John Lloyd Watkins

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My practice concentrates on matters involving insurance coverage, trade secrets and confidential information, and international business. I also handle other complex commercial litigation.

On insurance coverage, I represent business policyholders in their dealings with their insurance carriers. This involves insurance coverage and bad faith litigation. It also can involve representing an insured's interests in connection with claims that are being handled by the carrier. For example, a carrier may be defending a claim against the insured, but may not be taking sufficient steps to settle the claim. I also review coverage for clients.

On matters involving trade secrets and confidential information, a common scenario would be representing a company where employees have left and appear to have taken confidential information. However, I sometimes also represent individuals who wish to leave a company and start their own business, but without getting into a dispute with their former employer. Much of this area involves technology. I co-lead the Cloud Computing and Cyber Security Practice team at Barnes & Thornburg. Check out our blog at http://www.btcloudcomputinglaw.com.

For international business, I represent German, other European, and Canadian companies in their general business dealings, including negotiating and drafting equipment supply contracts, terms and conditions, non-disclosure agreements, and other business contracts.

One of the biggest mistakes an international company can make is to assume that business is done -- particularly the legal aspects of business -- the same way in the U.S. as in its home country. We have developed the cultural sensitivity to understand these issues and to help explain the U.S. legal system to international companies. Check out my legal guide on AVVO about these issues.

I am active in the German American Chamber of Commerce, the British American Business Group, and other international groups. I am also active in the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce, and the Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, particularly with respect to international business.

My particular industry experience includes manufacturing and distribution, machinery and equipment (for engineered wood products, pulp and paper, metalforming, auto parts and other applications), insurance, mining, and natural gas distribution.

 My book, An Insider's Guide on Hiring a Business Attorney, provides a concise guide for business people and executives regarding how to find, evaluate, interview, hire, and work with a business attorney. It is available on Amazon, or, for more information, go to http://www.businessattorneyguide.com.

Barnes & Thornburg LLP is an Am Law 100 firm with about 550 professionals. It is headquartered in Indianapolis with offices in Atlanta, Washington D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles Minneapolis, Columbus, OH, Wilmington, DE and other cities.

The Atlanta office is relatively new and currently has about 20 lawyers, all with excellent credentials and experience. The firm has a nationally recognized insurance recovery practice, which is one of many things that attracted me to the firm. The firm also has substantial business and corporate law, intellectual property, and other capabilities.

We are located in Buckhead, which is the financial center of Atlanta, and are easy to reach from the airport, downtown or midtown.