J. MATTHEW MAGUIRE, JR. is a Partner in Balch & Bingham's Atlanta office and has served on the firm's executive committee. Matt is a trial lawyer with a diverse practice that includes litigating against government entities, construction and business litigation. A substantial amount of Matt's practice is devoted to the representation of government contractors in bid protests and related litigation. He also decides bid protests as a Fulton County Bid Protest Hearing Officer.
Matt has held Martindale-Hubbell's highest ability and ethical rating for lawyers since 2001. Matt was selected as a 2005 and 2006 Georgia Super Lawyer "Rising Star" by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine. In 2008, the Fulton County Daily Report selected Matt as one of twelve Georgia attorneys under the age of 40 who are "on the rise." (Read article). Matt serves as a board member of the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy and the Litigation Section of the Atlanta Bar Association.
Representative Experience
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- Lead plaintiff's counsel in a jury trial resulting in substantial damages assessed against Fulton County for selective enforcement of the law (affirmed on appeal at Fulton County v. Legacy Investment Group, LLC, 296 Ga App. 822, 676 S.E. 2d 388 (2009).
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Obtained reversal in Eleventh Circuit of a ruling that a large tax preparation service's non-compete covenant was unenforceable (H&R Block Eastern Enterprises v. Morris, 606 F. 3d 1285 (2010))
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Convinced the Georgia Supreme Court that the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs has no authority to investigate a law firm (State of Georgia v. Frederick J. Hanna & Associates, 2010 Ga. LEXIS 421).
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Successfully defended a consortium of bidders against claims that they violated the Sherman Act and state procurement rules prohibiting collusion among bidders.
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Lead trial counsel in a successful action to strike down an unconstitutional moratorium on the issuance of building permits.
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Lead trial counsel for a businessman seeking to recover his ownership interest in a consulting business, which resulted in significant punitive damage and attorneys' fees awards.
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Won dismissal of an action brought by a city against current and former city council members seeking personal liability for city debts based upon alleged conflicts of interest.
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Won dismissal of a State Ethics Commission proceeding against a sitting superior court judge.
- Filed protest on behalf of an unsuccessful bidder which resulted in the contract being awarded to that bidder.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- State Bar of Georgia
- Lawyers Club of Atlanta
- Atlanta Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Technology Association of Georgia (Government Relations Task Force)