(Main Office)

Spain & Gillon, L.L.C. was founded in Birmingham in 1912 and is one of the oldest law firms in Birmingham and in the State of Alabama.

Spain & Gillon, L.L.C. is involved in a general civil law practice which is divided into practice groups. The firm has broad experience in life and health insurance defense, casualty insurance defense, class action defense, products liability, securities defense, arbitrations, employment defense, workers' compensation and governmental law, commercial and general business work, bankruptcy, municipal and administrative law, human resources, ERISA, employee pension and retirement plans, corporate acquisitions, property acquisitions, estate planning and estate administration, business and individual tax planning, securities, real estate, loan closings, condemnation, zoning, land use and redevelopment, mortgage and bond financing, loan restructuring and workouts, and mortgage foreclosures. In addition, the firm offers Arbitration and Mediation services with several attorneys registered with the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution.

Statement of Practice

Administrative Law, Public Law, Aged and Aging, Age Discrimination, Elder Law, Agency and Distributorships, Dealer and Distributor Termination, Distribution Agreements, Alcoholic Beverage Law, Dram Shop Liability, Liquor Liability, Animal Law, Veterinary Law, Veterinary Malpractice, Antitrust and Trade Regulation, Deceptive Trade Practices, Appellate Practice, Civil Appeals, Aviation and Aerospace, Airplane Crash Litigation, Aviation Accidents, Aviation Defense, Aviation Litigation, Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Chapter 7, Bankruptcy Chapter 11, Bankruptcy Chapter 13, Bankruptcy Litigation, Bankruptcy Mediation, Bankruptcy Taxation, Commercial Foreclosure, Commercial Insolvency, Commercial Recovery, Commercial Workouts, Consumer Bankruptcy, Creditor Bankruptcy, Debtor Bankruptcy, Foreclosures, Fraudulent Conveyance, Out of Court Debt Restructuring, Personal Bankruptcy, Workouts, Workouts Taxation, Banks and Banking, Bank Foreclosures, Commercial Loans, Credit Insurance, Loans, Truth in Lending, Business Law, Business Arbitration, Business Cooperatives, Business Development, Business Dissolutions, Business Estate Planning, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Business Mediation, Business Organization, Business Planning, Business Reorganization, Business Start-Ups, Business Succession Planning, Business Successions, Business Taxation, Business Transactions, Business Transfers, Buy-Sell Agreements, Buying and Selling of Businesses, Closely Held Business Estate Planning, Closely Held Business Law, Closely Held Business Taxation, Cooperative Taxation, Family Business Law, Family Business Successions, Joint Ventures, Limited Liability Company Law, Pass-Through Entities, Professional Practices, Sole Proprietorships, Civil Practice, Federal Civil Practice, Class Actions, Class Action Defense, Collections, Commercial Collections, Garnishments, Post Judgment Collections, Secured Collections, Unsecured Collections, Commercial Law, Commercial Arbitration, Commercial Liability, Commercial Litigation, Commercial Mediation, Commercial Transactions, Commercial Transfers, Commercial Real Estate, Commercial Conveyancing, Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions, Commercial Real Estate Bankruptcy, Commercial Real Estate Contracts, Commercial Real Estate Development, Commercial Real Estate Finance, Commercial Real Estate Foreclosure, Commercial Real Estate Litigation, Commercial Real Estate Sales, Commercial Real Estate Workouts, Construction Law, Construction and Surety Law, Construction Arbitration, Construction Claims, Construction Contracts, Construction Defects, Construction Finance, Construction Insurance Defense, Construction Liability, Construction Liens, Construction Litigation, Construction Mediation, Construction Products Liability, Contractor Performance Bonds, Public Works, Consumer Law, Consumer Arbitration, Consumer Class Actions, Consumer Collections, Consumer Fraud, Consumer Litigation, Contracts, Breach of Contract, Commercial Contracts, Contract Fraud, Contract Litigation, Corporate Law, Closely Held Corporations, Corporate Commercial Law, Corporate Contracts, Corporate Dissolutions, Corporate Ethics, Corporate Fiduciary Law, Corporate Finance, Corporate Formation, Corporate Governance, Corporate Income Tax, Corporate Insurance, Corporate Insurance Defense, Corporate Litigation, Corporate Organization, Corporate Partnerships, Corporate Planning, Corporate Real Estate, Corporate Reorganization, Corporate Successions, Corporate Tax Planning, Corporate Taxation, Family Corporations, Incorporation, Nonprofit Corporations, Professional Corporations, Public Corporations, S Corporations, Small Business Corporations, Debtor and Creditor, Creditors Rights, Creditors Rights in Bankruptcy, Debtor and Creditor Collections, Debtor and Creditor Remedies, Debtor and Creditor Reorganization, Debtor and Creditor Rights, Debtor and Creditor Workouts, Debtors Rights, Eminent Domain, Condemnation, Land Annexation, Property Rights, Employee Benefits, Cash Balance Plans, COBRA, Deferred Compensation, Employee Benefit Taxation, Employee Benefit Trusts, Employee Compensation, Flexible Benefit Plans, Health Benefits, Pension and Profit Sharing Plans, Pension Plans, Pension Taxation, Profit Sharing, Qualified Retirement Plans, Retirement Benefit Plans, 401(k) Plans, Environmental Law, Environmental Cleanup, Environmental Insurance, Environmental Litigation, Fraud and Deceit, Civil Fraud, Fraud, General Practice, Federal Practice, Guardianship and Conservatorship, Adult Guardianship, Advance Directives, Conservatorship, Elder Guardianship, Guardianship, Guardianship Administration, Housing Law, Apartment Projects, Housing Development, Low Income Housing, Multi-Family Housing, Insurance, Accident Insurance, Automobile Insurance, Automobile Insurance Coverage, Automobile Liability, Casualty Insurance Subrogation, Commercial Insurance, Disability Insurance, Excess and Reinsurance, Excess Coverage, Extra Contractual Insurance Claims, Fidelity and Surety, Fidelity and Surety Bonds, Fire Insurance, Fire Insurance Subrogation, Fire Loss, First and Third Party Insurance, First Party Insurance, General Liability, Indemnity, Insurance Agents and Brokers Defense, Insurance Agents and Brokers Errors and Omissions, Insurance Agents and Brokers, Malpractice, Insurance Arbitration, Insurance Bad Faith, Insurance Contracts, Insurance Coverage, Insurance Fraud, Insurance Investigations, Insurance Litigation, Insurance Mediation, Life and Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Personal Liability, Property Damage, Property Insurance Coverage, Property Loss, Property Subrogation, Reinsurance, Reinsurance Arbitration, Reinsurance Mediation, Surety Bonds, Surety Law, Unfair Insurance Practices, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists Arbitration, Insurance Defense, Arson and Insurance Fraud, Automobile Insurance Defense, Automobile Insurance Fraud Defense, Automobile Liability Defense, Casualty Insurance Defense, Commercial Insurance Defense, Disability Insurance Defense, Extra Contractual Insurance Defense, Fire Insurance Defense, General Liability Defense, Insurance Bad Faith Defense, Insurance Coverage Defense, Insurance Defense Subrogation, Insurance Fraud Defense, Life Insurance Defense, Personal Liability Defense, Property Damage Defense, Property Insurance Defense, Labor and Employment, Age Discrimination in Employment, Civil Service, Confidentiality Agreements, Covenants Not To Compete, Employee Discipline, Employee Drug Testing, Employer Liability, Employer Rights, Employment at Will, Employment Contracts, Employment Disability Discrimination, Employment Discrimination, Employment Law, Employment Litigation, Employment Mediation, Employment Termination, Equal Employment Opportunity Law, Fair Labor Standards, Family and Medical Leave Act, Federal Employment Law, Human Resources Law, Management Employment Law, Management Labor Law, National Origin Discrimination, Non-compete Litigation, Noncompetition and Non-Solicitation, Agreements, Personnel Policies, Personnel Training, Public Sector Employment Law, Public Sector Labor Relations, Reductions in Force, Restrictive Covenants, Retaliatory Discharge, Sexual Harassment, Title VII Discrimination, Wage and Hour Law, WARN Act, Whistleblower Litigation, Workplace Violence, Wrongful Termination, Wrongful Termination Defense, Leases and Leasing, Commercial Landlord and Tenant Law, Commercial Leasing, Evictions, Landlord and Tenant Law, Lease Terminations, Litigation, Civil Litigation, Complex Litigation, Defense Litigation, Federal Civil Litigation, Federal Litigation, Trial Practice, Mortgage Law, Commercial Mortgages, Mortgage Bankruptcy, Mortgage Finance, Mortgage Foreclosure, Mortgage Lien Foreclosure, Mortgage Refinancing, Mortgage Workouts, Negligence, Negligence Defense, Partnership Law, Family Limited Partnerships, Family Partnerships, Limited Liability Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, Partnership Dissolution, Partnership Formation, Partnership Organization, Partnership Taxation, Probate, Ancillary Probate, Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Products Liability, Explosions, Heavy Equipment Products Liability, Manufacturers Liability, Product Defects, Product Failure, Product Recall, Product Safety, Product Warning Labels, Products Liability Defense, Products Liability Mediation, Professional Liability, Agents and Brokers Errors and Omissions, Agents and Brokers Liability, Appraisers Liability, Public Finance, Community Development, Economic Development, Real Estate, Adverse Possession, Boundary Disputes, Conveyancing, Easements, Historic Conservation Easements, Land Acquisitions, Land Sales, Property Management, Quiet Title, Real Estate Acquisitions, Real Estate Contracts, Real Estate Development, Real Estate Exchanges, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Foreclosure, Real Estate Investment, Real Estate Joint Ventures, Real Estate Leasing, Real Estate Litigation, Real Estate Partnerships, Real Estate Restructuring, Real Estate Sales, Real Estate Secured Lending, Real Estate Tax Foreclosure, Real Estate Tax Liens, Real Estate Taxation, Real Estate Title, Real Estate Title Examination, Real Property, Real Property Acquisitions, Real Property Development, Real Property Finance, Residential Real Estate, Residential Real Estate Development, Residential Real Estate Finance, Residential Real Estate Sales, Right of Way Easements, Securities Law, Private Placement, Private Placement Syndication, Securities Regulation, Taxation, Ad Valorem Tax, Employment Tax, Estate and Gift Taxation, Federal Estate and Gift Taxation, Federal Income Tax, Federal Tax Controversies, Federal Taxation, Fiduciary Income Tax, Generation Skipping Tax, Income Tax, Individual Taxation, Like Kind Exchanges, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, State Taxation, Tax Appeals, Tax Audits, Tax Deferred Exchanges, Tax Law, Tax Planning, Trusts and Estates Taxation, Torts, Civil Liability, Intentional Torts, Mass Torts, Tort Defense, Tort Liability, Toxic Torts, Asbestos Defense, Asbestos Litigation, Chemical Exposure, Latex Allergy Litigation, Lead Poisoning, Mold Litigation, Pesticide Litigation, Radiation Injury, Silicosis Litigation, Toxic Exposure, Toxic Tort Class Actions, Toxic Tort Defense, Trusts and Estates, Contested Trusts and Estates, Decedents Estates, Estate Administration, Estate Bankruptcy, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Estate Planning for Parents of Handicapped Children, Estate Planning for the Disabled, Estate Planning for the Elderly, Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples, Estate Settlements, Family Trusts, Family Wealth Transfer, Fiduciary Law, Fiduciary Liability, Fiduciary Litigation, Living Trusts, Personal Planning, Powers of Attorney, Special Needs Trusts, Trust Administration, Trust Law, Trust Litigation, Trust Planning, Wealth Preservation, Wills, Contested Wills, Inheritance, Living Wills, Successions, Zoning, Planning and Land Use, Building and Public Safety Codes, Environmental Land Use, Improvement Districts, Land Conservation, Land Development, Land Entitlement, Land Use, Land Use Litigation, Land Use Permitting, Land Use Regulation, Rezoning, Special Districts, Subdivisions, Water Districts, Zoning Law, Zoning Variances, Workers Compensation, Workers Compensation Defense, Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Attorney Discipline, Attorney Errors and Omissions, Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures, Business Acquisitions, Business Divestitures, Leveraged Buyouts, Merger Reorganization, Mergers and Acquisitions, Mergers and Acquisitions Finance, Spin-Offs, Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations, Charitable Giving, Charitable Organizations Law, Charitable Trusts and Foundations, Nonprofit Organizations Law, Private Foundations, Tax Exempt Organizations.

Clients

COUNSEL FOR: Torchmark Corp.
Liberty National Life Insurance Co.
Golden Enterprises, Inc.
Golden Flake Snack Foods, Inc.
Arlington Properties, Inc.
Southeastern Property Management, Inc.
Compass Bank, N.A.
Jefferson County Department of Health
Allstate Life Insurance Co.
Allstate Insurance Co.
State Farm Fire & Casualty Co.
Federated Mutual Insurance Co.
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
Universal Underwriters Insurance Co.
Encompass Insurance Co.
First State Insurance Co.
Guidant Life Insurance Company
Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Co.
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co.
American General Property Insurance Co.
Great American Insurance Co.
Colonial Penn Insurance Co.
The St. Paul Insurance Companies
Lloyds of London
CNA Insurance Co.
Insurance Corporation of Hanover
Fireman's Fund Insurance Co.
Specialty Risk Services
Harleysville Insurance Companies
State Farm Insurance Companies
Claims Service Network
Sedgwick CMS, Inc.
Endurance Specialty Insurance, Ltd.
Southern Insurance Underwriters, Inc.
Burns & Wilcox, Ltd.
CGI - Business Processing Services
TIG Insurance Company
American Resources Insurance Co.
Tower Hill Insurance Co.
California Casualty Management Company
ZC Sterling Insurance Agency, Inc.
Life Investors Insurance Company of America
Merkel, U.S.A., Inc.
The Minnesota Life Insurance Co.
New England Mutual Life Insurance Co.
Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co.
Modern Woodmen of America
Aegon
Globe Life and Accident Insurance
AON Corporation, Casualty, Surety and Title Companies
Chicago Title Insurance Co.
Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
The Integral Insurance Co.
American Cancer Society, Midsouth Division
City of Bessemer, AL
Safe Key
First Tennessee Bank, NA
Household Finance Corp.
Banc One Corp.
Nixon Power Services Co.
Alabama Barricade, Inc.
Serra Automotive Group
National Western Life Insurance Co.
American Commerce Insurance Co.
Loyal American Life Insurance Co.
Pennsylvania National Insurance Co.
National Union Fire Insurance Co.
American Heritage Life Insurance Co.
Lincoln Benefit Life Co.
American Teacher Services, Inc.
United Teacher Associates Insurance Company
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Western Reserve Life Assurance Co. of Ohio
Transamerica Life Insurance Company
Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company
Omni Insurance Company
Dominion of Canada Insurance Co.
Southeastern Freight Lines
Empire Fire and Marine
Ace Westchester
Daniel Corporation
United States Steel, Inc.
Corporate Realty Development, LLC
Taccoa Minerals, LLC
City of Birmingham, AL
City of Center Point, AL.

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. This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Persons accessing this site are encouraged to seek independent counsel for advice regarding their individual legal issues.

Address

The Zinszer Building
2117 Second Avenue North
Birmingham, AL 35203, (Jefferson & Shelby Cos.)

Phone

Phone: 205-328-4100
Telecopier: 205-324-8866

Website

http://www.spain-gillon.com

Office Hours

Monday: 08:15 AM - 05:00 PM
Tuesday: 08:15 AM - 05:00 PM
Wednesday: 08:15 AM - 05:00 PM
Thursday: 08:15 AM - 05:00 PM
Friday: 08:15 AM - 05:00 PM

MEMBERS OF FIRM

John P. McKleroy, Jr. (Member) born Blountsville, Alabama, December 9, 1943; admitted to bar, 1968, Alabama. Education: Wayne State University and University of Alabama (B.S., 1965); University of Alabama (J.D., 1968; LL.M., in Taxation, 1979). Sigma Delta Kappa; Order of the Coif. Member, Board of Editors, University of Alabama Law Review, 1967-1968. Member: Birmingham and American Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar. Practice Areas: General Business; Real Estate; Taxation.Email: John P. McKleroy, Jr.

Eugene P. Stutts (Member) born Selma, Alabama, August 14, 1943; admitted to bar, 1967, Alabama. Education: University of Alabama (B.S., 1965; LL.B., 1967). Law Clerk, Federal District Judge H. H. Grooms, 1967. Member: Birmingham and American Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar; Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel; Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (Member, Board of Directors, 1979-1991; President, 1991-1992); National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel; Defense Research Institute (Member, Medical Service Subcommittee). Practice Areas: Litigation; Insurance Law; Medical Malpractice; Products Liability Law; Property Insurance Law; Wrongful Death; Workers Compensation; Personal Injury.Email: Eugene P. Stutts

Alton B. Parker, Jr. (Member) born Birmingham, Alabama, September 25, 1945; admitted to bar, 1974, Alabama. Education: University of Alabama (B.A., 1966; M.B.A., 1970); Cumberland School of Law of Samford University (J.D., cum laude, 1974). Phi Alpha Delta (Vice President, 1972-1974). Associate Editor, Cumberland School of Law, Law Review, 1973-1974. Member, Curia Honoris. Recipient, Martin Foundation Scholarship; Vice President of Research, Metropolitan Development Board, Birmingham, 1970-1973. With Spain & Gillon, LLC, 1975—. Member: Birmingham (Executive Committee, 1991-1994) and American Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar. [Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve, Retired]. Practice Areas: General Business; Corporate; Governmental; Real Estate Development; Land Use Law; Civil Litigation.Email: Alton B. Parker, Jr.

Charles D. Stewart (Member) born Birmingham, Alabama, July 8, 1943; admitted to bar, 1968, Alabama; U.S. District Court, North, Middle and Southern Districts of Alabama; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Alabama (B.S., 1965); Cumberland School of Law of Samford University (J.D., 1968). Part Time Professor, Cumberland School of Law of Samford University, 1974. Faculty Member, Alabama Bar Institute for Continuing Education. Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, 1971-1975. Listed in the 2008 Edition of "Super Lawyers-Alabama". Member: Birmingham Bar Association (Member, Executive Committee); American Bar Association; Alabama State Bar; Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (Vice President); International Association of Defense Counsel; Defense Research Institute; Association of Life Insurance Counsel. Practice Areas: Life, Health and Disability Insurance Litigation; Property and Casualty Insurance Defense; Products Liability; Employment Law; Class Action Defense; Consumer Fraud Defense; Extra Contractual Damage Litigation; Alternative Dispute Resolution.Email: Charles D. Stewart

Harold H. Goings (Member) born Birmingham, Alabama, May 25, 1946; admitted to bar, 1972, Alabama. Education: University of Alabama (B.A., 1968); Cumberland School of Law of Samford University (J.D., 1971). Phi Alpha Delta (Treasurer, 1968-1971). Member: Birmingham and American (Member: Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section) Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar. Practice Areas: Commercial Real Estate; Residential Real Estate; Real Estate Foreclosure.Email: Harold H. Goings

Paul S. Leonard (Member) born Geneva, Alabama, October 11, 1961; admitted to bar, 1987, Alabama. Education: University of Alabama (B.S., magna cum laude, 1984; J.D., 1987); University of Florida (LL.M., 1988). Beta Alpha Psi; Beta Gamma Sigma; Order of the Coif. Recipient; M. Leigh Harrison Award; American Tax Institute Award. Member: Alabama State Bar. Practice Areas: Taxation; Business Law; Estate and Gift Taxation; Corporate Law.Email: Paul S. Leonard

David S. Maxey (Member) born Birmingham, Alabama, September 8, 1949; admitted to bar, 1982, Alabama. Education: University of Alabama at Birmingham (B.A., 1976); Birmingham School of Law (J.D., 1982). General Counsel, Jefferson County Board of Health, 1998. Deputy Attorney General, Former Member-Plumber and Gas Fitter Examining Board, State of Alabama, 1998. Member: Birmingham Bar Association; Alabama State Bar (Member, Sections on: Bankruptcy Law; Environmental Law). Practice Areas: Environmental; Corporate Law; Governmental Law; Commercial Law; Administrative Law; Health Care; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Bankruptcy.Email: David S. Maxey

Roderick K. Nelson (Member) born Birmingham, Alabama, December 30, 1954; admitted to bar, 1983, Alabama. Education: University of Alabama (B.A., 1978; M.A., 1979); Birmingham School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1983). Academic All-SEC, University of Alabama, 1976. Member: Birmingham and American Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar; Alabama Defense Lawyers Association; Defense Research Institute; Alabama Association of Arson Investigators. Practice Areas: Litigation; Insurance Law; Medical Malpractice; Products Liability Law; Property Insurance Law; Workers Compensation; Personal Injury; Extra Contractual Litigation.Email: Roderick K. Nelson

Walter F. McArdle (Member) born Birmingham, Alabama, November 26, 1960; admitted to bar, 1986, Alabama; U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Alabama, 1989; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama; 1990, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: Auburn University (B.S., with high honors, 1983) Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Epsilon; University of Alabama School of Law (J.D., 1986). Member: Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society, Farrah Law Society. Member, Editorial Board, Alabama Law Review. Law Clerk to Hon. Robert E. Varner, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. Publications: "Piercing the Corporate Veil Under Alabama Law: Legal Standards and Evidentiary Factors." 58 Alabama Lawyer 170, May 1997; "Appeals of Rezoning Amendment Decisions in Alabama: What Standard of Review Is Appropriate," 37 Alabama Law Review 745, 1986. Member: Birmingham and American Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar; American Bankruptcy Institute; Turnaround Management Association. (Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification). Practice Areas: Bankruptcy Reorganization; Bankruptcy Litigation; Liquidations; Consumer Bankruptcy; Commercial Litigation; Real Estate Litigation.Email: Walter F. McArdle

Samuel H. Frazier (Member) born Washington, D.C., June 8, 1944; admitted to bar, 1974, Alabama. Education: Washington & Lee University (B.A., 1966); University of Alabama (J.D., 1974; LL.M., in Taxation, 1979). Phi Delta Phi. Lee Scholar. Member, Bench and Bar. Member, Board of Editors, Alabama Law Review, 1972-1974. Author: "The Application of the Doctrine of Unconscionability to Spendthrift Trusts," 25 Alabama Law Review 641, 1973; Comment, "McNeil v. Director," 25 Alabama Law Review 99, 1973. Member: Birmingham and American Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar; American College of Mortgage Attorneys; National Association of Bond Lawyers. [Capt., U.S. Army, 1966-1971]. Practice Areas: Taxation; Real Estate; Municipal Law; Municipal Finance Law.Email: Samuel H. Frazier

Jarrod B. Bazemore (Member) born Gadsden, Alabama, March 4, 1973; admitted to bar, 1998, Alabama; U.S. District Court, Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Alabama. Education: University of Alabama (B.S., summa cum laude, 1995; J.D., 1998). Member, Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society. Associate Justice, Honor Court, University of Alabama School of Law. Member, Alabama Law and Psychology Review. Lecturer-Lorman Education Services, Sterling Education Services, Inc. and ABICLE. Member: Birmingham Bar Association; Alabama State Bar. Practice Areas: Fraud; Bad Faith; Workers Compensation; Casualty Insurance; Insurance Coverage; Products Liability; Automobile Liability; Transportation; Registered Mediator.Email: Jarrod B. Bazemore

Leslie M. Hand (Member) born Florence, Alabama, November 7, 1969; admitted to bar, 1996, Alabama; 2002, Mississippi. Education: Birmingham-Southern College (B.A., 1992); Cumberland School of Law of Samford University (J.D., 1996). Member, Moot Court Board. Member: Birmingham and American Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Litigation Defense.Email: Leslie M. Hand

James E. Ferguson, III (Member) born Norfolk, Virginia, May 2, 1954; admitted to bar, 1986, Alabama. Education: University of Alabama (B.A., magna cum laude, 1976; J.D., 1986). Associate Editor, Alabama Law Review, 1985-1986. Deputy Attorney General, State of Alabama, 1995. Member: Birmingham and American Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar; Alabama Bankruptcy Institute. Practice Areas: Commercial Law; Labor and Employment; State and Local Government.

ASSOCIATES

Gary W. Lee (Associate) born Pensacola, Florida, May 14, 1972; admitted to bar, 2002, Alabama. Education: University of Florida (B.S., 1995); Samford University (M.B.A., 2002); Cumberland School of Law of Samford University (J.D., 2002). Associate Editor, Cumberland Law Review, 2001-2002. Law Clerk to the Honorable James S. Sledge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Alabama, 2004-2005. Member: Birmingham and American Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar; American Bankruptcy Institute. Practice Areas: Bankruptcy; Business Law; Real Estate; Commercial Law.Email: Gary W. Lee

Jack P. Russell (Associate) born Birmingham, Alabama, November 29, 1977; admitted to bar, 2004, Alabama. Education: Auburn University (B.S., 2000); University of Alabama (J.D., magna cum laude, 2004). Member, Alabama Law Review. Member: Birmingham Bar Association; Alabama State Bar. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Products Liability; Legal Malpractice; Civil Litigation; Casualty.Email: Jack P. Russell

Aaron B. Thomas (Associate) born Birmingham, Alabama, March 8, 1972; admitted to bar, 2000, Alabama; 2001, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama and U.S. Tax Court. Education: University of Alabama (B.S., 1995); Cumberland School of Law of Samford University; University of Miami School of Law (J.D., 2001). Member: Birmingham Bar Association; Alabama State Bar (Member, Tax Section); Estate Planning Council of Birmingham. Practice Areas: Taxation; Corporate Law; Real Estate; General Business; Estate Planning and Probate.Email: Aaron B. Thomas

Thomas S. Hiley (Associate) born Vicenza, Italy, October 19, 1975; admitted to bar, 2001, Alabama and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama; 2005, Georgia. Education: Samford University (B.A., 1998); Emory University School of Law (J.D., 2001). Winning Team, 2000 Irving R. Kaufman Securities Law Moot Court Competition, New York City. Recipient, 1999 Gunster Yoakley Stewart Best Oralist Award. Member: Birmingham and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Georgia; Alabama Defense Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense.Email: Thomas S. Hiley

Wade Merritt (Associate) born Birmingham, Alabama, January 15, 1982; admitted to bar, 2007, Alabama. Education: Auburn University (B.S., Mechanical Engineering, magna cum laude, 2004); University of Alabama (J.D., cum laude, 2007). The Order of Barristers; Campbell Moot Court Board; Jessup International Moot Court Team; Lead Articles Editor, The Journal of the Legal Profession. Member: Birmingham Bar Association. Practice Areas: Environmental Law; Insurance Defense; Litigation; Commercial Law.Email: Wade Merritt

Katherine L. Taylor (Associate) born Mason City, Iowa, 1982; admitted to bar, 2007, Alabama. Education: University of Georgia (B.B.A., 2004); Cumberland School of Law of Samford University (J.D., 2007). Law Clerk to Hon. Michael Graffeo, Circuit Judge, 10th Judicial Circuit of Alabama. Member and Assistant, Justice of Henry Upsom Sims Moot Court Board, Cumberland School of Law. Participant: Alabama State Bar's 2008 Pilot Mentoring Program. Member: Junior Board of Cornerstone Schools of Alabama; Young Life Birmingham; Birmingham Heart Guild. Member: Birmingham Bar Association (Member, Executive Committee, Young Lawyer's Section); Alabama State Bar (Participant, Pilot Mentoring Program, 2008). Practice Areas: Insurance Defense(70%); Commercial Transactions(10%); General Liability(20%).Email: Katherine L. Taylor