J. Henry Walker IV

Chair Emeritus

1100 Peachtree Street NE Suite 2800, Atlanta, GA USA 30309

Overview
Experience
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Overview

Henry Walker is the Chair Emeritus and partner on the Firm’s Complex Commercial Litigation Team. An experienced problem solver, he has spent more than 35 years handling large complex disputes for clients, focusing on the technology and telecommunications industries. He prides himself on being a frontline lawyer who also understands the bigger picture and is intent on getting the best possible result in every matter. Based on his involvement in thousands of cases and previous in-house counsel experience, he has also provided extensive client counseling on the best ways to minimize risks and prevent litigation in business initiatives and large acquisitions. Among other recognitions, Mr. Walker was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation and Technology Law in 2024 and the ten years immediately preceding and again in 2024 and 2025 for Commercial Litigation, Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants, and Technology Law. He was also named a 2017 and 2023 "Atlanta Lawyer of the Year" in the area of Technology Law by The Best Lawyers in America®. He is listed in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business as an "Eminent Practitioner" in the area of General Commercial Litigation.

Henry is also an experienced and well-respected business leader in his firm and the community. He served as the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Kilpatrick, an international law firm with over 600 lawyers in 22 offices between 2013 and 2024. During this period, the Firm increased gross revenue and revenue per lawyer every year. In addition, the Firm consistently exceeded its net income budget as well as more than doubled its profits per partner. The Firm expanded in Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Phoenix, Shanghai, and Beijing. With a focus on client service and collaboration, the Firm formed key client teams, strengthened its brand and encouraged a culture of collaboration. Following servant leadership principles, the Firm prioritized being a force for good for its clients, its communities and its attorneys and staff. An effective and empathetic leader, the Atlanta Business Chronicle named Mr. Walker one of Atlanta’s Most Admired CEOs in 2019 and honored as an Executive Champion of Corporate Citizenship in 2024. Between 2020 and 2025, Mr. Walker was selected by Atlanta Magazine as a member of its “Atlanta 500”, a prestigious list highlighting the city’s most powerful and influential leaders. He was listed as one of "Georgia's 500 Most Influential Leaders" in 2022 to 2025 by Georgia Trend Magazine.

Mr. Walker rejoined the firm—where he previously practiced as a partner—in 2007 after serving as Chief Litigation Counsel to BellSouth Corporation. Mr. Walker’s mixture of in-house experience and outside counsel experience provides him with a strong understanding of the challenges facing clients and in-house counsel. He was one of the lead in-house counsel in numerous major antitrust matters, including two successful landmark United States Supreme Court cases (Twombly and Trinko). He received the BellSouth President’s Award and the General Counsel’s Award for Excellence.

Mr. Walker is active in the business community and in the legal industry. He has served on the State Bar Board of Governors since 1995 and is a former President of the Younger Lawyers Division. He is a member of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors serving as a member and former Chair of the Georgia Chamber’s Law and Judiciary Committee and is on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Walker also serves as a member of the Mercer University Board of Trustees as well as on the Board of Grady Health Foundation. Mr. Walker previously served on the State of Georgia Judicial Nominating Commission which interviewed candidates and provided a “short list” to the Governor for judicial appointments. Mr. Walker is AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell.*

Experience

Served as lead trial counsel in multimillion dollar healthcare dispute, involving breach of contract, fraud and tortious interference. Case settled on successful basis after first week of jury trial.

Represented a national telecommunications company in a lawsuit involving allegations of failure to bill and remit to Georgia Counties a 911 charge imposed on subscribers to offset the cost of 911 services. The Counties alleged violations of the 911 Act as well as common-law theories of recovery, including breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and negligence. The Georgia Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals and directed the trial court to grant company’s motion to dismiss, finding that the 911 charge was a tax, that the statute did not give the Counties a private right of action, and that the Counties’ common law claims failed as a matter of law. BellSouth Telecommunications, LLC v. Cobb County, 305 Ga. 144, 824 S.E.2d 233 (2019).

Represented a national telecommunications company in a putative class action lawsuit, in which plaintiffs alleged fraud over its allegedly defective telephone, Internet and television service. The plaintiffs claimed the data backbone of the service was systematically defective, causing Internet, telephone and television connectivity problems. The court said that the forum selection and arbitration clauses contained in its terms of service agreements bar the plaintiffs from bringing their nationwide class action in his court. The court of appeals affirmed the district court’s decision in all respects in a published decision. Hancock v. American Tel. and Tel. Co., Inc., 701 F.3d 1248 (2012).

Serving as lead counsel for a large telecommunication company, the firm won a motion to dismiss breach of contract and fraud claims based primarily on the filed rate doctrine. Solar Star Sys., Inc. v. BellSouth Telecomms. Inc., No. 10–21105–CIV, 2012 WL 37387 (S.D. Fl. Jan. 6, 2012).

Represented a national telecommunications company in a putative nationwide class action alleging improper "cramming" of services. Class certification was defeated.

Successfully represented an advertising and publishing company against claims ranging from fraudulent inducement to civil conspiracy. The Court granted our client’s summary judgment motion on all claims and awarded our client significant damages plus attorney's fees, prejudgment interest and costs.

Represented a global telecommunications company in class action based on FCC ruling finding acquired telecommunications company collected improper access charges.

Serving as lead counsel for a large telecommunication company, the firm won a motion to dismiss claims alleging breach of rights of way agreement.

Served as lead counsel for large telecommunications company resolving performance disputes involving IT contracts with multiple vendors. Obtained settlement for multimillion payments and credits, plus release of future obligations.

Served as one of the lead in-house counsel for a large telecommunications company in a landmark antitrust case alleging conspiracy among Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOC). The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in the RBOC’s favor in a landmark case. Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007).

Served as one of the lead in-house counsel in landmark significant antitrust case, which raised issues under the essential facilities doctrine and the intersection of antitrust law and the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. The United States Supreme Court ultimately decided the antitrust liability issues in a companion case in BellSouth’s favor. Verizon Commc’ns Inc. v. Law Offices of Curtis V. Trinko, LLP, 540 US 398 (2004).

Represented large e-commerce software company in case involving implementation of multiple software programs. Claims alleged included fraud, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation, and state statutory claims.

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