Education: Mr. Reeves received his B.A. from the University of Georgia in 1971. He attended The University of Georgia’s School of Law, graduating in 1974. Mr. Reeves was active in the Moot Court Society, serving as an officer (1973-74) and was selected to the Order of the Barristers.

Profile: Mr. Reeves has been practicing law since 1974, primarily representing small and large businesses and individuals involved in civil litigation. He has successfully defended: professional liability claims against lawyers involving corporate governance and disclosure obligations and claims arising from failed investment funds; professional liability claims against health care providers; corporate officers accused of misfeasance and individuals and other entities allegedly involved in violations of federal and state securities laws. He has litigated other commercial and business disputes, including breach of contract, restrictive covenants, employment disputes and negligence claims.

Member: American Bar Association (Sections of Business Law, Litigation and Tort and Insurance Practice); State Bar of Georgia; Atlanta Bar Association;  Lawyers' Club of Atlanta; Georgia Defense Lawyer’s Association; and, Defense Research Institute (DRI).

Along with being admitted before the Georgia State and Superior Courts, Mr. Reeves has been admitted before Court of Appeals of Georgia, U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits; and the Supreme Court of the United States.

For six consecutive years, Mr. Reeves has been recognized as a Georgia “Super Lawyer” by Atlanta Magazine. He was selected in a poll of more than 24,000 attorneys who were asked to vote for the best lawyers they had personally observed in action. Those nominated were then screened by a Blue Ribbon Panel and are said to be among “the top five percent of the attorneys in Georgia.” Mr. Reeves was named as one of the 61 best lawyers in Georgia in his practice area, defending individuals and companies involved in civil litigation. The survey, conducted by Law & Politics Magazine and Atlanta Magazine, in the 2004-2009 issues of both magazines.

Work History:  Michael S. Reeves began his practice as Counsel to the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, where he was involved in drafting federal legislation creating the Cumberland Island National Seashore and numerous state statutes, including the Marshlands Protection Act, the Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act, the River Protection Act and various amendments to the Clean Air and Water acts.

Mr. Reeves joined a litigation firm in Atlanta in March, 1976, and in October, 1985, he and Mike Gorby started the firm which became Gorby, Reeves & Peters, P.C. In May, 2007, Mr. Reeves joined Friend, Hudak & Harris, LLP. Mr. Reeves’ practice has always involved civil and administrative trials and hearings. Mr. Reeves’ current practice includes: professional negligence, including legal malpractice; securities litigation, business disputes and various negligence claims. Mr. Reeves has experience with claims against corporate officers, business and contractual disputes (including breach of contract, indemnification and other issues arising from asset purchase and stock purchase agreements), employment disputes (discrimination, harassment, Family & Medical Leave, personnel policies and procedures, plant closings, unemployment, wage and hour, employment agreements, independent contractor, restrictive covenants: non-competition, non-solicitation, etc.); premises liability claims and insurance coverage issues.

Representative Cases:

Breach of contract litigation provides opportunity for a “business solution” - two corporations negotiated an agreement. Then, one company decided the contract was not legally enforceable. We handled litigation, causing the reluctant party to honor the agreement. We then assisted the business people in achieving a mutually beneficial business solution.

Allegations of corporate wrongdoing. A law firm and several of its lawyers became embroiled with its client and a number of corporate officers as defendants in litigation involving securities law, allegations of accounting irregularities and corporate irresponsibility. We successfully guided the firm and its lawyers through several years of litigation in three different courts.

Chief Operating Officer. When a major merger did not work, a disappointed business went into bankruptcy and lawsuits were filed against the failed business, its officers, directors, accounting firms and others. We were able to obtain the dismissal of claims filed against the chief operating officer.

Failed investment fund. When an aggressive hedge fund failed, the investors sued the fund and its promoter. The litigation was then expanded to include the law firm and accountants. At its height, the litigation was pending in four courts in three states. Our clients have now been dismissed in all but one action.
Representation of individuals. For the last 15 years, Mr. Reeves has represented an injured worker pro bono, shepherding him through numerous proceedings during which time he has had extensive treatment, and for whom the employer recently agreed to purchase a home suitable to the worker’s present and anticipated loss of mobility. Several years ago, Mr. Reeves represented a worker with a closed head injury, obtaining for him what was then one of the largest settlements of Workers’ Compensation benefits, providing the worker with permanent funding, through a special needs trust, for a Life Care Plan which assures funding for all his medical, supervised housing and vocational needs.

Publications and Lectures:

Mr. Reeves frequently lectures and publishes papers. He wrote a treatise published by Thomson-West in 2000 and updated in 2009.

2009
Georgia Elder Care, Long-Term Health Care and Nursing Home Litigation with Forms, 2009 Edition (Update of 2000 publication), West^® (Westlaw Database Identifier: GAELDERCAR)

August, 2008
Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), Ethics and Professionalism Issues Raised by The Mortgage Crisis, Mortgage Meltdown Crisis  

December, 2006
Presentation to the Association of Corporate Counsel, Georgia Chapter
Overview of Administrative and Business Risks - Outsourcing

January, 2002-2006
Lorman Educational Systems, Depositions of Experts
Taking and Defending Effective Depositions in Georgia

September, 2002
Institute of Continuing Legal Education (“ICLE”), Insurance Law Institute
Nursing Home Litigation

March 2001
Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, Nursing Home Risk Management in the Information Age

November 1999
Professional Education Systems, Inc. (“PESI”)
Deposition Strategy: Using Documents, Using Depositions at Trial

June 1999
Co-author
Writing the Employment Policy Manual and the Employee Handbook

June 1998
Co-author
Writing the Employment Policy Manual and the Employee Handbook

May, 1998
ICLE, Civil Litigation for Younger Lawyers
Cross Examination

January, 1998
PESI
Dealing with the Psychic Injury Case, Issues Faced by the Employer's Attorney

Community Involvement:  
Mike Reeves and his wife, Mary, have six children. He and his family have been active in schools and his church for many years. Mr. Reeves has been active in fundraising and alumni activities at Marist School, including Alumni Association President (2002-2003), Alumni Annual Fund, Chair (1999-2002), Vice President, Membership (1997-1999), member of the Marist Alumni Association Board of Directors since 1997. At Marist, he also served on the Development Committee; founded and chaired the Alumni Lead Gifts Committee; "Second Century Fund" (Capital Campaign), Current Parents Phase, Class Co-Chair (1998-1999). Mr. Reeves served on the Study Committee on School Financing, for the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta (1992-1994). At St. Jude Catholic Church, Mr. Reeves served on the Board of Education (1989-1992), was Chairperson of the Board of Education (1990-1992); served on the School Committee (1988-1990), was Chair of the School Committee (1989-1990); and was active in the Home and School Association, serving on the Executive Board (1988-1992) and as Co-President with his wife (1991-1992).