Overview
Bryan O. Balogh is a litigation attorney in Holland & Knight's Birmingham office. Mr. Balogh is an accomplished courtroom litigator who focuses his practice on complex business litigation related to disputes with significant risk and damages, with a particular emphasis on class action litigation and mass arbitration involving Fortune 500 corporations, domestic and international businesses, national banks and financial institutions. Mr. Balogh is also regularly retained by companies seeking pre-litigation strategy and advice.
Known for his calm demeanor and ability to simplify complex issues, industry sources praise Mr. Balogh for his courtroom presence, saying:
"Bryan brings reason and critical thought to every tough matter. His ability to clearly and convincingly speak and write are rare to find in one attorney."
"He is extremely knowledgeable and an expert on class actions. He also has a good demeanor with judges and other lawyers, he will take the higher ground and get the best result because of it."
– Chambers USA – America's Leading Lawyers for Business
Throughout his nearly 30-year career, Mr. Balogh has handled a wide array of litigation matters and disputes spanning multiple industries and subject matter disciplines. Described as a “capable courtroom litigator” by Chambers USA (2024), Mr. Balogh has handled high-stakes commercial litigation involving, among other things, business torts, environmental litigation, professional liability defense, product manufacturing, securities litigation, telecommunications litigation, financial services and mortgage litigation, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) claims, broker-dealer litigation, and personal injury litigation. In addition to defense work, Mr. Balogh has been retained by companies to pursue business and contractual claims in high-value contractual disputes with other companies.
Mr. Balogh has significant trial and courtroom experience that includes defense of corporations and businesses, including publicly traded corporations and financial institutions, as well as individuals such as physicians, attorneys, business owners, and officers and directors. Mr. Balogh has handled litigated matters in states throughout the country.
Mr. Balogh is actively involved in the Alabama and Birmingham Bar Associations, with a particular focus on admission criteria and grievance investigation. Mr. Balogh has served multiple terms on the Alabama State Bar's Character and Fitness Committee, as well as multiple terms on the Birmingham Bar Association's Grievance Committee.
Representative Experience
- Represented a financial services client in a class action lawsuit in California resulting in the denial of class certification
- Represented an international corporation in an environmental class action resulting in the denial of class certification
- Represented an international automotive manufacturer in various forms of litigation involving supplier-related issues
- Represented an international automotive manufacturer in an international mediation conducted overseas with a foreign-based supplier
- Represented an international automotive manufacturer in Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) class action
- Represented a publicly traded corporation in a dispute with a supplier resulting in a month-long trial and successful outcome
- Represented a major telecommunications company in a nationwide class action involving claims of improper activation of stolen devices resulting in denial of class certification
- Represented a publicly traded corporation against spoliation claims involving electronically stored information (ESI) disputes
- Represented a major law firm in legal malpractice action arising from the alleged negligent failure to properly construct a multimillion-dollar bond issue; a favorable decision was subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court of Alabama
- Defended a national corporation in a class action challenging its consumer billing practices in California
- Defended a publicly traded credit card company in class actions filed in Florida resulting in denial of class certification
- Represented the general counsel of a publicly traded corporation in a securities fraud class action alleging accounting irregularities
- Represented the chief financial officer of a publicly traded corporation in a securities fraud class action
- Served as national coordinating counsel for a financial services client involved in subprime servicing
- Defended a multimillion-dollar dispute on behalf of a large national bank arising from a letter of credit to secure purchase money financing for oil pump units in Texas
- Defended a large national bank in a series of cases involving the unauthorized transfer of substantial customer assets arising from sophisticated third-party phishing activities
- Tried a Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) case in Florida against a large national subprime mortgage servicer
- Tried a mortgage fraud and loan servicing case in Florida on behalf of a large national subprime mortgage servicer
- Represented a national financial institution in matters related to unauthorized wire transfers conducted by cybercriminals who fraudulently gained access to account holder credentials and personal information
- Represented a healthcare company in a dispute with a regional financial institution in matters related to unauthorized automated clearing house (ACH) transactions
- Defended an international corporation in a class action alleging environmental contamination caused by radon, Radium-226 and gamma radiation resulting in denial of class certification
- Represented a global environmental waste company in a series of nationwide class actions pending in Alabama, Georgia and Illinois alleging improper pricing and billing practices; also successfully secured dismissal of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) claims against corporation, corporate subsidiaries and high-level officers
- Defended a corporation in a series of class actions alleging environmental contamination caused by an on-site wastewater spill that flowed into public waterways
- Defended a multinational corporation in matters arising from alleged violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and other environmental matters arising from a construction project
- Represented three separate national waste management companies in class actions filed throughout the country arising from allegations that their energy and environmental fee structures were improper and illegal
- Represented a national corporation in an environmental mass action arising from alleged air and surface contamination brought by landowners
Credentials
- Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, J.D., magna cum laude
- Auburn University, B.S., Finance
- Alabama
- Supreme Court of Alabama
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- Alabama State Bar, Character and Fitness Committee, 2017-Present; Diversity & Inclusion Committee, 2020-2023
- Birmingham Bar Association, Grievance Committee, Multiple Terms; Mentoring Committee, Bulletin Committee and Court Liaison Committee
- American Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Commercial Litigation, 2023-2024; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, 2022-Present
- Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Litigation: General Commercial, 2022-Present
- Mid-South Super Lawyers magazine, Class Action, 2014-2023
- Alabama Super Lawyers magazine, Class Action, 2015; Business Litigation, 2014
- Curia Honoris Honor Society, Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, 1995