Nancy B. Pridgen, Esq.
Founding Member Nancy B. Pridgen, Esq. focuses her practice on employment litigation in the federal courts, and has handled, in some capacity, nearly every type of employment law matter that exists, including employment discrimination (age, race/nationality, gender, disability), retaliation, harassment, unemployment, FMLA, FLSA/wage and hour, ERISA/employee benefits, etc. Nancy also enjoys assisting businesses, business owners, executives and key employees navigate the waters of transitioning out of old and into new employment relationships, with all of their attendant issues (including, for instance, negotiating severance or other benefits, and drafting/negotiating new employment terms, etc.). Nancy counsels both employers and employees.
Nancy sub-specializes in ERISA litigation, and has litigated scores of ERISA benefits claims and fiduciary cases throughout the country. Nancy first developed this expertise in ERISA litigation while at Alston + Bird, where she litigated numerous class actions and other complex litigation involving employee pension cases and welfare benefit claims.She writes and speaks often on ERISA/employment litigation topics; you can access the titles of her publications and speaking engagements below. She has also recently served as an officer in the Georgia State Bar Employee Benefits Section.
Nancy brings to clients a wealth of federal litigation experience. She has litigated a wide array of cases including complex commercial litigation, securities, insurance, tax, immigration, antitrust, constitutional and common-law torts, and civil appeals. In addition to her active trial practice, Nancy has maintained her commitment to giving back to the community by, among other things, handling several low-cost or pro bono adoptions.
The Really Important Stuff
Nancy is a proud wife and mother of four beautiful children. When not working on her clients' legal matters, she is spending quality time with her family, or traveling. In the fall, she and her family are obsessed with SEC football (WAR EAGLE!!).
Education
- Vanderbilt University School of Law, Nashville, Tennessee
- J.D. - 2000
- Honors: NAWL's Outstanding Woman Law Graduate for her class
- Honors: Dean's List honors
- Honors: Vanderbilt Law Review Managing Editor
- Auburn University
- B.A. - 1997
- Honors: summa cum laude
- Honors: President's Award winner for the College of Liberal Arts
- Honors: Double major and in the University Honors Program
Bar Admissions
- Georgia
- Michigan (inactive)
- U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, & Middle Districts of Georgia
- U.S. District Courts for the Eastern & Western Districts of Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th, 8th, 9th, & 11th Circuits
- U.S. Tax Court
Published Works and Speaking Engagements
- Reviewing ERISA Litigation Decisions by the 11th Circuit & the Supremes, at I.C.L.E. Annual Employee Benefits Law Seminars, Atlanta (Mar. 27, 2019; Mar. 28, 2018; Mar. 29, 2017; Mar. 30, 2016; Mar. 20, 2015; Apr. 2, 2014; May 30, 2013; Mar. 17, 2011).
- ERISA Releases: Background and Drafting Webinar (Jan. 15, 2020).
- ERISA Preemption: Litigation Implications Webinar (June 25, 2019).
- The ABC's of the Intersection of the ADA, FMLA, ERISA, LTD, STD, and COBRA, at NELA-GA Seminar, Atlanta (May 21, 2019).
- Preparing to Win the Procedural Battles in ERISA Benefits Litigation, at ERISA Denial of Benefits Litigation Webinars (Aug. 5, 2020; Nov. 21, 2017; Dec. 14, 2016; May 5, 2015; May 14, 2013).
- Conflict of Interest Discovery after MetLife v. Glenn, at ACI's 12th ERISA Litigation Forum, San Francisco (June 28, 2016).
- ERISA Subrogation/Reimbursement for Georgia's Trial Lawyers, at GTLA CLE Seminar, Atlanta (April 30, 2015).
- What You Need To Know About ERISA Subrogation Liens, VERDICT: Georgia Trial Lawyers Assoc., pp. 20-23 (Summer 2014).
- PREPARING FOR TRIAL IN FEDERAL COURT. (James Pub.: Costa Mesa, CA) 3rd ed., Supp. 2013.
- Benefit Claims Litigation: Assessing Recent Key Cases in ERISA Benefits Litigation, at ACI's 6th National Forum on ERISA Litigation, New York (Oct. 25, 2013).
- Removal & Preemption: Current State of the Law, at ACI's 5th National Forum on ERISA Litigation, New York (Jan.23, 2013).
- The Basics: What Every Human Resources Professional Needs to Know about Employment Law, Guest Lecture at Mercer University Atlanta Campus (May 3, 2012).
- Standards of Review in ERISA Claims, ACI's 14th Annual Conf. on Litigating Disability Insurance Claims, NYC (Jan. 27, 2012).
- The Circuits are Split: Does MetLife v. Glenn's “Structural Conflict” Holding Apply When Employee Benefits Are Funded from a Trust?, COMPENSATION & BENEFITS REV. v. 42, pp. 30-38 (Jan.-Feb. 2010).
- Employee Benefits Funded Through Trusts: A New Circuit Split, ABA TORTSOURCE v. 12, no. 1 (Fall 2009).
- MetLife v. Glenn and Employee Benefits Litigation, FINANCIAL SERVICES LAW360 (June 30, 2008).
- The Duty to Monitor Appointed Fiduciaries Under ERISA: Officers and Directors Can Take Actions to Protect Themselves Against Monitoring Claims, Compensation & Benefits Review, Vol. 39, pp. 46-51, September/October, 2007.
- Implications of Langbecker v. EDS On Class Certification In Employer Stock Drop Litigation, Mealey's Litigation Report: ERISA, Vol. 5, No. 11., March, 2007.
- Note, Avoiding the Appearance of Judicial Bias: Allowing a Federal Criminal Defendant to Appeal the Denial of a Recusal Motion After Entering an Unconditional Guilty Plea, 53 VAND. L. REV. 983 (2000).
Past Positions
- Judicial Law Clerk to two federal district court judges in the Eastern District of Michigan and Northern District of Ohio
- Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Detroit, Michigan
- Assistant Attorney General for Michigan's Attorney General's Office
- Alston + Bird ERISA Litigation Group, Senior Associate
- Carlock Copeland & Stair LLP, Of Counsel
- Monnolly Pridgen LLC, Founding Member
- Patel Burkhalter Law Group, Employment Law Partner
- Pridgen Law Group, Founding Member