Balch & Bingham is pleased to welcome eleven new associates to the firm: Alyssa Cook, Hannah Elliott, Joseph Hill, Avery Lancaster, Sam Lipp, Kenadi Mitchell, Lauryn Smith, Luke Smith, Jack Surber, Kayla Tran, and Arreyah Whitlock.
These attorneys will work across the firm’s footprint in its nationally recognized Corporate & Commercial, Environmental & Natural Resources, Estate Planning & Trusts, and Litigation Practices.
Alyssa Cook joins the Montgomery office as a member of the Litigation Practice. She received her J.D. from The University of Alabama School of Law, cum laude, in 2023, where she served as the Articles Editor for the Alabama Law Review and was a member of the Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society. Prior to joining Balch, Alyssa clerked for the Honorable L. Scott Coogler in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Alyssa Cook focuses on a variety of civil litigation matters for institutional, private, and commercial clients. She assists clients during all phases of litigation in both state and federal courts. Alyssa is licensed to practice in Alabama.
Hannah Elliott joins the Birmingham office as a member of the Estate Planning & Trusts Practice. She received her J.D. from University of Mississippi School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2024 and served as Executive Articles Editor for the Mississippi Law Journal. Hannah’s practice includes a wide variety of corporate matters. She regularly represents corporate clients in a broad array of transactions including real estate transactions. In addition to her general corporate practice, Hannah also advises clients on estate planning, estate and trust administration and litigation, and other probate matters such as guardianships and conservatorships. Hannah is licensed to practice in Alabama.
Joseph Hill joins the Montgomery office as a member of the Litigation Practice. He received his J.D. from Tulane University Law School in 2024. Joseph’s background as a legal assistant in a small-town criminal and family law firm, combined with his experience supporting a successions attorney during law school, has provided him with a strong foundation in client-focused legal service. Joseph advocates for a wide variety of clients in civil litigation matters. He supports clients during all phases of litigation and values helping clients succeed both inside and outside of the courtroom. Joseph is licensed to practice in Alabama.
Avery Lancaster joins the Birmingham office as a member of the Corporate & Commercial Practice. He received his J.D. from The University of Alabama School of Law in 2024. Avery was recognized with the CALI Award for Banking Law. Avery’s practice spans a range of corporate law matters. He supports clients through key phases of commercial transactions, from the formation of new entities, managing ongoing corporate operations, to mergers and acquisitions. In addition to assisting clients with general corporate matters, Avery also advises clients on energy transactions. Avery is licensed to practice in Alabama.
Sam Lipp joins the Atlanta office as a member of the Litigation Practice. She received her J.D. from Mercer University School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2023. Prior to joining Balch, Sam clerked for the Supreme Court of Georgia, supporting Presiding Justice Nels S.D. Peterson. Sam focuses her practice on civil litigation, advising and representing clients in matters involving complex commercial litigation, property disputes, personal injury and wrongful death, and intellectual property. Drawing on her experiences supporting the Supreme Court of Georgia and in business consulting, Sam is equipped to consider clients' needs and advise clients at every step of the litigation process. Sam is licensed to practice in Georgia.
Kenadi Mitchell joins the Birmingham office as a member of the Environmental & Natural Resources Practice. She received her J.D. from Howard University School of Law in 2024. Kenadi was recognized with the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for Title VI, Civil Rights, and the Environment. She also served as Captain of the Goler Teal Butcher International Moot Court Team. Kenadi advises clients on a wide array of environmental regulatory concerns and compliance challenges. Her practice centers on representing industrial entities, utility companies, and other business interests in environmental issues with an emphasis on federal and state regulations. Kenadi is licensed to practice in Alabama.
Lauryn Smith joins the Birmingham office as a member of the Litigation Practice. She received her J.D. from Cumberland School of Law in 2024. Lauryn was Chief Justice of Cumberland's Moot Court Board and represented her school as a member of the National Team. She was recognized with the ALDA Student Org Award for Moot Court Performance, won Best Advocate in the Gordon T. Saad Appellate Advocacy Competition and the Donworth Appellate Advocacy Competition. Lauryn works on a wide variety of civil litigation matters for institutional, private, and agency clients. She is a member of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association. Lauryn is licensed to practice law in Alabama.
Luke Smith joins the Jackson office as a member of the Litigation Practice. He received his J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law, summa cum laude, in 2024 where he served as Staff Editor of Mississippi College Law Review. A journalist prior to law school, Luke draws on his researching and writing experience to analyze clients' legal issues to reach desired outcomes. He also served as a legal extern for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health and the Office of the State Public Defender's Indigent Appeals Division. Luke is licensed to practice in Mississippi.
Jack Surber joins the Birmingham office as a member of the Litigation Practice. He received his J.D. from University of Mississippi School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2024 and served as the Alumni Coordinator for the Mississippi Law Journal. Prior to law school, Jack received his M.B.A. and B.S. in Accounting from Bethel University, where he was recognized as the Hutchins Scholar Recipient, marking his standing as the student with the highest academic average in his class. Jack will draw on that expertise in his law practice, which focuses on supporting clients during all phases of litigation in both state and federal courts. He is licensed to practice in Alabama.
Kayla Tran joins the Jackson office as a member of the Corporate & Commercial Practice. She received her J.D. from University of Mississippi School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2024, where she served as Associate Case Editor for Mississippi Law Journal and as Staff Editor for Federal Courts Law Review. Kayla was recognized with the Outstanding Student Award for Contracts, named Top Negotiator for Contract Drafting and Negotiation, and was selected as member of the Who's Who Honoree Class of 2021. Kayla Tran works on a wide array of corporate transactional matters, including contract negotiations and drafting and entity organization and structuring. She is a member of the Jackson Young Lawyers Association Recruitment Committee. Kayla is licensed to practice in Mississippi.
Arreyah Whitlock joins the Gulfport office as a member of the Litigation Practice. She received her J.D. from University of Mississippi School of Law, cum laude, in 2024, where she served as Internal Competition Chair on the Moot Court Board, Executive Article Editor of Mississippi Law Journal, Inn President of Phi Delta Phi legal honor society, and Banquet Chair for the Black Law Students Association. Her moot court achievements include an octofinalist finish in the Duberstein Bankruptcy Competition and a regional semifinalist placement in the National Moot Court Competition. Arreyah focuses her practice on a variety of complex civil legal matters, assisting clients in both transactions and litigation. Arreyah is licensed to practice in Mississippi.
