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Marquetta J. Bryan
Partner
201 17th Street NW
Suite 1700
Atlanta, GA 30363
Marquetta concentrates her practice in the areas of labor and employment law counseling and litigation, commercial litigation, investigations and education law. Marquetta also has experience in procurement and contract matters, including providing advice and counsel to governmental entities/departments on the procurement process, including acquisition planning, award determinations, purchasing policies, protests, contract negotiation, review and administration...
Marquetta concentrates her practice in the areas of labor and employment law counseling and litigation, commercial litigation, investigations and education law. Marquetta also has experience in procurement and contract matters, including providing advice and counsel to governmental entities/departments on the procurement process, including acquisition planning, award determinations, purchasing policies, protests, contract negotiation, review and administration and claims resolution.
Marquetta also has insurance defense litigation experience, and has represented insureds in various commercial and civil matters, which have included premises liability, construction, municipal liability and coverage issues.
Marquetta has represented clients before the District Courts of Georgia, the Eleventh Circuit, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the state courts of Georgia, and other administrative hearing bodies, including the State Board of Education. She monitors legal trends that may impact clients' businesses and assists them in implementing proactive measures in anticipation of those trends.
In addition to being a trusted partner and advocate for her clients, Marquetta also serves litigants in mediation and arbitration as a neutral. She also serves as an administrative hearing officer for various government entities.
and claims resolution.
Marquetta also has insurance defense litigation experience, and has represented insureds in various commercial and civil matters, which have included premises liability, construction, municipal liability and coverage issues.
Marquetta has represented clients before the District Courts of Georgia, the Eleventh Circuit, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the state courts of Georgia, and other administrative hearing bodies, including the State Board of Education. She monitors legal trends that may impact clients' businesses and assists them in implementing proactive measures in anticipation of those trends.
In addition to being a trusted partner and advocate for her clients, Marquetta also serves litigants in mediation and arbitration as a neutral. She also serves as an administrative hearing officer for various government entities.
Experience
Experience
- Has provided advice and counsel to public and private entities related to education and employment law and litigation, and also related to general litigation, civil rights, contract, and municipal liability matters.
- Has experience in directing, overseeing, and engaging in management of employment legal activities, including risk management and compliance, pre-suit matters, internal investigations, organizational structure, compliance with labor directives, development, and review of policies and procedure.
- Has experience in managing litigation, including pre-suit investigation, discovery, pretrial, trial/administrative/tribunal personnel and disciplinary hearings, mediation, and appeals.
- Has developed and managed procurement.
Previous Professional Experience
- Partner, Atlanta law firm, and Co-Chair of Education Practice Group
- Regional Attorney Advisor and Trial Attorney (Defensive Litigation), United States Department of Housing & Urban Development
- Provided counsel and defense to agency and its key personnel before courts and administrative boards in civil litigation, including employment and personnel, administrative law and federal contract dispute matters
- Initiated Fair Housing complaints on behalf of the agency
- Monitored the spending and litigation activities of federal funding recipients pursuant to HUD regulations
- Cleveland, Ohio, Summer Associate, International Law Firm
- Employment Law Clinic, Cleveland Marshall, Cleveland, Ohio, student clinician
- Office of the Executive Counsel to the Governor, Atlanta, legal intern
- Georgia Law Center of Homelessness and Poverty, Atlanta, paralegal advocate
Previous Educational Activities
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
- Cleveland State University Law Review, associate
- Vice Chair, University Judicial Board
- National Association of Women Lawyers, Outstanding Law Student
- Black Law Students Association, President
- Urban League, Outstanding Law Student
- Co-chair, Graduation Challenge
- Faculty Appointments Committee, Appointee
Education
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, JD, cum laude (2002)
- Emory University, BA, Sociology and Religion (1997)
Admissions
- Georgia
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
Practice Areas
Industries
Experience
- Has provided advice and counsel to public and private entities related to education and employment law and litigation, and also related to general litigation, civil rights, contract, and municipal liability matters.
- Has experience in directing, overseeing, and engaging in management of employment legal activities, including risk management and compliance, pre-suit matters, internal investigations, organizational structure, compliance with labor directives, development, and review of policies and procedure.
- Has experience in managing litigation, including pre-suit investigation, discovery, pretrial, trial/administrative/tribunal personnel and disciplinary hearings, mediation, and appeals.
- Has developed and managed procurement.
Previous Professional Experience
- Partner, Atlanta law firm, and Co-Chair of Education Practice Group
- Regional Attorney Advisor and Trial Attorney (Defensive Litigation), United States Department of Housing & Urban Development
- Provided counsel and defense to agency and its key personnel before courts and administrative boards in civil litigation, including employment and personnel, administrative law and federal contract dispute matters
- Initiated Fair Housing complaints on behalf of the agency
- Monitored the spending and litigation activities of federal funding recipients pursuant to HUD regulations
- Cleveland, Ohio, Summer Associate, International Law Firm
- Employment Law Clinic, Cleveland Marshall, Cleveland, Ohio, student clinician
- Office of the Executive Counsel to the Governor, Atlanta, legal intern
- Georgia Law Center of Homelessness and Poverty, Atlanta, paralegal advocate
Previous Educational Activities
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
- Cleveland State University Law Review, associate
- Vice Chair, University Judicial Board
- National Association of Women Lawyers, Outstanding Law Student
- Black Law Students Association, President
- Urban League, Outstanding Law Student
- Co-chair, Graduation Challenge
- Faculty Appointments Committee, Appointee
Media
Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law – Management (2023–2025), Litigation - Labor and Employment (2025)
- Legal 500 United States, Industry Focus: Education (2022–2023)
- Profiles in Diversity Journal, Black Leaders Worth Watching Award (2021)
- Atlanta Magazine, Women Making a Mark Honoree (2020)
- Rolling Out Magazine, Top 25 Woman of Atlanta Honoree
- Atlanta Tribune, "Woman to Watch" Honoree
- Who’s Who in Black Atlanta, Legal Services
- Junior League of Atlanta, Outstanding Committee (Chair) Award (2013)
- Co-founder, "If You Can See It, You Can Be It" (youth legal education project) (ABA Recognized)
- Strong Award, Girls, Inc. (2013)
- Justice Robert Benham Community Service Award, State Bar of Georgia and Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism (2014)
- Georgia Rising Star, Thomson Reuters (2010–2012)
- Young Lawyers Division Leadership Academy Graduate (2008)
- State Bar of Georgia Award, Outstanding Service to the Profession (2010)
- State Bar of Georgia Award, Outstanding Service to the Public (2011)
- State Bar of Georgia Award, Outstanding Service to the YLD (2012)
Professional Activities
- American Arbitration Association, Neutral
- American Bar Association
- Mediator
- Chair, Ethics Committee, Nelson Mullins
- Diversity Committee, Member, Nelson Mullins
- Women on the Go Affinity Group Leader, Nelson Mullins
- Executive Committee Representative at Large and former Vice President of the Board of Directors, Georgia Legal Services
- Committee to Promote Inclusion in the Profession, Member, State Bar of Georgia
- Access to Justice Committee, former Member, State Bar of Georgia
- Lawyers Club of Atlanta
- Board of Directors, State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Committee (2009–2012)
- GABWA Professional Development Academy, Faculty (2012–2013)
Community
- Board of Directors, Emory University
- Co-Chair, Black Attorney Advisory Committee, Georgia Legislative Black Caucus
- Immediate Past Chair of Board of Directors, Leadership DeKalb
- Past Chair, Current Member, Board of Directors, American Cancer Society (Georgia Board)
- Board of Directors, DeKalb Symphony Orchestra
Marquetta concentrates her practice in the areas of labor and employment law counseling and litigation, commercial litigation, investigations and education law. Marquetta also has experience in procurement and contract matters, including providing advice and counsel to governmental entities/departments on the procurement process, including acquisition planning, award determinations, purchasing policies, protests, contract negotiation, review and administration... and claims resolution.
Marquetta also has insurance defense litigation experience, and has represented insureds in various commercial and civil matters, which have included premises liability, construction, municipal liability and coverage issues.
Marquetta has represented clients before the District Courts of Georgia, the Eleventh Circuit, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the state courts of Georgia, and other administrative hearing bodies, including the State Board of Education. She monitors legal trends that may impact clients' businesses and assists them in implementing proactive measures in anticipation of those trends.
In addition to being a trusted partner and advocate for her clients, Marquetta also serves litigants in mediation and arbitration as a neutral. She also serves as an administrative hearing officer for various government entities.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Experience
- Has provided advice and counsel to public and private entities related to education and employment law and litigation, and also related to general litigation, civil rights, contract, and municipal liability matters.
- Has experience in directing, overseeing, and engaging in management of employment legal activities, including risk management and compliance, pre-suit matters, internal investigations, organizational structure, compliance with labor directives, development, and review of policies and procedure.
- Has experience in managing litigation, including pre-suit investigation, discovery, pretrial, trial/administrative/tribunal personnel and disciplinary hearings, mediation, and appeals.
- Has developed and managed procurement.
Previous Professional Experience
- Partner, Atlanta law firm, and Co-Chair of Education Practice Group
- Regional Attorney Advisor and Trial Attorney (Defensive Litigation), United States Department of Housing & Urban Development
- Provided counsel and defense to agency and its key personnel before courts and administrative boards in civil litigation, including employment and personnel, administrative law and federal contract dispute matters
- Initiated Fair Housing complaints on behalf of the agency
- Monitored the spending and litigation activities of federal funding recipients pursuant to HUD regulations
- Cleveland, Ohio, Summer Associate, International Law Firm
- Employment Law Clinic, Cleveland Marshall, Cleveland, Ohio, student clinician
- Office of the Executive Counsel to the Governor, Atlanta, legal intern
- Georgia Law Center of Homelessness and Poverty, Atlanta, paralegal advocate
Previous Educational Activities
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
- Cleveland State University Law Review, associate
- Vice Chair, University Judicial Board
- National Association of Women Lawyers, Outstanding Law Student
- Black Law Students Association, President
- Urban League, Outstanding Law Student
- Co-chair, Graduation Challenge
- Faculty Appointments Committee, Appointee
Education
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, JD, cum laude (2002)
- Emory University, BA, Sociology and Religion (1997)
Admissions
- Georgia
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation & Business Torts
- Dispute Resolution Solutions
- Employment & Labor
- Litigation
- Premises Liability
- Higher Education
Industries
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law – Management (2023–2025), Litigation - Labor and Employment (2025)
- Legal 500 United States, Industry Focus: Education (2022–2023)
- Profiles in Diversity Journal, Black Leaders Worth Watching Award (2021)
- Atlanta Magazine, Women Making a Mark Honoree (2020)
- Rolling Out Magazine, Top 25 Woman of Atlanta Honoree
- Atlanta Tribune, "Woman to Watch" Honoree
- Who’s Who in Black Atlanta, Legal Services
- Junior League of Atlanta, Outstanding Committee (Chair) Award (2013)
- Co-founder, "If You Can See It, You Can Be It" (youth legal education project) (ABA Recognized)
- Strong Award, Girls, Inc. (2013)
- Justice Robert Benham Community Service Award, State Bar of Georgia and Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism (2014)
- Georgia Rising Star, Thomson Reuters (2010–2012)
- Young Lawyers Division Leadership Academy Graduate (2008)
- State Bar of Georgia Award, Outstanding Service to the Profession (2010)
- State Bar of Georgia Award, Outstanding Service to the Public (2011)
- State Bar of Georgia Award, Outstanding Service to the YLD (2012)
- American Arbitration Association, Neutral
- American Bar Association
- Mediator
- Chair, Ethics Committee, Nelson Mullins
- Diversity Committee, Member, Nelson Mullins
- Women on the Go Affinity Group Leader, Nelson Mullins
- Executive Committee Representative at Large and former Vice President of the Board of Directors, Georgia Legal Services
- Committee to Promote Inclusion in the Profession, Member, State Bar of Georgia
- Access to Justice Committee, former Member, State Bar of Georgia
- Lawyers Club of Atlanta
- Board of Directors, State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Committee (2009–2012)
- GABWA Professional Development Academy, Faculty (2012–2013)
- Board of Directors, Emory University
- Co-Chair, Black Attorney Advisory Committee, Georgia Legislative Black Caucus
- Immediate Past Chair of Board of Directors, Leadership DeKalb
- Past Chair, Current Member, Board of Directors, American Cancer Society (Georgia Board)
- Board of Directors, DeKalb Symphony Orchestra
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