Managing Attorney
M.J. Blakely, Jr. is a Georgia native. He attended Oxford College and Emory College of Emory University where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in 2002. M.J. earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2006.
Immediately after law school M.J. began pursuing his passion for helping individuals and their families address tragedy by developing a specialty in catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, and civil rights litigation. M.J. broadened his practice to include mass torts, class actions and other complex litigation, which has expanded his ability to obtain justice for those harmed by defective products and consumer fraud.
M.J. has worked at the most preeminent law firms in the nation where he gained invaluable experience as a litigator and trial lawyer. He has had the pleasure of representing and providing legal counsel to large corporations and small businesses, as well as individuals and their families. M.J. founded The Blakely Firm in 2023 with a mission to offer the highest quality legal support, more personalized service to his clients, and a commitment to improving and supporting our community.
In addition to M.J.’s experience in mass torts, class action and other complex litigation, he and The Blakely Firm are also a sought-after for trial expertise. M.J. has tried numerous cases and secured several multi-million-dollar verdicts as part of some of the most prolific trial teams in the country.
M.J. is a skilled negotiator that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in settlement victories and corporate recovery for deserving clients. When it comes to settling complex cases, The Blakely Firm prides itself not only on achieving favorable outcomes for our clients, but also on creating practical solutions.
MJ is currently serves on the Board of Directors for Leadership Georgia. He is a proud member of 100 Black Men of Atlanta and has served on the University of Georgia’s Law School Association Council where he is a former President of the Council. In addition to helping plaintiffs seek justice, MJ enjoys spending time with his wife and their two children, rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs, coaching youth sports, running, cycling, and all things outdoors.
The Blakely Firm is founded on a bedrock of experience in high-end, complex litigation and trial expertise.
M.J. has played an integral role in the litigation of several national, high profile, mass tort cases, including the following matters:
- In re: ARC Airbag Inflators Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3051(Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel)
- In re: Profemur Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2949 (Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee)
- Wright Medical Technology, Inc. Profemur Hip Implant Litigation, Circuit Court of Shelby County, Tennessee, R. 28 Mass Tort Coordination (Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel & Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee)
- Wright Hip System Litigation, Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding No. 4710
- Wright Medical Technology, Inc. Conserve Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, MDL No. 2329
- In re: Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2768 (Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee)
- Stryker LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40 Femoral Heads Litigation, Superior Court of NJ, Bergen County, Case No. 624
- In re: Phillips Recalled CPAP Bi-Level PAP, and Mechanical Ventilator Products Litigation, MDL No. 3014 (Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee)
- Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, U.S. District Court, Minnesota, MDL No. 13-2441
- Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Stem and ABG II Modular Hip Stem Litigation, Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Bergen County, Case Code 296, Master Case No. BER-L-936-13
- Biomet M2a Magnum Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, Cause No. 3:12-md-2391
- NFL Players’ Concussion Litigation, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, MDL No. 2323
Education
Oxford College and Emory College of Emory University – 2002 – B.A
University of Georgia – 2006 – J.D.
Honors and Awards
Super Lawyers – Rising Star – 2013 – 2017
A.T. Walden Outstanding Lawyer Award – 2017
Professional Associations and Memberships
Board of Trustees for Leadership Georgia
Member of The University of Georgia School of Law’s Law School Association Council and Past President
Member of the Oxford College Alumni Board
Member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and Past Executive Committee member and LEAD Graduate
Member of the American Association for Justice and Minority Caucus Member
Magnum Opus Honor Society mentor and volunteer
Member of Shades of Mass and Board Participant
State Bar of Georgia YLD Leadership Academy Graduate
Member of the Gate City Bar Association
Member of the Atlanta Bar Association
Member of the Clarke Carley Inn of Courts, Master
Proud member of 100 Black Men of Atlanta
Proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Former President of Westchester Elementary School PTO
Former Vice President of Fifth Ave. Upper Elementary School PTA
Bar Admissions
Georgia
Tennessee
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
Supreme Court of the United States