Robert C. Port
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A comprehensive guide to matters business litigators will encounter written by a stellar panel of veteran GA litigators and arbitrators. Edited by Robert Port.
Robert C. Port
Partner
Robert Port is a business litigation attorney with extensive experience in general commercial litigation and fiduciary disputes involving wills, trusts, estates, guardianships and conservatorships. Mr. Port also has significant experience representing investors harmed by the misconduct of their stockbroker, investment advisor, insurance agent, or other trusted advisor. This includes matters arising from inappropriate investment strategies, unsuitable sales of annuities and life insurance products, failed or unlawfully offered private placements, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other complex investment products, excessive trading (churning), unauthorized trading, sale of unregistered securities, and losses suffered as a result of Ponzi schemes.
Mr. Port graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Bachelors of Science in Political Science and Psychology. He then went on to receive his J.D. with honors from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Mr. Port is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been repeatedly selected as a Georgia “Super Lawyer.” As a widely published expert in his field of practice, Mr. Port’s articles have been featured in the Georgia Bar Journal, the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the Daily Report (an ALM publication), and the Public Investors Arbitration Bar (PIABA) Journal. Mr. Port is the editor of Georgia Business Litigation, a one-volume, comprehensive guide to matters business litigators encounter. Additionally, he has been interviewed and quoted by a variety of media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, The Atlanta Business Chronicle, TheStreem.com, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the Daily Report.
Mr. Port’s passion for law is rooted in the thoughtful analysis of legal issues, the challenges associated with understanding issues from multiple perspectives, and the rigorous debates over disputed issues of law and fact. He thrives on taking complex legal arguments and presenting them in ways that simplify the complexity and create compelling cases for his clients.
Awards and Recognition
- Amicus Curiae Award, Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
- AV Preeminent Rating since 1993
- Arbitrator, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
- Selected by peers for inclusion in Georgia Super Lawyers from 2004-2005 and 2009-2022.
- Selected as Articles Editor for North Carolina Law Review
- Selected as Law Clerk to Hon. Eugene M. Gordon, United States District Court Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina
Bar Admissions and Court Memberships
- State Bar of Georgia
- State Bar of Tennessee
- United States Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- Georgia Court of Appeals
Education
University of North Carolina, Juris Doctor with Honors, 1983
University of North Carolina, B.A. with Honors in Political Science, 1979
Professional Associations
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Arbitrator (Chair Qualified)
- Member of National Roster of Arbitrators for Consumer Arbitrations, American Arbitration Association
- American Bar Association, Member, 1984 – Present
- Atlanta Bar Association, Member, 1984 – Present
- Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association, Member, 2000 – Present
- Small Firm and Sole Practitioner Section Atlanta Bar Association, Member of the Board of Directors, 2001-2008
- Atlanta Bar Association, Chair, Law School Outreach Committee, 2001-2002
- Atlanta Bar Association, Member, Nominating Committee, 2002
- Fulton County State Court, Member, Technology Committee, 1999-2000
- Lawyer’s Club of Atlanta, Member, 2000 – Present
- Public Investors Arbitration Law Association Amicus Committee, Co-Chair, 2016-2017
- Public Investors Arbitration Law Association Amicus Committee, 2016 – Present
- Estate Planning and Probate Section of the Atlanta Bar Association, Board Member, 2022-2023
Professional Speaking Engagements
- “Current Trends and Reoccurring Themes in Fiduciary Litigation,” Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s Asset Management Forum, Washington D.C. July 2023.
- “Everything I Know About Estate Planning I Learned in Court – Minimizing the Risk of an Estate or Trust Dispute,” Update on Georgia Law, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, January 2023.
- “Behavioral Economics and the Practice of Law,” Atlanta Bar Association, Estate Planning and Probate Section, May 2022.
- “Planning to Minimize the Risk of an Estate or Trust Dispute,” Basic Fiduciary Law 101, State Bar of Georgia, April 2022.
- “The Whole Picture: Maximizing Damages in Securities Cases,” Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA) 2021 Annual Meeting, Amelia Island, Florida, October 2021
- “Behavioral Economics and the Practice of Law,” Atlanta Bar Association Litigation Section, May 2021
- “Lessons from the Trenches: Avoiding Family Disputes Over Money, Estates, and Businesses,” Georgia Society of CPAs, July 2020
- “Lessons from the Trenches: Avoiding Family Disputes Over Money, Estates, and Businesses,” Update on Georgia Law, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Beaver Creek, Colorado, February 2020.
- “Everything I Know About Investing I Learned in Court,” Atlanta Bar Continuing Legal Education Seminar, February 2019
- “Recent Developments in Securities Law,” Update on Georgia Law, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Beaver Creek, Colorado, February 2019
- “Minimizing the Risk That You Will be a Defendant in Trust or Estate Litigation,” Estate Planning Council of North Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia, March 2018
- “Behavioral Economics and the Practice of Law,” Update on Georgia Law, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Vail, Colorado, February 2018
- “Financial Exploitation of Older Adults,” National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), Macon, Georgia, October 2017
- “Everything I Know About Investing I Learned in Court,” Georgia Society of CPAs, Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta, Georgia, August 2017
- “Pursuing and Defending Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims Against Trustees of Closely Held Business Assets,” Webinar, Strafford Continuing Education, June 2017
- “Your Retirement Assets: The Department of Labor’s “Best Interest Rule,” Update on Georgia Law, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Park City, Utah, February 2017
- “The New Department of Labor Fiduciary Rule and Its Impact on Securities Litigation and Arbitration,” Panel Discussion, 24th Annual Securities Litigation and Regulatory Practice, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Atlanta, Georgia, October 2016.
- “Protecting Elderly Clients From Financial Exploitation,” Georgia Society of CPAs, Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, Georgia, July, 2016.
- “Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation,” Update on Georgia Law, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, February 2016.
- “Making Sense of Annuities – and What to Watch Out For,” 6th Annual Estate Planning Institute, Athens, Georgia February 2016.
- “Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation,” Elder Law Section, Atlanta Bar Association, November 2015.
- “Overcoming Comparative Fault Ratification and Other Common Brokerage Defenses,” Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA) 2015 Annual Meeting, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, October 2015.
- “Ponzi Schemes: Recovering from Banks, Brokerage Firms, and Other Financial Institutions,” Update on Georgia Law, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, February 2015.
- “Everything I Know About Investing I Learned in Court,” American Association of Daily Money Managers (AADM), Atlanta Chapter, September 2015.
- “Recent Developments in Securities Law,” Update on Georgia Law, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Beaver Creek, Colorado, February 2014.
- “Current Legal Issues Facing Investors,” Update on Georgia Law, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Beaver Creek, Colorado, January 2013.
- “Well Managed Portfolio Damages,” Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association, 2012 Annual Meeting, Austin, Texas.
- “Current Legal Issues Facing Investors,” Update on Georgia Law, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Beaver Creek, Colorado, February 2012.
- “Where Did the Money Go? Market Losses or Investment Mismanagement and How to Tell the Difference,” Atlanta Bar Association, Family Law Section, September 2011.
- “Everything I Know About Investing, I Learned in Court,” Update on Georgia Law, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, February 2011.
Publications
- “Courtside Seat – Part III,” HumbleDollar, July 12, 2021
- “Behavioral Economics and the Practice of Law,” Georgia Bar Journal, June 2019
- “Courtside Seat – Part II,” HumbleDollar, December 12, 2017.
- “Courtside Seat,” HumbleDollar, January 16, 2017.
- Editor, Georgia Business Litigation– Published by ALM/Daily Report.
- “Daubert, The “Well Managed Portfolio ” and “Net-Out-Of-Pocket (NOP) Losses.” Are NOPs Junk Science?” PIABA Bar Journal, Vol. 21, No. 2 (2014).
- “Navigate the minefield of fiduciary liability as a 401(k) plan sponsor,” Daily Report, December 3, 2013.
- “Securities arbitration rules should be revised,” Atlanta Business Chronicle, March 18, 2011 (co-authored with Jason Doss).
- “Holmes v. Grubman: The Supreme Court of Georgia Balances Financial Advisor Common Law Liability and Investor Protection,” Georgia Bar Journal, Feb. 2011.
- “Wall Street Wants to Keep Consumers in the Dark,” Fulton County Daily Report, October 15, 2010 (co-authored with Jason Doss).
- “Court taught me all about investing,” Fulton County Daily Report, August 21, 2006.
- “Theories of Stockbroker and Brokerage Firm Liability,” Georgia Bar Journal, April 2004.
- “Common Theories of Stockbroker and Brokerage Firm Liability,” The Litigator, Litigation Section of the Atlanta Bar Association, Inc., Fall 2003.
- “Common Fact Patterns of Stockbroker Fraud and Misconduct,” Georgia Bar Journal, June 2002.
- “Legal Issues Arising from Online Investing,” Technology Law, Section Newsletter, State Bar of Georgia, October/November/December 2001.
- “You Can Trade on this Advice,” Report on Fraud, March 2002, published by The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, Kroll, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
- “Put it in Writing: Why you Need a Written Contract,” Competitive Edge, January/February 2002.
- “Whoops! You’ve Got Mail!,” Georgia Bar Journal, February 2001.
- “E-Commerce: Presenting Evidence of Web Site Content in Court Proceedings,” Computer Law, Section Newsletter, State Bar of Georgia, October – December 2000.
- “Protecting Yourself From Investment Fraud,” Competitive Edge, March/April 2001.
Expert Commentator
Mr. Port has been called upon as an expert commentator on matters involving stockbroker and investment advisor misconduct, as well as other legal topics, including:
- Guest commentator on The Steve Pomeranz Show. The topic, “Learn How To Spot Financial Fraud And Broker Misconduct”, July 2019
- “Learn To Spot Financial Fraud And Broker Malpractice,” Radio Appearance, The Steve Pomeranz Show, February 2017
- Quoted “Lost Money in the Markets? Wall Street Thinks It’s Your Own Fault“, TheStreet.com, Susan Antilla, November 2015
- Quoted by the Wall Street Journal Market Watch: “Variable annuities: right or wrong for you?”, November 2013
- Guest commentator, “Money Matters”, WSB Radio, 750 AM, Atlanta, Georgia, 2003-2004. Guest commentator, “On The Money”, WXEL 90.7FM, South Florida National Public Radio, Palm Beach, Florida, April 2003.
- Quoted in “Protecting Your Investment Castle”, Crier Newspapers, Atlanta Georgia, June 2002.
- Quoted in “Protecting Your Investment Castle”, Crier Newspapers, Atlanta Georgia, June 2002.
- Multiple appearances on “The Laymen’s Lawyer”, on the topics of “Securities Fraud”, and “Securities Law”, WPBA TV 30, Public Broadcasting, Atlanta, Georgia, April 2003, November 2001, June 1999.
- Quoted in “Money Advice” section of www.moneybulletin.com, “Legal Insights From Robert Port”.
Testimonials
Louis Northern
I was especially impressed with Robert’s argument delivery/timing, concise communication, and calm demeanor throughout.
Belinda B. de Kozan, Esq.
Robert assisted our firm in handling complex litigation in Georgia, which required prompt analysis and action. Robert provided very thorough legal analysis of the issues and filed the necessary pleadings skillfully and quickly. A talented litigator and communicator, Robert has been responsive to the many inquiries posed throughout the case, and it has been a pleasure working with him.
Alan Kohr, CPA
Robert C. Port of Gaslowitz Frankel LLC has earned my highest recommendation. This endorsement does not come often or lightly. As a Florida CPA with over 40 years’ experience in various Court appointed fiduciary capacities, I have had numerous occasions to engage and work with attorneys in Florida, Alabama, Nevada, Tennessee, Georgia, and Washington DC . Mr. Port ranks with the best I have ever dealt with. He has provided me with quality representation, excellent advice, explained clearly what was going on and answered my questions patiently, sometimes even before I asked. I have been very satisfied with the results he has obtained for me. I will not hesitate to use him again.
Kathlyn M. White, Esq.
Our firm has the pleasure of working with Robert on a complex civil matter, requiring quick and decisive action, and a comprehensive grasp of the law in this particular subject area. His ability to strategize and execute in a relatively short period of time was very beneficial to our client and to our firm, as out of state counsel. Robert is responsive, thorough, and a genuine pleasure to work with.
Bee K.
Thank you so much to Luke and Robert for all the wisdom and help you have shared with us. We have learned a tremendous amount during what was a very painful and challenging time for us. We truly appreciate your patience, understanding, and support.
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