Dad
Runner
Retired Ski Bum
An engineer turned energy lawyer, Alan Lovett has fully embraced and excelled in the nuclear industry. When Alan isn’t focused on clients, you can find him trail running or with his family spending time reliving his childhood and catching Pokémon with his sons.
Hometown(s)
Southeast, TX & Jackson, MS
Education
Duke University School of Law, J.D., 2013, magna cum laude
Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, M.E.M., 2013
Mississippi State University, B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 2007, summa cum laude
I chose to continue my career at Balch because I saw the camaraderie in the office along with the variety of opportunities for associates to get experience early on in their careers.
MY CAREER
We don’t have an army of associates, so that gave me access to clients earlier. It even gave me access to senior partners in a way that you don't get at some of the big firms. It has given me access to more responsibility, which is great thing for growth.BALCH MENTORSHIP
The chair of the firm’s Energy Practice, Peter LeJeune has mentored me my whole career. Our Managing Partner Stan Blanton's accessibility and watching him operate has also been an incredible resource for learning. I can barge into his office and pick his brain about anything I’m working on. Having that repository of experience and knowledge where he can say, "Well, 30 years ago, here's what I did in this similar instance." That's invaluable.If you want complicated and sophisticated work that makes a difference, but you don't want to spend 12 years before you really get the responsibility you want, then you can't really find that at many other firms.
CHOOSING BALCH
I knew coming out of law school that I didn't want to work in DC or New York, and I wanted to do sophisticated legal energy work. I chose Balch because from what I could tell, as a summer associate and as somebody interviewing, Balch had a sophisticated energy practice that just so happens to be outside the typical legal energy footprint.
CAREER MEMORY
When I was a senior associate, and I was given the opportunity be the lead negotiator and deal counsel for a client purchasing two nuclear plants. The deal is memorable, but the confidence the lead partners had in me will always stand out.
ADVICE FOR UPCOMING ATTORNEYS
Don’t just do the thing that you get asked to do but find out how to really add value. When you learn how to do that effectively, that'll jumpstart your early career.
VALUBLE ADVICE
Peter LeJeune always tells me to go home. "Go home. Whatever you're working on can wait until tomorrow." He is right.
I learned early that as an associate, your real clients are other lawyers in the law firm. The faster you can learn how to make their lives easier, the more successful you're going to be.
Hobby
I spend most of my spare time running and it keeps me kind of sane. It's like my therapy. I do a lot of trail running, so I get out in the woods and that helps me decompress.
Favorite Comfort Food
Indian food - very Americanized Indian food. A big plate of tiki masala just really hits the spot.
Current Top Playlist
It's going to be all kids’ stuff - The soundtrack to Winnie the Pooh, Taylor Swift, who both my boys love.
All-Time Favorite Book
The Lord of the Rings Series. I've probably read the series four to five times.
Local Organizations You Love
I'm a member of a trail running group in Birmingham, and I'll volunteer at the local races. I think you need to have something outside of who you are as a professional that energizes you a little bit.
