Balch Attorneys Speak at Alabama Fall Municipal Law Conference

Balch & Bingham was proud to participate in the 2024 Fall Municipal Law Conference hosted by the Alabama Association of Municipal Attorneys (AAMA) and the Alabama Municipal Judges Association (AMJA) on October 24 – 26 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. 

This three-day event brought together municipal attorneys, prosecutors, and judges from across Alabama to discuss timely municipal legal topics, from election preparation and employment issues to mental health ethics, AI in contract analysis, and current cases impacting municipalities.

K.C. Hairston, partner in the firm's Birmingham and Washington offices, and a member of Balch's Energy Practice, has served as president of the AMJA for the past two years and led this year’s conference. 

As part of the program, John Smith and Tripp DeMoss, members of Balch’s Litigation Practice based in the firm’s Montgomery office, delivered an update on municipal court bail bond litigation, offering municipal judges and prosecutors valuable insights into recent legal developments.

The AAMA supports municipal attorneys and prosecutors statewide, promoting communication, education, and a deeper understanding of municipal law to benefit both legal professionals and the communities they serve. The AMJA, a section of the Alabama League of Municipalities (ALM), is dedicated to enhancing the efficiency of Alabama’s municipal courts by offering educational resources and support tailored to the unique needs of municipal judges. 

K.C.'s practice focuses on the day to day business, legal and regulatory needs of utilities, including Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Energy Information Administration (EIA), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) compliance issues.

John is an experienced municipal attorney. He has represented agencies of the State of Alabama in civil rights class action litigation and before the Alabama Board of Adjustment. John is a litigator with more than 30 years of experience trying lawsuits involving personal injury, business disputes, insurance, contract, employment, fraud, financial transactions, worker's compensation, and related matters before juries and judges in the state and federal courts of Alabama. 

Tripp maintains a diverse practice in federal and state courts, where he primarily focuses on appellate litigation and dispositive motion briefing.  Tripp frequently draws on his experience as a public policy attorney as well in assisting clients with reviewing, analyzing and drafting legislation. He has counseled state agencies on statutory and regulatory compliance matters, and has also assisted clients with navigating their own regulatory concerns.