Jamala McFadden
Counsel, Sutherland
Jamala is Of Counsel with the Litigation Practice Group of Sutherland in Atlanta, Georgia. She focuses her practice on complex business litigation and employment litigation. Jamala has experience in representing companies in multi-jurisdictional, multi-party, and class action matters. For example, Jamala has: • Successfully defended a client-company in a three-week jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts where the plaintiff asserted breach of contract claims and sought millions of dollars in punitive damages; • Successfully defended a major finance company in a two-week jury trial against claims alleging civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act violations, fraud and other violations of state law; • Obtained a decision affirming summary judgment in Georgia state court in favor of a large bank against breach of fiduciary duty claims; • Obtained a decision affirming summary judgment in the Eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concerning gender and pregnancy discrimination claims; • Defended a large packaging manufacturer against claims alleging employee raiding and violation of non-competition and other restrictive covenants; and • Defended a worldwide automobile manufacturer in multiple federal and state jurisdictions against employment-related federal and state law claims. In addition to her litigation practice, Jamala provides advice and counseling services to her clients about best practices, employer policies, and avoidance of employee-related problems. For example, Jamala has provided sexual harassment and discrimination training to more than 400 management and staff employees. Beyond her practice area work, Jamala was the first Sutherland attorney to serve as a Thrower Fellow at Atlanta Legal Aid. Through her fellowship, Jamala worked with Atlanta Legal Aid clients (disproportionately African-American) on bankruptcy, family law, unemployment, and landlord-tenant matters. Since her time with Atlanta Legal Aid, Jamala has devoted substantial hours in pro bono matters, which has led to her receiving annual awards for pro bono service since 2004. Beyond her significant contributions to Sutherland, Jamala has faithfully served the Atlanta community, and, in particular, the African-American community. Jamala is the current president of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys ("GABWA"). A voluntary bar association with nearly 600 financial members, GABWA's mission is to nurture, support, and galvanize the power of Black women attorneys, advocate for women and children, and empower our communities. Jamala is leading GABWA this year as it proudly celebrates 30 years of service and leadership. Jamala also served as the lead attorney coach for the Therrell High School mock trial team from 2005 through 2010. Therrell is an Atlanta public school that is over 95% African-American. Jamala was first exposed to the legal profession, met an African-American attorney for the first time, and decided to become a lawyer based on her own experience participating in her high school's mock trial team in Chicago, Illinois. Coaching Therrell's mock trial team gave Jamala a chance to give young people the wonderful opportunity that previously was given to her. Similar to her own experience, most of the students participating in Therrell's program for the first time had never seen an African-American attorney. The Therrell students were full of talent, but were in need of direction and support. In addition to teaching the students the basics of trial procedure and technique, Jamala had the opportunity to teach the students life skills, oratory and analytical skills, teamwork, and what it means to commit to a task and be held accountable. Jamala was thrilled to have played a part in exposing dozens of students to the legal profession and developing life-long skills and relationships. Further, since 2005, Jamala has served as an instructor and mentor for the Sutherland Scholars program, an initiative aimed at increasing diversity within the legal community. This summer program is offered to college students from historically underrepresented backgrounds at no cost. Students draft study outlines, brief cases and take a final exam. Since the inaugural class of 2005, almost 170 students have graduated from the program. Also of note, before becoming a lawyer, Jamala established (and since then has annually supported) a scholarship program for college-bound teenage parents who attend high school in Chicago. Drawing upon her own experience as a teenage mother, Jamala designed the scholarship program to provide hope and encouragement to scholarship recipients, in addition to monetary support. Since 2004, the Jamala McFadden scholarship has benefited five young women. Jamala earned her B.A. from the University of Illinois with high distinction. She earned her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School where she was an Executive Editor of the Michigan Law Review and President of the Black Law Students' Alliance. Following law school, Jamala served as a law clerk to the Honorable Anna Diggs Taylor of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Jamala is licensed to practice law in Georgia, Illinois, and Michigan and has been admitted to practice in various state and federal courts systems. Jamala serves on the Board of Directors for Atlanta Legal Aid and the Justice Center of Atlanta. Jamala has been recognized as a 2011 Georgia Rising Star and as one of Atlanta's Top 100 African-American Women of Influence by the Atlanta Business League. Last, but not least, Jamala is the proud mother of Jamal, a member of Morehouse College's 2010 freshman class.
