Gerald B. Kline

Partner

Atlanta, Georgia

Gerald Kline practices complex dispute resolution and business transaction law as a partner in the Firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Corporate and Business and Employment Law Departments. For more than forty years, individuals and entities alike have chosen Mr. Kline as their lead counsel to litigate and arbitrate their “bet the farm” cases. His parallel transactional law background complements his effectiveness as a trial lawyer in entity acquisition, corporate governance, trade infringement, regulatory and business fraud disputes. Mr. Kline represents a diverse clientele: employees, officers, directors, public investors, SEC-registered persons, minority and majority shareholders, professionals, entrepreneurs, closely held entities, acquisition parties, fund managers, securities issuers, financial institutions and public companies in their disputes and business transactions. He is also a Registered Mediator who provides dispute resolution services.

Mr. Kline supports his clients in a myriad of disputes and transactions, including:

• Shareholder, member and partner governance disputes;

• Entity formation, employment and arbitration agreements;

• Business breakups;

• M&A disputes and transactions;

• Trust and estate fiduciary disputes;

• Restrictive covenant, IP and trade secret contracts and disputes;

• Unfair trade practices and business disparagement;

• Business fraud, RICO and other tort interference claims;

• Officer and director indemnification;

• Securities fraud and offering disputes;

• SEC inquiries and investigations;

• Broker-dealer/investment adviser compliance;

• Insurance coverage disputes; and

• Major contract disputes

Mr. Kline enjoys speaking to bar groups, business owners and other professionals about his practice areas. He has been interviewed on local radio and in print media.

Affiliations

  • Anti-Defamation League, Southeast Region Board of Trustees
  • Atlanta Bar Association: Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section (current Board Member); Commercial Litigation Section; and Securities Law Subsection
  • Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (admission by invitation only): Member, Commercial Litigation Section (past Chair and Vice Chair); Alternative Dispute Resolution Section (current Chair and past Vice Chair); Intellectual Property Law Section; and Insurance Coverage Section
  • Lawyers Club of Atlanta, Member
  • State Bar of Georgia: Member, Fiduciary Law Section, Business Law Section
  • Vi and Milton Weinstein Hospice, Board of Advisor

Recognitions

  • Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

Practice Areas

  • Corporate & Business
  • Corporate & Shareholder Governance & Liability
  • Employment
  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution
  • Litigation & RICO Act Claims
  • White Collar Defense
  • White-Collar Criminal Defense

Education

  • Washington University in St. Louis, JD, 1977
  • Vanderbilt University, BA, cum laude, 1974

Bar Admissions

  • Georgia

Courts

  • Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution
  • Supreme Court of Georgia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

insights

“Sticks and Stones May Break One’s Bones, But Words Can Ruin a Business: Protecting Your Client from Commercial Disparagement,” FDCC

March 1st, 2016

In 2016, Gerald Kline co-authored “Sticks and Stones May Break One’s Bones, But Words Can Ruin a Business: Protecting Your Client from…

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insights

“Innovation Trumps Imitation: Outrunning the Bootleggers – How to Litigate Your Client’s Counterfeit Product Claims,” FDCC

March 3rd, 2014

In 2014, Gerald Kline co-authored “Innovation Trumps Imitation: Outrunning the Bootleggers – How to Litigate Your Client’s Counterfeit…

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insights

“Officer/Director Indemnification Law: A Panoramic View,” Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel

March 1st, 2012

In 2012, Gerald Kline co-authored “Officer/Director Indemnification Law: A Panoramic View,” for the Federation of Defense & Corporate…

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insights

“Regulation Mania: Perspectives on Dodd-Frank’s Implementation,” Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel

March 1st, 2012

In 2012, Gerald Kline co-authored “Regulation Mania: Perspectives on Dodd-Frank’s Implementation,” for the Federation of Defense &…

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insights

“Chapter 23,” Securities Arbitration in the Market Meltdown Era: Achieving Fairness in Perception and Reality

August 3rd, 2009

Gerald Kline co-authored Chapter 23, “Selected Recent Developments in Indemnification and Advancement for Officers, Directors, Investment…

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insights

“Chapter 31,” Securities Arbitration Handbook 2004

August 2nd, 2004

In the 2004 edition of the Practising Law Institute’s Securities Arbitration Handbook, Gerald Kline co-authored Chapter 31, “The U.S….

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insights

“The Wall Street Analyst: Rise and Fall of a Rock Star,” Practising Law Institute: Securities Arbitration Handbook 2002

August 1st, 2002

In the 2002 edition of the Practising Law Institute’s Securities Arbitration Handbook, Gerald Kline co-authored a chapter, “The Wall…

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insights

“Liability of Clearing Firms: Traditional and Developing Perspectives,” Securities Arbitration Handbook 1998

August 3rd, 1998

In the 1998 edition of the Practising Law Institute’s Securities Arbitration Handbook, Gerald Kline co-authored a Chapter 27, “Liability…

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