Balch & Bingham Elevates Four Attorneys to Partnership

Balch & Bingham LLP is pleased to announce the election of four attorneys to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2024. The new partners include Robert Baxley from the firm’s Birmingham, Ala. office, Russell Dumas and Patrick Everman from the firm’s Jackson, Miss. office, and Meghan Pieler from the firm’s Atlanta, Ga. office.  

“Robert, Russell, Patrick and Meghan have exhibited an exceptional level of client service and legal acumen in their practice areas that strengthen our firm’s core,” said Stan Blanton, managing partner. “We are proud to welcome this talented group to partnership. Their commitment to our clients and communities not only mirrors our firm's values but also positions them as excellent mentors for our younger attorneys. We look forward to their continued success at Balch & Bingham.”

Learn more about our newest attorneys elevated to Partnership:

Robert Baxley | Litigation, Birmingham
Robert has a diverse litigation practice, specializing in commercial and business disputes, complex litigation, class actions and appeals. He has a track record of successfully navigating companies through class actions, trade secret, non-solicitation and non-compete matters, toxic tort litigation, and complex breach of contract cases.  He has handled appeals in three federal circuits, and has extensive experience in Alabama’s appellate courts.  Robert draws on this experience to guide clients through every stage of litigation, from the inception of a lawsuit to its ultimate resolution on appeal.  He aims to see the big picture, developing comprehensive and forward-thinking legal strategies that align not only with a winning legal approach but also his client’s long-term business objectives.  He represents clients including financial services institutions, electrical utilities, municipalities, and private corporations.

Robert is a graduate of the Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum. He recently helped lead pro-bono efforts on behalf of a coalition of legal ethics professors for an Alabama death row inmate. 

Russell Dumas | Labor & Employment, Jackson
Russell guides employers through the evolving legal landscape of labor and employment law by advising companies regarding compliance with state and federal law and regulations and defending employers before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. His practice focuses on advising and defending management in response to issues raised by the National Labor Relations Board and labor unions.  Russell is experienced in providing day-to-day labor and employment advice; drafting employment documents; litigating traditional employment cases including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and hostile work environment; arbitrating labor grievances; conducting employee training; and advising or defending matters concerning Title VII, Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Davis-Bacon Act, National Labor Relations Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

Russell serves as a board member for the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association and a committee chair for the Jackson Young Lawyers. 

Patrick Everman | Corporate & Commercial / Real Estate / Mergers & Acquisitions, Jackson
Patrick’s corporate-driven practice focuses primarily on mergers & acquisitions, general commercial transactions, corporate formation, structuring and reorganization and real estate, title and loan transactions. Patrick mainly represents large and small privately held companies in a variety of corporate matters and transactions, including clients in industries such as hardwood mat production, trucking and logistics, private equity, healthcare, addiction recovery, hospitality, wastewater treatment and utility companies. Patrick has substantial experience in all corporate and transactional matters and devotes a substantial portion of his practice to outside counsel representation, as well as commercial real estate and land title issues.

Patrick recently completed Mississippi Economic Council’s 2023 Class of Leadership Mississippi program. He is on the Board of Directors for the Land and Title Association of Mississippi and also serves as the Co-Chair of the Membership Committee. 

Meghan Pieler | Litigation, Atlanta
Meghan focuses her practice on products liability actions and commercial disputes. Meghan regularly handles a wide variety of cases, including catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death actions, commercial disputes, fire cause and origin claims, and medical negligence actions. Meghan defends electric utilities in high-stakes personal injury cases and property damage disputes. She also handles the general defense of construction, contract and tort claims for a variety of clients. Meghan defends clients in all stages of litigation including through motions practice, trial and appeals in state and federal courts. 

Meghan is actively engaged in the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association and the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers.