Willie C. Ellis, Jr.
Willie (“Will”) C. Ellis is an associate in the Business Litigation Group at Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP. He concentrates his practice on the representation of corporate, municipal, and individual clients in commercial and contractual disputes, business torts, bad-faith, construction, employment discrimination, personal injury, and products liability matters. Will has defended and prosecuted claims on behalf of Fortune 500 corporations, corporate officers, municipalities, government officers, and healthcare facilities (including one of the largest hospital authorities in the Southeastern United States) in lawsuits, mediations, and pre-litigation matters. In addition, Will has extensive experience in estate and trust litigation. Furthermore, Will organizes and presents at continuing legal education seminars as well as at seminars designed to educate his clients on claim avoidance and litigation trends.
Professional Experience
Successful defense of a Fortune 500 company in a complex breach of contract lawsuit wherein the plaintiff demanded $30 Million for breach of contract, intellectual property infringement and wrongful termination of an exclusive distribution and supply agreement
Successful defense of a Fortune 500 company in a $45 Million complex contract dispute, involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and civil RICO claims
Defense of various common law, state and federal trademark and trade secret claims
Defense of component part manufacturer in federal multi-district litigation involving, inter alia, strict product liability (manufacturing defects, design defects and defective warnings), personal injury and wrongful death claims
Representation of one of the nation’s largest producer of paints and coatings in a variety of actions, including product liability and employment disputes in state and federal courts
Representation of corporate and municipal clients in race, sex, and age discrimination claims and disability claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act
Numerous summary judgments for clients on the issues of breach, duty, causation and damages.
Professional affiliations
- State Bar of Georgia
- State Bar of New York
- Atlanta Bar Association
- Employment, Litigation, Fiduciary, Products Liability and Contracts Sections
- Gate City Bar Association
- Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
- Chairman of Younger Lawyer Division
Presentations
"Ethical Dilemmas," GDLA Young Lawyer Seminar, Atlanta, Georgia
"Equity as a Source of Contract Remedies," State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia
Practice areas
Education
J.D., New York Law School, 2003
B.S., Political Science and Psychology, Clark Atlanta University, 1999
Bar admissions
- Georgia
- New York
Courts
- Courts of Law and Equity of Georgia
- Courts of Law and Equity of New York
- United States Court of Appeals (Eleventh Circuit)
- United States District (Northern District of Georgia)