KELLY F. PATE is a partner in the Montgomery office and is a member of the Labor and Employment and Litigation Sections. She has an active civil litigation practice in Alabama federal and state courts. Her practice focuses on general litigation, including appellate matters.
Ms. Pate’s practice covers a wide variety of business and employment matters and litigation, including advising employers on issues related to state and federal employment laws. Mrs. Pate has experience successfully representing employers in trial and through appeal, including presenting argument to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Pate served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Joel F. Dubina, United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (2004-2005).
Some of her representative cases include:
-
Sanford v. Slade’s, No. 2:08-cv-956 (M.D. Ala. 2010) (successful defense through trial in employment matter involving disability discrimination claims)
-
Freemanville Water Sys. v. Poarch Band of Creek Indians, 563 F.3d 1205 (11th Cir. 2009) (successful defense on basis of immunity against efforts to seek declaratory and injunctive relief)
-
Stephens v. Regions Bank, No. 05-16517, 200 Fed. Appx. 911 (11th Cir. 2008) (successful defense in employment termination case involving gender and ERISA claims) (orally argued in the 11th Circuit)
-
Jones v. Ala. Power Co., No. 07-15818, 282 Fed. Appx. 780 (11th Cir. 2008) (successful defense in employment termination case involving race and retaliation claims)
-
Byrd v. Auburn Univ. Montgomery, No. 07-12335, 268 Fed. Appx. 854 (11th Cir. 2008) (successful defense in employment termination case involving gender and retaliation claims)
-
Smith v. Mosely, No. 06-12119 (11th Cir. 2008) (appointed by 11th Circuit and orally argued)
-
AeroPower, Ltd., et al. v. Matherly, et al., 511 F. Supp. 2d 1139 (M. D. Ala. 2007) (successful defense of RICO claim)
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- American Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association, Board of Directors, Montgomery Chapter
- Montgomery County Bar Association
- Montgomery County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, Board of Directors
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
- American Inns of Court, Hugh Maddox Inn
COMMUNITY RELATIONS