J. David Hopkins
Top rated Business Litigation attorney in Atlanta, Georgia
J. David Hopkins Law LLCPractice Areas: Business Litigation, Civil Litigation, General Litigation; view more
Licensed in Georgia since: 1995
Education: William & Mary Law School
Details
As the founding partner of J. David Hopkins Law LLC, David Hopkins serves clients in the Atlanta area and throughout Georgia. He focuses his practice on business law, with a particular interest in cases involving breach of contract, construction disputes, fraud and unfair business practices, among other issues.
Prior to starting his own practice in 2013, Mr. Hopkins was a partner at Locke Lord LLP, a large firm with international reach, where he practiced for 11 years. Before that, he was an attorney with Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, another international firm. He is admitted to practice in all state courts of Georgia, as well as in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Hopkins has been involved in numerous cases with tens of millions of dollars at stake. In one, he helped investors recover $100 million that had been seized by the SEC as part of a company's receivership proceedings. In another case, he successfully defended a North Carolina city sued for $20 million by a pilot injured in an accident at the city's airport.
His achievements have earned Mr. Hopkins recognition from within the legal profession. Among other honors, the peer review service Martindale-Hubbell gave him the rating "AV Preeminent,"* its highest rating.
In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Hopkins is active in professional organizations, including the Atlanta Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Bar Foundation, is a member of the Honorary Board of the Atlanta Ballet, is a Director Emeritus of The Children's School in Atlanta, and is a former member of the Board of Directors of Kate's Club, a non-profit focused on assisting children grieving the loss of a parent or sibling.
*AV-Preeminent and BV-Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Business Litigation, Civil Litigation: Defense, General Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Construction Litigation: Business, Insurance CoverageFocus areas
Bad Faith Insurance, Construction Defects, Insurance, Litigation, Non-Compete Agreements, Restraining Order, Trade Secret
- 20% Business Litigation
- 20% Civil Litigation: Defense
- 20% General Litigation
- 20% Intellectual Property Litigation
- 10% Construction Litigation: Business
- 10% Insurance Coverage
First Admitted: 1995, Georgia
Professional Webpage: http://www.jdhopkinslaw.com/about/
- Member, Board of Directors of Atlanta Bar Foundation
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, State Bar of Georgia Business Court Committee (former)
- All State and Superior Courts of Georgia
- Member, State Bar of Georgia Committee on Judicial Procedures & Administration/Uniform Rules (former)
- The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
- The Georgia Court of Appeals
- Member, Atlanta Bar Association
- The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- The Supreme Court of Georgia
- Securities and Exchange Commission v. Mutual Benefits Corporation, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (2005). In SEC initiated securities fraud action, secured release to investors of $100 million escrow fund seized by court-appointed receiver as asset of receivership estate
- Curtis Investment v. Bayerische Hypo-Und Vereinsbank, et al. 2007 WL 4564133 (N.D. Ga. 2007) – Secured dismissal of federal RICO action arising out of IRS challenge to allegedly improper tax shelter
- Friends of Piedmont Park v. The Atlanta Botanical Garden, Fulton County Superior Court, State of Georgia (2007). Obtained summary judgment for Atlanta Botanical Garden ("ABG") in suit to "Stop the Deck" in Piedmont Park. Plaintiffs alleged ABG was subject to Open Records Act and constructing parking facility in violation of state statutory and constitutional law. Case subject of extensive coverage in various media, including the Atlanta Journal Constitution, National Public Radio and television news
- Rumble v. Waterhouse, et al. 2007 WL 2506698 (M.D. Ga. 2007) – Secured dismissal of federal RICO class action arising out of allegedly fraudulent automobile insurance sales
- Exeter Shipping v. Kilakos, et al. 310 F. Supp. 2d 1301 (N.D. Ga. 2004) – Secured dismissal of international commercial fraud claims on basis of lack of personal jurisdiction and the doctrine of forum non-conveniens
- Kingdom Insurance Group v. United Healthcare Insurance Company, File No. 4:11-cv02103 (S.D. Tx. 2012) – On behalf of United Healthcare, secured dismissal of multi-million dollar fraud and breach of contract claims arising from Medicare Advantage brokerage relationship with United
- Barry Hyde v. The City of Concord, N.C., State Court of North Carolina, Cabarrus County General Court of Justice (2005). Obtained summary judgment for the city of Concord in its defense of $20,000,000 negligence claim filed by pilot for injuries sustained in airplane crash after lift-off from City airport. Plaintiff pilot suffered severe brain damage, including loss of sight, smell and taste. Decision affirmed June 6, 2006 by North Carolina Court of Appeals
- General Star v. Elan Motorsports, et al. 356 F. Supp. 2d 1333 (N.D. Ga. 2004) – Secured grant of summary judgment to Plaintiff against parent of judgment debtor on basis that parent was legal successor to subsidiary
- Board of Directors, The Atlanta Ballet
- Board of Directors, The Atlanta Bar Foundation, 2022
- Board of Directors, Kate's Club (former)
- Board of Directors, The Children's School
- Georgia Super Lawyer 2011-2025, Atlanta Magazine
- A.V. Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- Best Lawyers In America, Best Lawyers, Commercial Litigation, Best Lawyers in America
- Top Rated Lawyer in Commercial Litigation 2012, 2013, 2014, The American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel
- University of Virginia, B.A., 1988
- American Bar Association's RICO News - State RICO Claims Based On Federal Predicates May Be Removable To Federal Court Under Recent Eleventh Circuit Decision
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2011 - 2025