Lee Clayton

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BIOGRAPHY

Lee Clayton is a founding partner of Marsh Atkinson & Brantley. He defends clients in litigation related to catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death, insurance coverage and bad faith claims, professional liability, appeals and commercial disputes. He handles large, complex cases defending claims on behalf of his clients, which include large national insurers, financial institutions and corporations, as well as individuals. Lee is regularly consulted on problematic fact patterns and novel questions of law with an eye toward avoiding litigation if possible, or prevailing if litigation is necessary.   

Lee represents clients in state and federal courts throughout Georgia and the Southeast, navigating clients through pre-suit consultations, negotiations, jury trials and appeals. Lee has prevailed after arguing multiple cases in front of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Georgia Supreme Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals. He has secured defense verdicts as well as motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment  that have been affirmed on appeal.  

Lee’s extensive experience with high-stakes matters helps him identify the most effective strategy to tackle his clients’ legal issues and achieve their desired outcome.

Awards & Recognition

  • AV Preeminent® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review

  • Georgia Super Lawyer Rising Star by Atlanta Magazine, 2013 and 2016

  • The Best Lawyers in America©, 2025

  • University of Georgia School of Law (J.D., 2006), Magna Cum Laude

  • University of Georgia (B.A., 2003), Magna Cum Laude

Education

Clerkships

  • Law clerk for Judge Curtis L. Collier, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee

Recognition badge for Marsh Atkinson & Brantley, 2026, recognized by Best Lawyers, with the Best Lawyers logo in red.

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

Allied Prop. Cas. Ins. Co. v. Bloodworth Wholesale Drugs, Inc., 727 F. Supp. 3d 1404, 1406 (M.D. Ga. 2024) (obtained summary judgment for insurance carrier in coverage dispute over opioid litigation with $70+ million in potential coverage)

Gleaton & Assocs., Inc. v. Cornelius, 366 Ga. App. 712, 719, 884 S.E.2d 103, 110 (2023) (defended landlord in Georgia Fair Business Practices Act with denial of summary judgment reversed on appeal)

Sowell v. Solomon, 362 Ga. App. 717, 717, 870 S.E.2d 39, 40 (2022) (represented defendant in wrongful death suit with denial of summary judgment reversed on appeal)

Mayorga v. Benton, 364 Ga. App. 665, 665, 875 S.E.2d 908, 910 (2022) (reversal of motion to dismiss in death case dealing with intentional infliction of emotional distress)

Deal v. Tugalo Gas Co., Inc., 991 F.3d 1313, 1317 (11th Cir. 2021) (defended company in shareholder dispute obtaining summary judgment that was affirmed by Eleventh Circuit)

Auld v. Forbes, 309 Ga. 893, 893, 848 S.E.2d 876, 878 (2020) (defended wrongful death case resulting in Georgia Supreme Court mandating Belize law applied to wrongful death)

Harvey v. Williams, 354 Ga. App. 766, 766, 841 S.E.2d 386, 387 (2020), 311 Ga. 439, 858 S.E.2d 479 (2021) (defended construction company in catastrophic injury commercial motor vehicle case)

Keisha v. Dundon, 344 Ga. App. 278, 278, 809 S.E.2d 835, 836 (2018) (defended premises owner resulting in reversal of denial of summary judgment)

Piedmont Off. Realty Tr., Inc. v. XL Specialty Ins. Co., 297 Ga. 38, 38, 771 S.E.2d 864, 864 (2015) (defended insurance carrier in bad faith failure to settle resulting in summary judgment for carrier)

Houston v. Elan Fin. Servs., 135 F. Supp. 3d 1375, 1376 (S.D. Ga. 2015) (represented consumer financial company and obtained summary judgment on various claims including defamation and violation of consumer credit laws)

Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless, Inc. v. Ichthus Cmty. Tr., 298 Ga. 221, 221, 780 S.E.2d 311, 315 (2015) (represented business group in RICO case involving homeless shelter)

State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. King Sports, Inc., 489 F. App;x 306, 307 (11th Cir. 2012)(obtained summary judgment for insurance carrier in extra contractual suit due to insured failing to cooperate and comply with policy conditions that was affirmed on appeal)

S. Gen. Ins. Co. v. Wellstar Health Sys., Inc., 315 Ga. App. 26, 26, 726 S.E.2d 488, 489 (2012) (defended insurance carrier and created safe harbor from certain extra contractual claims in context of medical liens)

U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Phillips, 318 Ga. App. 819, 819, 734 S.E.2d 799, 800 (2012) (represented bank in wrongful foreclosure matter obtaining reversal of trial court’s denial of motion to dismiss)