A. Craig Cleland

• Successfully defended numerous Fortune and other companies in a wide range of industries in high-stakes litigation in federal and state courts across the country.
• Defeated class certification and obtained decertification in employment-discrimination, wage-and-hour, ERISA-benefits, Fair Credit Reporting Act, RICO, and other litigation.
• Negotiated and obtained court approval of favorable settlements in class- and collective-actions and other cases.
• Served as lead trial counsel in multiple single-plaintiff cases and arbitrations and in a class action.
• Successfully represented employers in federal and state appellate courts.

Education

• J.D., cum laude, , Georgia State University, 1992
• S.T.M., with honors, Yale University, 1983
• M. Div., with honors, Vanderbilt University, 1981
• B.A., cum laude, Valdosta State College, 1978

Admission to Practice

• U.S. Supreme Court
• Georgia
• Georgia Court of Appeals
• Georgia Superior Court
• Georgia Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Georgia
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth, Sixth, Eighth, and Eleventh Circuits

• President, Atlanta Bar Association
• Former Chair, Atlanta Bar Association Labor & Employment Section
• American, State of Georgia, and Atlanta Bar Associations
• Federal Bar Association
• Fellow, American Employment Law Counsel
• Care & Counseling Centers of Georgia (Past Board Chair)
• All Saints’ Episcopal Church (Past Vestry Member)

• American Conference Institute – “Conference on Complex Employment Litigation” – New York City – August 2020
• The Seminar Group, 15th Annual L&E Law Conference – “Ethical Issues in Labor and Employment Practice” – Atlanta – October 2019
• American Conference Institute, 32nd Annual National Forum on Wage Hour Claims and Class Actions – “Class-Action Settlements and Court Approval” – New York City – June 2019
• Strafford Webinar – “Employment Litigation and Claim Settlements: Maximizing Tax Benefits, Avoiding Penalties When Allocating Proceeds” – May 1, 2019
• The Seminar Group, 14th Annual L&E Law Conference – “Ethical Issues in Labor and Employment Practice” – Atlanta – October 2018
• Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Staying Classy: Latest Updates and Trends in Class and Collective Actions” – Boca Raton – November 10, 2017
• ACI 30th National Forum on Wage-and-Hour Claims and Class Actions – “Federal Judges Panel on Class Actions” – New York City – June 2017
• American Conference Institute (ACI) Cross-Industry Interdisciplinary Summit on Defending and Managing Class Actions – “Federal and State Court Judges Panel on Class Actions” – New York City – April 2017
• Atlanta Business Chronicle, Power Breakfast Meeting – “Time Is Money—What You Need to Know About the New Overtime Regulations and Pay Equity” – Atlanta – November 2016
• The Seminar Group, 13th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference – “Ethical Conundrums in Employment Law” – Atlanta – October 2016
• ACI Cross-Industry Interdisciplinary Summit on Defending and Managing Class Actions – “Statistical Sampling and Expert Evidence After Bouaphakeo” – New York City – April 2016
• The Seminar Group, 12th Annual Labor & Employment Conference – “Ethical Issues in E-Discovery” – Atlanta – October 2015
• Georgia State University College of Law – “Professionalism, Ethics, and Excellence, Speech to Entering First-Year Law School Class” – Atlanta – August 2015
• Wage-and-Hour Class and Collective Actions, American Conference Institute Employment Discrimination Litigation (Moderator) – “Federal District Court Judges Panel” – New York City – May 2015
• The Seminar Group, 11th Annual Labor & Employment Conference – “Ethical Issues in Employment Law” – Atlanta – October 2014
• Strafford CLE Webinar – “Offers of Judgment in Employment Litigation After Genesis” – September/December 2014
• American Conference Institute 18th Annual National Forum on Wage Hour Claims and Class Actions (Moderator) – “Federal District Court Judges Panel” – New York City – May 2014
• American Conference Institute Employment Discrimination Litigation Conference – “Federal District Court Judges Panel” – New York City – May 2014
• Association of Corporate Counsel (Georgia Chapter) – “Update on Class Actions” – Atlanta – May 2014
• State Bar of Georgia 43rd Annual Labor and Employment Law Institute – “Recent Developments in Class Action Litigation” – Atlanta – December 2013
• Strafford CLE Webinar – “Challenging Certification in Employment Class Claims: Leveraging Dukes and Comcast” – November 2013
• The Seminar Group 10th Annual Labor & Employment Conference – “Ethical Issues in Employment Law” – Atlanta – October 2013
• American Conference Institute 19th Annual National Form on Wage Hour Claims and Class Actions – “Latest Trends in Mediation and Settlements” – San Francisco – September 2013
• Strafford CLE Webinar – “Offers of Judgment in Employment Litigation After Genesis” – September 2013
• American Conference Institute 16th Annual National Forum on Wage Hour Claims and Class Actions – “Mediation and Settlement of Wage & Hour Claims—The Latest Use of ADR to Resolve Claims and Avoid Costly Litigation” – San Francisco – October 2012
• American Conference Institute 16th Annual National Forum on Wage Hour Claims and Class Actions – “Mediation and Settlement of Wage & Hour Claims—The Latest Use of ADR to Resolve Claims and Avoid Costly Litigation” – San Francisco – October 2012
• The Seminar Group 9th Annual Labor & Employment Conference – “Ethical Issues in Employment Law” – Atlanta – October 2012
• American Conference Institute 15th Annual National Forum on Wage Hour Claims and Class Actions – “Settlement and Mediation of Wage and Hour Cases” – New York City – May 2012
• Atlanta Bar Association Labor & Employment Section Advanced Employment Law Seminar – “Practical Issues Around Termination” – Atlanta – March 2012
• Harvard Club ALM In-House Counsel Labor and Employment Law Forum – “Employment Discrimination and Statistics: Hot Topics & Trends” – New York City – March 2012
• Stafford CLE webinar – “Wage-and-Hour Class and Collective Action Settlement Strategies” – February 2012
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association – “Dukes v. Wal-Mart – The Impact on Class Action and Employment Litigation” – Atlanta – November 2011
• American Conference Institute – “Wage-and-Hour Class Actions (Moderator for In-House Counsel Panel)” – San Francisco – September 2011
• American Conference Institute – “Class and Collective Action Settlement—Making the Decision, Calculating Damages, and Assessing Settlement Structure and Administration” – New York – May 2011
• Stafford CLE webinar – “Wage-and-Hour Class and Collective Action Settlement Strategies” – March 2011
• American Conference Institute – “Ensuring Ethical Conduct in Managing, Litigating, and Settling Class and Collective Actions” – New York – January 2011
• Strafford, CLE Webinar – “FLSA Collective Action Litigation Strategies” – October 2010
• The Seminar Group – “Retaliation Update” – October 2010
• American Conference Institute – “Settlement Considerations in Wage-and-Hour Class and Collective Actions” – New York – May 2010
• Strafford, CLE Webinar – “Wage and Hour Collective and Class Actions: The Continuing Litigation Threat” – March 2010
• American Conference Institute, EPLI Conference – “Staying Ahead of the Curve in Wage & Hour Litigation” – New York – January 2010

• 2010, 2015 – Ellen C. Keans et al., THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT, Contributor – “(2d & 3d eds. & Supps.)”
• 2012, 2020 – Barbara T. Lindemann, Paul Grossman & C. Geoffrey Weirich, EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION LAW, Chapter Monitor & Contributor – “Reverse Discrimination And Affirmative Action (5th & 6th eds. & Supps.)”
• April 24, 2009 – DAILY REPORT – “How Courts Are Struggling to Interpret the [Ledbetter Fair Pay] Act”
• 2009, 2014, 2019 – Brian A. Garner, BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY, Practitioner Contributor – “(9th, 10th & 11th eds)”
• 2009 – Bryan A. Garner, MODERN AMERICAN USAGE, Critical Reader – “(3rd edition)”
• 2002 – 2003 – ETHICS & PROFESSIONALISM NEWSLETTER, Past Co-Editor – “ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law (2000–03)”
• 1997, 2007 – Barbara Lindemann, Paul Grossman & C. Geoffrey Weirich, EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION LAW, Contributor – “‘Disability’ Chapter (3rd & 4th eds. & Supps.)”
• 1992 – 8 GA. ST. UNIV. L. REV. 223, Author – “Wrongful Repossession in Georgia”
• 1992 – 8 GA. ST. UNIV. L. REV. 171, Author – “Georgia Legislative History Note”

• September 22, 2016 – Law360 – “Google Job Applicants Near Class Cert. In Age Bias Suit”
• December 2013 – Atlanta Bar Association Labor & Employment Section Newsletter – “Mediation-Q&A with Employees' Counsel Ed Buckley and Employers' Counsel Craig Cleland”
• June 2013 – Practical Law Journal – “GC Agenda”
• December 2011 / January 2012 – Practical Law Journal – “GC Agenda”
• June 22, 2011 – BLR HR Daily Advisor – “What Does the Wal-Mart Decision Mean for Your Organization?”
• July 26, 2010 – Atlanta Business Chronicle – “Wage and Compensation Claim Filings Surge”
• May 1, 2010 – Corporate Counsel Magazine – “What's Next”
• April 1, 2010 – Law 360 – “The Quickest Route to Defeating Class Certification”
• Spring 2010 – Corporate Counsel – “What's Next-Labor & Employment”
• February 23, 2010 – Law 360 – “Plaintiffs' Tactics Expose CAFA's Gray Areas”

• Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers (2007)
• Named the Best Lawyers^®
  • Atlanta Employment Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year” (2025)
  • Atlanta Litigation – Labor and Employment “Lawyer of the Year” (2025)
  • Atlanta Employment Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year” (2023)
  • Atlanta Employment Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year” (2020)
  • Atlanta Litigation – Labor and Employment “Lawyer of the Year” (2014)
• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^®
  • Employment Law – Management (2007-2025)
  • Litigation – Labor and Employment (2007-2025)
• Fellow, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, Litigation Counsel of America
• Master, Bleckley Inn of Court
• The Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers (2022, 2024, 2025)

• Atlanta Magazine Super Lawyers—Top 100 Georgia Lawyers (2018, 2014)
• BTI Consulting Client Service MVP (2018)
• BTI Consulting Client Service All-Star (2024, 2020, 2017, 2013 and 2010)
• Acritas Star (2018 to present)
• Martindale AV Preeminent Rating
• Thomson Reuters “Stand-out Lawyer”