Balch & Bingham Welcomes Five New Attorneys

Balch & Bingham is pleased to welcome five new attorneys to the firm: Carter Byrd, Laura Lacy Gardner, Harrison Hitson, Caraline Scheufler, and Emma Beth Teel. 

These attorneys will work across the firm’s practices in its Energy; Environmental & Natural Resources; Banking & Financial Services; and Corporate & Commercial practices. 

Carter Byrd joins the Birmingham office as a member of the Banking & Financial Services Practice. He received his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law in 2026. Carter’s practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions, often involving low-income housing and historic tax credits, commercial lending, banking and banking regulatory matters, and general corporate matters. 

Laura Lacy Gardner joins the Birmingham office as a member of the Environmental & Natural Resources Practice. She received her J.D. from The University of Alabama School of Law, cum laude, in 2026, where she served as Articles Editor of the Alabama Law Review and Treasurer of the American Constitution Society. Laura Lacy's practice focuses on environmental regulatory compliance issues. She works with utilities, manufacturers, and other businesses to address a variety of environmental matters. Her work includes counseling clients on evolving federal and state environmental laws and regulations and their potential impact on business operations. 

Harrison Hitson joins the Birmingham office as a member of the Energy Practice. He received his J.D. from The University of Alabama School of Law in 2026. Harrison’s practice focuses on regulatory, compliance, and transactional matters affecting energy industry clients, including electricity-related issues involving renewables, fossil fuels, nuclear, and transmission. His previous experience studying finance and working for a publicly traded bank provides him with a foundation in economics, compliance, and business that he applies to his practice. 

Caraline Scheufler joins the Birmingham office as a member of the Corporate & Commercial Practice. She received her J.D. from Cumberland School of Law, summa cum laude, in 2026 where she served as Executive Articles Editor of the Cumberland Law Review and earned eleven CALI Scholar of Merit Awards. Caraline’s practice includes a wide range of corporate and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, entity structuring and formation, corporate governance, and general commercial contracting. She assists clients throughout various stages of business transactions and advises on a broad range of commercial agreements. Caraline also advises clients on a variety of energy-related transactions and matters. 

Emma Beth Teel joins the Montgomery office as a member of the Corporate & Commercial Practice. She received her J.D. from The University of Alabama School of Law, cum laude, in 2026, where she served as Articles Editor of the Alabama Law Review.  Emma Beth is a member of the Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society and earned the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Sales Law and Transactional Drafting and Corporate Law. Emma Beth represents clients in a wide range of estate planning matters, including wills, trusts, estate and trust administration, and personal representative appointments. She also counsels clients on other probate matters such as guardianships and conservatorships. Emma Beth assists individuals and families in navigating the administration of estates and developing comprehensive plans to address their unique goals. She is licensed to practice in Alabama.