Michael A. Caplan

Business Litigation

Mike serves as lead counsel to Fortune 100 companies, closely-held businesses, directors, corporate officers, entrepreneurs, and investors. His experience spans a broad array of complex business litigation. He has recovered over $300 million on behalf of business plaintiffs in antitrust, contract, fiduciary-duty, trade secret, and RICO actions. Michael has also successfully defended companies in SEC, FTC, and CFPB investigations, business tort cases, and class actions involving substantial exposure.

Class Actions

Mike prosecutes and defends class actions involving antitrust, employment benefits, telecommunications, and securities fraud. He has successfully represented plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes class actions, securing significant recoveries and favorable resolutions.

Constitutional & Public Interest Litigation

Mike has been recognized for his work in public interest litigation. He was instrumental in obtaining the release of Justin Chapman, who was wrongfully convicted of murder and incarcerated for over 8 years. Michael’s work in this case earned him the Southern Center for Human Rights’ inaugural Gideon’s Promise Award for achieving significant reforms to Georgia’s indigent defense system.

Appellate Practice

Mike is known for his appellate work, described as “exceptional,” “of the highest quality,” and “meticulous and incredibly thorough.” He works closely with trial counsel to ensure that appeals are effectively handled, often securing favorable outcomes in complex appellate matters.

Mediation

Mike is a licensed mediator, uniquely positioned to serve in high-stakes and challenging civil matters. With his diverse legal experience and business acumen, Michael brings a practical approach to resolving disputes through mediation.

Business Litigation

• Successfully defended the Albany-Dougherty County Hospital Authority against an FTC antitrust challenge to the merger of Phoebe Putney and Palmyra hospitals, resulting in a landmark decision on state action immunity in the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Recovered $112.25 million in a price-fixing conspiracy case brought in federal court in Atlanta, one of the highest antitrust settlements in Georgia.
• Represented the City of Atlanta in a case under the Georgia Taxpayer Protection False Claims Act, alleging a price-fixing and bid-rigging conspiracy in the sale of water treatment chemicals.
• Secured a multi-million-dollar settlement on behalf of a private equity firm in a business torts and UFTA case.
• Obtained a seven-figure settlement for a telecommunications company in a breach-of-contract case.
• Negotiated a favorable resolution in a dispute between joint venture partners in the financial services sector, praised for his skilled and effective lawyering.
• Won a favorable jury verdict in a high-stakes commercial lease dispute against a national telecommunications company.
• Negotiated a favorable six-figure lease buyout on behalf of a commercial landlord.
• Secured a favorable resolution for a hotel developer in a dispute with a licensor.

Class Actions

• Won certification and recovered $112.25 million in an antitrust class action on behalf of a nationwide class of insulation contractors.
• Successfully defended a publicly-traded consulting firm in a class action alleging fraud and economic damages, securing a favorable pre-discovery resolution.
• Represented a state-chartered bank in appellate litigation concerning the enforceability of class action litigation waivers.

Constitutional & Tort Litigation

• Represented a class of indigent defendants, achieving comprehensive systemic reform of Georgia’s system for providing appellate indigent defense.
• Recovered $3.25 million in a personal injury action involving an injury at Atlanta Airport.
• Secured the maximum insurance limits in a personal injury action involving a bus accident.

• Chambers USA, Commercial Litigation
• Best Lawyers©, Commercial Litigation
• Super Lawyer, Business Litigation (Super Lawyers Magazine)
• AV Preeminent Rating—highest rating for legal ability and professional ethics (Martindale-Hubbell)
• “On the Rise” (40 under 40), Fulton County Daily Report (2013)
• Rising Star in Business Litigation (Super Lawyers Magazine) (2010, 2013-2020)
• Legal Elite in Business Law (Georgia Trend Magazine) (2014)
• Gideon’s Promise Award, Southern Center for Human Rights (2012)
• Avvo.com 10.0 Rating (Superb) in Litigation

• Board of Directors, Southern Center for Human Rights
• Board of Directors, Central Outreach and Advocacy Center for the Homeless
• Planning Committee, Annual Georgia Bar Media & Judiciary Conference
• American Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association
• Atlanta Bar Association
• Member, Center for Professional Responsibility
• Barrister, Lumpkin Inn of Court, University of Georgia School of Law
• Indigent Defense Committee, State Bar of Georgia

• Panelist, Building New Trust in Government?: The City of Atlanta Takes a Fresh Step Towards Transparency That May Become a National Model, 28th Annual Georgia Bar Media & Judiciary Conference
• Panelist, Appellate Briefs: What Works and What Doesn’t, presented at the Appellate Practice Seminar, Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia
• Panelist, Impact Litigation, presented to the Individual Rights Section of the Georgia State Bar
• Panelist, The Right to Counsel in Civil Cases, presented by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia
• Panelist, Public Interest Work in the Private Sector, presented to the University of Georgia School of Law
• Panelist, Fee Applications in Civil Rights Litigation, presented by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia
• Panelist, Appellate Preparation and Oral Argument,”presented to the Georgia State University School of Law
• Putting GPDSC in Executive Branch Created a Legal Quandary, Fulton County Daily Report
• The Status of Appellate Challenges to the 2005 Tort Reform Provisions, The Litigator

• Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore LLP