Biography

A Georgia native, Jo Meeks attended the University of Georgia, earning a B.B.A. degree in accounting (summa cum laude) in 1976 and a Juris Doctor degree from the School of Law (cum laude) in 1979.

Jo practices in areas of professional liability defense to the financial services industry, director and officer liability, securities, commercial, and business litigation.  She represents parties in civil disputes in state and federal courts, primarily in Georgia, and before FINRA arbitration and other ADR panels.  Jo handles cases involving broker-dealer, broker/registered representative and registered investment advisor liability, insurance disputes, restrictive covenants, contract disputes, and insurance agent and insurance agency liability.  She also represents banks, accountants and ERISA professionals in disputes alleging negligence and fraud.

Jo is a frequent speaker at seminars sponsored by various organizations on topics of financial services and business litigation and trial practice. Jo has served as an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Dispute Resolution and the American Arbitration Association. She is past Chair of the Litigation Section of the Atlanta Bar Association and served a three-year term on the State Bar of Georgia Investigative Panel.  In addition to local state courts, she is admitted to appear before all federal courts in Georgia, the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Practice Areas

• Business and Commercial Litigation
• Litigation and Appeals
• Financial Professional Liability Defense
• Securities Litigation
• Directors and Officers Liability
• Litigation
• Insurance
• Insurance Agent Liability
• Arbitration
• Banking and Financial Services Litigation

Professional Organizations/Activities

• State Bar of Georgia
• Atlanta Bar Association
• Atlanta Bar Foundation, Board of Directors
• Lawyers Club of Atlanta
• Bleckley Inn of Court (Master)
• Certified Mediator and Registered Neutral 
• Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution (Civil Mediation) 

Awards + Recognitions

• Georgia Super Lawyers, 2010 - 2019
• Top 50 Women Lawyers, 2011, 2017

Presentations + Publications

• Georgia Supreme Court Decides Applicability of Business Judgment Rule to Bank Director and Officer Decision Making
• “Stockbroker and Brokerage Firm Liability in Georgia”, NBI (2001)
• “When is a Stockbroker an ERISA Fiduciary?”, Practising Law Institute (2002)
• Commercial Arbitration in Georgia, Georgia Law Review, Vol. 13 (1979)

Education

University of Georgia School of Law, Athens, Georgia 1979

• J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
• Honors:  cum laude
• Honors:  Order of the Barristers
• Honors:  Member, Moot Court Executive Board, 1978-1979
• Law Review:  University of Georgia Law Review, Staff Member, 1977-1978
• Law Review:  University of Georgia Law Review, Managing Editor, 1978-1979

University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 1976

• B.B.A., Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
• Honors:  summa cum laude
• Honors:  Blue Key
• Honors:  Beta Gamma Sigma
• Honors:  Phi Kappa Phi
• Honors:  Pi Delta Phi
• Honors:  Mortar Board Member

Admitted

• Georgia, 1979
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia, 1979
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Georgia
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Tax Court

Administrative/Legal Assistant Contact

Name: Nancy Buchanan
Title: Legal Assistant
Phone: 404.844.2758