Rising Stars of the Bar 2013
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Young Attorneys on the Rise B-Metro’s annual look at the next generation of legal leaders. Daniel Eduardo Arciniegas Wiggins Childs Quinn & Pantazis Daniel Eduardo Arciniegas was born and raised in Birmingham. A 1998 graduate off Mountain Brook High School, Arciniegas received a bachelor in arts from Rhodes College in Memphis in 2002, and received his juris doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2006. Arciniegas joined the firm Wiggins, Childs, Quinn, & Pantazis, LLC in 2007. His practice is varied including, but not limited to: civil rights, employment litigation, and whistleblower lawsuits. In his five years of practice Arciniegas has had the opportunity to represent thousands of clients in over thirteen federal trials in Alabama, Nebraska, and Iowa in discrimination, retaliation and collective action wage and hour cases. Arciniegas speaks Spanish and is dedicated to providing legal services to the Spanish speak84
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Daniel Eduardo Arciniegas Wiggins Childs Quinn & Pantazis
ing community. Arciniegas is involved in a number of civic organizations and is looking forward to his firm’s debut in the Exceptional Foundation’s 2013 Chili Cook-off, an organization that he believes provides an invaluable service to the community. Outside the office, Arciniegas spends his time with family, friends, and his two dogs, Trouble and Cole. He enjoys photography, live music, and enjoys learning new skills like welding.
Samantha (Sam) Nicolle Huie Fernambucq & Stewart Samantha (Sam) Nicolle is from Hazel Green, Alabama, and is an associate in the firm. Her practice focuses primarily on automotive product liability defense and workers’ compensation. While in law school, Nicolle was a member
Samantha (Sam) Nicolle Huie Fernambucq & Stewart
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Rebecca Beers Haskell Slaughter
of the nationally ranked Trial Advocacy Team and was a member of the winning team at the 2011 National Trial Advocacy Competition. She was also a member of the American Journal of Trial Advocacy, and served on the Student Bar Association for three years. Nicolle has an undergrad degree from Auburn University and her law degree from Cumberland School of Law.
Rebecca Beers Haskell Slaughter Rebecca Beers’ law practice primarily focuses on securities litigation. She has represented broker-dealers as well as institutional and individual investors in state and federal courts and in FINRA arbitration. She also has additional and substantial experience in complex commercial litigation, class actions, gaming litigation, insurance defense litigation, and labor and employment litigation in state, federal, and appellate courts and before arbitration panels. Beers has successfully mediated multiple controversies of significance, taken and defended numerous depositions, and served as court-appointed counsel for a multi-million dollar company in a shareholder dispute. She joined Haskell Slaughter in 2008 after serving as Law Clerk to Senior United States District Judge William M. Acker, Jr., Northern District of Alabama. Beers is a summa cum laude graduate 86
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of Birmingham-Southern College and a cum laude graduate of Washington & LeeUniversity School of Law. At Birmingham-Southern, she was a member of the Honor Council and also attended the British Studies Program at St. John’s College at Oxford University. In addition to her law practice, Beers serves as chair of the Birmingham-Southern College Young Alumni Advisory Council and sits on the Birmingham-Southern College Alumni Executive Board. She also currently sits on the Junior Board of Directors for Urban Ministry, Inc., an organization dedicated to providing assistance for members of Birmingham’s West End community. Beers is a member of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham and is a volunteer with Rotaract’s Ready2Read program, with Birmingham’s Homeless Experience Legal Protection (HELP) Program, and with the Junior League of Birmingham. She is also a member of the Executive Board of the Birmingham Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section and was appointed to the Birmingham Bar Association’s Grievance Committee. Beers was named to the Birmingham Bar Association’s 2011 Future Leaders Forum and the 2012 Class of Leadership UAB and also was selected for membership in the Birmingham Inn of Court. Most recently, she was named Birmingham-SouthernCollege’s Outstanding Young Alumni for 2012.
Natalie R. Bolling Baker Donelson Natalie Bolling is a litigation and labor and employment lawyer in Baker Donelson’s Birmingham office. Bolling advises clients in business and real estate matters, and defends them against breaches of contract charges and business torts. She spends a significant amount of time representing financial institutions and mortgage servicers in disputes such as consumer finance matters alleging deceptive trade practices, wrongful foreclosure actions and ejectment proceedings. In her employment law practice, Bolling represents employers in various employment litigation disputes. Her federal employment litigation practice includes defending employers against cases brought under Title VII, including claims of sexual harassment, race, gender, age, national origin and religious discrimination, the Family Medical Leave
Natalie R. Bolling Baker Donelson
Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). Bolling counsels and trains employers on the best ways to comply with federal and state laws including proper discipline procedures, proper pay, recording hours, and documentation for employee records. Bolling has experience representing employers at trial, in arbitration and mediation proceedings and before administrative bodies. Before joining Baker Donelson, she served as a clerk to the Honorable Karen Wells Roby of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
J. Adam Clayton Farris Riley & Pitt Adam Clayton joined the law firm of Farris, Riley & Pitt LLP following his admission to the Alabama Bar in 2007. He received an undergraduate degree in International Business from Auburn University and his juris doctorate from the Cumberland School of Law. As a trial attorney, Clayton focuses his practice on civil litigation involving injury claims and violations of state and national wage and hour claims. While he is licensed to practice in all Alabama state and federal courts, his practice also includes collective and class action litigation in California and Colorado, as well as multi-district litigation in Texas.
J. Adam Clayton Farris Riley & Pitt
Sara Beth DeLisle Carr Allison Hope S. Marshall White Arnold &Dowd
Greg W. Foster Hollis, Wright & Couch
Jennifer McEwen Maynard Cooper and Gale
Benjamin S. Goldman Hand Arendall, LLC J. Todd Miner Najjar Denanburg, P.C.
Maggie Lester Johnston Barton Proctor & Rose LLP Megan Stephens Burr Forman
Christopher J. Nicholson White Arnold & Dowd
Laura Montgomery The Crittenden Firm
Ryan Robichaux Bradley Arant Boult & Cummings
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Clayton is active in the Birmingham area and works with several local civic and charitable organizations. Most recently, Clayton was re-elected to the Over the Mountain Touchdown Club’s Board of Directors and will serve the upcoming year as Vice President of the organization. He also serves as a voting member on the selection committee for the Bobby Bowden National Collegiate Coach of the Year Award which recognizes the nation’s most deserving NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision head coach. Clayton is an avid runner, helping to raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. As a St. Jude Runner, he will participate this April in his second 400-mile fundraising run that starts at the Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee and concludes at Battleship Park in Mobile, Alabama.
Sara Beth DeLisle Carr Allison Sara Beth DeLisle is an associate in the Birmingham office of Carr Allison. DeLisle’s practice is devoted to civil litigation with a focus on complex litigation, class actions, labor and employment, products liability, professional liability and workers’ compensation. Prior to joining Carr Allison, DeLisle served as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Robert S. Vance Jr., a civil circuit judge in Birmingham. She earned her juris doctorate in 2010 from the University of Alabama School of Law, where she served in several leadership roles and was active on the Trial Advocacy Competition Team. DeLisle received her undergraduate degree in Political Science and French from Wake Forest University, where she played Division I volleyball on an athletic scholarship. After graduating from Wake Forest, DeLisle worked in Washington, D.C., and Madrid, Spain. DeLisle participates in several young professional organizations throughout Birmingham and the state of Alabama. In addition to serving on the Executive Board of the Young Lawyers Sections of the Birmingham Bar Association, she serves as a Board Member of the Birmingham International Center and as the Chairman of the Young Professionals Group of 88
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the Birmingham International Center, which supports international economic development and intercultural education throughout Alabama. Her hobbies include traveling, yoga, reading, enjoying good food and wine, horseback riding, and spending time with friends and loved ones. Her habits include taking her dog, Mishka-Hernani, everywhere.
Larry Fantroy, Jr. Starnes Davis Florie Larry Fantroy is a second year associate at Starnes Davis Florie LLP. He devotes his practice to civil litigation with a focus on defending physicians and other health care providers in various medical malpractice claims. At Starnes, Larry works with some of most experienced and skilled trial attorneys in the state of Alabama. He is also a member of the firm’s recruiting committee. Larry currently serves on the Birmingham Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Executive Committee, was recently nominated to become a member of the inaugural Judge James Edwin Horton Inn of Court at Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law, and has also served on the Junior Board of the Fresh Water Land Trust. Nationally, Larry serves on the planning committee for the Defense Research Institute’s annual Diversity for Success Seminar, which is an innovative program aimed at examining how diversity can expand a firm’s base and increase a firm’s value to its clients. Larry is a graduate of Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law, Auburn University Montgomery, and the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Prior to attending law school, Larry was employed by the Southern Company as an electrical engineer.
Currently, Foster is the incoming Chair of the Emerging Leaders Caucus of the Alabama Association of Justice. The Emerging Leaders are committed to justice in the courtroom and the community. This past year they sponsored a clothing drive to benefit the Easter Seals’ workforce development program. Foster graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2007. Prior to law school Foster graduated, summa cum laude, from the University of Alabama College of Commerce and Business Administration with a major in International Finance and a minor in Spanish. He then completed a Master in Public Policy at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government with a concentration in International Financial Policy. Foster lives in Birmingham with his wife, Julie, and their daughter, Anna Bella.
Benjamin S. Goldman Hand Arendall, LLC
Ben Goldman, a partner in the law firm of Hand Arendall LLC, has represented over fifty Alabama governmental entities, including municipalities, utilities, and development boards. He presently holds appointments as the Tarrant City Attorney and Prosecutor and as the Mulga Town Attorney. Goldman’s work for the Tarrant and other local municipalities has drawn praise in Alabama and internationally. In 2012, Goldman was named the top public lawyer under 40 in the U.S. and Canada by the International Municipal Lawyers Association. In addition to this personal recognition, the Alabama League of Municipalities bestowed on Tarrant its 2012 Municipal Quality of Life Award. Both awards recognized programs that Goldman developed to alleviate the effects of blight in Tarrant’s neighborhoods. The success of his “Fight the Blight” campaign proves that enerGreg W. Foster getic and civic-minded attorneys add value to Hollis, Wright & Couch the municipalities they represent. Greg Foster practices with the law firm In addition to his governmental work, of Hollis, Wright & Couch, P.C. He was Goldman has served as corporate counsel to named National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under local, regional, and national businesses, rep40 in 2012 and was recognized as a Rising resenting them in such matters as contract Star by Super Lawyers in 2011 and 2013. negotiations, employment issues, and collecHis practice areas include: personal injury, tions, and he has represented and advised wrongful death, nursing home neglect, elder lenders and large creditors in bankruptcy abuse, financial fraud, medical negligence, proceedings. Currently, Goldman represents prescription errors, invasion of privacy, one of the largest creditors (approximately business torts, and damage to property.
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Since founding Farris, Riley & Pitt, L.L.P. in 1996, we have attracted attorneys with a broad array of talent and experience. Each member of our firm shares a common belief that through the practice of law we can serve and protect the rights of our clients by employing a proactive and aggressive litigation standard, while striving to meet the individual needs of those we represent. Our attorneys concentrate their efforts in personal injury, wrongful death, Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
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In addition to representing injured clients, our firm is committed to being a legal resource to our community. We’ve partnered with Fox 6 WBRC to provide LawCall, which airs on Sunday nights at 10:30 p.m., and the Clear Channel Radio Network to provide The Birmingham LawLine. Lawcall features guest attorneys from across the state, and allows area viewers the opportunity to ask a wide range of legal questions to a live attorney. The Birmingham LawLine provides the community ready access to general legal questions and is available twenty-four hours a day.
Farris, Riley & Pitt, L.L.P. Located in the Historic Massey Building 2025 Third Avenue NorthSuite 400• Birmingham, Alabama 35203 205.324.1212 www.DeliveringJustice.com No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Hannah C. Thompson White Arnold & Dowd
man, and they have two children, Evelyn and Anne Turner.
Maggie Lester Johnston Barton Proctor & Rose LLP Maggie Lester graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law and joined Johnston Barton Proctor & Rose LLP this September. She practices in the firm’s Litigation and Health Care practice groups. As a member of the Health Care practice group, Lester is focused on the defense of physicians, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other specialized care institutions in cases alleging medical malpractice. Additionally, her health care practice includes matters concerning compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements and state licensure issues. Recently, Lester was part of the team that drafted an Amici Curiae brief to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals requesting a rehearing of a case that impacted current Certificate of Need law in Alabama. The team’s efforts were successful in persuading the court to vacate its prior opinion, which could have had a significant impact on the state’s Certificate of Need review process. Lester is also involved in Johnston Barton’s Litigation practice group where she assists in general commercial litigation matters. Outside of the office, Lester is actively involved in the Birmingham Bar Association with her recent election to the executive committee for the Young Lawyers Section in December. She is also a member of the Junior Board for Court Appointed Special Advocates (“CASA”). CASA volunteers assist the courts in ensuring the well-being of children in Alabama.
Hope S. Marshall White Arnold &Dowd
$100 million exposure) in the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history, the Jefferson County, Alabama, bankruptcy. Goldman is a member of the Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts of North Central Alabama and the Chair of its Board Development Committee, President of the 90
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Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of Birmingham, a member of the Board of Directors of the Birmingham Hospitality Network, a member of the Birmingham Bar Association’s Grievance Committee, and a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. He is married to Chrissie Hudson Gold-
Hope S. Marshall joined the law firm of White Arnold & Dowd P.C. in 2007. Marshall’s practice focuses on criminal defense, white collar criminal defense, and general civil litigation. She represents companies and individuals in connection with criminal investigations, as well as parallel civil and criminal proceedings. She practices in municipal, state and federal courts, including appellate courts. She is a graduate of the Birmingham School of Law and received her undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Wesley College
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L to R: Kay L. Cason, Charles W. Gorham and Kelly R. Knight
Credibility, Experience, and Integrity The attorneys at Gorham & Cason have combined over 60 years of experience in practicing law. The firm’s areas of expertise include: Domestic Relations (Divorce, Family Law, and Child Custody), Probate Law & Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Personal Injury, Surety Defense, Civil Litigation, Social Security-Disability and Real Estate. We have a team of experts available to advise our clients in all their legal affairs. Charles W. Gorham graduated from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and has been practicing law for over 40 years exclusively practicing in the Domestic Relations field for the last 25 years. He represents clients in divorce actions, custody, child support and post-judgment matters. He served 26 years in the Army Reserve retiring as a Colonel in the JAGC. He served on the Executive Committee of the Birmingham Bar Association and was President of the Alabama Chapter of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The Birmingham Legal Secretaries Association voted him “Lawyer of the Year” in 1995. He is a member of the Alabama State Bar, the Family Law Section of the Alabama State Bar, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, American Bar Association and the Birmingham Bar Association.
Kay L. Cason is a member of the Alabama State Bar Association, Birmingham Bar Association, Municipal Judges Association and National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives. Ms. Cason is respected for her legal abilities in probate and administration of estates, surety litigation, social security, as well as general civil litigation. She was appointed General County Administrator of Jefferson County, a position which she held during 2005 and 2006. Kelly R. Knight joined the firm as an associate in 2010 and brings experience and expertise in matters of divorce, postdivorce, child custody, child support, family law, real estate and personal injury. She is a member of the Alabama State Bar, American Bar Association and Birmingham Bar Association. Mrs. Knight graduated with honors from Birmingham School of Law, has practiced law for eleven years, and has been working in the legal profession for a total of 30 years. At Gorham & Cason, we put our mission statement into practice, representing our clients with credibility, integrity and experience.
Gorham & Cason, LLC 505 20th Street North, Suite 1650• Birmingham, Alabama 35203 (205)-251-9166 • www.gorham-cason.com
No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
in Delaware. A member of the Birmingham Bar Association’s Leadership Forum (2010), she also co-chairs the Diversity Committee.
Jennifer McEwen Maynard Cooper and Gale Jennifer McEwen grew up in Mobile and went to Wake Forest University for undergraduate (2002-2006) where she majored in political science. McEwen went to the University of Alabama for law school (2006-
2009) and then to NYU for a masters in tax law (2009-2010). After finishing up at NYU, she moved to Birmingham, got married and started working at Maynard, Cooper and Gale with the Trusts and Estates practice group. She specializes in estate planning (i.e. drafting wills and trusts and administering estates), business planning (i.e. creating, running and dissolving businesses), and tax law (mostly federal income, gift and estate taxes). Currently, she serves as secretary on Ginny Willcox Balch & Bingham
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the junior board for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which spreads awareness and raises money for Type I diabetes research. McEwen is also participating in Leadership UAB this year, which is a program for young professionals.
J. Todd Miner Najjar Denanburg, P.C. J. Todd Miner is a shareholder of Najjar Denaburg, P.C., practicing primarily in the areas of commercial and general civil litigation and appellate practice. He generally represents creditors in the areas of collection, foreclosure and ejectment, and commercial and residential landlord-tenant law. His representative clients include banks and financial institutions, loan servicers, real estate developers, property management companies, and owners of various small businesses. His litigation experience is diverse, having represented clients in state and federal cases involving issues such as contract disputes, tort claims, equitable remedies, real estate, and probate estates. More recently, he has gained extensive experience in post-foreclosure litigation. A native of Birmingham, Miner served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from 1993 to 1997, where he was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and in Okinawa, Japan. He attended Birmingham-Southern College and earned a B.S. degree in Political Science in 2000. He received his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 2003. While at Cumberland, he served as Student Materials Editor of The American Journal of Trial Advocacy. He is admitted to the Alabama State Bar, the Mississippi State Bar, and the United States District Court of the Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama. He is also a member of the Birmingham Bar Association, having served on the Public Service Committee. He has also served on the faculty of continuing legal education seminars pertaining to real estate foreclosure. Miner and his wife, Stacy Waldrep Miner, live in Homewood, raising their children, Graham, Caroline, and Britton. He has been very involved at Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood, serving on the Administrative Board and as the leader of the Leadership Team of Trinity Men, the church’s men’s ministry. He has also coached tee-ball
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Additionally, the firm has made a significant commitment to representing individuals who received a metal on metal hip implant as part of a total hip replacement procedure. Currently, the attorneys are pursuing claims against DePuy Orthopaedics concerning the ASR and Pinnacle hip implant systems and also against Stryker over the Rejuvenate and ABG II hip implant systems. Over the years, Pittman, Dutton & Hellums has honed its reputation as successful courtroom advocates while vigorously litigating single event cases. Although centrally located in Birmingham, the attorneys have handled cases in every county in Alabama and in each of its federal districts. While the attorneys successfully settle numerous cases every year, they strongly believe that oftentimes the best results can be achieved by a willingness to take a case to trial. According to the Alabama Jury Verdict Reporter, the attorneys at Pittman, Dutton & Hellums have consistently tried more cases to verdict than any other plaintiff’s law firm in the State since 2002, and was the “most prolific” plaintiff’s trial law firm in 2010. In 2012, attorneys Carter Clay and Lucas Griffin obtained a $3 million jury verdict in Madison County, Alabama on behalf of an individual that was inleft to right): J. Chris Cochran, W. Lee Pittman, C. Carter Clay Not Pictured: Tom Dutton, Chris T. Hellums, Leigh King Forstman, Michael C. Bradley, jured in a motor vehicle accident. Booth Samuels, Lucas W. Griffin, Jonathan S. Mann, James H. Davis Pittman, Dutton & Hellums also believes in giving back to the community. Each year, the attorneys donate both time and money to local charities, churches and arts orgaPittman, Dutton & Hellums is a civil litigation law firm with a long history of successfully serving its clients. For over 25 years, nizations. The attorneys at Pittman, Dutton & Hellums provide the attorneys at Pittman, Dutton & Hellums have been fighting scholarships to various educational institutions and donate refor individuals involved in a wide variety of accidents at both the sources to various organizations throughout the state. The law state and federal levels. Pittman, Dutton & Hellums handles cases firm is not only committed to serving their clients, they are comranging from vehicular accidents and insurance fraud to medical mitted to making Birmingham a better place. Pittman, Dutton & Hellums is located at 2001 Park Place malpractice and complex product liability. Several years ago, the firm extended its traditional practice to include pharmaceutical litigation, defective medical prodNotable Jury Verdicts and Accomplishments ucts and litigation outside the State of Alabama. $23 million class action fraud settlement The attorneys have achieved national promi$7 million medical malpractice award (Jefferson County, Alabama) nence in the field of mass torts by standing up $2 million product liability award (DeKalb County, Alabama) against pharmaceutical giants and the manufactur$1.6 million product liability award (Mobile County, Alabama) ers of medical devices and equipment. The firm $1.6 million insurance fraud award (Chambers County, Alabama) is currently handling mass torts involving Avandia $1.45 million insurance bad faith award (Perry County, Alabama) (diabetes medication), Hydroxycut (dietary sup$1.4 million vehicle accident award (Leon County, Florida) plements), Transvaginal Mesh products (TVM) $6 million FELA award on behalf of injured railroad worker (Clarke and Mirena IUDs. In 2012, the firm settled apCounty, Alabama) proximately 150 cases against manufacturers of $3.5 million wrongful death award (Dallas County, Alabama) hormone replacement therapy medications on be$3.5 million fraud award (Jefferson County, Alabama) half of women that contracted cancer and/or other $3 million vehicle accident award (Madison County, Alabama) injuries.
Pittman, Dutton & Hellums 2001 Park Place North • Suite 1100 Park Place Tower • Birmingham, AL 35203 866-515-8880 • www.pittmandutton.com No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Starr Turner Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C.
Kary Bryant Wolfe Jones Walker
in the Joy League in Homewood. Inspired by the memory of his sister-in-law, Brittany Waldrep, Miner and his family are very involved with the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation, which focuses on raising funds for ovarian cancer research.
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Laura Montgomery grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, but has already deemed Birmingham her second home. Montgomery is a 2006 cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama where she also earned her Juris Doctorate. She began working at The Crittenden Firm as a Family Law Attorney in September 2010. Professionally, Montgomery is a member
of both the Alabama and Tennessee Bar and actively involved in the Birmingham Bar Association family law section and young lawyers section. Montgomery is also a member of the Alabama Bar Association and American Bar Association. In addition to her work, Montgomery currently serves her community as the Social Director on the Board of Directors
PROMOTION
Najjar Denaburg, PC is located on historic Morris Avenue in a renovated 1800’s warehouse, with the firm’s origin dating back to the early office sharing arrangement between Charles Denaburg and Tom Najjar which began in 1962. The existing firm was formed in 1985. The firm’s philosophy is to forge client relationships that will last a lifetime by putting the client first and by offering beneficial solutions to the legal problems presented by their client. Adherence to this approach has enabled it to maintain lasting relationships with individual and business clients, which include representative clients across the nation in a wide array of industries, including banking, finance, real estate development and manufacturing. The firm’s attorneys possess extensive experience in varied practice areas including: Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution; Matrimonial and Family Law; Real Estate; Foreclosure; Corporate and Business Law; Insolvency and Restructuring; Litigation; Construction; LandlordTenant Law; and Estate Planning and Probate. Najjar Denaburg is Alabama’s only member of the Legal Netlink Alliance, an international alliance of carefully selected, midsized, general practice, independent law firms across the globe. Shareholders Charles Denaburg, Steve Wright, Robin Burrell, Richard Theibert, Marty Franklin and Karen Knowlton are rated AV (the highest rating) by Martindale Hubbell, as is Steven Corenblum, who is of counsel. Charles Denaburg, Steve Wright and
Robin Burrell are recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and have been for many years. Charles Denaburg is a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. Steve Wright is a fellow in the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, USA Chapter, and Robin Burrell and Steve Wright are Fellows in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The firm’s bankruptcy department includes attorneys certified in Creditor’s Rights Law, Business Bankruptcy Law, and Consumer Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification. The firm’s shareholders are also very involved in the Bar, including committee participation and leadership and volunteer pro bono work at the state and local levels. Charles Denaburg was the
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recipient of the 2011 Birmingham Bar Association Lifetime Achievement Award, which is presented to outstanding and distinguished members of the BBA based upon service to the Bar and the community and professional achievement. In December 2012, Robin Burrell was elected by her peers as President-Elect of the Birmingham Bar Association. The firm congratulates shareholders Charles Denaburg, Steve Wright and Robin Burrell for being named among Birmingham’s Top Lawyers by BMetro, along with Todd Miner for being featured in B-Metro’s 2013 Rising Stars of the Bar. To meet Najjar Denaburg’s attorneys and review additional information about their areas of practice, you may visit the firm’s website at www.najjar.com.
Najjar Denaburg, P.C. 2125 Morris Avenue Birmingham, Alabama 35203 205-250-8400 • www.najjar.com No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Christopher J. Nicholson White Arnold & Dowd Christopher J. Nicholson graduated with a B.A. in history from the University of Virginia in 2003, and from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2006. Following law school, he clerked for the Honorable Tom King Jr. in Alabama’s Tenth Judicial Circuit and is now a shareholder with White Arnold & Dowd P.C., where his practice focuses primarily on commercial litigation. He believes strongly that it is the responsibility of every attorney to ensure equal access to justice for all citizens, regardless of financial means. During his career, Chris has served on the Board of Directors of the Birmingham Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Program, co-chaired the BBA’s Pro Bono Committee, and served on the Alabama State Bar’s Pro Bono Celebration Task Force. He will chair the Birmingham Bar Association’s Pro Bono Committee for 2013. Chris has provided pro bono representation to clients in matters involving military law, landlord/tenant issues, automobile accidents, and mortgage foreclosures.
Ryan Robichaux Bradley Arant Boult & Cummings
Christopher C. Yearout Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC
for the Rotaract Club of Birmingham, Birmingham’s premier young professional organization. Prior to being selected as Social Director, Laura served as the Director of Membership Development. Laura is also a member of the Birmingham Zoo Junior Board, Junior Patrons of the Museum of Art 96
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and a founding member of the Delta Zeta Birmingham Alumni Chapter. She resides in the Highland Park area and enjoys golfing, running, reading, and all the unique events and places Birmingham has to offer.
Ryan Robichaux is an associate in the Governmental Affairs and Litigation Practice groups. While based in the firm’s Birmingham office, he represents clients before the executive and legislative branches of government in Montgomery, Alabama, and Washington, D.C., Robichaux graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law. At Alabama, he was a member of the Campbell Moot Court Board and served as the Symposium Chair for the Journal of the Legal profession. He also served as President of the Federalist Society and was involved in the Blackburn Institute. Prior to law school, Robichaux served as a political analyst in the United States Senate and the British Parliament. For two years, he served as a Legislative Aide and Legislative Correspondent for United States Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) where he specialized in trade and manufacturing policy. Prior to that, Robichaux served as a Research Assistant for Member of Parliament Nigel Waterson of Eastbourne.
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Front Row (L to R): Partners Tyler Vail, Josh Wright and Steve Couch. Back Row (L to R): Associates Bo Bell, Josh Firth, Greg Foster and Mallory Schneider
Experience = Results
FIRM EXPERIENCE: The lawyers at Hollis, Wright & Couch bring great litigation experience to serve our client base. Focused on representing individuals and business clients all over the country, the lawyers of Hollis, Wright & Couch are strongly committed to providing legal services in the following practice areas: Catastrophic Personal Injury Wrongful Death Construction & Work Accidents Truck & Auto Accidents Alcohol Related Injuries Environmental Dumping Auto Defects & Designs Defective Products Drug & Pharmacy Claims County & City Government Claims Commercial Business Disputes Medical Negligence Financial Fraud Bad Faith Insurance Mass Tort & Class Actions In the last eleven years, the firm has represented over 25,000 clients in individual cases and multi-party claims. The firm takes on single-party cases and also represents small businesses and claims involving thousands of clients at one time (called mass tort actions). We believe in representing each client with compassion and attention, which is consistent with the firm’s motto: “Work hard every day to ‘“level the playing field” for injury victims, consumers, and businesses with ethical and tenacious advocacy.”
FIRM RESULTS: The lawyers that make up the firm are responsible for, or have participated in, cases rendering verdicts, awards, or settlements throughout their professional careers in an amount totaling over $305 million. Although such previous recoveries are not indicative of future results, the lawyers at Hollis, Wright & Couch are proud of their history of verdicts, awards, and settlements. Experience does equal results!
Hollis, Wright & Couch, P.C. Watch on Sunday Nights
505 North 20th Street, Suite 1500 Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 324-3600 or toll free (877) 324-3636 www.hollis-wright.com
No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Robichaux received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics from the Catholic University of America in 2004 where he was the President of the Undergraduate Student Government. He is currently a member of Catholic University’s Board of Governors.
Megan Stephens Burr Forman Megan Stephens has been at Burr and Forman since graduating from law school in 2009. Practicing in the firm’s financial services group, Stephens has developed an expertise in commercial and financial services litigation, defending financial institutions, credit card, and mortgage companies in state and federal courts across the country as well as in arbitrations. Stephens is also dedicated to providing pro bono legal services as a member of one of Burr and Forman’s pro bono services teams. In addition to her practice, Stephens serves on the firm’s Recruiting and Marketing Committees. Since she has been at Burr and Forman, she has been admitted to practice law in three states: Alabama, Florida and Arkansas. A native of Aiken, South Carolina, Stephens received her B.A., cum laude, from the College of Charleston and received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. While at Cumberland, she was a member of Cumberland’s nationally ranked Trial Team. She also served as an Executive Board member of Cumberland’s Trial Advocacy Board, a Justice on the Honor Court, and a distinguished Caruther’s Fellow. Stephens is also involved in a number of professional and civic organizations in the community. She is a member of several bar associations including: Alabama, American, Arkansas, Birmingham and Florida. Stephens sits on the Executive Board of the Young Lawyers Section of the Birmingham Bar Association. Away from the office, Stephens spends her time riding American Saddlebred horses and competing in horse shows throughout the Southeast. As an avid runner, Stephens enjoys participating in races such as the Warrior Dash benefiting St. Jude’s hospital and will run in the Dixie200 Relay as a member of the Burr and Forman team in March. On her down time, Stephens enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends 98
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and her nine year old rescue dog, Gabe.
Hannah C. Thompson White Arnold & Dowd A native of Roanoke, Alabama, Thompson joined the law firm of White Arnold & Dowd P.C. as an associate in 2012. Her practice is devoted to assisting and representing individuals in both civil and white collar litigation. Ms. Thompson has a strong background in accounting, having participated as an audit intern with the accounting firm, Ernst & Young, and having served in the accounting department for the firm’s County Conservatorship. Ms. Thompson is a graduate of the Birmingham School of Law and the University of Alabama. She is a volunteer with the Pro Bono Committee of the Birmingham Bar Association.
Starr Turner Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. Starr Turner has been a litigation associate at Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. since 2011. Her practice primarily focuses on representing business in commercial and contract disputes in the automotive, healthcare, education, and banking industries as both plaintiffs and defendants. He also represents individuals and businesses in criminal and regulatory investigations. Originally from Birmingham and a graduate of Indian Springs School, Turner obtained her undergraduate degree in film at Emory University in Atlanta. After working at a veterinary clinic in Atlanta for a year, she enrolled at the University of Alabama School of Law. Before coming to Maynard, Cooper & Gale to practice, Turner clerked for Judge James Graham in the Southern District of Georgia for two years. Working for Judge Graham allowed her to gain perspective on the courts’ review and interpretation of lawyers’ arguments. While clerking, she acquired her licenses to practice law in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and earned her private pilot’s license as well. Outside of her law practice, she is a member of The Rotaract Club of Birmingham, a grassroots level young professionals program that is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Birmingham. She also serves on the board of YP Birmingham, another organization for young professionals that encourages commu-
nity involvement in Birmingham. Additionally, Turner serves on the Executive Board of the Birmingham Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section.
Ginny Willcox Balch & Bingham Ginny Willcox is an associate in the Birmingham office and a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment and Litigation Practice Groups. Willcox’s primary labor and employment practice includes representing management and employers in litigation and appeals. Ginny has experience in matters arising out of numerous federal and state laws. As a member of the firm’s Litigation Section, Willcox has experience in title insurance litigation, real property litigation, healthcare litigation, and construction litigation. She is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Focus Group. Willcox has co-chaired the Birmingham Bar Association, Women Lawyers Section, Membership Committee. A graduate of Cumberland School of Law, she received her undergrad degree from the University of Alabama.
Kary Bryant Wolfe Jones Walker Kary Bryant Wolfe is a Special Counsel at Jones Walker, and was previously a partner at Walston, Wells & Birchall, LLP before the two firms merged. The focus of Wolfe’s practice is assisting businesses with human resources management, from advising on legal compliance issues and preparing employment contracts, to drafting personnel policies and conducting supervisory training. Wolfe frequently guides employers through internal complaint investigations with a focus on avoiding costly litigation. When litigation occurs, Wolfe is experienced in advocating for her clients in federal and state courts, as well as before administrative agencies, and has defended claims alleging violations of Title VII, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and many other civil rights laws, state statutes, and common law torts. Outside the office, Wolfe serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Elizabeth Perry Rushton Child Development Center, a private, not-for-profit preschool in downtown Birmingham. Wolfe relishes the
time she spends with her twin boys and her husband, Brad Wolfe. Wolfe received a Bachelor of Science degree from Samford University in 1996 and a juris doctor from the Cumberland School of Law in 1999.
Christopher C. Yearout Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC Christopher C. Yearout joined Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC as an associate in 2011, where his practice is devoted to many aspects of civil litigation but with a primary focus on products liability, medical malpractice and toxic torts. Yearout graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Economics in 2008 and then earned his J.D., cum laude, from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 2011. While at Cumberland, Christopher served as Symposium Editor of the Cumberland Law Review, for which he authored a published comment on various issues surrounding the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. Yearout currently serves on the executive committee of the Birmingham Bar Association Young Lawyers Section. He is also a member of the Defense Research Institute, the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, the Cumberland School of Law Chapter of the American Inns of Court, and the Cathedral Church of the Advent, where he serves as an usher and the athletic director of the youth basketball program.
William S. Starnes, Jr, Starnes Davis Florie LLP Will Starnes, a native of Birmingham, is an associate at Starnes Davis Florie LLP. Will graduated from Auburn University cum laude in 2007, where he majored in Economics and minored in Business Administration. Before attending law school, Starnes served as an intern for the Honorable Judge Tom King, Jr., Jefferson County Civil Circuit Court Judge. In December 2010, Will graduated from Cumberland School of Law and business school at the Brock School of Business, earning his J.D./M.B.A. He joined Starnes Davis Florie as an associate in September 2010. His practice is exclusively devoted to civil litigation, where he focuses primarily in the areas of medical malpractice defense and commercial litigation. As part of Starnes Davis Florie’s collegiate sports group, Will also represents universities in NCAA compliance investigations. Starnes currently serves on the Birmingham Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Executive Committee. He is also actively involved in the Alabama State Bar, the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, the Defense Research Institute, and the American Bar Association. Starnes and his wife Stefanie live in Homewood and attend The Cathedral Church of the Advent. In his spare time, Will enjoys playing golf, exercising, hunting, and reading.
William S. Starnes, Jr, Starnes Davis Florie LLP
SPECIAL PROMOTION
Premier Group Teams Up to Offer Charter Services on Demand and Turn Key Aircraft Service Premier Group, Inc., an aviation company based in Birmingham focusing on aircraft sales, acquisition and brokerage, is announcing the formation of a strategic partnership with Corporate Flight Management (CFM) located in Smyrna and Nashville, TN. “Premier Group and CFM share a lot of similar values, “said Steven Allen, Jr., Premier Group CEO. “We met three years ago through a mutual client and have developed a good working relationship. This alignment will allow both companies to offer aircraft charter services on demand.” Allen cites CFM’s solid reputation in the aviation industry for safety and maintenance. Premier’s worldwide expertise in sales
and leasing, marketing and business development combined with CFM’s proficiency in charter, FAA technical requirements, certifications and safety inspections creates a turn-key one-stop shop for corporations with flight operations. The partnership of these two highly- regarded aviation firms, which will build upon the history of strong customer service from both companies, creates a joint fleet of over thirty airplanes, including single engine pistons, twin turbines, light, mid-size, super midsize, and large cabin corporate aircraft. The joint partnership creates one of the largest fleets in the mid-south region. The planes range from four-passenger capacity to over thirtypassenger capacity. Additionally, the partnership will accelerate expansion to smaller regional and municipal airports, including the Birmingham-Metro area, Huntsville, Montgomery, Destin, Pensacola, Mobile/ Gulf Shores and the Panhandle. Allen said the partnership with Corporate Flight Management out of the Nashville/Smyrna area, “We will be able to offer a major savings in maintenance and fuel, crew, and insurance,” said Steve Allen, Sr., President
Ryan Waguespack
rcw@premiergroupinc.com
SPECIAL PROMOTION
and Founder of Premier Group. “A full-service company can more efficiently manage a physical asset and spread the costs over a lot of customers.” Steven added that the strategic partnership will enhance efficiencies of scale and buying power for companies looking to acquire. All of this will be boosted by a full-time safety department with a Director of Safety. Inspections can be done in-house at a certified, accredited facility saving money and time and ensuring the highest attention to detail. The strategic partnership is not just about managing airplanes and flight operations, it’s also about people. “After all, when you’re looking to someone to handle your flight operations, it’s very personal,” said Steven Allen, Jr. Trust, integrity and expertise are vital. Common cultural values are important. That’s why it’s not surprising to find that there are strong bonds between Premier and CFM. Both companies have secondgeneration aviators at the helm-- Steven Allen, Jr., at Premier Group and Allen Howell, CEO, at CFM. Both grew up in aviation families. Allen Howell’s father started out as a crop-duster and had an uncle who had an airplane he flew out of a cow pasture. Both attended college and majored in business. Their love of aviation pulled them into the business. Founded in 1982, CFM (flycfm.com) has grown to include locations in Tennessee, Alabama, Connecticut, Mississippi and soon to be in Destin. Howell says that Alabama has always been of interest to him since he is from Montgomery and attended Auburn-Montgomery. After graduation, he joined his father in Tennessee and was the first employee of CFM 30 years ago. They bring successful operating infrastructure on a large scale to provide private air charter to both small and large groups. They are in the top 100 operators in the US with safety Platinum standards that exceed the FAA with ARGUS and IS-
Barry Lambert
bwl@premiergroupinc.com
Steven Allen, Jr
jsajr@premiergroupinc.com
BAO Industry audits and DOD approved. Allen, Jr. said Premier Group is growing, CFM is growing and now is the perfect time to capture one-another’s strong suits that play hand in hand to both grow business, expand private charter usage in the southeast and abroad, and expose our clients to the idea and feel of turn key. “Barry Lambert, COO and director of Aircraft Sales and Acquisitions, joined in 2010 and administers all aircraft research, sales and acquisitions,” he said. “Ryan Waguespack recently came on board to handle the partnership with Corporate Flight Management and will be a direct contact for charter clients and aircraft owners.” “Our goal is to offer aviation that is simple, affordable and turnkey,” he said. “Aircraft owners can add their plane or planes to our charter fleet to help offset the cost of aircraft ownership and reduce the burden of maintaining all of the due diligence that goes with aircraft ownership. Our crews will operate the aircraft, we can do all maintenance in-house, and manage all associated due diligence. If you need it, you call us and we give you the hourly rate and take care of everything. All you have to do is show up.” This Premier Group/ Corporate Flight Management partnership is a perfect combination of expertise and passion, paying big dividends to corporations and aviation enthusiasts throughout the Southeast.
PREMIER GROUP, INC. 205.841.6720 Premiergroupinc.com
Allen Howell, Jr.
allen.howell@flycfm.com
Steve Allen, Sr.
jsasr@premiergroupinc.com
PROMOTION
Buzzy the Safety Bee Spreads the Buzz about Accident Prevention After talking with educators and leaders in the non-profit sector, the firm accepted the recommendation that they create a mascot, a friendly character that kids could relate to and respond to. Children were given a chance to vote for their favorite mascot, and Buzzy the Safety Bee got the most votes and became the firm’s official ambassador for child safety and accident prevention. A friendly little bumble bee, Buzzy always wears his helmet, and he uses his Facebook page and Twitter account to provide safety tips , news about local entertainment options for families, and links to community agencies that serve children and their families.
TEMPO! Family Fun Festival at Railroad Park Jerome and Kelli Tapley with daughters Madeline and Harper
Helmets for Kids:
Teaming up for Bicycle Safety From the time the training wheels come off, skinned knees , bumps, and bruises are just part of the learning curve as a child learns to ride a bike. Unfortunately, many serious accidents also occur. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than two hundred fifty thousand children are injured in bicycle related crashes each year. Head injuries are among the most serious and many of those injuries involve children who were not wearing helmets. Wearing a helmet has long been recognized as the single most important safety precaution a bicycle rider can take. When attorneys at Birmingham law firm Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris learned that Children’s of Alabama needed more bicycle helmets for their Safe Kids program, the firm donated one thousand helmets to the hospital’s program that provides bike helmets to patients who otherwise may not have a helmet. That was in the summer of 2012. A few months later, the firm pitched in to help Children’s with their bicycle safety tent at the 102
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United Way’s Read and Romp event, and since that time, the law firm has expanded its Helmets for Kids program, partnering with other agencies and non-profits to provide a total of more than two thousand bicycle helmets for Birmingham area children who need them. The Helmets for Kids program is part of the firm’s Cory Watson Cares initiative. Through Cory Watson Cares, the firm partners with local non-profit organizations that expand educational opportunities, raise awareness of injury prevention, improve the community and help people live healthier, safer and happier lives. “We care about keeping kids safe and bicycle helmets are part of that,” said Ernest Cory of Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris. “The community education component is also very important; we partner with others who are interested in helping kids and providing safety education.” Children who receive helmets through the Helmets for Kids program are provided age-appropriate safety booklets, a coloring book for younger children, and a brochure for older kids.
The Cory Watson team is looking forward to sponsoring TEMPO!, a Family Fun Festival, presented by Childcare Resources on Saturday, April 13th. . The event at Railroad Park is free and open to the public. Cory Watson is providing free bicycle helmets to the first five hundred children who visit the bicycle safety tent. TEMPO! will offer families unique entertainment, healthy food choices, bicycling activities, games and community resources. The event will engage the community in building awareness and promoting strong, healthy families.
PROMOTION
dossier Litigators Representing Clients Across the United States •Complex Litigation •Catastrophic Personal Injury
•Multidistrict Litigation •Class Actions •Products Liability •Commercial Litigation •Pharmaceutical Drug Litigation
•Defective Medical Device Litigation
•Environmental Litigation
Front row L to R Leila Watson, Ernest Cory, Annesley DeGaris. Back: Rick DiGiorgio, Kristian Rasmussen, Jerome Tapley, Jon Conlin, Douglas Dellaccio, Jason Shamblin
•Shareholder Disputes •Mass Torts
Class Actions • Mass Torts • Environmental Litigation WE HANDLE THE HARD STUFF
Cory Watson attorneys have been appointed to serve as Lead Counsel, Class Counsel and to numerous other leadership roles in high profile mass torts litigation and class actions. We have recovered more than $1.25 billion for our clients and we remain committed to advocating for those injured by the wrongful conduct of others. Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris is AV-Rated™ by Martindale-Hubbell® and our attorneys have been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America®, Super Lawyers®, Benchmark Litigation®, Top 100 Alabama Trial Lawyers and Top Birmingham Attorneys.
COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE
The firm is committed to giving back to the community; we partner with local non-profit organizations that expand educational opportunities, improve our communities, and help people live healthier, safer and happier lives.
CoryWatsonCrowderDeGaris
CoryWatsonLaw
Cory, Watson, Crowder & DeGaris, P.C. 2131 Magnolia Avenue, Birmingham, AL 35205 www.cwcd.com (205) 328-2200 Case descriptions, recoveries and testimonials presented here are not an indication of future results. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts and circumstances as they apply to the law. Litigation outcome and valuation depend on many factors including jurisdiction, venue, witnesses, parties, testimony and documentary evidence. Furthermore, no representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Pro
Bono
How law firms make the city better. by Richard James
The classic definition of pro bono is professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. Pro bono service, unlike traditional volunteerism, uses the specific skills of professionals to provide services to those who are unable to afford them. 104
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Birmingham’s law firms, as most across the United States, have pro bono components built into their DNA, but many firms and individual attorneys have gone beyond the classic definition of a prescribed number of hours of legal work to become deeply involved in charities and cultural initiatives that make Birmingham a better place. Leila Watson, a partner in the Birmingham law firm Cory Watson & Degaris, is one of those types of attorneys. “My husband Robert and I are private supporters of many charitable organizations. We prefer local charities – where the money, the workers and the beneficiaries are all in the same community. It makes Birmingham a better place and it adds accountability. We prefer organiza-
PROMOTION
Lloyd Gathings founded Gathings Law more than 20 years ago on the basic concept that every person, regardless of social or economic status, is entitled to receive the best representation in court and a level playing field when they enter the litigation arena. This remains our guiding principle today, and we believe this principle, together with the outstanding results we have achieved for our clients, is the foundation for our continued growth and success over the years. Other lawyers, both in Alabama and across the country, have recognized the expertise of Gathings Law and
dossier
have associated Gathings Law to serve as lead counsel in thousands of cases. Gathings Law has obtained many recoveries for its clients in excess of a million dollars, as well as recoveries in the multi-millions. Indeed, while we welcome direct calls from new clients, most of our work is due to other lawyers associating us to help obtain the best result possible for their clients. Areas of legal representation: Products Liability, Wrongful Death, Personal Injury, Fraud, Divorce and Consumer Law.
Gathings Law 2204 Lakeshore Parkway, Suite 406 Birmingham, AL 35209 205.322.1201 www.gathingslaw.com No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Leila Watson and Ernie Cory
tions that focus on young children, and providing them a sound education, good health and fun opportunities, because we believe it takes a village to raise the child. Our other focus has been on local organizations that make Birmingham a safe, healthy and fun place for families to live – hence we believe in things like an art museum, a zoo, the McWane, the farmers market, etc” Watson has been on the board of Childcare Resources for 6 years. Currently, she is co-chair of the TEMPO Family Fun Festival for Childcare Resources, which is set for April 13. She has co-chaired the Children’s Advocate Award Luncheon for two or three years for Childcare Resources. Watson has also been on the board of Studio By The 106
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Tracks since 2010 and the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, as well as the legal advisor to the Komen Race for the Cure for almost a decade. She is also active in fund raising for Alabama Appleseed. From a purely legal perspective, Watson has done pro bono work through the Alabama Bar Volunteer Lawyers Project. Unique to this landmark year in Birmingham, Watson is also a member of the Journey for Justice Project, an effort by the Birmingham Bar Foundation, the Magic City Bar Foundation and the Birmingham Bar Association to commemorate the attorneys who worked the legal challenges that helped the civil rights movement win victories in Birmingham.
Journey for Justice Project is a 26-minute documentary film being made by producer Mike Letcher at the University of Alabama Center for Public Television. Some attorneys faced serious death threats to fight in court for civil rights protesters. The Birmingham Bar Foundation will unveil the film at the Journey for Justice Gala, which will be held May 4 at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center. Volunteers from the legal community will also screen the film at area high schools and talk to students about it, The film project will honor the works of 28 lawyers, both black and white, who worked for civil rights in the Birmingham area. The lawyers honored in the film include
free•dom: noun the power to determine action without restraint. free•dom court re•porting: proper noun a company that gives you more freedom by handling your legal support needs.
www.freedomreporting.com Toll Free: 1-877-373-3660 Local: 205-397-2397 Fax: 205-397-2398
JC and Carmen Conlin with daughter Grace
Clarence Jones, an attorney for King who helped sneak King’s famous Letter from the Birmingham Jail from the jail, and white attorney Chuck Morgan, who shuttered his practice and moved from the city after speaking out publicly about the climate of hate in Birmingham in the aftermath of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. Other lawyers and judges honored in the project are Oscar W. Adams Jr.; Norman Amaker; James K. Baker; Abe Berkowitz; Orzell Billingsley; Harvey Burg; U.W. Clemon; Jerome “Buddy” Cooper; J. Mason Davis; Edward Friend Jr.; Peter A. Hall; Charles Hamilton Houston: Frank M. Johnson; Paul Johnston; 108
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Tom King Sr.; Thurgood Marshall; Nina Miglionico; Constance Baker Motley; Demetrius Newton; Vernon Patrick; J. Richmond Pearson; Arthur D. Shores; C. Erskine Smith; Robert Vance; David Vann; and W.L. Williams Jr. Law firms have institutionalized their pro bono and charitable work so that these types of efforts have become ingrained in the institutions themselves. Take for example. Sirote Supports, a Sirote & Permutt initiative, provides support to programs that strengthen the community and positively impact the areas of health, education and the arts. Sirote & Per-
mutt has always believed that its success is intertwined with the success and prosperity of the communities in which its lawyers live and practice law. Having a dedicated division focused exclusively on charitable giving allows Sirote to bring attention to these welldeserving non profits, and the incredibly important work they are doing. Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP (BABC) has a long history of supporting charitable, educational, and civic organizations. This commitment is expressly included in the firm’s core values. BABC contributions to charitable organizations were approximately $1 million in each of 2010
Trust, Respect and Results. The foundation of our society is built on trust. We trust other drivers to follow the rules of the road. We trust manufacturers to follow established safety standards. We trust financial advisors and consultants to honestly lead us and protect our financial interests. We trust insurance companies to pay our claims after we have faithfully paid our premiums. And when that trust is violated, we expect the wrongdoer to make good. If we can’t reach a resolution on our own, it sometimes helps to consult a lawyer. But not just any lawyer. You want a lawyer that you respect and that you can trust – someone with extensive experience handling the kind of case you are facing. You’ll find that kind of lawyer at Taylor & Taylor, where we’ve represented plaintiffs in wrongful death, car and trucking accident, personal injury, product liability, bad faith and fraud cases for more than 40 years.
Taylor & Taylor
2130 Highland Avenue • Birmingham, Alabama 35205 205-558-2800 • taylorlawyers.com No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. PRESENTED BY
DISCOVERY!
FEATURED PARTNER
Journey through time to a pre-historic land, Dino Discovery, at the Birmingham Zoo. Go on an expedition down a trail filled with 14 life-sized, animatronic dinosaurs, some at heights of almost 20 feet. Explore, search for fossils in the Dino Dig and get your picture taken with a dinosaur. Don’t miss this limited time exhibit! Follow us
birminghamzoo.com b-metro.com
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plary pro bono efforts. According to Lisa Borden, our communities are home to thousands of nonprofit organizations that address a wide range of health, arts, education, charitable and community needs. All are faced with complicated and constantly changing compliance issues and legal requirements. Most have voluntary boards of directors who need to be knowledgeable about a variety of laws and regulations affecting them, but also have shoestring budgets and therefore lack the legal counsel they need to avoid well intentioned but risky guesses on important issues. To help community nonprofits to meet these important needs, the Baker Donelson Nonprofit Institute was formed – a program in which our attorneys provide these basic legal services on a pro bono basis, allowing nonprofit organizations to conserve valuable resources and apply them to meeting their goals. Attorneys in the Birmingham office provide a wide variety of pro bono services to their community. The Birmingham office is very active in pro bono work with the Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Program and the Homeless Experience Legal Protection (HELP) program, and spearheaded the creation of HELP’s two weekly shelter clinics in Birmingham. The successful program, which is in its fourth year of operation, is coordinated by Pro Bono Shareholder Lisa Borden, and includes volunteers from many law firms across the city. Birmingham associate Kevin Garrison is expanding advocacy for Birmingham’s homeless and indigent population by representing plaintiffs in class action litigation designed to stop the operation of unconstitutional debtor’s prisons in municipalities in the Birmingham metropolitan area. Birmingham attorneys also were instrumental in the Alabama State Bar’s highly successful Pro Bono Celebration Weeks in 2009 and 2010, helping to organize legal clinics for the poor around the state. Alabama Appleseed also benefits from a great deal of effort by Baker Donelson at-
Since 2008, the firm has doubled the yearly number of hours our attorneys devote to pro bono work, and is aiming even higher. Baker Donelson attorneys receive up to 50 hours of billable credit from the firm for work they do for our pro bono clients. and 2011. Our attorneys and staff contributed approximately 21,000 hours in 2010 and 28,000 hours in 2011 for the benefit of organizations in their communities. BABC’s support of charitable organizations and the extensive volunteer efforts on the part of our attorneys and staff have benefited numerous community organizations in the areas of education, health care, medical research, homelessness, diversity, and many other important causes. The Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Foundation was established in 2010 to manage the firm’s charitable giving more effectively and to facilitate a greater degree of interaction among BABC, its attorneys and staff, clients, and the charitable and civic organizations supported. The Birmingham firm, Baker Donelson, is another that has taken pro bono and charitable efforts to heart. Since 2008, the firm has doubled the yearly number of hours our attorneys devote to pro bono work, and is aiming even higher. Baker Donelson attorneys receive up to 50 hours of billable credit from the firm for work they do for our pro bono clients. Pro bono projects at Baker Donelson are overseen by the firm’s Pro Bono Shareholder, Lisa Borden, and by the Pro Bono Committee, whose members include both shareholders and associates representing all of Baker Donelson’s geographic locations. Each office also has a Pro Bono Coordinator who assists attorneys in the process of identifying pro bono matters where the firms believes it can make a difference. Efforts include work on a wide variety of matters, including advocating for the homeless and organizations that serve the homeless, death penalty litigation, providing corporate legal services to non-profit organizations, and much more. Attorneys and the firm have received numerous awards and accolades for their exem110
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torneys, who have participated in many Appleseed projects including efforts to reform Alabama’s antiquated constitution, studying ways to better provide health care coverage to the poor, and assisting low income families who own their property and are struggling with title issues. Birmingham attorneys are currently representing two indigent Alabama death row inmates in post-conviction proceedings. Homeless Experience Legal Protection (H.E.L.P.) enlists local attorneys, law students, and law firm secretaries and paralegals in cities across the country to provide pro bono legal assistance to homeless individuals. This assistance often takes the form of a single consultation but occasionally extends further, depending on clients’ needs. Volunteers meet with their clients at local shelters and other social service organizations that are accessible to the homeless population. H.E.L.P. began in New Orleans in early 2004, when a newly appointed federal district court judge, Jay Zainey, accompanied his fellow judges to serve a meal at a local shelter. While serving the meal, Judge Zainey began to think how much more an attorney could do for the shelter clients, and how that kind of service could change people’s lives. With that simple but electrifying thought, H.E.L.P. was born. Judge Zainey began to round up volunteer lawyers to staff a weekly clinic at the shelter, and had more success than he had ever imagined. Soon he had hundreds of lawyers, clinics in more than one shelter, and the desire to do even more. H.E.L.P. began to expand to other cities, prodded and encouraged by Judge Zainey and helped along by law firms who were volunteering in New Orleans but also had offices in other cities. Today, H.E.L.P. volunteers are providing free legal services to the homeless in over 15 cities, and the list continues to grow. The Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, Inc. is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest legal advocacy organization whose mission is to work for systemic policy reforms that achieves justice and fairness for low-income and unrepresented and other vulnerable populations that usually have little, or no, voice in developing or changing policies that impact their lives. The mission of Alabama Appleseed is
2012 By the Numbers
8
new attorneys
3
Super Lawyers
1
new office in Los Angeles
1
®
7
Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated attorneys
new partner
2
Rising Stars ®
Our Representation Counts Alabama • California Georgia • New Jersey • New York No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of the legal services performed by other lawyers.
Most people who need to hire a lawyer never expected that they would need one. Experts at all phases of the civil litigation process, the attorneys at Morris, Haynes, Hornsby, Wheeles & Knowles have developed their practice with one goal in mind – to ensure that their clients have the best chance for a successful recovery with regard to their legal claims. We handle a wide variety of civil litigation, ranging from tractor trailer accidents to car wrecks to product liability claims to commercial litigation to environmental claims. A crucial part of the firm’s structure revolves around client service and satisfaction. Our attorneys and staff pride ourselves upon our ability to inform our clients of the ups and downs of their legal situation, honestly assess the possibilities of success in pushing forward with a claim and to make the process of litigating a civil matter as smooth for the client as possible. Testimonials from some of our clients can be viewed at our web site, www. mhhlaw.net, as can a sampling of the many successful verdicts and settlements we Todd Wheeles, Nancy Eady, Clay Hornsby, Larry Morris, Randall Haynes, Jeremy Knowles have achieved for our clients. At Morris, Haynes, Hornsby, Wheeles & Knowles, each attorney’s case load is kept at a level that allows him or her to know each client by name and as a person, not as an anonymous claim number. Another unique aspect of our firm is its two offices, one in Birmingham and one in Alexander City. Having two offices gives the firm a greater geographical reach than most plaintiffs’ firms. In addition, our firm has a department devoted solely to researching the many legal issues and motions that arise in every case, ensuring that we have cutting edge knowledge of the latest legal opinions in most areas of the law. In order to better serve our clients, our firm also has one of the only evidence storage warehouses owned and operated by a law firm for the purpose of preserving evidence in the cases that we handle, and a full time warehouse technician to maintain that evidence. The storage of vehicles or equipment following a car accident or product claim at off-site storage facilities can be quite expensive; owning our own facility helps keep our clients’ litigation costs down. Your first consultation with us is always free of charge, and in many cases we are able to work with you on a contingency fee basis, which means that we do not charge you a fee unless we are successful in prosecuting your case.
Morris, Haynes, Hornsby, Wheeles & Knowles 3500 Colonnade Parkway, Suite 100 • Birmingham, AL 35243 (205) 324-4008 • www.mhhlaw.net
No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. b-metro.com
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to work for systemic policy reforms that achieves justice and fairness for low-income and unrepresented and other vulnerable populations that usually have little, or no, voice in developing or changing policies BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS LLP that impact their lives. The issues Appleseed addresses go to the very IS PLEASED TO CONGRATULATE fabric of people’s lives touching such human issues as housing, health, financial security, workplace safety, disaster relief, access to justice, and discrimination wherever it arises. Alabama Appleseed is affiliated with the national network of Appleseed Centers located throughout North America. Appleseed was for Being Named in founded in 1994 with the mission to develop and help sustain a network of state advocacy centers that address local issues and develop “Rising Stars of the Bar” and promote practical, systemic solutions. Each state center operates independently with its own board of directors and sets its own advocacy agenda. Appleseed offers the state centers support in developing its orRyan Robichaux ganizational structure and processes and in a limited way with identifyAssociate ing national funding sources. Although new state centers receive some Direct Dial 205.521.8619 Email rrobichaux@babc.com financial support from Appleseed during the first three years, it is the responsibility of each state center to develop and implement its own fund raising plan and to secure funding for its operations and advocacy projects. The organizing Board of Directors for Alabama Appleseed was brought together in 1999 and has been functioning since that date. The organizing Board consisted of a number of prominent and well-known babc.com | AL | DC | MS | NC | TN Alabamians, including former Governor Albert P. Brewer, J. Mason WHITE No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater Davis, former Chief Justice C.C. Tolbert, Jr., former Supreme Court than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Contact: Beau Grenier, Esq., 205.521.8355, bgrenier@babc.com, One Federal Place, 1819 Fifth Avenue North, Justice9:43 Janie JBR-0076-2013-Congrats-BMETRO-3_5x4_centered-2.pdf 8 2/15/13 AM L. Shores, and Dean Kenneth C. Randall of the University Birmingham, AL 35203 of Alabama School of Law. Baker Donelson’s Lisa Borden wrote an op–ed piece in The Birmingham News to promote the Bar Association’s annual Pro Bono Week. WHITE “B” “Simply put, “pro bono” is the provision of free legal services to those in need. “There are few places in our country where the need is greater than right here in Alabama. “Nineteen percent of Alabamians live at or beneath the federal poverty level, and one in four of Alabama’s children are currently living in poverty. Given that the poverty threshold is very low (currently just over $17,000 for a family of three), we know that many more Alabamians are struggling to get by and cannot afford to pay for the services of an attorney when a legal crisis occurs. “Each year, hundreds of lawyers generously donate their time and resources to help low income Alabamians who would otherwise face the daunting and nearly impossible prospect of facing the court system alone, a circumstance which can hardly be called justice. “During Pro Bono Week, Birmingham area attorneys will offer free legal clinics, and we will honor our pro bono leaders for their service. But the service of attorneys to the community is not an annual event - it is a daily commitment. The Alabama State Bar and Birmingham Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Programs, and their attorney members, stand ready to offer assistance to low income Alabamians in need of legal representation.” johnstonbarton.com Whether the community work being done by Birmingham law firms involves legal representation or financial/volunteer support for a IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALABAMA STATE BAR REQUIREMENTS, NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE THAT THE QUALITY OF THE LEGAL charity, the generosity runs deep. SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED IS GREATER THAN THE QUALITY OF LEGAL SERVICES PERFORMED BY OTHER LAWYERS. ARPC 7.2(E)
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