Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 150 Balch & Bingham Attorneys in 2027 Guide

Balch & Bingham LLP is pleased to announce that 150 of the firm's attorneys were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America^®.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has been regarded as one of the oldest and most respected ranking publications in the legal industry. Recognized attorneys undergo a rigorous peer-reviewed selection process that assesses and evaluates the attorney's professional abilities and expertise.

BALCH ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED AS "LAWYER OF THE YEAR”

Twelve Balch attorneys were recognized as a "Lawyer of the Year," an honor given to attorneys with the highest peer-feedback in each specific practice area and geographic region. Only one lawyer is recognized as the "Lawyer of the Year" for each practice area and location.

• Chuck Burkhart – Construction Law (Birmingham, Ala.)
• Greg Butrus – Government Relations Practice (Birmingham, Ala.)
• Pete Cobb – Workers' Compensation Law - Employers (Montgomery, Ala.)
• Paul Compton – Real Estate Law (Birmingham, Ala.)
• Stephen Gidiere – Environmental Law (Birmingham, Ala.)
• Ed Haden – Appellate Practice (Birmingham, Ala.)
• Frank Long – Public Finance Law (Birmingham, Ala.)
• Riley Roby – Trusts and Estates (Montgomery, Ala.)
• Tim Segers – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) (Birmingham, Ala.)
• Jennifer Signs – Real Estate Law (Gulfport, Miss.)
• Jeff Starling – Employment Law - Management (Birmingham, Ala.)
• Chris Waddell – Public Finance Law (Jackson, Miss.)

BALCH ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED IN THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA^®

ATLANTA

• Matt Ames – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Intellectual Property; Trademark Law
• Josh Archer – Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Mike Childers – Energy Law
• Jim Hollis – Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Walt Jones – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Anne Kaufold-Wiggins – Appellate Practice; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Dart Meadows – Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Tom Penland – Energy Law
• Hugh Peterson – Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Tashwanda Pinchback Dixon – Litigation - Labor and Employment; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
   

AUGUSTA

• Ben Brewton – Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
   

AUSTIN

• Jay Breedveld – Administrative / Regulatory Law
• William Coe – Administrative / Regulatory Law; Energy Regulatory Law
• Bill Johnson – Commercial Litigation; Energy Law
• Chris Kirby – Administrative / Regulatory Law
• James Mann – Energy Regulatory Law; Oil and Gas Law
• Marnie McCormick – Administrative / Regulatory Law; Appellate Practice
• Kerry McGrath – Administrative / Regulatory Law; Energy Regulatory Law
• Dane McKaughan – Energy Law; Utilities Law
• Patrick Pearsall – Administrative / Regulatory Law; Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
• Mark Strain – Administrative / Regulatory Law; Energy Regulatory Law
  
  

BIRMINGHAM

• Amy Davis Adams – Litigation - Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates
• Bert Amason – Banking and Finance Law
• Conrad Anderson IV – Commercial Litigation; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
• Hayes Arendall – Banking and Finance Law; Real Estate Law
• Stan Blanton – Energy Law; Government Relations Practice
• David Bowsher – Banking and Finance Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Transactions / UCC Law; Corporate Law; Government Contracts; Government Relations Practice; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• James Bradford – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Real Estate; Real Estate Law
• Chuck Burkhart – Construction Law; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Steven Burns – Environmental Law
• Greg Butrus – Energy Law; Government Relations Practice
• Russ Campbell – Commercial Litigation
• Thomas Casey – Environmental Law; Litigation - Environmental
• Marcus Chatterton – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Intellectual Property; Litigation - Real Estate
• Foster Clark – Public Finance Law
• Paul Compton – Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Law; Financial Services Regulation Law; Project Finance Law; Real Estate Law; Securities / Capital Markets Law; Securitization and Structured Finance Law
• Steven Corhern – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
• Tom DeLawrence – Environmental Law
• David Dresher – Banking and Finance Law; Financial Services Regulation Law
• Allen Estes – Commercial Litigation
• Elizabeth Flachsbart – Litigation - Construction; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Stephen Gidiere – Environmental Law; Litigation - Environmental
• Scott Grover – Energy Law; Energy Regulatory Law
• Kelly Gwathney – Corporate Law
• Curt Gwathney – Public Finance Law
• Ed Haden – Appellate Practice; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Energy Law
• K.C. Hairston – Energy Law
• Jim Hancock – Water Law
• Ryan Hodinka – Commercial Litigation
• Jonathan Hoffmann – Banking and Finance Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Litigation
• Sarah Hoffmann – Corporate Law
• Adam Israel – Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation
• Lee Johnsey – Banking and Finance Law; Land Use and Zoning Law; Real Estate Law
• Irving Jones – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Environmental
• Doug Kauffman – Employment Law - Individuals; Labor Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Chris Kimble – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Health Care Law; Insurance Law
• Katie Kimbrell – Corporate Law
• Lyle Larson – Energy Law; Energy Regulatory Law
• Peter LeJeune – Administrative / Regulatory Law; Energy Law
• Ginny Willcox Leavens – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Real Estate
• Joe Leavens – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Construction
• Debra Lewis – Banking and Finance Law
• Frank Long – Public Finance Law
• Dan Martin – Appellate Practice; Corporate Compliance Law; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Health Care Law; Litigation - Health Care; Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Dan McCrary – Energy Law
• Kevin McNamee – Utilities Law
• Grady Moore – Environmental Law
• Sloane Phillips – Litigation - Construction
• John Pickering – Banking and Finance Law; Real Estate Law
• Chad Pilcher – Government Relations Practice
• Jeremy Retherford – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Dan Ruth – Corporate Law; Tax Law
• Mary Samuels – Environmental Law; Natural Resources Law
• Monica Sargent – Corporate Law
• Bill Satterfield – Environmental Law
• Tim Segers – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Tax Law; Venture Capital Law
• Sean Shirley – Commercial Litigation
• Pam P. Smith – Trade Secrets Law; Trademark Law
• Jeff Starling – Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Chris Still – Energy Law
• Steve Still – Corporate Law; Government Relations Practice; Insurance Law
• Patrick Strong – Sports Law
• Corbitt Tate – Real Estate Law
• Martha Thompson – Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
• Jason Tompkins – Appellate Practice
• Tim Tracy – Corporate Compliance Law; Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Jon Trotta – Energy Law
• Andy Tunnell – Energy Law
• Jesse Unkenholz – Commercial Litigation; Corporate Law
• Chris Yeilding – Insurance Law; Litigation - ERISA; Litigation - Environmental; Litigation - Health Care; Litigation - Insurance; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Lee Zell – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy); Litigation – Securities
  
  

GULFPORT

• Mark Alexander – Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law; Litigation - Construction; Litigation - Real Estate; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants; Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
• Mark Bond – Litigation - Real Estate; Real Estate Law
• Ricky Cox – Energy Law
• Paul Delcambre – Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• David Duhé – Corporate Law
• Jonathan Dyal – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
• K.C. Hightower – Litigation - Real Estate
• Jake Lambert – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
• Leo Manuel – Energy Law
• Brant Pettis – Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Litigation - Construction; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• John Rice – Banking and Finance Law; Real Estate Law
• Jennifer Signs – Project Finance Law; Real Estate Law
• Ben Stone – Energy Law; Gaming Law; Utilities Law
• Rodger Wilder – Energy Law
  
  
  

JACKSON

• Scott Andress – Corporate Law; Gaming Law
• Walter Boone – Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Litigation - Real Estate; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Ben Bryant – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Phil Buffington – Banking and Finance Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Finance Law; Corporate Law; Financial Services Regulation Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Ashley Eley Cannady – Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Pepper Crutcher – Copyright Law; Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Tara Ellis – Gaming Law
• Philip Gunn – Government Relations Practice
• Kye C. Handy – Commercial Litigation
• Armin Moeller – Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management
• Jennifer Jones Skipper – Insurance Law; Litigation - Insurance; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Bill Smith – Commercial Litigation; Environmental Law; Litigation - Real Estate
• Lucien Smith – Government Relations Practice
• Bea Tolsdorf – Health Care Law
• Chris Waddell – Public Finance Law
• Christy Crockett White – Litigation - Labor and Employment; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
  
  
  

JACKSONVILLE

• Geremy Gregory – Banking and Finance Law; Commercial Litigation; Real Estate Law
• Patrick Krechowski – Administrative / Regulatory Law; Environmental Law; Land Use and Zoning Law; Litigation - Environmental; Litigation - Real Estate; Real Estate Law
• Lauren Weisman Stein – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Corporate Law
   

MONTGOMERY

• Dave Boyd – Appellate Practice; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Education Law
• Jim Byram – Commercial Litigation; Environmental Law; Insurance Law; Litigation - Environmental; Litigation - Real Estate
• Louis Calligas – Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Pete Cobb – Product Liability Litigation - Defendants; Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
• Jim Edwards – Real Estate Law
• Lane Knight – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Real Estate
• Robin Laurie – Commercial Litigation; Government Relations Practice; Litigation - Environmental
• Joe McCorkle – Appellate Practice; Banking and Finance Law; Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law
• Walter McKay – Banking and Finance Law; Real Estate Law
• Riley Roby – Litigation - Trusts and Estates; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
• John Smith – Litigation - Labor and Employment; Litigation - Municipal; Litigation - Trusts and Estates
• April Wise – Elder Law; Trusts and Estates
  
  
  

WASHINGTON, DC

• Lewis Csedrik – Energy Law
  
  

BALCH ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED AS "ONES TO WATCH”

We are also proud to recognize Balch attorneys who were selected as Best Lawyers: “Ones to Watch," a recognition honoring lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. Those selected for this honor are organized by geographic region and practice areas and reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise.

We would like to congratulate the following lawyers recognized in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America:

ATLANTA

• Brittany Fuss – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
  
  

AUGUSTA

• Sydney Drake – Entertainment and Sports Law
• Jena Lombard – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Real Estate; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
   

AUSTIN

• Scott Olson – Administrative / Regulatory Law
• Shelby Schepens – Commercial Litigation
   

BIRMINGHAM

• Drew Cicero – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Abby Fox – Energy Law
• Benton Hughes – Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Law; Real Estate Law
• Claire Johnson – Litigation - Environmental
• Christy Kuklinski – Banking and Finance Law; Elder Law
  
  

GULFPORT

• Alison Geter – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
  
  

JACKSON

• Claire Williams – Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation; Labor and Employment Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment
   

JACKSONVILLE

• Alina Fernandez – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Construction; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants