Marquetta J. Bryan

Partner | Litigation

About

Marquetta J. Bryan brings a wide-ranging and strategic legal practice to the firm, focused on labor and employment law, executive advocacy, education, civil rights, insurance defense, and administrative law. Her work spans counseling, litigation management, and representation of public and private entities across a spectrum of matters including negligence, personal injury, municipal liability, and contracting and procurement disputes.

  • Marquetta also serves as outside general counsel to clients navigating complex, evolving legal landscapes. In addition to her legal counsel, Marquetta is a neutral serving as a mediator, arbitrator, and ethics hearing officer in personnel and administrative matters.

    She has appeared before federal and state courts throughout Georgia and beyond, as well as before regulatory and administrative bodies including the EEOC and the State Board of Education.

    Marquetta began her legal career as a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, honing her litigation skills and deepening her expertise in federal contracting and procurement law. Prior to joining the firm, she held partner roles in large and mid-size litigation firms also specializing in liability defense, counseling, and representation.

    With broad experience and an unwavering commitment to her clients, Marquetta is a trusted advocate, strategic problem-solver, and valuable resource for clients navigating disputes involving diverse stakeholders.

Practices

  • Arbitration and Mediation

  • Civil Pretrial and Trial Services

  • Commercial Litigation

  • Education

  • Employment and Labor

  • Litigation and Risk Management

Admissions

  • Georgia

  • Supreme Court of the United States

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

Education

  • Cleveland State University, J.D., 2002, Cum Laude

  • Emory University, B.A., Religion and Sociology, 1997

Awards and Professional Recognitions

  • Pro-Bono Partnership of Atlanta, Pro Bono Attorney of the Year (2025)

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law – Management (2023–2026), Litigation - Labor and Employment (2025, 2026)

  • Legal Council on Legal Diversity Fellow (2023 Class)

  • Legal 500 United States, Industry Focus: Education (2022–2023)

  • Profiles in Diversity Journal, Black Leaders Worth Watching Award (2021)

  • Atlanta Magazine, Women Making a Mark Honoree (2020)

  • Rolling Out Magazine, Top 25 Woman of Atlanta Honoree

  • Atlanta Tribune, "Woman to Watch" Honoree

  • Who’s Who in Black Atlanta, Legal Services

  • Justice Robert Benham Community Service Award, State Bar of Georgia, and Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism (2014)

  • Georgia Rising Star, Thomson Reuters (2010–2012)

  • Young Lawyers Division Leadership Academy Graduate (2008)

  • State Bar of Georgia Awards: Outstanding Service to the Profession, Public, and YLD

Community and Board Involvement

  • Board Chair, Page Turners Makes Great Learners

  • Atlanta Bar Association Foundation, Board of Directors

  • Emory University, Alumni Board of Directors, Executive Committee

  • Board Member, DeKalb Symphony Orchestra

  • Past Chair, American Cancer Society (Georgia Board)

  • Past Chair, Father of the Year Executive Council, Atlanta American Diabetes Association

  • Past Chair, Leadership DeKalb Board of Directors (Graduate Class of 2016)

  • Past Vice-Chair, Georgia Legal Services Program

  • Fellow, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education

Experience

  • Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

  • Partner, Atlanta law firm, and Co-Chair of Education Practice Group

  • Regional Attorney Advisor and Trial Attorney (Defensive Litigation), United States Department of Housing & Urban Development

    • Provided counsel and defense to agency and its key personnel before courts and administrative boards in civil litigation, including employment and personnel, administrative law and federal contract dispute matters

    • Initiated Fair Housing complaints on behalf of the agency

    • Monitored the spending and litigation activities of federal funding recipients pursuant to HUD regulations

  • Cleveland, Ohio, Summer Associate, International Law Firm

  • Employment Law Clinic, Cleveland Marshall, Cleveland, Ohio, student clinician

  • Office of the Executive Counsel to the Governor, Atlanta, legal intern

  • Georgia Law Center of Homelessness and Poverty, Atlanta, paralegal advocate

Representative Matters

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

  • Has provided advice and counsel to public and private entities related to education and employment law and litigation, and also related to general litigation, civil rights, contract, and municipal liability matters.

  • Has experience in directing, overseeing, and engaging in management of employment legal activities, including risk management and compliance, pre-suit matters, internal investigations, organizational structure, compliance with labor directives, development, and review of policies and procedure.

  • Has experience in managing litigation, including pre-suit investigation, discovery, pretrial, trial/administrative/tribunal personnel and disciplinary hearings, mediation, and appeals.

  • Has developed and managed procurement.

Publications and Presentations

  • National Business Institute, Police Liability: Legal Rights, Responsibilities and Risks, December 2024

  • National Business Institute, Advising Clients on Artificial Intelligence, November 2024

  • Women in Insurance and Law Leadership Conference – Diversity in Today’s Legal Profession, October 2024

  • National Bar Association Employment Law Conference, Navigating the Workplace in an Anti-Woke World: Emerging Trends and Strategies, October 2024

  • 21st Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, Case Law Update, October 2024

  • Georgia Council of Court Administrators Fall Conference, Employment and Labor Law Update: Truths and Myths, September 2024

  • 2024 Women, Influence & Power in Law Conference, On the Rise Again: Understanding the Impacts of the Labor and Unionization Movements, September 2024

  • General Rules on Public Contracts and Bidding, November 2023, NBI Seminar, Georgia Government Law: What You Need to Know

  • Sign Regulations: New Challenges and Best Practices, November 2023, NBI Seminar, Georgia Government Law: What You Need to Know

  • NACUA’s 2022 Annual Conference, Employment Litigation in the COVID Pandemic & Endemic Eras: Emerging Trends and Practical Tips for Avoiding and Defending Claims, June 2022

  • Open Records and Open Meetings, March 2022

  • Title IX Overview, March 2022

  • Best Practices for Employment Investigations, February 2022

  • Effective Board Governance, September 2021

  • NACUA’s 2021 Virtual Conference at 19B. Civil Rights Protests on Campus: How Campus Police, Student Affairs, and University Counsel Work Together to Encourage Student Activism and Keep Campus Safe, June 2021

  • Supervisor Legal Training: ADA/FMLA, March 2019