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Women and the Law List of Top Women Attorneys compiled by Avvo
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The purpose of the Women Lawyers Section of the Birmingham Bar Association is as clear as a well-written brief. The group exists to foster the personal and professional development of women who practice law, and to enhance the quality of life and culture of the legal community. “Formed 21 years ago, it is the second largest section of the bar with more than 300 members. Our focus is on supporting women in the process and practice of law,” says current section president Katie Suttle Weinert, an attorney at Littler here in Birmingham. The purpose of the section is to encourage participation by women in the practice of law, to enhance the quality of life for women who have chosen law as a profession, to provide role models and mentors for women seeking to enter or grow in the profession, and to provide an environment that fosters cooperation between and among women in the profession, thereby enhancing the profession as a whole. Beginning around 1979, a group of like-minded women lawyers who had been friends in law school or who had become friends after starting their legal careers gathered for regular social events. After a few such occasions, their discussions turned to the state of women in the legal profession and their desire to create an organization to meet their professional and personal goals. These women were visionaries who believed the needs of women lawyers were greater than the profession’s ability at the time to meet them. For more than a decade, these women continued to talk about what form and structure such an organization might take, gleaning any useful information
from other women’s bar organizations nationwide. On Jan. 4, 1994, Judy Crittenden and Robin Burrell met with Bill Clark, the then current president of the Birmingham Bar Association (the BBA) at the Summit Club to discuss the issues facing women lawyers and the need to establish a formal group to support the advancement of women in the legal profession. He agreed. On May 13, 1994, the proposal to create the WLS was presented to the BBA Executive Committee. The vote to create the WLS was successful and WLS became an official section of the BBA. So
These women were visionaries who believed the needs of women lawyers were greater than the profession’s ability at the time to meet them. after years of discussion about the form and structure of the new organization it was now time to put the ideas in writing. At Highlands Bar and Grill, Robin Burrell and Marion Walker drafted the first set of bylaws and the preliminary structure of the WLS on napkins. At a meeting on Sept. 22, 1994, more than 120 women lawyers joined WLS. By October 1994, the WLS boasted 233 members. The focus of the WLS is on the professional and personal concerns and needs of women lawyers. In addition, the WLS founders recognized the need to encourage the participation of women lawyers in the BBA and charitable activities, as well as providing networking and mentoring. The WLS members have also reached out into the community to help women and children in need, frequently partnering with the YWCA and other organizations
topwomen attorneys Janell Ahnert Bressler, Amery & Ross, PC bressler.com
Ramona Albin US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Alabama justice.gov Labella S. Alvis Christian & Small LLP csattorneys.com Melanie Atha Cabaniss, Johnston, Gardner, Dumas & O’Neal LLP cabaniss.com Lisa Atkins Ogletree Deakins, PC ogletreedeakins.com Tammy Baker Jackson Lewis, PC jacksonlewis.com Elizabeth Beaube Maynard Cooper & Gale, PC maynardcooper.com Jenna M. Bedsole Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC bakerdonelson.com Alicia Bennett Boardman Carr Hutcheson & Bennett, PC boardmancarr.com Julia Bernstein Maynard Cooper & Gale, PC maynardcooper.com Sela Blanton Bainbridge, Mims, Rogers & Smith LLP bainbridgemims.com
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Natalie Bolling Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC bakerdonelson.com Emily Bonds Jones Walker LLP joneswalker.com Lisa Borden Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC bakerdonelson.com Paige Boshell Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP babc.com Bonnie Branum Protective Life protective.com Toni Braxton Braxton Legal Services, LLC braxtonlegalservices.com Whitney R. Brown Lehr Middlebrooks & Vreeland lehrmiddlebrooks.com Kitty Rogers Brown White Arnold & Dowd P.C. whitearnolddowd.com Jennifer Burford Ogletree Deakins OgletreeDeakins.com Robin L. Burrell Najjar Denaburg, PC najjar.com Tanita Cain The Cain Law Firm LLC cainlawbham.com Angela (Angie) Cameron Burr & Forman LLP burr.com Lois Beasley-Carlisle Carlisle & Carlisle, P.C. carlisleandcarlisle.com Elizabeth Chambers Cory Watson Attorneys cwcd.com
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Rhonda Chambers Taylor & Taylor taylorlawyers.com Kori Clement Hare & Clement, PC harelaw.com Patricia Clotfelter Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC bakerdonelson.com Glenda Cochran Glenda Cochran Associates Attorneys at Law glendacochran.com Judith Crittenden Crittenden Partners, PC crittendenpartners.com Michelle Crunk Dodson Gregory, LLP dodsongregory.com Kathy R. Davis Carr Allison carrallison.com Tracy Davis Hand Arendall LLC handarendall.com Stacey Davis The Law Firm of Stacey A. Davis, LLC staceydavislaw.com Diandra Debrosse Zarzaur, Mujumdar and Debrosse Trial Lawyers zarzaur.com Lauren DeMoss Maynard Cooper & Gale, PC maynardcooper.com Judith E. Dolan Waldrep Stewart & Kendrick, LLC wskllc.com Susan Doughton Dominick Feld Hyde, PC dfhlaw.com Gayle Douglas Heninger Garrison Davis hgdlawfirm.com
to help those in its shelters and programs. The Nina Miglionico Paving The Way Leadership Award was established by the Women Lawyers Section of the Birmingham Bar Association in 2005 to recognize and honor lawyers who have achieved professional excellence while actively paving the way to success and advancement for women lawyers. In 2002 the WLS created a scholarship award to recognize talented law students who showed promise and insight, particularly with respect to the advancement of women law students. The awards were originally given to students at the University of Alabama School of Law and Cumberland Law School. Two years later, Miles Law School and Birmingham School of Law were added as recipient law schools. The initial award amount was $250. In 2004, the service award amount was increased to $300, and in 2010 it increased to $500. In keeping with the purpose of the WLS to encourage women in the practice of law, the WLS initiated a “Pinstripes and Pearls” panel discussion at Cumberland School of Law and the University of Alabama Law School about current issues affecting the legal profession in general and women lawyers in particular. Giving back to the Birmingham community is a top priority of the WLS. In fact, in 1999, the WLS won the national award from the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations for the WLS’s special partnership with the YWCA. The WLS and its members routinely contribute to causes affecting women, including Kids Korner (YWCA daycare), Purse & Passion Luncheon (YWCA), the Journey to Justice Gala event (Birmingham Bar Foundation and the Magic City Bar), the Voices Against Violence Initiative, and MOMENTUM, a local women’s leadership organization.
AVVO Rating
The Avvo Rating is an effort to evaluate a lawyer’s background based on the information available in an attorney’s Avvo profile. The rating is created using a model that considers information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to information collected from public sources like state bar associations and lawyer websites. Any information that affects the Avvo Rating is visible in an attorney’s profile. •There is no bias. The rating is calculated using a mathematical model, and all lawyers are evaluated on the same set of standards. •The Avvo Rating cannot be bought. At Avvo, all lawyers are treated equally. •It was developed by legal professionals and people looking for legal services. The model used to calculate the rating was developed with input from hundreds of attorneys, thousands of consumers, and many other legal professionals who deeply understand the work attorneys do. The Avvo Rating reflects the type of information people have identified as important when looking to hire an attorney.
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Johnston Barton Proctor & Rose LLP lgwmlaw.com Dawn Helms Sharff Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP babc.com Lisa Singer Smith & Pace, P.C. smith-pace.com Jeanie Sleadd Heninger, Garrison & Davis, LLC hgdlawfirm.com Deborah Alley Smith Christian & Small LLP csattorneys.com Carol Smith Smith & Pace, P.C. smith-pace.com Tammy Smith Taylor & Taylor taylorlawyers.com Jennifer Smith Wiggins, Childs, Pantazis, Fisher & Goldfrab, LLC. wigginschilds.com Christie Strange Porterfield, Harper, Mills, Motlow, & Ireland phm-law.com Sharon D. Stuart Christian & Small LLP csattorneys.com Kristin Waters Sullivan Massey Stotser & Nichols, PC msnattorneys.com Jennifer Swain Littler Mendelson, PC littler.com Leah Taylor Taylor & Taylor taylorlawyers.com Mary H. Thompson Waldrep Stewart & Kendrick, LLC wskllc.com Temple Trueblood Wiggins, Childs, Pantazis, Fisher & Goldfrab, LLC.
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women ATToRneYS To wATCH:
Honora Gathings
Gathings Law would like to congratulate Honora Gathings on being named one of Avvo’s Top Women Attorneys. It is an honor that comes after decades of working tirelessly on behalf of her clients. Honora’s client-first focus has earned her a most esteemed reputation. While her cases may range from domestic relations to wrongful death and complex environmental litigation, they are all handled with the same level of care and skill that comes from her more than thirty years of experience. Honora Gathings has also earned the respect of her peers in the legal community as shown by being rated as AV Preeminent and being selected for the Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, indicating her position at the highest level of professional excellence, as well as being voted to the Birmingham Bar Association’s Executive Committee. Gathings Law was founded 20 years ago on the guiding principle that every person, regardless of social or economic status, is entitled to receive the best representation in court and entitled to a level playing field when they enter the litigation arena. Contact Honora Gathings at (205) 322-1201 to see how she can fight for you. Congratulations, Honora.
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Frances Ross Nolan and Leigh Reynolds Byers Nolan Byers, PC was founded in 2013 by Frances Ross Nolan and Leigh Reynolds Byers, to provide clients with access to all the options available today for resolving family law disputes. Recognizing that most clients are unfamiliar with the legal system and that every legal dispute creates enormous stress, our focus is on understanding each client’s concerns, educating them about their rights and choices and working with them to achieve their goals. We provide clients throughout Central Alabama with exceptional legal services in all aspects of family law, including: jurisdictional divorce issues, marital property characterization, asset valuation and division, spousal and child support, child custody, paternity matters, and prenuptial, postnuptial, and marital settlement agreements. As sophisticated problem solvers, we are also trained in Collaberative Divorce, which is a cutting-edge, out of court alternative to more convetional methods of dispute resolution.
Nolan Byers, PC The Kress Building
//301 19th St North, Birmingham, AL 35203 //205.314.0638
nolAnbYeRS.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.
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ATTORNEYS TO WATCH:
Candace Brannen Peeples Thomas Logan Davis Julia Givens Williams
Peeples & Davis Family & Matrimonial Law Attorneys As Matrimonial and Family Law attorneys, Candace (Candi) Peeples, Tommy Davis and Julia Givens Williams, have built their client-attorney relationships by listening. Because the key to understanding is listening. Peeples & Davis knows that every client has a story. Only by listening, can your attorney better understand your situation, your needs, and your concerns. Just as every family is uniquely different, no two divorces are the same. Peeples & Davis Family Law is a boutique-styled practice limited to areas of matrimonial and family law including divorce, child custody/support, alimony, property division, premarital agreements, adoption, assisted reproductive technology, to other post-divorce modification and enforcement issues, housed in the stately and historic AB Loveman House in Highland Park. The Peeples & Davis approach begins with a one hour consultation during which you can get to know each other and determine if the professional relationship is a “fit.” Consultations are always confidential. If you are facing a divorce or any other major changes in your family, you are likely preoccupied with the immediate problems at hand. Peeples & Davis has a wealth of experience dealing with not only the immediate issues facing their clients, but also to foresee and prepare for those that can be expected in the next phase of their clients’ lives. The attorneys of Peeples & Davis look forward to meeting you, working with you, and helping you plan for your future. Attorne ys At L aw
Peeples & Davis THE HiSTORiC AB LOvEmAN HOuSE //2956 RHOdES CiRCLE SOuTH, BiRmiNgHAm, AL 35205 // (205) 403-5577
PEEPLESdAviS.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.
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Glenda Cochran
Glenda Cochran Associates A Quest for Truth
Glenda Cochran limits her practice to cases involving catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death. In her quest for truth, she will leave no stone unturned. Glenda Cochran and her firm, Glenda Cochran Associates, are passionate about providing clients with the highest quality of legal representation. Recognizing that the outcome in every case affects the client’s future quality of life, she consistently delivers the intense scrutiny and excellence in advocacy necessary to achieve the best possible results. Each case is thoroughly prepared, leaving no stone unturned. This thoughtful approach to litigation allows her to develop close, personal relationships with clients that endure long after the case is resolved as well as earn the respect of her adversaries. Glenda Cochran has tried numerous cases to verdict. Her skills as a litigator have earned her the AV Preeminent rating in both legal ability and ethical standards from Martindale-Hubbell. She handles litigation in state and federal courts throughout the state of Alabama. Typical cases involve products liability, fires and explosions, medical malpractice, as well as workplace and industrial negligence. The firm offers free consultations. For more information visit online at glendacochran.com or call 800-466-5051.
Glenda Cochran Associates FoR moRe inFoRmATion viSiT online AT GlendACoCHRAn.Com oR CAll 800-466-5051.
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.
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CONGRATU-THANKS. In equal parts, we congratulate our seven lawyers selected to the 2015 Women Leaders of the Birmingham Bar list; and we thank the clients who make such achievements possible. Heninger Garrison Davis LLC is one of the nation’s leading pure trial firms. We have stood before the bench countless times and enjoy the quiet confidence that comes from that experience. But, our reason for being is not simply to provide the most excellent possible representation. That is the price of entry. Our reason for being is to serve our clients, to use our talents and experience to restore balance to their lives. And while that distinction may seem subtle – it makes all the difference in who we are. We are Heninger Garrison Davis. We lead by serving. We are currently seeking to serve potential clients in areas such as patents, pharmaceutical injuries, personal injury and wrongful death, insurance, transportation, and business disputes. (L to R) Amanda Williamson, Jeanie Sleadd, Brandy Robertson, Caroline Hollingsworth, Gayle Douglas. Not pictured: Kathryn Harrington
Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC AlABAmA //CAlifORNiA //GeORGiA //New jeRSey // New yORK //wASHiNGTON d.C.
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PROMOTION
KIRK DRENNAN LAW
profile:
CeCelia Brown freeman
• Associate Attorney at Kirk.Drennan Law • Alabama State Bar Association: Family Law Section • Birmingham Bar Association: Young Lawyers Section, Women in Law • Government Liaison Committee for Alabama State Bar: 2011-2012 • Bar Admission: Alabama State Bar, U.S. District Court, Northern District Alabama, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit • Birmingham Ballet Guild (Member since 2010): Non-Resident Committee, Social Committee
Kirk Drennan, PC (205) 803 - 3500
www.kirkdrennanlaw.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.
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Congratulations
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings celebrates the achievements of our Women Leaders in Law and the impact each has made on the legal industry. Anne R. Yuengert - Partner, Labor & Employment Dawn Helms Sharff - Partner, Real Estate; Banking & Financial Services Paige M. Boshell - Partner, Privacy and Information Security; Intellectual Property; and Banking and Financial Services Laura P. Washburn - Partner, Corporate & Securities With more than 30 practice areas and nearly 500 attorneys, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings has the depth of legal experience to tailor solutions for your unique business goals. Contact us today and put the largest firm in Birmingham to work for your business.
babc.com | ALABAMA | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | FLORIDA | MISSISSIPPI | NORTH CAROLINA | TENNESSEE No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. Contact: Beau Grenier, Esq., 205.521.8355, bgrenier@babc.com, One Federal Place, 1819 Fifth Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203.
We proudly congratulate our “Top Women Attorneys.� Linda G. Flippo, Kitty Rogers Brown, Laura S. Gibson, Augusta S. Dowd, Karen M. Hennecy, and Lisha L. Graham
Attorneys at Law 2025 Third Avenue North, Suite 500, Birmingham, Alabama 35203
205-323-1888 WhiteArnoldDowd.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.
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Ladies of Law
Two of Birmingham’s top female lawyers, Jennifer Rose and Kaitlin Kober of The Rose Law Firm LLC, share questions they often hear as women in the legal field. Q: What qualities do you feel female attorneys bring to the table that are different than your male counterparts? Kaitlin: I think we’re able to put ourselves in our client’s shoes a little more to understand how they are feeling. Even though as attorneys we’re driven by logic, I think as females we are also a little more in touch with emotions like empathy. Jennifer: I agree. Having a real feel for our client’s emotional state helps us to decide how best to advise them and what decisions we think would make them happiest in the end. Plus, I’ll admit that getting angry on behalf of a client has sharpened my focus and resolve more than a few times. Q: So why did you get into family law as opposed to other fields? Jennifer: My parents got a divorce when I was old enough to know what was going on and realize the impact it has on people’s lives. It was a field I connected with because I understood the impact on children and families firsthand and I felt like I could make a difference for my clients. I could never see myself being a “pencil pusher,” I just enjoy working with people too much. Kaitlin: I love that in family law I can help people through what might be the toughest time of their life. I enjoy the variety of situations this field throws at you and the creative solutions we can come up with for our clients. Another thing that appeals to me is advocating for children, as I’m a parent myself. We’ve gotten a lot of kids out of bad situations and that is beyond rewarding. Q: So do you represent mostly males or females? Jennifer: It’s pretty even. We don’t see our clients as male or female, we see them as people who have a problem we can help them solve. We fight the same for our clients regardless
of their gender. We are certainly proud to be females, but we aren’t feminists, we’re advocates for people in need. People come to us to get good representation, not because we are for men or women only. Q: Any advice for young girls who are interested in being an attorney? Kaitlin: Stay in school, study, and work hard at everything you do because the same skills you use to get those good grades are the ones you will need when you become an attorney. Jennifer: Practice being a lawyer by avoiding shortcuts in your life because there really isn’t a substitute for hard work and determination. Once you set your mind to becoming a lawyer, stay the course and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t make it, yourself included.
Attorneys Jennifer and Kaitlin practice family law exclusively and they can be reached at 205-323-1124 or through their website www.rosefamilylaw.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.
SPECIAL PROMOTION
women ATToRneYS To wATCH:
Diandra S. “Fu” Debrosse Zimmermann FU. FIGHTER. Beast, bulldog, and another “b” word are but a few of the adjectives hurled at Fu by adversaries, and she welcomes them all. Fu’s role is to be a legal brawler on behalf of the rights of those devastated by other’s wrongs. Fu’s experience speaks for itself. She has successfully represented thousands of victims of wrongful conduct, and has secured awards for her clients in excess of $29M, as class counsel and as a lawyer representing individuals. She works diligently every day with her law partners and close friends, Gregory Zarzaur and Anil Mujumdar, to champion civil justice causes. Her practice focuses on giving a voice to those brutalized by sexual assault, human trafficking, or violent crime; battling for consumer rights in individual and class actions; realizing civil rights and civil liberties for those whose rights have been oppressed; advocating for those injured by negligent conduct; and achieving justice for people fatally or severely harmed by defective products - particularly defective firearms and pharmaceuticals. Fu is AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating available, and has been recognized as a SuperLawyer. She is a member of the Alabama State Bar Executive Council and Board of Bar Commissioners, the Executive Committee of the Birmingham Bar, and the Alabama Access to Justice Commission. Fu’s passion for the law is eclipsed only by her dedication to her children, her husband, Réne Zimmermann, and her extended family and friends. Her two beautiful and exceptional daughters are the center of her existence, and serve as daily inspiration that we all must fight to make our nation and world more democratic. Who better to do that than a woman rocking 5-inch heels?
Make-Up by Yazmin Cavale
Zarzaur Mujumdar & Debrosse Trial Lawyers
2332 2nd Avenue North
// Birmingham, AL 35203 //205.983.7985
www.zARzAuR.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.
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woMen attorneyS to watch:
Elizabeth Ellis Chambers Leila Hirayama Watson
“We express our gratitude for all women in the legal profession, especially those who came before us and pursued their legal careers with such dignity and skill that they paved the way for us. Even just thirty years ago the question was “what is your role as a woman attorney?” Today, the question is more likely to be “what mass torts are you handling?,” or “did the court certify your class action?” Our careers are defined by our success as lawyers, not because we succeeded as women. We congratulate all the women recognized this month for their successful legal careers and their contributions to make Birmingham and Alabama a better and safer place for all of us to raise our families and pursue our careers.“ -Leila Hirayama Watson,Founding Principal -Elizabeth Ellis Chambers, Principal Cory Watson, P.C. is a premier personal injury law firm recognized nationally for providing outstanding legal representation for victims injured or killed by the negligence or wrongful conduct of others. The attorneys of Cory Watson advocate for the rights of clients in all types of personal injury cases including automobile accidents, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, product liability, defective medical device and drug injuries, consumer fraud, environmental toxins, class actions and mass torts.
Cory Watson Attorneys 2131 Magnolia avenue South //BirMinghaM, al 35205 // (205) 328-2200
www.corywatSon.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.
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women ATToRneYS To wATCH:
Kathryn C. Gentle
Kathryn Crawford Gentle, a native of Alabama, is a Partner at Crew Gentle Law, P.C., and was founder of Crawford-Gentle & Associates, L.L.C. She began advocating for families in the areas of family law, matrimonial and adoption law in 2007. She began negotiating on behalf of individuals and businesses with the I.R.S. and the Department of Revenue in 2004. Kathryn is a cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama when she received a Bachelor of Arts in English and Marketing. She was graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law where she received her Juris Doctorate in 2001. After surviving her own divorce, Kathryn was determined to gain the understanding and experience necessary to become a skilled and passionate family law attorney. She represents individuals with issues involving child custody and child support daily in her practice. Her tax experience and knowledge has become a key skill in resolving complex cases regarding the division of assets with high net worth marital estates. Kathryn also has a strong focus in tax resolution. She is licensed in the U.S. Tax Court, and has worked for over eleven years assisting individuals and businesses resolve their tax liabilities with the IRS and the Department of Revenue. Her tax resolution skills focus on installment agreements, audit assistance and representation, offers in compromise, new business start up, and penalty abatement. Kathryn is licensed to practice law in the State of Alabama, the State of Georgia, and the U.S. Tax Court. She is a member of the Alabama State Bar Association, The Women’s Law Section of the Alabama Bar Association, the Family Law Section of the Alabama State Bar, and the Birmingham Bar Association. She was elected as a member of the 2013 Future Leaders Forum of the Birmingham Bar Association, is involved with the Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Program, and has been involved in facilitating a “Divorce Care” program at Canterbury United Methodist Church.
Kathryn C. Gentle Attorney at Law
2001 PARk PlACe noRTH, SuiTe 550//BiRmingHAm, AlABAmA 35203 //(P)205-326-3555 • (f)205-326-1081
kgenTle@CRewgenTlelAw.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.
Winning #LikeAGirl Celebrating 125 Years of Legal Excellence
“I am proud of the hard work and experience of our team—and honored to be recognized as one of B-Metro’s Top Women Lawyers for 2015.”
Ashley Peinhardt, Trial Lawyer
BIRM ING H A M
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LITTLE ROCK
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FA Y ETTEVILLE
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#LikeAGir l
Lawyers Helping People We keep it simple—we hire good people, and we work hard all of the time. We go the extra mile, we call people back, and we listen. We get it done, day in and day out—we work together, and we like to win. We are so proud to see one of our finest lawyers achieve B-Metro’s Top Women Lawyers of 2015. Winning #LikeAGirl is just one more way we can enjoy celebrating 125 years of legal excellence.
Lawyers Helping People—Since 1890
HelpingAlabama.com
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
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women ATToRneYS To wATCH:
Alicia Haynes
A partner with Haynes & Haynes, P.C., Alicia Haynes is a plaintiff ’s employment discrimination attorney. Her firm focuses on discrimination cases involving race, gender, pregnancy, age, and disability, including sexual harassment and family and medical leave act cases. Her brother, Kenneth Haynes, is her law partner. With over 28 years of trial experience, Alicia frequently takes on complex and multiplaintiff cases involving large corporate employers. Alicia has been recognized for the past eight years in the separate editions of Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in Alabama in the area of Labor and Employment Law. Alicia serves as the national president of the National Employment Lawyers Association, the country’s largest professional organization that is exclusively comprised of lawyers who represent individual employees in cases involving employment discrimination and other employment related matters. She also serves on the board of the Labor and Employment Section of the Alabama State Bar and is an active volunteer in giving back to her community and church. She has two children that are students at the University of Alabama.
Haynes & Haynes, P.C. 1600 Woodmere Drive
// Birmingham, AL 35226 //205.879-0377
www.HAYneS-HAYneS.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.
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women ATToRneYS To wATCH:
Traci Owen Vella and Rachel A. King
At Vella & King, the practice of family law is more than just litigation and preparing documents; it is about guiding clients through the stressful processes of divorce, adoption, and other legal issues facing families. With more than twenty five years of combined experience as family law attorneys, Traci Owen Vella and Rachel A. King bring both depth and breadth of experience to the table. Following her lifelong dream to help people work through the complicated process of the American court system, Rachel A. King received her Juris Doctorate from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 2005. With a focus on counseling clients during difficult times, King is recognized for her skill in making her clients feel at home, even when their home may be falling apart. Traci Owen Vella is regarded as one of Alabama’s preeminent family law and domestic relations appellate attorneys. Since receiving her Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama School of Law, she has devoted herself to all aspects of family law, including divorce, adoptions, alimony, custody, paternity, and child support. Together, Vella & King’s innovative approach to family law combines tried-and-true methods with creative ideas for resolution. Their dedication to their work is evident in the way they lead clients through the maze of uncertainty that typically surrounds family law issues. They have handled a wide variety of cases involving challenging and contentious situations, all of which require sensitivity and confidentiality with their clients. Highly skilled and broadly experienced, Vella & King work on their clients’ behalf to create the most beneficial outcomes possible. They tenaciously pursue solutions that will move clients from crisis to closure, from chaos to resolution.
Vella & King 3000 CReSCenT Avenue //BiRmingHAm, AlABAmA 35209 //(205) 868-1555
www.vellAkingCom 2001 PARk PlACe noRTH, SuiTe 550//BiRmingHAm, AlABAmA 35203 //(P)205-326-3555 • (f)205-326-1081 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.
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women ATToRneYS To wATCH:
Tanita Cain
The Cain Law Firm, LLC has a long history of guiding individuals through the complexities of federal and state courts. Where this road feels bumpy, the Cain Law Firm ensures a smooth ride. Now more than ever the clients who seek The Cain Law Firm’s assistance always enjoy the warmth and compassion the staff and attorneys bring. Tanita Cain is the founder of The Cain Law Firm, LLC, a top emerging general practice firm with emphasis on Criminal Defense, Bankruptcy, Personal Injury, family law and Medical Malpractice. Attorney Cain has more than 14 years of legal experience which includes 4 years of practice for a Fortune 500 company that specialized in diesel engines. Some of her most recent acknowledgements have been: The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 lawyers, 2012 Attorney Of The Year Nominee, Diversity Business Top 100 Woman Business, Birmingham Business Journal Top 40 under 40, Minority Business Nominee, Top Women in Birmingham, Graduate of Dartmouth’s Tuck Minority Business Exchange Program, ACORN Women Making A Difference in Their Community Award, and Who’s Who in Black Birmingham.
The Cain Law Firm THe mediCAl FoRum Buidling 950 22nd STReeT noRTH BiRmingHAm, Al 35202
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www.CAinlAwBHAm.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.
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Bloom
where you are planted
The Top Women Attorneys Reception Tuesday, August 25 5 to 7 pm la petite boulangerie @ bloom 2000 16th Ave S Birmingham, AL 35205
Complimentary refreshments, Networking & Prizes Free parking in lot and nearby deck
RSVP to bmetromagazine@gmail.com
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women ATToRneYS To wATCH: Judith E. Dolan, Leslie M. Klasing and Mary H. Thompson
women ATToRneYS To wATCH:
Stephanie A. Hunter, ESq. Stephanie Hunter grew up in Jamaica, where she was raised by parents who stressed the importance of education and hard work. For Stephanie, family is of the utmost importance, so it is no surprise that she spends her days in Family Court advocating for families caught in the system. Stephanie understands that many of her clients are unfamiliar with the legal system, so she works to guide and educate them about their legal rights and choices. Her practice is primarily focused on family law, including divorce, child custody/support, adoption and other juvenile issues. While juggling the tasks of being a full-time attorney, wife, and mother, Stephanie still finds time to give back to the community by volunteering at various legal clinics and undertaking pro bono cases through the State Bar Association. She is also a commissioner on the Birmingham Sister Cities board where she represents the Caribbean and is a board member of the Central Alabama Caribbean American Organization.
Hunter Law Firm, P.C. 1823 3Rd Avenue n. BeSSemeR, AL 35020 205-565-7294
Waldrep Stewart & Kendrick, LLC is please to congratulate Judith E. Dolan, Leslie M. Klasing and Mary H. Thompson Women Leaders in Law 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.
women ATToRneYS To wATCH: AshLeigh Meyer
AshLeigh Meyer is a family law, divorce and child custody attorney with Magic City Law, LLC. After graduating from Cumberland School of Law in 2010, she immediately joined a firm with over 20 years of domestic experience. AshLeigh felt she found her true calling in the law knowing that her job makes a difference in her client's families forever. Now, as a partner at Magic City Law, LLC, their boutique family law firm is dedicated to providing families with the support they need within their family unit, including divorce, estate planning, child custody and support disputes, and adoption.
Magic City Law, LLC 2 offiCe PARk CiRCle SuiTe 220 mounTAin BRook, Al 35223//205-582-2832
HunTeR-LAwfiRm.Com AmeYeR@mAgiCCiTYfAmilYlAw.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.
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.
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women ATToRneYS To wATCH:
Heather Fann
The first female shareholder at the firm of Boyd, Fernambucq, Dunn & Fann, P.C., which has served as leaders with a goal of elevating the practice of family law in the state of Alabama since 1987, Heather Fann appears regularly in both domestic relations and family courts on financial and custody aspects of paternity, divorce, and post-divorce matters. Heather serves as Chair of the Family Law Section of the Alabama State Bar, and Vice-President of the board for the Birmingham Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program. Heather has also fought for equal rights of litigants regardless of gender or sexual orientation in family law in both local courts and landmark state and federal cases. Having experienced divorce on a personal level in addition to years of concentrated practice, Heather understands the value of a holistic approach to family crisis solutions. “The right court order can help but doesn’t always accomplish a client’s true goals,” she says, “Often, a collaborative, no-nonsense approach, which may employ mental health or other professionals, better — and often more efficiently — accomplishes the outcomes clients really need for a better future.”
Boyd, Fernambucq, Dunn & Fann, P.C. 3500 BLUe LAKe DRIVe, SUITe 220 // BIRmInGHAm, ALABAmA 35243 // (205) 930-9000 FAX: (205) 970-7297
www.BFATToRneYS.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.
women ATToRneYS To wATCH: Angie Godwin McEwen and Helen Kathryn Downs Some law firms promise client service. Butler Snow delivers on that promise. With a foundation grounded in helping clients succeed, the firm has emerged as one with national and international recognition. Angie Godwin McEwen is a member of the firm’s Finance, Real Estate, and Restructuring Group, where she focuses her practice on real estate law, business transactions, financial services, and commercial lending. A graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, she earned her J.D. at Vanderbilt University. Helen Kathryn Downs practices in Butler Snow’s Product Liability and Commercial Litigation Groups, where she focuses her practice on complex pharmaceutical, medical device, and industrial litigation, as well as commercial and securities litigation. After graduating from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, she received her J.D. at the University of Virginia. As attorneys with Butler Snow, Angie and Helen Kathryn are committed to providing unmatched value for their clients.
Butler Snow 1819 5TH Ave n #1000 // BiRmingHAm, AlABAmA //(205) 297-2200
www.BuTleRSnow.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.
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women ATToRneYS To wATCH: Annette Kinderman, Diane Maughan and Melanie Atha With a combined 60 years of experience, Annette Kinderman, Diane Maughan, and Melanie Atha expertly counsel clients in legal conflicts of all sorts and degrees of complexity. Each brings her own style to conflict resolution, empowering her clients to get their problems solved and working passionately to help them continue to thrive and prosper. Annette Kinderman practices primarily in the area of complex civil litigation. She is a member of ADLA, DRI, and the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel. Diane Maughan concentrates on business litigation, trademarks, and appellate practice. From 2011 through 2014, she has been named a “Rising Star” in Business Litigation by Alabama Super Lawyers. Melanie Atha specializes in collaborative practice, resolving civil and domestic relations disputes outside of traditional legal forums. She is a founding member of Birmingham Collaborative Alliance and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America from 2012 through 2014.
Cabaniss, Johnston, Gardner, Dumas & O’Neal LLP 2001 PARk PlACe noRTH, SuiTe 700 // BiRmingHAm, AlABAmA 35203-4804 // (205) 716-5200 FAX: (205) 716-5389
www.CABAniSS.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.
women ATToRneYS To wATCH:
Dawn Stith Evans
A top litigator in business and securities law, Dawn Stith Evans’ professionalism and success have earned her a listing in The Best Lawyers In America© 2015, an “AV” peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and a spot on Birmingham Magazine’s list of the “Rising Stars” among Birmingham attorneys. From FINRA securities arbitration to minority shareholder rights to employment and commercial litigation, Ms. Evans’ law practice runs the gamut of business and commercial concerns. Her cases typically involve accounting issues, business valuations, shareholder control fights, derivative suits, business “divorces” among co-owners, non-solicitation agreements, covenants not to compete, and securities fraud. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants on the state and federal court levels and before arbitration panels and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, in Alabama and around the country. She graduated cum laude with an accounting degree from Auburn University in 1994, and a J.D. (cum laude) from Cumberland School of Law in 1998. She is a member of the Alabama State Bar and Birmingham Bar Association. She also is actively involved with PIABA – the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association.
Guin, Stokes & Evans, LLC 505 20TH STReeT noRTH, SuiTe 1000 // BiRmingHAm, AlABAmA 35203 // (205) 226-2282 FAX: (205) 226-2357
www.gSeATToRneYS.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.
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