Balch & Bingham Elevates Five Attorneys to Partner

Balch & Bingham LLP is pleased to announce the election of five attorneys to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2025. The new partners include Stephen Broadus from the firm’s Gulfport, Miss. office, Kye C. Handy and Anne Harlan Latino from the firm’s Jackson, Miss. office, Christy Boardman Kuklinski from the firm’s Birmingham, Ala. office, and Christopher Walker from the firm’s Jacksonville, Fla. office.   

“Stephen, Kye, Anne Harlan, Christy, and Christopher have demonstrated exceptional legal expertise and a strong commitment to our firm’s values, enriching both our clients’ experience and the firm’s culture,” said Stan Blanton, managing partner. “Beyond their legal talent, they are outstanding individuals and teammates who uplift those around them. We are excited to welcome them to the partnership and look forward to their continued success at Balch.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR NEWEST ATTORNEYS ELEVATED TO PARTNERSHIP:

Stephen Broadus | Corporate & Commercial, Gulfport
Stephen advises clients on a wide variety of corporate matters. His main focus involves advising clients on business succession and planning, corporate governance, entity structuring and formation, and estate planning. Stephen also advises clients in the areas of estate and trust administration, non-profit and tax-exempt entities, and income tax planning.

Stephen served as president of the Harrison County Bar Association for 2024. Committed to giving back to his community, he actively participates in pro bono initiatives, including temporary child custody clinics and the Wills for Heroes program, providing vital legal assistance to families in need and first responders.

Kye C. Handy | Litigation, Jackson
Kye focuses on general and commercial litigation. She started her practice in insurance defense and municipality defense with substantial knowledge of Mississippi Tort Claims Act cases. Kye has extensive experience in personal injury matters and has strong working knowledge of various types of chancery and probate matters. She regularly assists clients with deceptive trade practices and toxic tort matters. She has extensive knowledge of multiple e-discovery platforms and how to navigate complex e-discovery matters.

Kye is an active member of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and served as president for the Mississippi Bar’s Young Lawyers Division for the 2023 term. Kye also serves on the editorial board for the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association. She is a member of the firm’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, and previously served as the Diversity Council Chair of the University of Mississippi School of Law. 

Christy Boardman Kuklinski | Corporate & Commercial, Birmingham
Christy has a diverse practice with a focus on securities and corporate work.  She has spent the last decade developing an understanding for corporate and financial matters, both from the litigation standpoint and from the deal and advisory standpoint.  Due to Christy’s breadth of experience working with highly-regulated institutions, clients seek her assistance in all phases of their businesses, from transactions to regulatory compliance to securities and other complex litigation.

Christy is a member of Alabama Leadership Initiative’s (ALI) 2024-2025 Class. She currently serves on the  Alabama Securities Commission and is a recent graduate of Momentum Upward, an Alabama women’s leadership development program.

Anne Harlan Latino | Labor & Employment, Jackson
Anne Harlan advises employers on navigating complex federal and state employment laws, offering practical solutions to minimize risk and ensure compliance. She defends employers in discrimination cases before federal courts and the EEOC and provides strategic counsel on day-to-day compliance matters, including hiring and firing decisions, disciplinary issues, disability accommodations, and safety concerns.  Anne Harlan has experience representing employers in lawsuits involving Title VII, ADA, FMLA, ADEA, FLSA, and retaliation claims, as well as specialized expertise in Davis-Bacon Act compliance for federal contractors. She also assists with NLRB charges, union grievances, and collective bargaining.

Anne Harlan is a member of the Federal Bar Association. She is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Jackson, reflecting her commitment to community service. She also supports Madison County Schools through her active involvement in the PTO at her children’s school.

Christopher Walker | Litigation, Jacksonville
Christopher is a litigator with extensive experience in banking, consumer finance, insurance defense, construction title claims, and complex commercial litigation. Christopher’s experience includes representing both large and small corporate and utility clients in complex civil matters in federal and state courts.

Christopher is an active member of the Jacksonville Bar Association and is deeply committed to serving his community. He volunteers with Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville, Inc. (HabiJax) and contributes as an Advisory Council Member for the Jacksonville Symphony. Through Balch Business Boost, he supports women- and minority-owned businesses by providing free or low-cost legal services.