Youngblood, Stephen

Stephen A. Youngblood is a Partner in the Litigation Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.

Full Bio

Mr. Youngblood represents clients in litigation matters. His practice focuses on administrative law and antitrust.

Mr. Youngblood received his B.A., with Honors, in Philosophy with the minor in Astronomy from Swarthmore College in 2012. He earned his J.D. from Duke University School of Law, Magna Cum Laude, in 2016. After law school, Mr. Youngblood served two years as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Louise W. Flanagan in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Mr. Youngblood’s practice consists of defending complex antitrust matters and regulatory litigation with government agencies. Additionally, Mr. Youngblood has represented or advised clients in matters involving contract, dealer-termination issues, and suspension and debarment. Mr. Youngblood has represented clients, pro bono, in areas including landlord-tenant, music royalties, disability benefits, and felony criminal defense.
Representative Experience
- Representing Mar-Jac Poultry, Inc., and its affiliates defending three class actions and over 80 opt-out direct actions alleging supply-reduction, market-manipulation, and bid-rigging conspiracies in the market for broiler chicken. In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:16-cv-8637 (N.D. Ill.). The plaintiffs in Broiler Chicken seek billions of dollars in damages for alleged violations of the Sherman Act, state and federal RICO, and related state laws. Victories to date include obtaining dismissal against three sovereign plaintiffs and settling all three class actions for a small fraction of damages alleged.
- In a series of related wage-fixing class actions, SGR and Mr. Youngblood successfully obtained dismissal before any discovery commenced. Jien, et al. v. Perdue Farms, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:19-cv-2521-ELH (D. Md.).
- Successfully represented a nationwide construction materials manufacturer in a bid-rigging, fraud, and conspiracy investigation and prosecution conducted by the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division.
- Successfully represented a Series A funded startup medical device designer and manufacturer in connection with FDA and state regulatory approval proceedings.
- Represented a startup medical technology designer in connection with dispute among founders.
- Representing an international manufacturer of smart industrial technologies in connection with a distributor-termination dispute.
- Representing pro bono a quadriplegic Medicaid beneficiary in connection with a fraud investigation conducted by the Georgia Attorney General’s Office.
- Successfully represented pro bono a former Motown singer in connection with royalty and catalogue-sale disputes.
- Represented physicians in peer-review proceedings before state medical authorities and hospital ad hoc committees.
- Represented a non-profit “pass-through entity” charged with distributing funds under a federal grant for treatment of rare blood diseases in connection with disputes involving a sub-grantee.
- Advised a heavy-equipment dealer regarding its rights under the Georgia Multiline Heavy Equipment Dealer Act in connection with winding up its relationship with a supplier. As part of that wind up, the supplier ultimately agreed to repurchase unsold equipment remaining in the client’s inventory.
- Represented a major food manufacturer in litigation and mediation seeking damages against a supplier for breach of contract based on delivery of contaminated product.
Bar Admissions

Georgia
Education
Undergraduate
- Swarthmore College
Law School
- Duke University
Memberships

State Bar of Georgia, Antitrust Section

State Bar of Georgia, Administrative Law Section

Cooper Inn of Court

Lawyer’s Club of Atlanta
Recognitions

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, Commercial Litigation, Atlanta (2022-2025)
SGR Publications
Press