R. David Ware

Biography

David Ware brings a distinguished four-decade legal career to his work as a mediator, offering parties a wealth of experience navigating complex, high-stakes disputes. The proud son of sharecroppers, Mr. Ware earned his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law, where his leadership on the nationally acclaimed moot court team laid the foundation for a successful trial practice. He holds a B.A. in English from the University of West Georgia, earned on academic and athletic scholarships, and is a member of the Blue Key National Honor Society and Phi Eta Sigma.

Admitted to practice before all Georgia state and federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court, Mr. Ware has represented Fortune 500 companies, municipalities, governmental agencies, insurers, high-profile athletes, and prominent individuals in complex litigation and multimillion-dollar negotiations. His deep understanding of dispute dynamics stems from his unique experience as both a first-chair trial attorney and a seasoned executive, having served as County Attorney and later as County Manager for Georgia’s largest county, where he successfully managed a $1 billion budget.

Mr. Ware’s public service as Fulton County Attorney showcased his ability to lead and resolve challenging legal matters. Managing a legal team and extensive outside counsel, he advised over 40 departments and agencies on a wide range of legal issues, including labor and employment law, catastrophic injury, constitutional challenges, zoning, environmental matters, and complex government disputes. His litigation background includes high-profile victories such as ending nine years of federal oversight of the Fulton County jail, successfully defending against multimillion-dollar claims, and prevailing in precedent-setting appellate cases.

His experience as a former part-time Magistrate Judge, combined with his courtroom successes and negotiation expertise, equips Mr. Ware with a practical, solution-focused approach to mediation. He understands the pressures and risks of litigation from the inside out, enabling him to guide parties toward resolution with credibility, authority, and impartiality.

Mr. Ware’s practice is also informed by his early achievements in business and sports law, where he successfully challenged NFL eligibility rules, negotiated record-breaking contracts, and gained national recognition as a top sports agent. His ability to broker deals under intense public scrutiny mirrors the skills he brings to confidential settlement negotiations today.

At Henning Mediation, Mr. Ware’s background in government, private practice, and executive leadership positions him as a trusted neutral for resolving disputes involving employment law, civil rights, governmental liability, complex commercial issues, tort claims, and high-profile matters. His diverse experience and proven judgment make him an ideal choice for parties seeking an effective and authoritative mediator.

David joined Henning Mediation in 2025.

Professional Experience

• Certified Mediator, Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution
• Lead attorney for Counties and Cities for civil rights litigation and election litigation
• Successfully defeated an unprecedented suit by state legislators against Fulton County to prevent the County from collecting $680 million in taxes, which would have shut down County operations
• Presented the legal arguments that ended the nine-year federal oversight of Fulton County’s jail which had lasted 10 years and cost over $1billion
• Successfully challenged the National Football League’s player eligibility rules on antitrust grounds, leading to the inclusion of college juniors in the NFL draft
• Defeated multiple wrongful death and personal injury claims against the County stemming from the 2005 Atlanta courthouse shootings where four people were killed
• Established an 11th Circuit precedent regarding the ability of the County to fire an employee who criticized the Sheriff
• Established Georgia precedent establishing immunity for police officers engaged in high-speed pursuits
• Successfully represented a small municipality in one of the first environmental justice cases ever filed which led to a $24 million settlement
• Successfully defended the County in a suit involving an inmate who was held almost two years past his release date
• Devised legal strategies that led to summary judgment in many employment litigation matters and won numerous jury trials brought under Title VII and related employment discrimination laws
• Successfully defended a Fortune 500 company in a multimillion-dollar racial discrimination suit
• Won a rare federal bench trial in a Fair Housing case brought by a real estate developer related to a multimillion-dollar project
• Successfully defended two sheriffs in federal employment cases
• Served as counsel to a major insurer in numerous personal injury matters that ended in verdicts for the defendant
• Negotiated the largest contract at the time for an NFL running back and was considered one of the top sports agents in the country
• Obtained a $35million verdict for the daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown

Accolades

• Leadership Atlanta Class of 2012
• National lecturer on Section 1983 and Government Liability Litigation
• Named by Atlanta Tribune as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Atlantans
• Sports Agent of the Year by B.E.S.L.A
• Recognized by The Sporting News as one of the top 10 NFL Agents in America (2003)
• Who's Who Among Black Americans (1992)
• Featured in Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, USA Today, Black Enterprise Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlanta Tribune, Ebony Magazine, Jet Magazine, The National Law Journal, The Fulton County Daily Report, The Sports Business Journal
• Appeared on HBO Sports, CBS Evening News Magazine program, CNN, ESPN
• Alumnus of the Year, University of Georgia B.A.L.S.A chapter

Community Service and Professional Affiliations

• Admitted to the State Bar of Georgia
• 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
• Admitted to U.S. Supreme Court
• Governor’s Task Force on Small and Minority Business Development
• Former Special Master for G.O.F.E.P. Hearings and City of Atlanta Condemnation Cases
• Former Special Assistant Attorney General (1998 - 2004)
• Former part-time Magistrate Judge for Fulton County, State and Superior Courts
• Former President, Gate City Bar Association

Education

• J.D., University of Georgia School of Law (1979)
• B.A., English, West Georgia College (1976)

Mediation/Arbitration Training

• Henning Mediation & Arbitration

Areas of Expertise

• xxx