John Edwards stands out as a highly accomplished trial lawyer with a career spanning over 20 years. His fundamental approach to every case is rooted in the understanding that a jury trial is a potential outcome. This perspective ensures meticulous evaluation, thorough development, and strategic positioning of each case to achieve the best possible results for his clients. John Edwards is exceptionally comfortable and effective in the courtroom, whether addressing judges or juries, and he leverages cutting-edge graphics and trial support technology to enhance his presentations and case arguments.
John Edwards’ Core Practice Areas Over Two Decades
First Amendment and Free Speech Rights Advocacy by John Edwards
John Edwards has a distinguished record of representing both broadcast and print media organizations in a wide spectrum of First Amendment matters. His expertise includes defending against defamation and similar speech-related claims, securing media access to governmental and judicial records under state open court and public information statutes, and challenging civil and criminal subpoenas directed at media professionals. John Edwards provides counsel to on-air personalities, broadcasters, news outlets, television networks, and publishers of newspapers and books on issues ranging from pre-publication legal reviews aimed at preventing litigation to defending against lawsuits alleging libel, slander, business disparagement, invasion of privacy, illegal wiretapping, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and other statutory and common law claims concerning free speech protections.
Beyond media entities, John Edwards also advises and represents businesses in free speech related disputes, including cases of business disparagement, tortious interference, and similar claims linked to speech. He is also adept at handling defamation issues in the workplace, particularly those arising from internal investigations, allegations of employee misconduct, employment references, and content shared on social media and blogs.
John Edwards is a recognized voice on free speech issues, frequently writing and speaking on the subject. Notably, he authored annual surveys of Texas and Fifth Circuit law concerning defamation and privacy for the Media Law Resource Center from 2003 to 2014.
Government Procurement and Public Records Access Expertise of John Edwards
A significant portion of John Edwards’ practice is devoted to assisting companies navigating the complexities of government contracts. He offers comprehensive support throughout the procurement process, including representation in administrative hearings and litigation related to challenges to contract awards. Over the past twelve years, John Edwards has achieved considerable success in both prosecuting and defending bid protests across 17 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. Currently, John Edwards represents a Fortune 25 corporation and its subsidiaries in procurement disputes nationwide.
His work in procurement and media law has equipped John Edwards with deep knowledge of open government laws. This includes the federal Freedom of Information Act, the Texas Public Information Act, the Texas Open Meetings Act, and similar state-level regulations concerning public access. John Edwards routinely assists clients in gaining access to public and court records, and he also defends against inappropriate attempts to access client information held by government bodies that is confidential, constitutes trade secrets, is proprietary, or is competitively sensitive.
Managed Care Litigation Experience of John Edwards
Since 2006, John Edwards has been a strong advocate for clients in disputes involving managed care organizations and healthcare providers such as hospitals, physicians, and ancillary provider groups. These cases often involve allegations of underpayment for out-of-network provider claims and breaches of in-network agreements. Since 2008, through strategic negotiation, settlements, and court rulings, John Edwards has successfully resolved numerous lawsuits and over 40 arbitrations in states such as Texas, California, Georgia, Louisiana, and Florida. Many of these complex disputes involve critical issues of federal preemption under ERISA or other federal statutes, state prompt payment laws, and regulatory compliance.
This extensive experience positions John Edwards as a valuable advisor and counselor for clients facing disputes related to provider agreements and health insurance claims and payments. This includes claims arising from services provided under fully insured or self-funded employer health plans and Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.
Employment Law Representation by John Edwards
John Edwards also represents clients in employment-related litigation, particularly concerning non-compete agreements, misappropriation of confidential information or trade secrets, and other claims that frequently arise when employees leave a company, including alleged violations of the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Furthermore, John Edwards defends clients in cases involving allegations of employment discrimination (based on race, sex, age, and disability), sexual harassment, defamation, wrongful termination, and retaliatory discharge. His representation extends to proceedings before the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) of the Texas Department of Insurance. John Edwards is also a thought leader on employment law issues related to defamation (libel/slander), regularly presenting on topics such as defamation in the workplace and employee blogging issues.
