Balch & Bingham Named Among Top Firms in Chambers USA 2026, Earns Elite Nationwide Energy Rankings

Balch & Bingham is pleased to announce that Chambers & Partners, in its newly released Chambers USA 2026 guide, recognizes 23 of the firm’s practices and 61 attorneys as leaders in their specific disciplines and geographic areas. 

Known for its comprehensive and objective rankings of top law firms and attorneys, Chambers USA is one of the most prominent legal guides. The annual list is generated through rigorous research and in-depth client interviews. Rankings are assessed on legal knowledge, experience, ability, effectiveness and client service, in addition to the strength and depth of a firm’s practice.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2026 CHAMBERS USA RANKINGS INCLUDE:

• Balch earned a new nationwide ranking in Energy: Electricity (Transactional), along with partner Chris Still receiving an individual nationwide ranking in the practice.

• Balch remains one of the best in the nation for Energy: Nuclear (Regulatory & Litigation) earning a band 1 ranking, with managing partner Stan Blanton and partners Peter LeJeune and Alan Lovett receiving individual nationwide recognition for their expertise. The firm also remains one of the best in the nation for Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation), with partners Lyle Larson and Andy Tunnell receiving individual nationwide recognition. 

• Three Balch attorneys are newly recognized by Chambers USA, Phil Buffington (Corporate/Commercial: Banking & Finance - Mississippi), Kye C. Handy (Litigation: General Commercial – Mississippi), and Mary Samuels (Environment – Alabama).

• Fifteen attorneys earned a Band 1 ranking within their practice areas, the highest ranking awarded. Attorneys listed as Band 1 include:
  
  • Scott Andress, Gaming & Licensing, Mississippi 
  • Stan Blanton, Energy: Nuclear (Regulatory & Litigation), USA – Nationwide 
  • Steven Burns, Environment, Alabama 
  • Marcus Chatterton, Intellectual Property, Alabama 
  • Ricky Cox, Energy & Natural Resources, Mississippi 
  • Pepper Crutcher, Labor and Employment, Mississippi 
  • Bradley Ennis, Environment, Mississippi   
  • Stephen Gidiere, Environment, Alabama 
  • Ed Haden, Litigation: Appellate, Alabama 
  • Debra Lewis, Banking & Finance, Alabama 
  • Kerry McGrath, Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity), Texas 
  • Grady Moore, Environment, Alabama
  • Pam Smith, Intellectual Property, Alabama   
  • Jeff Starling, Labor & Employment, Alabama   
  • Tim Tracy, Corporate/ Commercial, Alabama   

• Eight practices earned a Band 1 ranking, the highest ranking awarded, including
  
  • Energy: Nuclear (Regulatory & Litigation), USA – Nationwide
  • Energy & Natural Resources, Mississippi 
  • Environment, Alabama 
  • Environment, Mississippi 
  • Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity), Texas
  • Intellectual Property, Alabama 
  • Labor & Employment, Mississippi 
  • Litigation: General Commercial, Alabama 

• Balch’s Armin Moeller is ranked as a Star Individual, a ranking given to lawyers with exceptional recommendations in their field.

BALCH PRACTICES & ATTORNEYS ARE RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

NATIONWIDE

Practices

• Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation)  
• Energy: Electricity (Transactional)
• Energy: Nuclear (Regulatory & Litigation) 

Individuals

• Stan Blanton, Energy: Nuclear (Regulatory & Litigation)  
• Peter LeJeune, Energy: Nuclear (Regulatory & Litigation)  
• Lyle Larson, Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation)   
• Alan Lovett, Energy: Nuclear (Regulatory & Litigation)  
• Andy Tunnell, Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation)  
• Chris Still, Energy: Electricity (Transactional)

ALABAMA

Practices

• Banking & Finance
• Bankruptcy/Restructuring
• Construction
• Corporate/Commercial
• Environment
• Intellectual Property
• Labor & Employment
• Litigation: Appellate
• Litigation: General Commercial
• Public Finance
• Real Estate
• Tax

Individuals

• Conrad Anderson IV, Litigation: General Commercial 
• Julia Barber, Environment   
• Dave Boyd, Litigation: General Commercial (Senior Statespeople)
• Chuck Burkhart, Construction   
• Steven Burns, Environment  
• Russ Campbell, Litigation: General Commercial  
• Marcus Chatterton, Intellectual Property  
• Foster Clark, Public Finance (Senior Statespeople)
• Tom DeLawrence, Environment   
• Jim Edwards, Real Estate  
• Allen Estes, Litigation: General Commercial   
• Stephen Gidiere, Environment   
• Curt Gwathney, Public Finance  
• Ed Haden, Litigation: Appellate  
• Lee Johnsey, Real Estate   
• Doug Kauffman, Labor & Employment  
• Chris Kimble, Litigation: General Commercial   
• Debra Lewis, Banking & Finance: Mainly Regulatory   
• Frank Long, Public Finance   
• Dan Martin, White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations and Healthcare
• Grady Moore, Environment  
• John Pickering, Banking & Finance and Real Estate 
• Jeremy Retherford, Bankruptcy/Restructuring  
• Alan Rogers, Litigation: General Commercial  
• Mary Samuels, Environment
• Tim Segers, Corporate/Commercial  
• Jeff Starling, Labor & Employment  
• Pam Smith, Intellectual Property  
• Chris Still, Corporate/Commercial  
• Corbitt Tate, Banking & Finance 
• Jason Tompkins, Litigation: Appellate 
• Tim Tracy, Corporate/Commercial

GEORGIA

Practices

• Energy & Natural Resources 
• Litigation: General Commercial  

Individuals

• Josh Archer, Litigation: General Commercial  
  
• Anne Kaufold-Wiggins, Litigation: General Commercial 
  
• Tom Penland, Energy and Natural Resources  

MISSISSIPPI

Practices

• Energy & Natural Resources  
• Environment  
• Labor & Employment  
• Litigation: General Commercial 
• Real Estate  

Individuals

• Scott Andress, Gaming & Licensing  
• Mark Bond, Real Estate   
• Walter Boone, Litigation: General Commercial  
• Phil Buffington, Corporate/Commercial: Banking & Finance 
• Ashley Eley Cannady, Labor & Employment  
• Ricky Cox, Energy & Natural Resources  
• Pepper Crutcher, Labor & Employment  
• Jonathan Dyal, Litigation: General Commercial  
• Bradley Ennis, Environment  
• Kye C. Handy, Litigation: General Commercial
• K.C. Hightower, Litigation: General Commercial  
• Leo Manuel, Energy & Natural Resources  
• Armin Moeller, Labor & Employment (Star Individual)  
• John Rice, Real Estate  
• Bill Smith, Energy & Natural Resources 
• Ben Stone, Energy & Natural Resources (Senior Statespeople)

TEXAS

Practice

• Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity)

Individuals

• William Coe, Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity)
• James Mann, Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Oil & Gas) (Senior Statesperson)
• Kerry McGrath, Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity)
• Patrick Pearsall, Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity)
  
   

VIRGINIA

Individual

• Liz Williamson, Environment