Profile
Garrett Messerly is a trial attorney who focuses on employment litigation and trials, wage & hour class and collective litigation, and complex commercial litigation in both federal and state courts. Garrett represents and advises clients before and during trials and has deep experience in government-facing investigations, including Title VII, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Utah’s Antidiscrimination Act, and more.
Garrett’s practice encompasses a broad range of legal matters, including high-stakes commercial litigation involving claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duties, misappropriation of trade secrets, violations of restrictive covenants, including non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, unfair competition, breach of contract, sexual harassment, and alleged discrimination and retaliation. Garrett’s commercial litigation cases often touch on elements of employment law.
Prior to entering private practice, Garrett served in the United States Air Force JAG Corps where he developed his litigation and trial skills as a first-chair trial lawyer. As a prosecutor, he handled felony-level crimes in military justice and criminal cases. He also oversaw and conducted numerous internal investigations, including allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, and fraud. Garrett was later selected as a defense attorney and served at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. As a defense attorney, Garrett defended cadets, airmen, and officers in military justice, criminal cases, and adverse administrative actions. Garrett also guest lectured at the Academy’s Department of Law.
Concentrations
- Employment Litigation and Trials
- Wage & Hour Class and Collective Actions
- Commercial Litigation
- Employment Law
Áreas de Atuação
Experiência
- Ongoing representation of a nationwide health care provider against claims of wage & hour violations, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.
- Obtained a complete defense judgment via summary judge briefing in federal court on claims of wage & hour violations.
- Obtained a complete dismissal in federal court for claims racial and age discrimination.
- Represented a large SaaS company in a lawsuit and trial against a competitor for breaching restrictive covenants and tortiously interfering with customers and contracts, obtained settlement on the eve of trial.
- Represented a nationwide mortgage company against claims of ADA discrimination and Sarbanes Oxley Whistleblower retaliation, obtained settlement short of litigation.
- Obtained a No Reasonable Cause finding from the Utah Labor Commission investigative unit for claims of racial discrimination and harassment.
- Represented a national oilfield services company against collection claims of violation of the FLSA.
- Represented a large government contractor in an antitrust investigation.
- Represented a large automotive manufacturer in litigation in federal and state courts against a large automotive competitor, former auto-industry executives, and former union officials for claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duties, and unfair competition arising from a scheme to corrupt labor negotiations.°
- Represented 3M Company in connection with the Combat Arms Earplugs multidistrict litigation, the largest MDL in U.S. history. Participated in multiple bellwether trials.°
- Represented a global rubber manufacturer for claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contact against a well-known American company.°
- Represented a nationwide distributor in a proposed class action lawsuit and arbitration proceedings against claims of antitrust and Robinson-Patman Act claims of unfair pricing.°
- Represented an importer of exotic animals against claims of violation of endangered species laws.°
- Represented a large pharmaceutical development company in multidistrict litigation against claims of failure to warn and false and misleading claims.°
- Represented a large pharmaceutical development company against claims of Medicaid billing fraud.°
- Represented a large bio-medical development company against claims of false advertising and misleading sales tactics.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Messerly prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Utah Air National Guard, 2020-2021
- United States Air Force – Judge Advocate
- Area Defense Counsel, U.S. Air Force JAG Corps, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, 2018-2020
- Chief of Military Justice, Minot Air Force Base, U.S. Air Force JAG Corps, North Dakota, 2016-2018
- Judicial Extern, Hon. Paul Warner, U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, 2013
Reconhecimento & Liderança
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, “Ones to Watch,” Commercial Litigation, 2022-2026
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Mountain States Super Lawyers, “Rising Stars,” 2022-2025
- Selected, Air Force Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, 2020 (Q4), 2019 (Q1), and 2018 (Q1)
- Member, Utah State Bar
- Member, Aldon J. Anderson American Inns of Court, Present
- Member, J. Reuben Clark Law Society, Salt Lake City Chapter, Present
Credenciais
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J.D., magna cum laude, Brigham Young University - J. Reuben Clark Law School
- Managing Editor of Administration & Associate Editor, BYU Law Review
- President, BYU Trial Advocacy
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B.S., summa cum laude, Southern Utah University
- Varsity Baseball
- Utah