investigation of claims for wrongful death and traumatic injury arising out of an industrial explosion. Conducted risk assessment and early case evaluation and negotiated favorable pre-suit settlements through mediation.
Currently defending property owners and managers in premises security cases involving wrongful death and serious injuries.
Obtained orders granting motions to dismiss Lanham Act false advertising actions brought by nutritional supplement manufacturer against client convenience store operators arising out of the sale of allegedly mislabeled male enhancement supplements.
Advise clients on risk and liability reduction, including drafting contract provisions relating to consumer liability issues, warranties, liability limitations and waivers.
Led team serving as regional and national coordinating counsel for a major national termite and pest control service provider, defending the company in cases involving claims for personal injury and property damages arising out of alleged pesticide exposures.
Appeared as lead counsel in multiple jurisdictions, handling all aspects of the company’s defense, from selection and management of local counsel, through discovery, dispositive motions, mediation ...Defeated certification of putative national consumer class action against carpet manufacturer involving claims of personal injury and violation of various state unfair and deceptive trade practices statutes (UDTPA) arising out of sale of new carpet that emitted allegedly harmful levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Defended termite service provider in state court actions in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina involving allegations of consumer fraud and violations of state consumer protection statutes. Successes include defeat on appeal of class certification in consumer class action asserting claims of consumer fraud and violations of Georgia Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Defend financial institutions in cases alleging lender liability, wrongful foreclosure, consumer fraud, and violations of various federal statutes and regulations, including Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Successes include securing voluntary dismissal in the face of motion to dismiss a putative state-wide class action asserting claims for fraud arising out of sale of credit insurance products and obtaining orders granting summary judgment on ...
Defended national truck and trailer rental company in accident litigation involving allegations of negligence, product liability, and negligent entrustment. Served as lead counsel defending the company and its employees in numerous matters and conducted pre‐litigation investigations, evaluations and negotiations. Successful outcomes included leading the investigation and defense of five wrongful death actions arising out of a catastrophic single ...
Led team that developed and implemented a national discovery counsel program for a major national retailer for its general liability claims, including premises liability and product liability claims. The program resulted in improvements in consistency and efficiency of discovery responses, improved litigation outcomes, and overall litigation cost reduction.
Defense of pharmaceutical liability and medical device litigation involving contraceptives, medicines for treatment and prevention of bone loss, blood thinners, cholesterol reduction medicines, anti‐depressants, and latex gloves. Examples of experience include: obtaining orders excluding opposing expert opinions and granting summary judgment; development and coordination of expert witness testimony in Multi-District Litigation; serving on ...
Served as national coordinating counsel for a Fortune 500 manufacturing client, managing all toxic tort and product liability claims nationwide. Coordinated the company’s defense with local counsel in individual cases brought in over a dozen different states. Reviewed and created a database of relevant company documents and coordinated document production in various cases. Prepared and defended key corporate representative, executive and management ...
Newsroom
Speaking Engagements
- June 18, 2019
- December 12, 2018
- August 22, 2018
- December 17, 2017
- April 28, 2017
- National Business Institute: CLEs on Trial Practice, Evidence, various Litigation topics2004-2014
- August 12, 2014
- "Post-Racial Diversity," AIMD Global Diversity ConferenceOctober 2009
- "Workplace Diversity," Atlanta Diversity ManagersAugust 2008
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia: CLE speaker on Litigation, Product Liability, Toxic Torts1999-2007
- "Managing Serial or Repetitive Litigation," Association of Corporate Counsel, Georgia ChapterJuly 2005
- "Toxic Tort Defenses," Alabama State Bar Association Environmental Law SectionJune 2003
- "Federal Preemption Update," American Law Institute/American Bar Association Product Liability ConferenceJuly 2001
- "Medical and Scientific Issues: Strategic Considerations," Mealey’s Toxic Tort ConferenceApril 2000
- "Indoor Air Pollution/Sick Building Syndrome: Liability," Mealey’s Toxic Torts: New Exposures ConferenceApril 1999
Publications
- March 19, 2019
- March 18, 2019
- July 18, 2014
- "Experts and Scientific Evidence" and "Authentication, Exhibits, and Courtroom Presentation," National Business Institute Evidence SeminarMay 2014
- April 7, 2014
- March 7, 2014
- February 21, 2014
- "The 21st Century Trial: Effective Use of Technology in the Courtroom," National Business InstituteDecember 2012
- "Litigating Mold Claims," National Business Institute2007
- "Causation in the 11th Circuit," Institute of Continuing Legal Education in GeorgiaMarch 2007
- "Causation in Toxic Tort Litigation," Institute of Continuing Legal Education in GeorgiaMarch 2005
- "Recent Developments in Toxic Torts," "Case Management," and "Ethical Issues in Toxic Tort Litigation," National Business InstituteJanuary 2004
- "Environmental Class Actions: Issues in Class Certification," Institute of Continuing Legal Education in GeorgiaAugust 1999
- "Sick Building Syndrome: Who Foots the Bill?" The Practical Real Estate Lawyer, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 9-24May 1998
Headlines
- July 17, 2019
- October 17, 2018
- November 25, 2013
- November 20, 2013
News Releases
- November 13, 2019
- October 17, 2018
- June 14, 2014
- November 12, 2013
Services
Education
The University of Georgia, JD, magna cum laude, 1986
The University of Georgia, AB, magna cum laude, 1983
Arbitration Training and Skills Practicum, Henning Mediation & Arbitration Service Inc., 2014
Civil Mediation Training and Skills Practicum, Henning Mediation & Arbitration Service Inc., 2012
Bar Admissions
Georgia
Courts & Adjudicative Bodies
Court of Appeals of Georgia
Supreme Court of Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Accolades
America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® (Georgia), 2018-2019
Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
Georgia Super Lawyer, 2007
The University of Georgia, Order of the Coif, Order of Barristers, Phi Beta Kappa