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Practices

Class & Collective Actions

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Baker Donelson's trial lawyers have an enviable record of success in defending class action suits affecting a wide variety of industries.

Why Baker Donelson?


BTI Litigation Standout 2024 Cybersecurity Litigation
50+ seasoned attorneys with substantial experience in complex class and collective action cases
Serve as primary counsel in national, regional and statewide class action suits
Successful record in defending class action suits affecting a wide variety of industries
Named a Tier 1 firm nationally for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants by Best Law Firms® in 2024

Featured Experience


Successfully settled two nationwide collective and class action lawsuits on behalf of an online food delivery company. The company was sued by delivery drivers alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as state wage and hour laws, and seeking recovery of unpaid wages for thousands of potential plaintiffs.

Defeated class certification in a class action arising out of the release of a chemical that allegedly dispersed throughout a community, and successfully defended a subsequent mass action with more than 5,000 plaintiffs.

Defended a major domestic automotive manufacturer in a putative class action in the Central District of California involving allegations of defective exhaust manifolds in best-selling trucks. Motion to dismiss was granted in its entirety.

Practice Overview


Baker Donelson's trial lawyers have an enviable record of success in defending class and collective actions across a wide range of industries. We know the strategies for preventing certification, both offensive and defensive, and if certification is granted, we have the experience and resources to effectively and efficiently manage the litigation. When it comes to class and collective actions, we know there is no one-size-fits-all recipe for success. Whether negotiating a structured settlement, preventing or appealing certification, managing pre- and post-certification discovery, or selecting the right jury – we find success for our clients where others fall short. 

Our attorneys have handled class and collective actions involving hundreds of thousands of individuals. Whether across a state, a region, or the nation, there is no substitute for organization and client communication. We know that, and we prioritize it. We leverage industry-leading technology to give clients instant, secure access to discovery documents and litigation work product, so that they can track progress and ask questions. We deliver such information through customized, secure extranets built to specification. We also deploy this technology to local and regional counsel to efficiently assist with multijurisdictional litigation management. We team up with our professional litigation support staff for trial preparation and discovery management.

We are proud to have among our ranks some of the most notable and outstanding trial lawyers in the United States – seasoned attorneys with substantial experience in every manner of class, collective, or multiparty action. They include attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America® and Chambers USA. Many are licensed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and before multiple state and federal courts of appeals, and several have served as judicial clerks with state or federal trial courts or courts of appeal. We are members of organizations dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of litigation practice, such as the American College of Trial Lawyers, the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, DRI, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the International Association of Defense Counsel. Our team boasts the former co-chair of the Nashville Bar Association; current management chair of the American Bar Association Equal Employment Opportunity subcommittee Employment Law and Civil Rights Committee; members of the Tennessee Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section; and recipients of our internal Pro Bono Award.

  • Defended an automotive OEM against a $7.5+ billion class action filed in Florida challenging session replay software that allegedly tracks users' activities on websites. Shortly after we were granted an early-stage stay of discovery, plaintiff voluntarily dismissed case (no settlement).

  • Represented a multi-billion-dollar international construction company in connection with a federal class action and multiple state lawsuits concerning mass tort claims allegedly totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.

  • Successfully defended a national online retail client against multiple Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) class actions filed in New York and Florida; cases were dismissed at the motion to dismiss phase before a class could be certified.

  • Successfully settled two nationwide collective and class action lawsuits on behalf of an online food delivery company. The company was sued by delivery drivers alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as state wage and hour laws, and seeking recovery of unpaid wages for thousands of potential plaintiffs.

  • Defending an automotive OEM against a class action brought under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) in state court.

  • Defeated class certification in a class action arising out of the release of a chemical that allegedly dispersed throughout a community, and successfully defended a subsequent mass action with more than 5,000 plaintiffs.

  • Defending a regional health care entity in a pending class action filed in Tennessee state court alleging violation of Tennessee's State Wiretapping Act.

  • Defended a major domestic automotive manufacturer in a putative class action in the Central District of California involving allegations of defective exhaust manifolds in best-selling trucks. Motion to dismiss was granted in its entirety.

  • Decertified a nationwide collective of current and former employees alleging "off the clock" and misclassification violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

  • Secured dismissal of a highly publicized putative class action lawsuit in federal court asserting claims under the Equal Protection Clause against a county. After discovery, reached a settlement on the sole remaining individual claim brought by the would-be class representative for less than the remaining defense costs.

  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of claimants to $200 million in publicly traded stock held by a retirement plan.

  • Successfully defended a health care provider group in a putative class action lawsuit by a state municipal association alleging violations of the federal RICO Act. Won a motion to dismiss the entire complaint on Article III standing grounds.

  • Implemented arbitration programs and agreements for multi-state employers that reduce, if not eliminate, multi-party, collective, and class litigation.

  • Lead counsel in a multi-defendant class action defending a poultry processor against a putative nationwide class of broiler growers bringing claims under antitrust laws and the Packers and Stockyards Act alleging suppression of broiler grower compensation by the industry through information sharing and/or no-poach or non-solicitation agreements.

  • Won a motion to dismiss on behalf of a state bank in a putative class action lawsuit arising out of the bank's assessment of non-sufficient funds fees. Subsequently settled the case on favorable terms.

  • Successfully negotiated a favorable settlement in response to a collective action filed challenging a hospital client's decision not to compensate employees for time spent getting required COVID-19 tests.

  • Prevailed on a motion to dismiss on behalf of a doctor and his corporation in a federal class action lawsuit alleging that they unlawfully engaged in the corporate practice of medicine.

  • Won a motion to dismiss on behalf of a large insurance syndicate in a federal class action lawsuit brought by food and beverage vendors. The vendors alleged the company wrongfully denied coverage for losses incurred during government-mandated business closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the court dismissed the class action claims with prejudice.

  • Successfully moved to compel arbitration on behalf of a major retail chain sued in a federal consumer products liability class action lawsuit for selling an allegedly defective automobile accessory online. The court dismissed the class action complaint entirely and compelled the plaintiff to individual arbitration, agreeing that the terms of service on the retailer's website constitute a binding contract to arbitrate.

  • Lead counsel in a multi-defendant class action defending a poultry processor against a putative nationwide class of hourly and salaried poultry workers bringing claims under antitrust laws alleging suppression of plant worker compensation and/or benefits by the industry through information sharing, serving as liaison counsel for a large group of defendants.

  • Represented a major domestic automotive manufacturer in a putative class action in the Eastern District of Michigan involving allegations of defective shifter bushings in a series of vehicles. Motion to dismiss was granted in its entirety on prudential mootness grounds.

  • Obtained a dismissal of a putative class action lawsuit against a hospital client alleging state and federal law privacy and security violations arising from the criminal convictions of several former associates who shared patient personal identifying information after being treated for injuries following automobile accidents.

They were instrumental in developing and building out a program around how we handle litigation. That includes protocols around first response when it came in the door, technology, understanding the process, creating good protocols around discovery, building and customizing solutions for us as well as AFA pricing around the cases they handled. They excel in every one of those areas. I’d say their willingness to think differently is exemplary.


General Counsel in the independent claims management industry

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