Leadership

Our passion for civil justice reform dedicates us to our mission.

Will Barnette

Chairman

Will Barnette is the 2024-2025 Chairman of Georgians for Lawsuit Reform. He is Associate General Counsel for The Home Depot, leading the Commercial Litigation team and managing legal functions for key business areas. During his 19-year tenure, he has successfully defended over 200 class actions and spearheaded lucrative recovery projects. As a thought leader in complex litigation, he has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and authored several influential law review articles. His contributions have earned him numerous legal awards and recognition as a Fellow by the Litigation Counsel of America. Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Barnette is dedicated to community service, having served as Board President for the Atlanta Legal Aid Society and as an elder in his church.

James Beal

Executive Director

James was named Executive Director of GLR in January 2025 after 11 years at the State Capitol, where he served in the Deal administration, the Lieutenant Governor’s office, and most recently as General Counsel to Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy. In these roles, he focused on bipartisan collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and drafting legislation to support Georgia’s business community. A trusted resource on legislative and legal matters, James is a Georgia State University double graduate and a member of the Georgia Bar. He lives in Atlanta with his wife, Catherine.

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Hayden Kolodziejcyk

Communications Director

Hayden Kolodziejcyk serves as the Communications Director for Georgians for Lawsuit Reform. Hayden joined GLR in April 2023 after working with various members of the Georgia General Assembly during the 2023 Legislative Session. She graduated from The University of Georgia in 2020 with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Criminal Justice.

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Past Leadership

Previous chairs include The Honorable Keith Blackwell (Alston & Bird), Rocco Testani (Eversheds-Sutherland), Tye Darland (Georgia-Pacific/Koch Industries), and more.