Linda A. Klein

Linda A. Klein is managing shareholder in the Firm's Georgia offices and a member of the Firm's Board of Directors. She is the Chair of the ABA House of Delegates for the 2010 – 2012 term. Her practice includes most types of business dispute resolution, including contract law, construction law, fidelity and surety law, employment law and professional liability. In 1998, Georgia Trend Magazine named her one of the 100 most powerful and influential Georgians. Atlanta Magazine has named her a Georgia Super Lawyer and one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Georgia annually since 2004. In 2010 and 2011, she was named by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of Georgia's Legal Elite. In 2004 the American Bar Association honored Ms. Klein with the prestigious Margaret Brent Achievement Award.  In 2009 Ms. Klein was honored with the Randolph Thrower Award for Lifetime Achievement and was named to the YWCA Academy of Women Achievers.  Ms. Klein is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, Who's Who in America and Chambers USA.

In June 1997, Ms. Klein became the first woman to serve as President of the State Bar of Georgia. She served as Chair of the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association from 2003 to 2004. She is a Past Chair of the Committee on Rules and Calendar of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association and Chair of the Association's Coalition for Justice. She also currently holds numerous Board of Director positions, including Southface Energy Institute and Neighbor to Family. She is a Past President of the Board of Directors' Network, Past President of the Caucus of State Bars, and Past Chair of the Institute for Continuing Legal Education in Georgia and the Lawyers Foundation of Georgia. She currently serves on the advisory boards of Best Lawyers in America® and Super Lawyers.

Ms. Klein has authored numerous published works, most on construction topics. Her lecture schedule has included presentations in France, Sweden, Spain and Canada, but most extensively in the Southeast United States. She is a member of the American Law Institute, and a certified mediator and arbitrator, frequently serving as a neutral as well as a client advocate.

Publications & Speaking Engagements

• Commencement Address, Washington & Lee Law School, May 5, 2012
• Featured – "First and No Longer Counting: Linda Klein is Exemplary; Back in the Day, She Knew She Had to Be," Georgia Super Lawyers, 2012
• Featured – "Chair of ABA Policy-Making Body Describes Work of Profession's 'Best and Brightest,'" ABA video, August 6, 2011
• "TAKING THE LEAD: Having a Winning Reputation with Engaged Employees," May/June 2011 Law Practice Magazine, Volume 37 Number 3
• Ethics Topics
• "It Could Happen to You: A Discussion of Ethical Choices Lawyers Make in Everyday Practice," Georgia Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, March 13, 2012
• "Ethics and Professionalism for Young Lawyers," Civil Litigation Seminar, ICLE, Georgia, April 23, 2004
• "Sarbanes Oxley and the General Practitioner," ICLE, Georgia, Statewide Broadcast, November 7, 2003
• "Beyond the Billable Hour," American Bar Association Annual Legal Malpractice Symposium, New Orleans, April 25, 2003
• "Multidisciplinary Practice: Is it Possible After Enron?," ICLE, Georgia, Statewide Broadcast, February 8, 2002
• "Ethics Issues for Your Practice," ICLE, Georgia, taped for Statewide Broadcast on November 2, 2001
• "Multidisciplinary Practice Issues in Commercial Real Estate," ICLE, Georgia, November 1, 2001
• "How To Start a Successful Professionalism Commission," Mid Year Meeting of the American Bar Association, San Diego, February 16, 2001
• "Law Practice Management: Ethics, Conflicts and Money," ICLE Georgia, January 11, 2001
• "New Trends in the Legal Profession, Multidisciplinary Practice, Multijurisdictional Practice and Others," Atlanta Bar Association, December 7, 2000
• "The New Ethics Rules and How They Could Change Your Practice," ICLE Georgia, November 17, 2000
• "Handling Conflicts of Interest," ICLE Georgia June 16, 2000
• "Multidisciplinary Practice," Litigation Section, Atlanta Bar Association, March 10, 2000
• "Can a Small Firm Compete Despite Multidisciplinary Practice?," Solo Small Firm Section, Atlanta Bar Association, January 27, 2000
• "Gender Issues in the Profession," Legal Issues Affecting Women, ICLE Georgia, January 7, 2000
• "Will We Have Multidisciplinary Practice in Georgia?" Georgia State University Alumni, January 7, 2000
• Community Organizations
• "Inspiration to Lead," Women in Leadership, Turknett Group, Atlanta, July 22, 2005
• "Employment Issues Before and After: Employment Law Considerations for New Business Owners," SCORE Atlanta, September 9, 2004
• "Empowering Women," AAUW, North Georgia Chapter, January 12, 2004
• "How We Succeeded," Women in Business Graduate Class, Kennesaw State University
• "Leading Successful Meetings," Possible Woman Conference, April 17, 2002
• "Women in Corporate Leadership," Middle Georgia Women Leaders Forum, March 5, 2002
• "Climbing the Ladder of Success: What Everyone Should Know about the Business of Law Firms," University of Georgia Law School, February 27, 2002
• "The Growing Number of Women in the Corporate Boardroom," University of Georgia School of Business, February 27, 2002
• "How to Run a Successful Meeting," Atlanta Women's Alliance, August 25, 2001
• "Views from the Board of Directors," Commercial Real Estate Women, Atlanta, September 7, 2000
• "Top Tips for Small Business," Women's Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta, April 5, 2000
• "Getting into Law School," Georgia State University Pre-Law Club, February 22, 2000
• Dispute Resolution Topics
• "Resolving Board Room Conflicts," Atlanta Women's Foundation, Women on Board Training, July 23, 2005
• "The Green Tree Case and Class Action Arbitrations," Moderator, ICLE Georgia, November 22, 2003
• "Mediation Skill Building," Facilitator for most experienced mediators workshop, 10th Annual ADR Institute and Neutrals Conference, November 22, 2003
• "Arbitration in the New Millennium," American Arbitration Association, Joint Program, January 25, 2001
• Construction Topics
• "Negotiation Strategies for Handling Disputes in Construction", Inside the Minds: Negotiating Construction Law Disputes, 2008 Thomas/Aspatore
• "Legal Issues for Professional Engineers," Seminar, Atlanta, Georgia, August 26, 2005
• "Analysis of a Design Problem: What to Do," Design Professional Group, Atlanta, March 30, 2005
• "To Build a Better Subcontract," AGC, Atlanta, Georgia, March 14, 2003
• "Ethical Considerations for Construction Lawyers," Construction Law for the General Practitioner, ICLE, Georgia, October 5, 2001
• Litigation Topics
• "Deposition Practice in State and Federal Courts," Georgia, January 23, 2003; January 21, 2004; January 19, 2005
• "Employment Law and Domestic Violence," Partnership Against Domestic Violence, October 30, 2002
• "Defending Depositions in Georgia and Federal Courts," Georgia, January 23, 2002
• "Defending Depositions Considering Especially the New Federal Rules," Georgia, December 15, 2000
• Bar Associations
• "Bar Leadership Leads to Law Firm Leadership," Network of Leading Law Firms, November 4, 2004
• "Emerging Issues Facing Bar Associations," National Conference of Bar Presidents, Mid Year Meeting, San Diego, February 16, 2001
• "Running for Bar Office," ICLE Georgia, September 15, 2000

Professional Honors & Activities

• State Government-Related Activities:
• Vice-Chair – Georgia Supreme Court Commission on Equality, 1998 – Current
• Authority Member – Georgia Superior Court Clerks Co-operative Authority, 2002 – 2005
• Blue Ribbon Commission on the Judiciary, 1999 – 2001
• Judicial Council Committee to Distribute Domestic Violence Funding, 1998 – Current
• Treasurer – Law Related Education Consortium, 1999 – 2001; Executive Committee, current
• Board of Directors – Institute for Continuing Judicial Education, 1998 – 1999
• Judicial Nominating Commission, State of Georgia, 1997 – 1998
• Judicial Qualifications Commission, Committee to Study Canon 7, Judicial Campaigns, 1997
• Committee to Advise Sen. Cleland on Judicial Vacancy in ND GA, thrice appointed, 1997 – 1999
• Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism, 1997 – 1999
• Ex-Officio, Council of Superior Court Judges, Committee on Uniform Rules, 1990 – 1997
• Commission on Alternative Dispute Resolution, 1997 – 1998
• Local Bar-Related Activities
• Atlanta Legal Aid Society Campaign Chair, 2004
• Atlanta Bar Association – Board of Directors, Atlanta Council of Younger Lawyers, 1985 – 1989; Chair; Commission on Uniform Rules of Court, 1985 – 1989
• Georgia Association for Women Lawyers
• Charter Member, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Georgia Chapter
• Gate City Bar
• Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys
• Caucus of State Bar Associations
• President, 2001 – 2002; Executive Committee, 1998 – 2005; President-elect, 2001
• Delegate 1998 – Current
• Southern Conference of Bar Presidents, 1996 – Current
• Community Activities
• Board of Directors – Buckhead Coalition
• Co-chair – Friends Committee of  the National Association of Women Judges mid-year meeting and Southeastern Leadership Conference, 2009
• Board of Directors – Brain Injury Association of Georgia, 1998 – 2003; Executive Committee, 2000 – 2001; Chair, Public Affairs Cabinet, 2000 – 2001; Chair, Legislative Committee, 1998 – 1999; Chair, Special Committee on Legislation 1993 – 1998
• Board of Directors – Southface Energy Institute (Not for profit organization that promotes sustainable development), 1994 – Current; Chair, Board Development Committee, 1999-Current; Chair, Legal Committee, 1994 – 2000
• Board of Directors – Board of Directors Network (Not for profit organization with a mission to diversify corporate boards of directors), President, 2001; Board of Directors, 1998 – Current; Chair, Women of Color in Corporate Governance Program 2001; Chair, Program Committee, 2002; Moderator, Women Presidents Forum, 2000; Co-Chair, Membership Division, 1999
• Board of Directors – Leadership America, 2002-Current; Leadership America Class of 2001; Leadership America Foundation, 2001-Current
• Board of Directors and Secretary – Neighbor to Family, 2005-Current
• Board of Directors – Safe Kids of Georgia, 2005 – Current
• Women's Forum of Georgia (local affiliate of the International Women's Forum), 1999 – Current; Board of Directors, 2005-Current
• Atlanta Women's Alliance, 2000 – 2001; (non-profit) Women Presidents and Board Chairs
• Scholarship Fundraising Committee, Cool Girls, 2003-2004
• Leadership Georgia, Class of 1997; Leadership Georgia Foundation 1997 – Current
• Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2000; Leadership Atlanta Foundation, 2000 – Current
• Co-Chair – National Association of Women Judges, Local Friends Committee, 1996
• Recent Awards
• Recipient of the State Bar of Georgia's Chief Justice Thomas O. Marshall Professionalism Award
• Recipient of the inaugural "Fastcase 50" award, 2011
• Fellows of the American Bar Association Outstanding State Chair Award, 2010
• YWCA Women of Achievement Award saluting women who embody the YWCA's mission of empowering women and eliminating racism, 2009
• State Bar of Georgia Randolph W. Thrower Commitment to Equality Award, 2009
• Listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers in the area of Construction, since 2009
• Listed in Georgia Super Lawyers since 2004 
• Named to the Lawdragon 3000 (2010)
• Named by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2010 and 2011 as one of Georgia's Legal Elite 
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the areas of Insurance Law and Arbitration and Mediation since 2006
• The Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award, 2004
• Atlanta Bar Association's Outstanding Woman in the Profession Achievement Award, 2001 (first recipient)
• Atlanta Magazine's Woman Making a Mark, 2001
• Sol H. Clark Pro Bono Award, 1999
• Georgia Association for Women Lawyers Woman Lawyer of Achievement Award, 1999
• Partnership Against Domestic Violence Award, 1998
• Georgia Minority/Elected and Appointed Officials Naomi Henson Humanitarian Award, 1998
• ABA/TIPS Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2005
• State Bar-Related Activities
• President – State Bar of Georgia, June 1997-June 1998; Immediate Past President, June 1998 – June 1999
• President-elect – State Bar of Georgia, June 1996-June 1997; Secretary, June 1994 – June 1996
• Chair – Board of Trustees (Georgia) Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1998 – 1999; served on the Board, 1994 – 2000;
• Vice-Chair Equality Commission, 2000 – 2005
• Chair – Task Force on Multidisciplinary Practice, 1999 – 2001
• Chair – State Bar of Georgia Uniform Rules Committee, 1992 – 1996
• Board of Directors – Georgia Bar Foundation, 1996-1998; 2005 – 2007
• Chair, Lawyers' Foundation of Georgia, 2005 – 2007, Board of Directors and Vice-Chair, 1998 – 2005
• Board of Directors – Georgia Access to Justice Project, 1998 – 1999
• Co-Chair – Statewide Judicial Evaluation Committee, 1994 – 1997
• Chair – Personnel Committee, 1992 – 1997
• Chair – Program Committee, 1995 – 1997
• Vice Chair – State Bar of Georgia Professional Liability Committee, 1988 – 1994
• Advisory Committee on Legislation, State Bar of Georgia, 1994 – 1999
• Bench & Bar Committee, Fifth Judicial District (Atlanta), 1990 – 1996
• General Counsel Overview Committee, 1994 – 1997
• Law Practice Management Advisory Committee, 1994 – 1997
• Evidence Code Revision Committee, 1988 – 1994
• Post-Conviction Study Committee, 1991 – 1997
• Budget Committee, 1994 – 1997
• Bar Center Committee (Purchase of the Federal Reserve Building for a Bar Center), 1996
• ABA-Related Activities
• Chair of the House of Delegates, 2010 – 2012
• Chair of the Committee on Rules & Calendar of the House of Delegates, 2006 – 2008
• Chair of the Coalition for Justice, 2006 – 2010
• Select Committee of the House of Delegates, 2004 – 2006
• Standing Committee on State and Local Bar Activities, 2001 – 2004
• Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services, 2000 – 2001
• Standing Committee on Publication Oversight, 2004 – 2010
• The Commission on the American Judiciary, 2005
• Section of Tort & Insurance Practice (TIPS)
• Section Chair, 2003 – 2004
• Section Chair-Elect & Vice Chair, 2001 – 2003, respectively
• Council Member, 1998 – 2005
• Chair – Trial Techniques Committee, 1991 – 1992; Chair-elect, 1990 – 1991; Newsletter editor, 1988 – 1990
• Chair – Task Force Outreach to State & Local Bar Associations, 1998 – 2001
• Chair – Annual Meeting Program Committee, 1996 – 1997
• ABA/TIPS Committee, 2002 – 2005; Chair-elect, 2005 – 2006
• Diversity Committee, 2005 –
• Financial Committee, 1998 – 2000
• Membership Committee, 2000 – 2001
• Long Range Planning Committee, 1993 – 1996; 2001 – 2002; Committee Chair, 2001 – 2002; Chair, Subcommittee on Publications, 1995 – 1996; Chair, Subcommittee on Empowerment and Governance, 1994 – 1995; Chair, Subcommittee on Section Name, 1993 – 1994
• CLE Board, 1996 – 1997
• Communications Coordinating Group, 1995 – 1997
• Professionalism Committee, 1996 – 1998
• Vice Chair – Fidelity & Surety Committee; Co-Chair, Membership Division, 1993-1994; Chair, Legislative Division, 1994-1995
• Membership Involvement Committee, 1992 – 1993
• National Conference of Bar Presidents
• Executive Council, 1998 – 2001
• Nominating Committee, 2002 and 2003
• Chair – Sponsorship Committee, 1997 – 2000
• Chair – Emerging Issues Committee, 2000-2001, premier year for this committee
• Producer – "One Minute to Midnight, Dealing with Crisis in Your Bar Association," 2000
• Producer – "Multidisciplinary Practice and Legal Services to the Poor," 2000
• Producer – "Raising Your Bar," Atlanta, 1999
• Presenter – "How to Make Your Annual Meeting a Hit," San Antonio, January 1997
• Section Officers' Conference
• Chair – Class of American Bar Association Section Vice-Chair's, 2001 – 2002
• Chair – Class of American Bar Association Section Chair-Elects, 2002 – 2003
• Chair – Annual Section Officers' Conference Programming, 2003
• Speaker – Section Officers' Conference Meeting, 2004
• Other Section Activities
• Litigation Section-Annual Meeting Planning Committee, Atlanta meeting, 1999;
• Forum on the Construction Industry;
• Labor & Employment Law Section;
• Law Practice Management Section
• Other Law-Related Activities
• Best Lawyers Advisory Board, 2011 –
• Eleventh Circuit Judicial Conference – 1999 Conference Planning Committee
• Life Fellow – American Bar Foundation
• American Law Institute – Elected Member, 2002 – Current; Program Committee, ALI-ABA, 2006 – 2008
• College of Law Practice Management – Elected 2005
• American Arbitration Association – Panel of Arbitrators (Commercial and Construction Panels; Certified Mediator)
• Founding Member – The Georgia Academy of Mediators & Arbitrators

Education

• Washington & Lee University, J.D., 1983
• Order of the Coif, Honorary Member 
• Union College, B.A., 1980, cum laude