Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 138 Balch & Bingham Attorneys in 2025 Guide

Balch & Bingham LLP is pleased to announce that 138 of the firm's attorneys were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2025 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”

Six 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.

• Scott Andress - Gaming Law (Jackson, Miss.)
  
• Phil Buffington - Banking and Finance Law (Jackson, Miss.)
  
• Ricky Cox - Energy Law (Gulfport, Miss.)
  
• Ed Haden - Appellate (Birmingham, Ala.)
  
• Jeff Starling - Labor Law – Management (Birmingham, Ala.)
  
• Dorman Walker - Health Care Law & Labor Law – Management (Montgomery, Ala.)

Balch attorneys recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^®

Balch attorneys recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America^® are listed below by office. Attorneys making their first appearance in the 2025 edition include K.C. Hairston, Sloane Phillips and Lucien Smith.

We would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to 2025 The Best Lawyers in America^® list:

ATLANTA

• Matt Ames - Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Josh Archer - Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  
• Mike Childers - Energy Law
• Tashwanda Pinchback Dixon - Litigation - Labor and Employment
  
• Jim Hollis - Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
  
• Walt Jones - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  
• Anne Kaufold-Wiggins - 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

AUGUSTA

• Ben Brewton - Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants

AUSTIN

• Todd Kimbrough - 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
• Stan Blanton - Energy Law; Government Relations 
• 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 ; 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 
• Russ Campbell - Commercial Litigation
• Thomas Casey - Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental
• Marcus Chatterton - Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Real Estate
• Foster Clark - Public Finance Law
• Tom DeLawrence - Environmental Law
• Allen Estes - Commercial Litigation
• 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, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Energy Law
• K.C. Hairston - Energy Law
• Jim Hancock - Water Law
• Doug Kauffman - Employment Law – Individuals; Labor Law – Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Chris Kimble - Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Health Care Law; Insurance Law
• Lyle Larson - Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law
• Peter LeJeune - Administrative / Regulatory Law
• Debra Lewis - Banking and Finance Law
• Frank Long - Public Finance Law
• Dan McCrary - Energy Law
• Grady Moore - Environmental Law
• Sloane Phillips - Litigation - Construction
• John Pickering - Banking and Finance Law; Real Estate Law
• Chad Pilcher - Government Relations 
• Jeremy Retherford - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Alan Rogers - Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Insurance 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 Smith - Copyright Law, Trademark Law
• Jeff Starling - Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Chris Still - Energy Law
• Steve Still - Government Relations 
• Corbitt Tate - Real Estate Law
• Martha Thompson - Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
• Jason Tompkins - Appellate 
• Tim Tracy - Corporate Compliance Law; Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Andy Tunnell - Energy Law
• Chris Yeilding - Insurance Law; Litigation – Environmental; Litigation – ERISA; 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

• Mark Alexander - Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; Workers' Compensation Law – Employers;
• 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
• 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 West Signs - Project Finance Law; Real Estate Law
• Ben Stone - Energy Law; Gaming 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
• 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
• 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
• Bea Tolsdorf - Health Care Law
• Chris Waddell - Public Finance Law
• Christine 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; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Litigation - Real Estate; Real Estate Law
• Patrick Krechowski - Administrative / Regulatory Law; Environmental Law; Land Use and Zoning Law; Litigation – Environmental; Litigation - Real Estate; Real Estate Law

MONTGOMERY

• Dave Boyd - Appellate - 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; Litigation - Environmental
• Joe McCorkle - Appellate; 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
• Dorman Walker - Appellate; Commercial Litigation; Education Law; Employment Law – Individuals; Employment Law – Management; Health Care Law; Labor Law - Management
• April Wise - Elder Law; Trusts and Estates

WASHINGTON

• Lewis Csedrik - Energy Law

Balch attorneys recognized as "Ones to Watch”

This year, 33 Balch attorneys were also selected as Best Lawyers: “Ones to Watch," a recognition honoring associates and other 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 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America:

ATLANTA

• Meghan Pieler - Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Patrick Silloway - Appellate and Commercial Litigation

AUGUSTA

• Jena Lombard - Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Real Estate 

BIRMINGHAM

• Julia Barber - Environmental Law 
• Robert Baxley - Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Banking and Finance 
• Steven Corhern - Appellate, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Environmental, and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants 
• James Dawkins - Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property Law 
• Thomas DeBray - Health Care Law, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants 
• Elizabeth Flachsbart - Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Health Care Law, Litigation - Environmental, Litigation - Real Estate, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Abby Fox - Energy Law 
• Connor Herfurth - Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, and Transportation Law 
• Ryan Hodinka - Appellate, Commercial Litigation, and Energy Law 
• Jonathan Hoffmann - Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, and Commercial Litigation 
• Adam Israel - Appellate, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Law, Litigation - Banking and Finance, and Litigation - Intellectual Property 
• Lee Johnsey - Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation - Real Estate, and Real Estate Law 
• Irving Jones - Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Environmental, and Litigation - Labor and Employment 
• Christy Boardman Kuklinski - Banking and Finance Law and Elder Law 
• Ginny Willcox Leavens - Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Real Estate 
• Joseph Leavens - Commercial Litigation, Communications Law, and Litigation – Construction 
• Alan Lovett - Energy Law 
• Dan Ruth - Corporate Law and Tax Law 
• Michael Taunton - Appellate, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation - Banking and Finance 
• Jimmy Williams - Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Construction 

GULFPORT

• Stephen Broadus - Corporate Law, Energy Law, and Tax Law 
• Katie Hood - Litigation - Environmental and Litigation - Real Estate 
• Jake Lambert - Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, and Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Bryan Sawyers - Commercial Litigation and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants 

JACKSON

• Ben Bryant - Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants 
• Russell Dumas - Labor and Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment 
• Kye C. Handy - Commercial Litigation
• Claire Williams - Appellate, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation - Labor and Employment 

JACKSONVILLE 

• Alina  Fernandez - Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants