Hart Willoughby is a fourth year associate at Wilbanks & Gouinlock who joined the firm in 2017. Hart’s three years of legal practice have been devoted exclusively to representing whistleblowers under the federal and state False Claims Acts. During that time, Hart has trained directly under two of the best whistleblower attorneys in the nation which has provided him with tremendous experience and knowledge of how to successfully litigate False Claims Act matters. His litigation experience under the False Claims Act encompasses multiple industries, including defense contracting fraud, healthcare fraud, mortgage lending fraud and customs fraud.

Hart’s False Claims Act experience covers the entire litigation life cycle, from drafting complaints, to organizing and reviewing massive document productions, to assisting in motion practice and settlement negotiations. Hart is expert in using Relativity eDiscovery software to efficiently and thoroughly identify, analyze and present relevant documents in a way that effectively advances his clients’ interests. Hart is an expert legal researcher with complete fluency in the use of WestLaw, LexisNexus, Bloomberg Law, and Pacer.

Hart is also a member of Taxpayers Against Fraud, the nonprofit, public interest organization dedicated to combating fraud against the government through the promotion and use of the False Claims Act.

Prior to joining the firm, Hart attended the University of Georgia School of Law where he graduated cum laude. Hart tailored his curriculum to prepare for a practice focused on complex litigation, taking multiple whistleblower litigation and health care fraud courses. During his time at UGA Law, Hart was a member of the inaugural group of students to work at the Wilbanks CEASE Clinic, a first-of-its-kind Clinic founded by Marlan Wilbanks that represents survivors of child sexual abuse. Between his second and third year of law school, Hart completed an internship with Wilbanks & Gouinlock during which he gained valuable hands-on experience in litigating False Claims Act matters.

Hart was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia where he attended the Westminster Schools. Hart earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, where he double majored in Psychology and French. He lives in Atlanta and enjoys following UVA Basketball and UGA Football, and playing a round of golf on the weekends.

Bar Admissions:
State of Georgia, 2017
Northern District of Georgia, 2020

Education:
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
University of Georgia School of Law, Athens, Georgia