Joe Ward has experience with a broad range of high-stakes litigation matters. He has represented large electric utilities extensively in state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration and mediation. He has defended national and multinational companies in individual and class action lawsuits over the use of tobacco, off-road vehicles, metering equipment, cosmetics, and many other consumer products. He has also litigated numerous contract disputes and matters involving allegations of fraud, unfair business practices, trade secret misappropriation, and securities violations.

Joe recently resolved several breach of contract cases on favorable terms for a large electric utility in California, and was on the trial team that obtained a “top defense verdict” of 2011 in a bellwether case involving Yamaha’s off-road vehicle, the Rhino. While working in the Firm’s Atlanta Office, Joe represented Southern Company in a multibillion dollar fraudulent conveyance action brought by the creditors of a former subsidiary. He has also been involved in the Firm’s nationwide defense of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and has substantial experience successfully defending individual smoker suits brought in the federal district courts of Florida and Puerto Rico.

Joe is a pro bono attorney for Public Counsel in Los Angeles, and has previously done pro bono work for Atlanta Legal Aid and the Public International Law & Policy Group.