Birmingham Bar Association Bulletin Winter 2022

Get To Know

These Members

BBA members reflect on 2022. 22

13th Annual Bocce Ball Tournament Annual fundraiser benefiting the Legal Aid Society was a success. 26

Message from the Executive Director

I hope you have had a healthy and productive year and are looking ahead to a restful and restorative holiday season.

This issue of the Bulletin features many of the great events that we hosted this fall, continuing the trend of a year filled with countless benefits for you. Stay tuned because 2023 will also offer you tremendous value for your mem bership.

The Birmingham Bar, Legal Aid Society, and Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham participated in

This issue also highlights the outstanding work of our leaders, who make the Birmingham Bar Association excellent!

The end of the year is such a busy time for all of us, but I hope you will mark your calendar to attend these 2 not-to-miss Birmingham Bar Associa tion events:

► Annual Meeting on Dec. 9: The meeting will feature a recap of the year from current President Allison Skinner and a preview of next year from President-Elect Marcus Maples. And, of course, you will want to be there as the election results are revealed.

► Year-End Party on Dec. 9: We will gather this year at the VFW Post 668 (1801 11th Avenue North) to enjoy fellowship with colleagues, gourmet bites, and seasonal drinks.

See you soon!

Jennifer B. Bates Executive Director

Published for the Birmingham Bar Association by Starnes Media

2022 Officers of the BBA

Allison O. Skinner, President

Marcus M. Maples, President-Elect J. Price Evans IV, Secretary/Treasurer H. Lanier Brown II, Immediate Past President Jennifer B. Bates, Executive Director

2022 BBA Executive Committee

Robert E. Battle

Rebecca A. Beers

Pooja Chawla

Starr Turner Drum

Susan N. Han

Tina Lam

Hope S. Marshall

D.G. Pantazis Jr.

Ryan P. Robichaux

Tripp Watson

Virginia E. Miller, ADR Section

Hanna Lahr, Bankruptcy/Commercial Law Section

J. Jack Kubiszyn, Business Law Section

Brock Brett, Criminal Justice Section

Robin Robertson, Federal Practice Section

Christopher S. Hamer, Probate Section

April H. Deluca, Solo Practice/Small Firm Section

Laura S. Winston, Women Lawyers Section

Jud C. Stanford, Workers Compensation Section

Anna M. Carroll, Young Lawyers Section Ruby B. Jackson, Magic City Bar Association Freddy Rubio, ASB Commissioner

Birmingham Bar Association

2021 Second Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 205-251-8006 birminghambar.org jbuettner@birminghambar.org

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Fiesta this year.

It has been an eventful, busy, and exciting year for the Birmingham Bar Association, and I have been honored to lead this distinguished organization through these rapidly changing times.

In September of this year, we held two very well attended Coffee with the Judges events.

Thing to Happen In 2022 Read about what they experienced this year, and you will probably see some connections or correlations to your own life.

From the President

What an eventful, busy, and exciting year for the Birmingham Bar Association! I have been honored to lead this distinguished organization through these rapidly changing times.

As I outlined in my Spring Bulletin mes sage, my theme for the year has been The Next Chapter, and I have sought to ensure that our 137-year-old association remains a relevant and important part of your life and the Birmingham community.

Although we started the year with the continuation of the pandemic, I was proud that our association remained flexible and adaptable throughout the uncertain envi ronment and, as a result of our resiliency, emerged even stronger from those extraor dinarily difficult times. The world is now experiencing inflationary financial pres sures that are again requiring us to adjust and be open to change.

As we announced at the end of October, the BBA will be moving to a new home along with our sister organizations, the Birmingham Bar Foundation, the Legal Aid Society of Birmingham, and Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham. The Bar Center has served us well for over 25 years, but as stewards of our members’ dues and as servant leaders for our members, the BBA leadership determined that moving to a more cost-effective location was necessary to ensure the sustainability of our asso ciation. This was a big decision to make, and I want to thank the members of the BBA’s Building Task Force for studying the issues and making a recommendation to the Executive Committee. The mem bers of the BBA Building Task Force are Lanier Brown, Bing Edwards, Jesse Evans, Price Evans, Chris Hamer, Jack Kubiszyn, Marcus Maples, Andrew Nix, Lee Thuston, Tripp Watson, and myself.

I also want to thank this year’s all-star Executive Committee for going the extra mile and being terrific stewards of the BBA. This decision will free up funds and resources that have been traditionally used to maintain a building and allow us

to have an even greater focus on providing value for our members in the decades to come. A special thank you to mediator extraordinaire, Al Vance, for facilitating the discussions between the BBA and the Birmingham Bar Foundation during this process. Our association’s future is bright! With this in mind, I encourage you to continue to stay involved with the BBA and help us recruit new members. Keep ing your local bar association strong and thriving enhances the legal profession and fosters camaraderie and respect among lawyers and Judges. We are so much better when we are working together as col leagues and friends. You, our members, are at the center of everything we do, and it is with you in mind that I have led this organization over the past year in ways that

I hope you are proud of.

I also sincerely hope you have enjoyed the many events and programs we have brought you and found that your mem bership has been valuable. A few of our many 2022 accomplishments are high lighted here.

ENGAGED IN THE BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY

This year, the BBA has emphasized the importance of being involved in the Birmingham community to demonstrate our relevance and the prominence of our members. For example, we were able to host events such as an outdoor Day of Service to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and several Happy Hour Socials at hot

Allison Skinner with Justice Greg Cook.

Above: Judge Herman Johnson and Allison.

Left: Allison and Tom Heflin.

Far left: Allison was the 2021 recipient of the Women Lawyers Section Nina Miglionico Paving the Way Award.

spots around town.

Our members also enjoyed a new series that I am so proud we started this year: our Get to Know Birmingham series invited members out into the community to learn about non-profit organizations and citywide initiatives. Tremendous thanks go to the BBA leaders who planned, coordinated, and encouraged attendance at all of these events — Ruby Jackson, Breauna Peter son Johnson and Emily McClendon. We feature this series on page 16 of this issue of the Bulletin. I understand that 2023 pres ident, Marcus Maples, intends to continue this series, so I encourage you to visit the great locations planned next year.

It was also a privilege to host a School Supplies Drive again this year. This is becoming a tradition that our members love. This year’s drive was successful thanks to Margaret Loveman and Abby van Alstyne who helped coordinate the effort and to all of the many BBA members who donated supplies or money for us to purchase supplies. We greatly appreciate the partnership with D.A. Danny Carr, whose Helping Families Initiative coor dinated with the schools to donate the much-appreciated supplies. Please flip to page 17 to see photos from that project.

ENRICHING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Over the past year, we have hosted so many events aimed at elevating your professional life. For example, we were able to resume in-person Coffees with the Judges, with two Coffees in State Court and one in Federal Court. All were very well attended and a great opportunity for our members to build relationships. Pages 20-21 of this issue highlight those events.

Through the efforts of Rebecca Beers and David Fawal, we hosted a 4-part, skills-based CLE series designed to help you hone your evidence skills. Each ses sion of the Evidence Essentials series was led by experts in the field, both practicing attorneys and many Judges. If you attended each of these free programs, you would have 8 hours of CLE credits and be highly proficient in evidentiary matters — it was an excellent opportunity. On page 18, you can see the details of these programs.

Throughout the year, we offered over 70 CLEs, most of them at no cost. I hope you were able to learn about some new areas of law and brush up on your skills. Some of the topics we covered included ethics updates; family law; serving as a GAL; mediation and other alternative dis pute resolution vehicles; estate planning;

women and minority representation in the courtroom; legal marketing; probate mat ters; appellate law; workers’ compensation law; representing defendants in criminal cases; the foster care system; the Alabama Lawyer Assistance Program; bankruptcy updates; and diversity, equity and inclu sion for law firms — that’s just to name a few. I applaud the chairs of the Sections and Committees as well as the chairs of the CLE Committee, Amy Osborne and Chris Burrell, for their work in putting on outstanding programs. For the first time we partnered with 9 local bar associations around the state to hold “Metro Bar” CLE programs. This collaboration allows us to leverage legal expertise on common issues facing practitioners throughout the state. A big shout out to each executive director of each local bar association for coordinating this effort. I hope to see more sharing of ideas and programs in the years to come.

We are proud of the many high-quality programs we are able to bring you that enhance your law practices. This year’s Law Day event with chair Beth McElroy was another such exceptional experience where members were able to network and build relationships, learn about the state of the economy, enjoy a special luncheon, and then dance the night away at our signature

band party. I’m certain that next year’s Law Day celebration will be equally enjoy able and I hope to see you there.

And who could forget about the return of our Annual Picnic after a 2-year break imposed by the pandemic? What a wonder ful tradition hosted by the Entertainment Committee led by Nick Callahan! We are looking forward to the festivities Nick and his committee are planning for the Holiday Party on Dec. 9.

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The BBA also offers our members so many meaningful and fulfilling opportu nities to develop and hone your leader ship skills. For example, each of our 10 Sections has multiple officer and chair positions, and our numerous Committees also have chairs and active participants.

In addition, we host a tremendously popular Future Leaders Forum each year that trains early-career attorneys to become leaders in the profession and the commu nity. This year’s class was featured in our Fall Bulletin on page 25. After graduating from the Future Leaders Forum, many participants join the dynamic committee that plans and executes the program, which offers even more leadership experience. This year, the committee was led by Mer edith Maitrejean, with several committee members coordinating each session: Lisa Bailey, D.G. Pantazis, Josh Thompson; Priscilla Williams and Jansen Voss

I am also grateful for the success of the long-standing Mentoring Program that the BBA hosts. Members who are just starting out in their careers can take advantage of this benefit to be paired with an experienced attorney who will not only help them gain skills in their area of practice but will also introduce them to other members of the profession and attend BBA events with them. Pooja Chawla, Tom Walker and Richard Whitaker are the leaders of this great program and do an excellent job of helping early-career attorneys start their careers on a successful path.

I also want to thank the Grievance Committee, chaired by Fred Erben. This committee works tirelessly and quietly throughout the entire year to promote professionalism. The Grievance Com mittee is charged to investigate local bar complaints. This is not an easy task and is

time-consuming, but each year, members of this committee diligently investigate complaints and make recommendations. We are fortunate to have such a dedi cated group helping to ensure we meet the high standards of our legal ethics and professionalism.

Again, thank you for the opportunity to serve you as your 2022 BBA President. I particularly want to thank my husband, David, for his unwavering support and encouragement this year. I also want to thank our amazing Executive Director,

Left: Susan Doss with Allison at the Bocce Ball Tournament.

Below: From left: Executive Committee Members Tripp Watson, Allison, Marcus Maples and Bob Battle.

, for her constant hard work and dedication to the associ ation. This has been a year of incredible memories for me, and I hope we have improved your life in tangible and intangi ble ways.

I cherish all of the friendships that I have cultivated over the years through the BBA, and I look forward to deepening those friendships as I continue to stay involved and support the future leaders of the BBA.

Best wishes to Incoming President Maples, the 2023 Executive Committee and to all of our members for a successful and productive 2023!

Jennifer Buettner Bates

Get to Know These Birmingham Bar Association Members

One of the most significant hallmarks of the Birmingham legal community is the professionalism and respect attorneys have for one another. This is possible because we get to know one another on a personal level and better understand the motives, values, qualities, likes and dislikes of our colleagues.

In this series, we will reveal some of the professional and personal details of BBA members’ lives so that you can “get to know” them better. Read on and you will likely realize that we are all more alike than we are different!

Get to Know BBA Member Hope Marshall

Q: Describe how you decided to become an attorney.

A: If I am totally honest, I must give the TV show “Matlock,” credit for opening my eyes to the legal field. As I learned more about the profession, I realized it was the best way for me to help those who could not help themselves, by giving them a voice.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a lawyer?

A: Helping others and learning something new every day. It’s thrill ing when you get to be part of justice being done, and even more rewarding when your client hugs you and says, “thank you.” I also love the cama raderie I have not only with my law partners, but also with co-counsel, opposing counsel, court officials, and law enforcement.

Q: Who is your role model in the legal profession and why?

A: I have a few role models in the legal profession — the top 3 are H. Clay Davis, Augusta S. Dowd, and Hon. Bill Bowen. They have all helped sculpt me into the attorney I am today. They showed me what it takes to be a diligent attorney, while also enjoying life outside the office.

Q: Tell us about community ser vice work you are involved in.

A: Although I am a mother of 3 young children, I try to use my extra time to help with community service work, such as dedicating time as an

Alabama Civil Justice Foundation Grant Evaluator, representing clients pro bono, and volunteering in the class room.

Q: Many people are fortunate enough to have a team of won derful people who love and sup port them and who help them get through life. Who do you consider to be part of Team Hope?

A: My family, work family and close friends are definitely what make Team Hope thrive.

Q: What is your favorite podcast?

A: I don’t have a favorite podcast. However, one of my mentees started a podcast called “Music Joy - Catch the Vibe.” I listen to it often.

Q: What is your motto at this stage of your life?

A: Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.

Q: What advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?

A: First, don’t sweat the small stuff. Every situation doesn’t need a response — learn what’s worth responding to.

Second, opinions aren’t facts. Stop worrying about what people think about you.

Third, believe in yourself and you will be unstoppable.

Fourth, treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO.

Get to Know BBA Member Perryn Carroll

Q: Describe your role as the new Executive Director of the Jimmy Hale Mission and tell us a little bit about the organization.

A: Jimmie Hale Mission has served the homeless in Birmingham for over 78 years and consists of three facilities: Royal Pines, a center for men on 75 acres in Hayden; Jessie’s Place, a downtown Bir mingham shelter for women and children facing homelessness; and the Shepura Men’s Center, which relocated in 2007 from the corner across from the downtown post office to the current campus just past Sloss Furnace.

Jimmie Hale Mission has always been a place where the homeless and hopeless have found a hand up. However, recent statistics reveal that more than 90% of the homeless population in our commu nity is plagued by substance abuse. To combat this, Jimmie Hale Mission now goes beyond rescue to provide our Active Recovery program at all of our campuses. In Active Recovery, clients learn physical health, mental health, relationship health, vocational health and spiritual health. Additionally, each facility provides educa tion remediation and job readiness in our learning centers.

After graduating from Active Recovery, most clients stay in our continuum of care program and in on-campus housing for approximately 6 months while they work and build up savings to live on their own. Through this process, clients go from homeless and hopeless to productive, con tributing members of the community who

are able to reunite with their families and break the generational cycle of addiction.

When my husband Mike and I formed our own law firm in downtown Birming ham in the 1990s, I first encountered the homeless. I could not imagine anything worse than being alone and homeless. We began volunteering at Jimmie Hale. After a while, then Executive Director Tony Cooper asked me to go from volunteer to board member. For the last 25 years, I have served on the board at Jimmie Hale, served meals, helped clients prepare for job interviews, helped in the business office or done whatever else was needed.

This past May, the Mission found itself in need of new leadership. I was chair of the board and knew that I could not let our clients and our dedicated staff go without the support they needed. So, I began serv ing as interim director and accepted the position of full-time Executive Director on Sept. 1. I see myself as both a leader for the mission's vision and a supporting cast for our front-line staff.

Q: Tell us about other community service work you are involved in.

A: I have taught Sunday School and been involved in various aspects of the youth and contemporary worship pro gram at our church, Canterbury UMC. I have also served on the board of Aletheia House since 2014 and have been a King’s Home “Show Your Love” campaign captain since 2015. With four sons, I am an experienced team mom (I am great at boy food), and even coached soccer one season (they were 5 years-old — so I just needed to bring good snacks).

Q: Many people are fortunate enough

to have a team of wonderful people who love and support them and who help them get through life. Who do you con sider to be part of Team Perryn?

A: Without a doubt, my husband Mike is Captain of Team Perryn. I could not ask for a more supportive soul mate. He keeps my crazy ideas in line, too. In starting lineup of Team Perryn are our boys, Caleb (and wife Adeline), Jacob, Zachary, and Sam, my SIL Beth, and the “mama mafia” who are there before I can even ask.

Q: What is your favorite podcast?

A: I know this is behind the times and I am missing out on so much great infor mation, but I greatly prefer a few minutes of contemplative silence to a podcast. I definitely have a lot still to learn, but silence is underrated and helps me to mull my thoughts.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a lawyer?

A: I am a natural-born advocate and love standing up for a cause or persuading someone to a position.

Q: What is your motto at this stage of your life?

A: I am driven by John Wesley’s quote: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

Q: What advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?

A: Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to conquer Rome in a day. Enjoy the journey and those dear to you.

Memorial Scholarship Contributions

Honor the life of a colleague or loved one through a gift to the Birmingham Bar Association Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Your tax-deductible gift is used to award scholarships to second-year and third-year law students at Birmingham School of Law, Cumberland School of Law, Miles Law School and The University of Alabama School of Law.

Donations may be sent to the Birmingham Bar Foundation, 2021 Second Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203. For more information, please contact Jennifer Buettner Bates at 205-251-8006, ext. 3 or jbuettner@birminghambar.org.

We are thankful to the following generous donors for supporting this important scholarship program and carrying on a legacy of justice in future attorneys:

In memory of The Honorable Alfred Bahakel Leslie R. Barineau

In memory of John Brooks Jennifer Buettner Bates Robin L. Burrell

In memory of Carin Burford BBA Workers’ Compensation Section Larry King

In memory of Frank W. Donaldson

The Honorable Quentin Quarles Brown Jr.

In memory of Nancy L. Drummond Leslie R. Barineau

In memory of Michael D. Ermert

The Honorable Quentin Quarles Brown Jr. Leslie R. Barineau

In memory of Professor Frank W. Donaldson The Honorable Tom King Jr.

In memory of James Martyn Fernambucq Robin L. Burrell

In memory of Robert Lee Sr. The Honorable Tom King Jr.

In memory of Rhoda Denaburg Link Robin L. Burrell

In memory of Eugene DeArmit “De” Martenson Leslie R. Barineau

In memory of Jack McNamee

The Honorable Quentin Quarles Brown Jr.

In memory of Lenora W. Pate The Honorable Quentin Quarles Brown Jr.

Birmingham School of Law Professor Spotlight

Robert Keller teaches Legal Writing and Research and Legal Methods at Birmingham School of Law and has been here since 2019. Teaching runs in his family, with his maternal grandfather, mother, and sister all being teachers. He attended The University of Alabama for his undergraduate degree in English and for his J.D. In his spare time, Professor Keller enjoys Alabama football and is a lover of anime. He also enjoys reading and writing and has published a short story, the first chapter of which was recently a finalist in a fiction contest. He has been married to his spouse Randy for 20 years.

Keller is a partner at Russo, White & Keller, P.C., where he practices bankruptcy, bankruptcy litigation, personal injury, corporate formation, and general litigation. Before Russo, White & Keller, he practiced at Dunaway & Greenway, then was a solo practitioner. He is admitted to the Alabama State Bar, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama.

Birmingham School of Law 231 22nd St. S, Birmingham, AL 35233 (205) 322.6122

Committee Events

Our popular Get to Know Birmingham series continued with well-attended visits to Jones Valley Teaching Farm and One Place Metro Family Justice Center

Above and left: BBA members visiting Jones Valley Teaching Farm.

Above: Judge Marshell Hatcher, Natalie Walker, Twala Wallace, Allison Dearing.

Above: Susan McAlister and Melinda Guillaume at One Place.

Left: Margot Stewart, Emily McClendon, Jeremy Scherer.

Thanks to your generosity during our annual School Supplies Drive, we collected school supplies for 13 Birmingham City School second-grade classrooms

D.A. Danny Carr with the Helping Families Team at this year’s School Supplies Drive.

Abby van Alstyne (Committee Chair), Sarah Rawls, Margaret Loveman (Committee Chair). Margot Winston, Laura Winston, Tanita Cain.

Tina Thornton and Danny Carr with school representatives.

Helping Families Ini tiative Team, including Executive Director Tina Thornton, far right.

Our Evidence Essentials Series provided members with 8 free hours of practical, skills-based workshops led by experienced evidence experts, both practicing attorneys and Judges

Coffee with the Judges

In September of this year, we held two very well attended Coffee with the Judges events. The first was with the Federal Court Judges and was spon sored by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

The second was sponsored by Burr & Forman and the Solo/Small Firm Section of the BBA and was held in Presiding Judge Elisabeth French’s courtroom with the State Court Judges. Thank you for attending!

Above: A wellattended State Court Coffee with

Left:

Jennifer Wheeler, Barry Ragsdale, U.S. District Court Judge David Proctor.

Above: April DeLuca, Chair of the Solo-Small Firm Section, which was a sponsor of the State Court event. Below: April Mason of Burr Forman, a sponsor of the State Court event, and Allison Skinner.

the Judges.

Andrew Cicero, Hanna Lahr, Mac Halcomb.

Attendees at our State Court Coffee with the Judges.

Tempe Smith, Devan Byrd, Sharon Harris (Court Clerk), Jennifer Wheeler.

Federal Practice Section Chair Robin Robertson with Kate Bounds.

U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie Axon, Bankruptcy Court Judge Sims Crawford, Law Clerk Kelley Tynes.

Jesse Westerhouse, Riley McDaniel, Stanley Blackmon.

Bankruptcy Judges, Bankruptcy Court personnel, and bankruptcy practitioners.

What is the best thing that happened in your life in 2022?

For this Winter issue of the Bulletin, we wanted to reflect back on the year so we asked some of our members what was the best thing that happened in 2022. Read about what they experienced this year, and you will probably see some connections or correlations to your own life.

KARLA CALVERT CITY OF BIRMINGHAM

The best thing that happened to me in 2022 was to be able to resume in-person fellowship with my family and fellow church members after being so isolated from one another during the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been a joy and blessing to help and spend quality time with my elderly parents. With everything that’s happening in the world, I’m grateful to have my family and church for nurture and support. Additionally, participating in “Seek the Peace” rallies against violence, visiting the historic campus of Tuskegee University, and cele brating Beeson Divinity School of Samford University’s estab lishment of an endowed ministry scholarship in my husband’s name were some of my other cherished memories of 2022.

TREY PERDUE DENTONS SIROTE

This past year has been a whirlwind of change and I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of good things happen. Olivia and I got married in Decem ber 2021 and, after some uncertainty with border shutdowns, we were able to travel to Paris for our honeymoon — which was my first time traveling to Europe. Between the wedding, changing firms, and buying a house and moving, I knocked out plenty of life events in the last year!

BILL ATHANAS WALLER LANSDEN DORTCH & DAVIS

My highlight of the year so far was a hastily planned trip to Disney in mid-summer when our schedules opened up. Walking 11 miles a day in the July heat was not ideal, but ultimately didn’t put a damper on my 9-yearold’s first trip (which was also her 52-year-old father’s first trip). We’re headed back in February to see all the stuff we missed the first time.

ALICIA JETT

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE

The best thing that happened to me in 2022 (so far) was visiting my family! I have an aunt and two cousins in Florida. Cindy (aunt) and Chan dler (cousin) live in Tampa. Carie (cousin), and her family live in Mi ami. Normally I visit them every year; however, due to Covid I have not been to visit since September 2019. This year Chandler graduated from nursing school, so for Spring Break Cindy and Chandler took a road trip and Birmingham was one of their stops. It was a fantastic, albeit short, visit. Then, in May I went to Tampa to watch Chandler’s pinning ceremony. It was a bittersweet visit because my Miami family had Covid and could not attend. In Carie’s absence we taunted her with videos and pictures from the pinning ceremony. In August Carie was able to get away for a weekend and I went back to Tampa (three visits in one year — we were definitely making up for lost time). I did not get to see the kids — Alastair is a high school senior and I’m sure hanging out with his cousin from Alabama wasn’t at the top of his to-do list and Morgan is 14 and glued to video games — I’m sure they were crying into their pillow every night.

STACY MOON

GORDON REES SCULLY MANSUKHANI

In May, I had the opportunity to speak to the Utah Defense Lawyers Association on selecting an expert witness and taking and defending expert witness depositions. The opportunity to see Salt Lake City was one I could not pass up. As part of our trip, my husband and I were able to meet people from a variety of practice areas in Utah. We also took the opportunity to visit the Mormon Tabernacle (unfortunately, rehearsal of the choir was closed) and the botanical gardens.

Right: John Saxon receives his award. Far right: John with Liz Chaney.

A White House Fellows Honoree: John Saxon

Over the summer, Birmingham Bar Association member John Saxon was thrilled to learn that he was being awarded the John Gardner Legacy of Leadership Award by the White House Fellows Association. This association is the alumni group for all former Fellows, and the award is the Fellows’ distin guished alumnus award.

The White House Fellows program was established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964 upon the proposal submitted to him by John Gardner, then Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare. John was honored to be in the 14th class of Fellows in 1978-79, and he served as the White House Special Assistant to Vice President Walter Mondale.

John was the first White House Fellow selected from Alabama. Ken Simon, former circuit judge and local attorney, was the third Fellow selected from Ala bama, in 1983-84.

Prominent alumni of the Fellows pro gram include historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin; Elaine Chao, President George W. Bush’s Secretary of Labor and President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Transportation; current U.S. Senators

Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee; and CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

John traveled to Washington in Octo ber with family and friends to receive this prestigious award at a dinner at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

The Legacy of Leadership Award was first awarded in 1999. The first recipient was General Wesley K. Clark, Supreme

Allied Commander, Europe. Among the 22 other recipients who have received the award are former Secretary of State Colin Powell; U.S. Senator Tim Wirth of Col orado; Dana Mead, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tenneco; Mike Ullman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of J.C. Penney; 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Margaret McKeown; and Bud McFarlane, President Ronald Reagan’s National Security Advisor.

BIRMINGHAM BAR BULLETIN

John and Betsy Saxon with Jim Padilla (retired Ford Motor Company President).

LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS GUY

Bocce Ball Tournament for the Birmingham Bar Foundation

The 13th annual Michael D. Freeman Bocce Ball Tournament featured 14 terrific bocce teams, 6 outstanding Judges, and 10 amazing sponsors! Because of this annual fundraiser, we are able to award grants to community non-profits providing legal-related programs and to support the Legal Aid Society of Birmingham, which is our Bar’s community defender service provider. Importantly, the event is an excellent setting for BBA members to have a great time socializing and to enjoy the excitement of watching highly competitive bocce teams battle it out on the court.

Judge Teresa Pulliam with the tournament winners, Cory Watson.

BBF President Andrew Salser with BBA Past President Lanier Brown.

Candis McGowan and Sherri Freeman.

Above: Alicia Jett sold lots of tickets to win the wheelbarrow of liquor.

BBA Past President Greg Hawley, Nicole Bracey, Ben Goldman, Shelby Morris.

Right: Jacquelyn Jones, Ruby Jackson, Judge Adrienne Powell.

Above: Sidney Jackson, Breauna Peterson, Emily McClendon.

BIRMINGHAM

ADR Section members prepare for the final round.

Leslie Barineau, Lacey Danley, Susan McAlister.

The Regions Bank team.

Sidney Jackson and D.G. Pantazis of Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher and Goldfarb, the host site for the Tournament.

2023 BBF President Christi Graham and BBA Secretary-Treasurer Price Evans.

Sharon Stuart, Max Pulliam, Leslie Rubio.

The Morgan & Morgan bocce team.

Legal Aid Society

The Legal Aid Society of Birmingham, led by Executive Director Jequette Noland, had a busy fall with several programs and events, including partnering with the Birmingham Bar Association on a CLE and book signing, donating luggage for children in foster care to use when they have to move to a new home, volunteering at the Birmingham Bar Foundation’s Bocce Ball Tournament, and joining with the BBA and Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham to host a table at this year’s Fiesta!

Donating luggage for children in foster care.

Jequette Noland (standing) and Keisha Jackson (seated) of Legal Aid Society of Birmingham.

Left: Foster care and Guardian ad Litem CLE sponsored by the Birmingham Bar and Legal Aid Society. Above: CLE and Book Signing - Keisha Jackson, author, and Jacy Fisher, CLE panelist.

Above: Filling the car with donated luggage for children in foster care.

Purpose. Vision. Community. Magic City Bar Association continues to make progress

Greetings!

The Magic City Bar Association “MCBA” has been working productively in 2022 and continues to make progress in advancing our theme for the year: Pur pose. Vision. Community. Our purpose, as members of the MCBA and as members of the Executive Committee, is firm on the historical foundation which necessitated the formation of our organization. Our vision is focused on purposeful progress, and we will reconnect and expand our ties to the community in innovative ways.

Recently, we had the pleasure of participating in the Miles Law School Interest Week. At this event, BJ Savage and Attorney Sidni Elise Smith were able to share MCBA’s mission and encourage individuals to join in membership, as well as provide the annual scholarship infor mation to potential applicants. We extend sincere gratitude to Attorney Tanita Cain for serving as the Chair of the annual MCBA Scholarship Banquet Committee and Attorney Deborah Walker for serving as the Senior Advisor.

The annual MCBA Scholarship Ban quet was held on Nov. 17th at the Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham. This was our first year hosting an in-person event since 2019, so there was a great deal of momentum and excitement leading up to and during the event. Our guest speaker was Mayor Randall Woodfin and, in addition to live entertainment and the opportunity to mingle with local judges and attorneys, a few other special guests were honored as well. The banquet is our annual celebration to award scholarships to deserving law students, and it would not be possible without generous contributions!

In the last quarter of the year, there was

Richard Rice

much excitement surrounding about all of the events and activities we were able to accomplish. On Oct. 6th, we partnered with the NAACP Alabama Chapter to host a free CLE and breakfast focusing on civil rights and protecting our constitu tional freedoms in Alabama. We also had a networking reception in partnership with Balch & Bingham on Oct. 13th. In efforts to reach our community, MCBA supported Zion Star Missionary Baptist Church in providing legal services at a community health fair on Oct. 15th. We wrapped up the busy month of October with a CLE on

Oct. 28th concerning “Health Care Law and Emerging Toxic Exposure Updates” which was co-hosted with Beasley Allen. We hope you were able to participate in one or more of these events.

In closing, it is our desire and demon strated commitment to make the most of the remaining calendar year. We are proud of the various partnerships that contribute to our membership’s diverse represen tation in the legal profession. There are many ways for lawyers to render service on behalf of their clients, their profession, and their communities at-large. The MCBA is poised to continue to uplift the various professional opportunities undertaken by our membership which demonstrate a com mitment to doing good works while doing well and prospering in the legal profession.

Please, contact me if you are interested in learning more about the MCBA Partner ship Program. Visit magiccitybar association.org if you are interested in joining our growing MCBA membership. MCBA welcomes opportunities to foster additional partnerships that will advance our mission.

Sincerely,

Richard Rice - President Executive Committee Magic City Bar Association

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How Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Fights Back Against Domestic Violence

VLB Teams Up with the Birmingham Bar Association and One Place to Bring Awareness and Deliver Services to Survivors

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, on average nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States.

It’s a chilling statistic and a problem often hidden from view.

Those who work with victims and survivors of domestic violence, however, hear the stories — often tragic — all the time, when out of fear or lack of resources, a person remains stuck in a situation where they continue to face abuse and worse.

Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham (VLB), the Birmingham Bar Association (BBA), and One Place Metro Alabama Family Jus tice Center — which provides coordinated services to victims and survivors of domes tic and sexual violence through a multi-dis ciplinary team of professionals working together under one roof — recently teamed up for Domestic-Relations Awareness Month in October to help shine a light on the problem and how people can help.

The BBA hosted a breakfast, CLE, and tour of the One Place facility. VLB Managing Attorney Twala Grant Wallace participated on a panel discussion about

domestic violence and the need for services of all kinds.

VLB has long placed a priority on serv ing domestic-violence clients by evaluating their legal needs providing appropriate help, often-working in partnership with agencies such as One Place.

“VLB’s function is twofold,” Wallace says. “First we serve as a triage unit and then we provide legal assistance depending on the situation. When domestic violence

victims reach out, we connect them with the YWCA and One Place Family Justice Center to make sure they are in a safe place. One Place is able to provide multiple services to clients. It has been a blessing to have an organization in place to address those needs.”

Once the client has met with One Place or the YWCA, VLB begins helping the client with their other legal needs. Domes tic-violence survivors face a variety of

Twala Grant Wallace.

legal hurdles including divorce, child cus tody, financial issues, and housing where they need a lawyer on their side. “Once we determine that they have filed for a PFA and are safe, we schedule an appointment with one of our volunteer attorneys to pre pare a divorce complaint for them,” Wal lace says. “During that process, we make sure that they have a Post Office Box to include on their divorce complaint to avoid unnecessarily revealing their whereabouts to their abuser.”

She adds, “Domestic-violence victims are often left in a situation where they have absolutely no resources. VLB is in place to provide a much-needed service at no cost to a client in need.”

Attorney Wallace says she wanted to participate in the panel discussion at the recent BBA event to continue calling atten tion to a problem too often unseen by those unaffected. “I was motivated to take part in the recent event to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month for two main reasons,” Wallace says. “First, because of the importance of the event to victims of domestic violence. Second, because of the awareness that it provides to volun teers and others in the community. The more attention that we can bring to this issue, especially by educating the public, the more strides that we can make in addressing the issue of domestic violence and hopefully significantly decrease the number of cases.”

Allison Dearing, executive director of One Place, elaborates on the purpose One Place serves in the community. “The mis sion of One Place Family Justice Center is to provide coordinated services to victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence through a multi-disciplinary team of professionals working together under one roof,” she says. “Because domestic and sexual violence are complex commu nity issues, they require complex com munity solutions. One Place’s uniquely collaborative model enables us to address holistically the policies, processes, and systems that hinder justice and healing for survivors.”

Dearing adds the services of VLB play an important role in that collaborative model. “Legal representation is one of the most requested services from victims and survivors of domestic violence,” she says.

“We know that it is critical for victims to have legal counsel for court proceedings, and often they do not have access to funds

to pay for a lawyer. We’re fortunate to partner with organizations like Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham who understand the dangerous dynamics of abusive relation ships and are committed to providing an attorney for victims, so they do not have to navigate the court system alone.”

Dearing reiterates the severity of the domestic-violence cases in our commu nity. “In 2021, 74% of all known homicide offenders in Jefferson County had a history of domestic violence,” she says. “When there is no accountability for domes tic-violence offenders, domestic violence becomes community violence. As we work to enhance and improve system responses across our community that have tradi tionally made it more difficult for victims of violence to safely escape a dangerous relationship, it is a privilege to collaborate with Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham in seeking to create a safer community for all.”

Learn more about One Place and how you can help at www.oneplacebirmingham. com. Licensed attorneys interested in vol unteering with VLB can contact Michelle Horn Brown at mbrown@vlbham.org.

Judge Marshell Hatcher.

DA Danny Carr and Allison Dearing.

Attorneys in the News

Burr & Forman LLP is pleased to an nounce the addition of Robin B. Mark as a Partner in its Birmingham office; Robin joins Burr after 10 years as Assistant United States Attor ney for the Northern District of Alabama, most recently as the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division overseeing the pros ecution of white-col lar matters.

Swift Currie proudly announces that Lo gan D.L. Manthey has joined the firm’s Coverage and Com mercial Litigation team.

Burr & Forman LLP welcomes Allyson R. Mancuso as an as sociate to the firm’s Financial Services Litigation Practice Group.

Christian & Small LLP is happy to an nounce that Pri yanka P. Zaveri has joined the firm as an associate where she will represent cli ents in the areas of insurance, insurance defense, and trans portation.

The Jimmie Hale Mis sion board of direc tors named Perryn Carroll the organi zation’s new execu tive director. Perryn has served the non profit as a volunteer and board member for more than 25 years.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to an nounce that partner C. Meade Hartfield has been appointed vice chair of the De fense Research Insti tute’s Women in the Law Committee.

Brockwell Smith LLC announces that Al lison Lowery has joined the firm as an associate attorney.

Michael J. Velezis, vice president and general counsel of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, has ac cepted an invitation to join the Interna tional Association of Defense Counsel, an invitation-only, glob al legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance inter ests.

elected to serve as Treasurer of the Al abama Association for Justice.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP as sociate, Britney M. Crawford, is one of 20 attorneys select ed as a fellow of the 2022-2023 National Bar Association’s Associate Advancement Academy for Excellence.

Dentons Sirote announces that Preston H. Neel has joined the firm’s Corporate prac tice as a shareholder.

Dentons Sirote proudly announces that Emily Ellis, Ha ley Hogue and Niki Ozburn have joined the firm as associate attorneys.

Marsh Rickard Bry an attorney Der rick Mills has been

Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC is pleased to welcome three new attorneys to the firm: Trey Bun drick and Gabriel D. Dowdell are joining as lateral associates, while Solly Thomas is a first-year associate.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP wel comes O. Cobb Bostick as an associate in the firm’s Tax Practice Group and Trusts & Estates Practice Group.

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Sarah Hoffmann has joined Balch & Bingham LLP as a partner in the firm’s Corporate and Commercial Practice focused on tax mat ters, including exec utive compensation matters, the Afford able Care Act and tax considerations arising from mergers and acquisitions.

Dominick Feld Hyde, PC welcomes Kather ine Barnes and Hannah Cassady to the firm as associate attorneys.

Christian & Small LLP is pleased to an nounce that Partner Sharon D. Stuart has been named to Benchmark Litiga tion’s 2022 Top 250 Women in Litigation.

The law office of Jo seph W. Strickland Law, LLC has moved to a new location at 2201 Comer Place Vestavia Hills, AL 35216.

Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC partner Lana A. Olson has been named presi dent of DRI, the lead ing organization of defense attorneys and in-house coun sel.

J. Andrew Robison has been named Birmingham office managing partner of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. His practice areas with the firm include corporate finance transactions, corpo rate and securities laws issues, and cor porate formations, mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures.

Charles W. Prueter has joined Fortif Law Partners LLC as a partner with a focus on litigation and dispute resolution.

Huie, Fernambucq & Stewart, LLP is pleased to announce that Carly Atkisson and Ryan Baker have joined the firm as associate attorneys.

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The AHEPA Senior Living Board of Di rectors announced the election of At torney Ike Gulas as board president.

Dentons Sirote an nounces that Jack son M. Reagan has joined the Firm’s Corporate and Tax practices as an As sociate.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to an nounce that Marc James Ayers has been appointed to serve on the Stand ing Advisory Com mittee on the Rules of Appellate Procedure by the Alabama Supreme Court.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that three of the firm’s associates have been appointed to DRI Young Lawyers Committee leader

ship roles: Emily M. Ruzic as Vice Chair, Carmen Weite as Chair of the Network ing and Activities Subcommittee and Trey Oliver as Chair of the Online Com munity Subcommittee.

Huie is pleased to announce that Caitlin Ritten house has joined the firm as an as sociate attorney. Rittenhouse joins the firm’s medical malpractice, insur ance coverage and defense, employ ment litigation, au tomotive litigation and product liability

practice groups.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is happy to share that Brendan Smith has joined the firm’s Birmingham office as an associate.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP an nounces that associate Emily M. Ruzic has been named the recipient of Brad ley’s 2022 Cameron J. Miller Award for Ex cellence and Community Service.

For the second consecutive year, Bak er Donelson has been named to Bloomberg Law’s annual Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Framework.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is delighted to announce that partner Gary L. Howard has been appointed to a oneyear term as vice chair of the Defense Research Institute’s Diversity and Inclu sion Committee.

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