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STOP THE VIOLENCE The court addresses the complexity of domestic abuse
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MAGIC CITY
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Ashley Sankey
TO END THE
Violence Jefferson County’s domestic violence court is just one piece of community efforts going toward the complex issue. Written by Madoline Markham 90
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To tell the story of Birmingham’s domestic violence court is to tell many other stories too. It’s far from a simple narrative. Let’s start with one. A domestic violence victim typically reports violence at least seven times before leaving the perpetrator. That’s what Judge Katrina Ross has found. In any given week, Ross dismisses around 20 domestic violence cases. Sometimes after the first incident a couple will get back together. Often the victims won’t testify, or she (or he) can’t even be located. “Most of the cases that need to be tried are not tried,” Ross says. “It’s a hard court.” All too often, Ross later hears about a homicide springing from cases that were dismissed. As Ross and her predecessor, Judge Laura Petro, have learned, an understanding of the people who enter the court is vital. Petro has come to better know the experience of victims through both her judgeship and work with the YWCA, which provides court advocates and other domestic violence services. “In a lot of cases, the victim was very isolated by her friends and family. She really had nobody,” Petro recalls. “They are not here because the victim wants the offender in jail. They want it to stop. They want a life with no more violence in their home. The women want it, their children want it.” In most cases, a woman is the victim, but in some it’s a man. In others a mother or brother might be the offender. “There is a lot of education that needs to go on,” Petro says. “It’s not about taking someone B-METRO.COM
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out of the home, it’s about making it safer. The courts can’t advocate for either side, we just ensure fair justice.” During Petro’s year with a full-time domestic violence docket, 2006—one that was taxing and frustrating despite her passion for the issue—she noted a particular role of her court. “Studies had shown that the fear of what a judge could do could motivate (perpetrators) more than other things, so we were trying to use that and
put it to good use,” Petro says. “If we helped one family, we did good, and we helped more than one.” During her tenure presiding over the court since 2007, Ross has come to better understand victims. “We need to be more compassionate to what the victim is experiencing,” she says. “Sometimes she just needs to share her stories. Often they run out of money or resources or feel threatened. We
“We need to be more compassionate to what the victim is experiencing,” she says. “Sometimes she just needs to share her stories. Often they run out of money or resources or feel threatened. We don’t know why people stay, so we need to make sure the victim does not feel ‘less than.’ She has already been made to feel ‘less than’ by the perpetrator.” 92
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don’t know why people stay, so we need to make sure the victim does not feel ‘less than.’ She has already been made to feel ‘less than’ by the perpetrator.” Although it isn’t always clear how to put an end to domestic violence, Ross notes the importance of trying. “This is a very serious issue,” Ross says. “If you don’t have healthy families, it affects the community at large. For some reason we don’t think it’s as serious as it is.” Let’s go back to the court itself. When a victim doesn’t show up to testify, it’s a game changer. Without her testimony, the case by law must be dismissed when it comes to trial. At that point, it becomes hard to find a way to prosecute, so the district attorney’s office is left to rely on things like an utterance the police heard or the state of the home. “The role of the court is to find whether a crime is committed and also to keep the community safe by determining when a
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Judge Katrina Ross person is safe to release,” Ross says. But the court’s role ends there. If they don’t have a case, they can’t act. Services for the perpetrator are also key to the future of these cases. From 2006 to around 2009, a Jefferson County group called TASC (Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime) provided a full-time case manager, Roger Thorne, and staff to monitor the perpetrators while they were on bond and make sure they had no contact with the victim. Without this system, those who commit misdemeanors are not monitored. Postconviction, it was like they had a probation officer. “I think it showed the victim, ‘Hey, we are just here to stop the violence,’” Petro says. TASC could also help the perpetrator find a job or deal with drug issues. “(These issues) might not be the root problem, but they accelerate the issues of domestic violence, which is basically about power and control,” Ross says. When Ross attended national conventions, people were impressed to learn about the role of TASC. To Ross, it “kept everything glued together” in their relationship with the defendant. During the first few years of the domestic violence court (which became its own entity
in 2006), it also pulled together community resources as a remediation court. The DA’s office explained the purpose of the court to law enforcement officers and paramedics, and they worked with organizations like Alabama Abuse, Gateway, and Freedom from Violence that provide classes offenders are often required to attend after their conviction. Counseling agencies also agreed to work with families the court saw on a sliding scale. Around 2009 as the economy was sinking, funding for both the courts and for TASC began to dry up. Today, even though other groups offer counseling, they don’t act as a case manager who can help advise the judge on the situation. Now all Ross knows is their class attendance record, and only about a third of her docket is the domestic violence cases. Without outside services, it’s harder for the court to both work with and
understand victims and perpetrators. But now to assist in this arena, a new One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center is acting as a one-stop shop to connect victims with various services instead of travelling to find them. The program, a collaboration between the district attorney’s office, Birmingham Police Department, YWCA, and the Crisis Center, opened in May. It provides access to counseling, victim services, the criminal justice process, and advocacy help, as well as offers a 24-hour confidential hotline (205322-4878). Still, the stats remain. Alabama saw 2,872 domestic violence aggravated assaults and 32,587 domestic violence simple assaults in 2013 alone, and a firearm was used in half of Alabama domestic violence homicides, according to the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center. But hope remains. “We can throw all of our resources at eradicating it, and I hope and pray it will,” Petro says.
•
Judge Laura Petro
Photos by Beau Gustafson 94
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ASK JENNIFER
Attorney and Certified Family Law Specialist, Jennifer Rose, answers readers’ questions about family and matrimonial law. Dear Jennifer: My husband of 12 years is very physically abusive and I’m considering leaving him. Part of my problem is that I’m afraid people will ridicule me for getting divorced. We’ve been through counseling plenty of times and he always does better for a while but then goes right back to beating me up. What do you think I should do? Scared in Shelby Dear Scared: I get so aggravated every time I hear about an abuser! First and foremost you need to consider your safety first. I suggest finding a safe way to get out of the home and a place to stay temporarily such as with a parent, friend, or family member. After you’ve gotten away from the home you have multiple options such as getting an emergency PFA (protection from abuse order) from the court. A PFA can do things such as allow the police to help you get your things, give you temporary usage to the home while evicting the abuser, give you access to vehicles and other property, as well as serve to stop further abuse, stalking, and harassment. You also should consider going to see a victim advocates group such as the YWCA or a personal counselor to help with the emotional trauma that has been caused. You deserve to be happy. Living with someone who abuses you is not good for your health or happiness so I think you are right to get out. Those who love you will not fault you for getting out of a dangerous situation. Feel free to call my office if you need assistance. Good luck and God bless. Dear Jennifer: What normally happens with the pets in a divorce, custodywise? I have been married five years, and my husband and I are about to start the process of getting a divorce. Thankfully we don’t have children to fight over but we do have two yorkies that I had prior to us getting married which he now loves too. What happens to my fur babies and does it matter that they were mine before the marriage? I can’t bear the thought of losing them to him. Animal Lover in Birmingham
Dear Animal Lover: As a fellow dog lover and owner of three yorkies myself, I can totally understand where you are coming from. Unfortunately the laws of the state of Alabama aren’t as warm and fuzzy about our furry companions as we are and as such consider them property. This means that typically a judge will only grant them to one party or the other; however, all is not necessarily lost. First, if you can show ownership through receipts, registration, etc. prior to the marriage this should give you an advantage that most judges will consider when deciding who gets the dogs. Another option is something I’ve done on a few cases where we were able to work out a pet custody/visitation schedule and put it into their agreement. In those cases the judge allowed it to be submitted and honored as part of the agreement. You might have to give up a few more material things to sweeten the pot enough to convince your spouse to go along with it but an agreement is always a safer bet than waiting to see how a judge rules. Ask your potential lawyer in advance if she is familiar and comfortable with working out these types of arrangements so you will know if you even have the option should you hire her. Best of luck, I’m rooting for you! Jennifer G. Rose is the founder and lead attorney at The Rose Law Firm LLC. One of only a handful of certified family law specialists in the state, Jennifer and her firm have won dozens of awards for their work in the field. Those wishing to reach her may call 205-3231124 24 hours a day or visit rosefamilylaw.com. Her firm gives complimentary initial consultations in person.
Have a family law question you’d like to have answered? Send an email to askjennifer@theroselawfirmllc.com and you could be in our next article.
No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
top women attorneys Janell Ahnert Bressler, Amery & Ross, PC bressler.com
Natalie Bolling Baker, Donelson bakerdonelson.com
Labella S. Alvis Christian & Small LLP csattorneys.com
Emily Bonds Jones Walker LLP joneswalker.com
Melanie Atha Cabaniss, Johnston, Gardner, Dumas & O’Neal LLP cabaniss.com
Lisa Borden Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC bakerdonelson.com
Lisa Atkins Ogletree Deakins, PC ogletreedeakins.com
Paige Boshell Bradley bradley.com Bonnie Branum Protective Life protective.com Toni Braxton Braxton Legal Services, LLC braxtonlegalservices.com Whitney R. Brown Lehr Middlebrooks & Vreeland lehrmiddlebrooks.com
Tammy Baker Jackson Lewis, PC jacksonlewis.com Katherine Barr Sirote & Permutt, PC sirote.com Elizabeth Beaube Maynard Cooper & Gale, PC maynardcooper.com Jenna M. Bedsole Baker, Donelson bakerdonelson.com Alicia Bennett Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole & Black, PC hillhillcarter.com Julia Bernstein Maynard Cooper & Gale, PC maynardcooper.com Sela Blanton Bainbridge, Mims, Rogers & Smith LLP bainbridgemims.com 96
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Jessica Brooks Wettermark Keith wkfirm.com J. Carin Burford Ogletree Deakins ogletreedeakins.com Robin L. Burrell Najjar Denaburg, PC najjar.com Leigh Reynolds Byers Nolan Byers, PC nolanbyers.com
Tanita Cain The Cain Law Firm LLC cainlawbham.com Angela Cameron Burr & Forman LLP burr.com Lois Beasley-Carlisle Carlisle & Carlisle, PC carlisleandcarlisle.com Elizabeth Chambers Cory Watson Attorneys cwcd.com Rhonda Chambers Taylor & Taylor taylorlawyers.com Kori Clement Hare & Clement, PC harelaw.com Patricia Clotfelter Baker, Donelson bakerdonelson.com Glenda Cochran Glenda Cochran Associates Attorneys at Law glendacochran.com Kathryn Crawford Gentle Gentle Crew PC crewgentlelaw.com Berkley Jade Criswell Wettermark Keith wkfirm.com Judith Crittenden Crittenden Partners, PC crittendenpartners.com
Michelle Crunk Dodson Gregory, LLP dodsongregory.com Kathy R. Davis Carr Allison carrallison.com Julie Davis Pearce Gaines Gault Hendrix ggh-law.com Tracy Davis Hand Arendall LLC handarendall.com Stacey Davis The Law Firm of Stacey A. Davis, LLC staceydavislaw.com Diandra Debrosse Zarzaur, Mujumdar and Debrosse Trial Lawyers zarzaur.com April DeLuca Magic City Law LLC magiccityfamilylaw.com Lauren DeMoss Maynard Cooper & Gale, PC maynardcooper.com Judith E. Dolan Waldrep Stewart & Kendrick, wskllc.com Susan Doughton Dominick Feld Hyde, PC dfhlaw.com Gayle Douglas Heninger Garrison Davis hgdlawfirm.com Augusta Dowd White Arnold & Dowd PC whitearnolddowd.com Christie Lyman Dowling Lyman Dowling Law LLC lymandowlinglaw.com Helen Downs Butler Snow butlersnow.com Jessica Drennan Kirk Drennan, PC kirkdrennanlaw.com
WOMEN ATTORNEYS TO WATCH:
Honora Gathings
Gathings Law would like to congratulate Honora Gathings on being named one of Avvo’s Top Women Attorneys. It is an honor that comes after decades of working tirelessly on behalf of her clients. Honora’s client-first focus has earned her a most esteemed reputation. While her cases may range from domestic relations to wrongful death and complex environmental litigation, they are all handled with the same level of care and skill that comes from her more than thirty years of experience. Honora Gathings has also earned the respect of her peers in the legal community as shown by being rated as AV Preeminent and being selected for the Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, indicating her position at the highest level of professional excellence, as well as being voted to the Birmingham Bar Association’s Executive Committee. Gathings Law was founded more than 20 years ago on the guiding principle that every person, regardless of social or economic status, is entitled to receive the best representation in court and entitled to a level playing field when they enter the litigation arena. Contact Honora Gathings at (205) 322-1201 to see how she can fight for you. Congratulations, Honora.
Gathings Law 2204 LAKESHORE DR #406
// BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35209 // (205) 322-1201
WWW.GATHINGSLAW.COM
2001 PARK PLACE NORTH, SUITE 550//BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35203 // (P)205-326-3555 • (F)205-326-1081 No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
top women attorneys AshLeigh Meyer Dunham Magic City Law, LLC magiccityfamilylaw.com Anne Lamkin Durward Massey Stotser & Nichols, PC msnattorneys.com Victoria Dye Fischer & Associates, LLC falawgroup.com Nancy Eady Morris, Haynes, Wheeles, Knowles & Nelson, LLP mhhlaw.net Chelsey Mitchell Edgerly Vernis & Bowling of Birmingham, LLC florida-law.com Megan Elder Elder Law Firm LLC elder-lawfirm.com Kathryn Katy Eldridge Maynard Cooper & Gale PC maynardcooper.com Christie Estes Porterfield, Harper, Mills, Motlow, & Ireland phm-law.com Rebecca Eubanks Bainbridge, Mims, Rogers & Smith LLP bainbridgemims.com Dawn Stith Evans Guin, Stokes & Evans, LLC gseattorneys.com Heather Fann Boyd Fernambucq bfattorneys.net Linda Flippo White Arnold & Dowd P.C. whitearnolddowd.com
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Sara Ford Lightfoot Franklin & White lfwlaw.com Charlene Ford Whatley Kallas, LLP whatleykallas.com Leigh King Forstman Pittman Dutton & Hellums pittmandutton.com Brandi Frederick The Frederick Firm frederickfirm.net Dianne Gamble Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole & Black, P.C. hillhillcarter.com Nedra Garrett McClinton Garrett & Associates, LLC mclintonlaw.com Honora Gathings Gathings Law gathingslaw.com Laura Gibson White Arnold & Dowd PC whitearnolddowd.com Lisha Graham White Arnold & Dowd PC whitearnolddowd.com Gaile Gratton Sirote & Permutt, PC sirote.com Paula Greenway Greenway Law, LLC greenwaybankruptcy.com Dana Hill Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole & Black, P.C. hillhillcarter.com Jennifer A. Hanson Bainbridge Mims Rogers & Smith, LLP bainbridgemims.com Kathryn Harrington Heninger Garrison Davis hgdlawfirm.com Anna L. Hart Beckum Kittle, LLP beckumkittle.com
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Rachel King Vella & King vellaking.com Leslie M. Klasing Waldrep Stewart & Kendrick, wskllc.com Sammye Oden Kok Dominick Feld Hyde, PC dfhlaw.com Amber Ladner Bradford Ladner, LLP bradfordladner.com Heather Leonard Heather Leonard, PC heatherleonardpc.com Catherine Crosby Long Baker, Donelson bakerdonelson.com Yvonne Maddalena Jackson Lewis, PC jacksonlewis.com Melinda Mathews Sirote & Permutt, PC sirote.com Diane Maughan Cabaniss, Johnston, Gardner, Dumas & O’Neal LLP cabaniss.com Angie Godwin McEwen Butler Snow butlersnow.com Jennifer J. McGahey Bradley bradley.com Candis McGowan Wiggins, Childs, Pantazis, Fisher & Goldfrab, LLC wigginschilds.com Jodi McKelvin Shelby Roden, LLC shelbyroden.com Tracy T. Miller Hand Arendall LLC handarendall.com Shannon Miller Jackson Lewis, PC jacksonlewis.com
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woMen attorneyS to watch:
Elizabeth Ellis Chambers Leila Hirayama Watson
“We express our gratitude for all women in the legal profession, especially those who came before us and pursued their legal careers with such dignity and skill that they paved the way for us. Even just thirty years ago the question was “what is your role as a woman attorney?” Today, the question is more likely to be “what mass torts are you handling?,” or “did the court certify your class action?” Our careers are defined by our success as lawyers, not because we succeeded as women. We congratulate all the women recognized this month for their successful legal careers and their contributions to make Birmingham and Alabama a better and safer place for all of us to raise our families and pursue our careers.“ -Leila Hirayama Watson,Founding Principal -Elizabeth Ellis Chambers, Principal Cory Watson, P.C. is a premier personal injury law firm recognized nationally for providing outstanding legal representation for victims injured or killed by the negligence or wrongful conduct of others. The attorneys of Cory Watson advocate for the rights of clients in all types of personal injury cases including automobile accidents, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, product liability, defective medical device and drug injuries, consumer fraud, environmental toxins, class actions and mass torts.
Cory Watson Attorneys 2131 Magnolia avenue South //BirMinghaM, al 35205 // (205) 328-2200
www.corywatSon.coM No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
top women attorneys Anne W. Mitchell Baker, Donelson bakerdonelson.com Laura Montgomery Crittenden Partners crittendenpartners.com Anne Moses Moses & Moses, PC mosespc.com Katharine Musso Jones Walker LLP joneswalker.com Emily Nelson Morris Haynes mhhlaw.net Frances Ross Nolan Nolan Byers, PC nolanbyers.com Lynne O’Neal Leitman Siegal & Payne, PC lsppc.com Amberleigh Osborne Wettermark Keith wkfirm.com Dorothy Daigle Pak Bradley bradley.com Lenora Pate Sirote & Permutt, PC sirote.com Lynlee Wells Palmer Harbuck Keith & Holmes hkhlaw.org Suzanne Paulson Leitman Siegal & Payne, PC lsppc.com
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Anne Marie Seibel Bradley bradley.com Dawn Helms Sharff Bradley bradley.com Tanya Shunnara Sirote & Permutt, PC sirote.com Lisa Singer Smith & Pace, PC smith-pace.com Jeanie Sleadd Heninger, Garrison & Davis, LLC hgdlawfirm.com Deborah Alley Smith Christian & Small LLP csattorneys.com Carol Smith Smith & Pace, PC smith-pace.com Tammy Smith Taylor & Taylor taylorlawyers.com Tempe Smith Hare Wynn Newell & Newton hwnn.com Jennifer Smith Wiggins, Childs, Pantazis, Fisher & Goldfrab, LLC wigginschilds.com Sharon D. Stuart Christian & Small LLP csattorneys.com Kristin Waters Sullivan Massey Stotser & Nichols, msnattorneys.com Jennifer Swain Littler Mendelson, PC littler.com Leah Taylor Taylor & Taylor taylorlawyers.com Mary H. Thompson Waldrep Stewart Kendrick wskllc.com
Tracy M. Thompson Bradley bradley.com Temple Trueblood Wiggins, Childs, Pantazis, Fisher & Goldfrab, LLC. wcqp.com Sara Turner Baker, Donelson bakerdonelson.com Susan Wagner Baker, Donelson bakerdonelson.com Marion Walker Fisher & Phillips, LLP laborlawyers.com Summer Walker Summer G. Walker, PC alfamilylawyer.com Jeannie Bugg Walston Starnes Davis Florie, LLP starneslaw.com Laura Washburn Bradley bradley.com Leila Watson Cory Watson Attorneys cwcd.com Stephanie Weems Massey Stotser & Nichols, PC msnattorneys.com Kimberly West Wallace Jordan Ratliff & Brandt wallacejordan.com Jennifer Whitworth Wettermark Keith wkfirm.com Amanda Williamson Heninger Garrison Davis , hglawfirm.com Anne Yuengert Bradley Bradley.com Elizabeth Zwiebel The Zwiebel Law Firm, LLC birminghamdivorcefirm.com Melisa Zwilling Carr Allison carrallisonmsa.com
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WOMEN ATTORNEYS TO WATCH:
Judy Crittenden and Laura Montgomery
Crittenden Partners would like to congratulate Judy Crittenden and Laura Montgomery for being named Top Women Lawyers by B-Metro Magazine. Since founding The Crittenden Firm in 1984, Judy has distinguished herself as one of the top domestic relations attorneys in Alabama, achieving an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and receiving numerous professional awards. Judy hired Laura as an associate attorney in 2010, and Laura quickly established herself, receiving the Rising Star of the Bar award in 2013. In 2014, Judy and Laura, along with Kelli Hogue Mauro, Paige P. Yarbrough, and Rachel Stewart Martin, formed Crittenden Partners, where Laura acts as president and managing partner. Crittenden Partners is a boutique domestic relations firm focusing solely on divorce litigation, including jurisdictional issues, spousal and child support, child custody, marital property characterization, and valuation and division of assets. “Litigation is our job, but our clients are our passion,” says Laura. “Our name may have changed, but our commitment to our clients remains the same.”
Crittenden Partners, PC 1 INDEPENDENCE PLAZA, SUITE 305
// BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35209 // (205) 874-8680
WWW.CRITTENDENPARTNERS.COM
2001 PARK PLACE NORTH, SUITE 550//BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35203 // (P)205-326-3555 • (F)205-326-1081 No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
GIVING EACH CASE INDIVIDUAL FOCUS AND ATTENTION PERSONAL INJURY Fď‚Ş AMILY LAW & DIVORCE CRIMINAL LITIGATION
Meet Wakisha Hazzard
Wakisha E. Hazzard was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. She graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a double minor in English and Fashion Merchandising. Soon after graduating, Wakisha decided to pursue her legal career. She graduated from Miles Law School in 2009, magna cum laude, and went on to lay the foundation for her own law firm, The Hazzard Law Firm, LLC, specializing in matters related to personal injury cases, family law and divorce matters, and criminal litigation. Crediting her accomplishments to God and her strong family structure, Wakisha has not only established a legal legacy, but through her leadership, humanitarianism and philanthropy is navigating a vessel designed to assist and serve others. She is extremely active in the community and is passionate about giving back to that community through acts of service. Wakisha is a dedicated, faithful, and active member at New Hope Baptist Church.
The Hazzard Law Firm, LLC WAKISHA E. HAZZARD, ATTORNEY AT LAW
(205) 521-7378 hazzardfirm.com
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
New Look. Same Promise. Bradley celebrates the achievements of our “Top Women Attorneys” and the impact each has made on the legal industry. Bradley continues to build on its promise of supporting diversity and all women leaders in law. Paige Boshell - Cybersecurity and Privacy C. Meade Hartfield - Financial Services and Litigation Jennifer McGahey - Litigation Dorothy “Dottie” Pak - Healthcare
Anne Marie Seibel - Litigation Dawn Sharff - Real Estate Tracy Thompson - Corporate and Securities Laura Washburn - Corporate and Securities Anne Yuengert - Labor and Employment
bradley.com No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. Contact: Beau Grenier, Esq., 205.521.8355, bgrenier@bradley.com, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, 1819 5th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203.
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WOMEN ATTORNEYS TO WATCH:
Jessica Brooks, Amberleigh Osborne, Berkley Jade Criswell, Laura Hume
At first, it seems like a contradiction. Tough as nails, but compassionate. Serious, but with ready smiles. Fierce in court and hugely successful, but without even an ounce of arrogance. Once you meet the women attorneys of Wettermark Keith LLC, you quickly realize there is no contradiction at all. Instead, you discover a talented group of lawyers who embody the principles of dedication, compassion and expertise that are the cornerstone of Wettermark Keith. They bring that rare combination of skills that makes their clients love them and their adversaries respect them.
Founded in 2003, the law firm of Wettermark Keith LLC is devoted to protecting the rights of the injured. Its formula for success is simple. Work hard. Care for your clients. And always be ready for trial. Every case. Every time. The formula works. In the last ten years, the firm’s attorneys have recovered over $500 million for clients from 14 different states. From a small three–room office in Birmingham, Wettermark Keith has grown to a regional practice with offices in Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville and Chattanooga. These offices are staffed with over 60 dedicated professionals, including 4 very good women lawyers.
Wettermark Keith 3595 GRANDVIEW PARKWAY, SUITE 350
// BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35243 // (205) 933-9500
WWW.WKFIRM.COM
2001 PARK PLACE NORTH, SUITE 550//BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35203 // (P)205-326-3555 • (F)205-326-1081 No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
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WOMEN ATTORNEYS TO WATCH:
Frances Ross Nolan and Leigh Reynolds Byers
Nolan Byers, PC was founded in 2013 by Frances Ross Nolan and Leigh Reynolds Byers to provide those facing divorce with strong, compassionate legal guidance. Recognizing that most people are unfamiliar with the legal system and that legal disputes create enormous stress, attorneys Nolan and Byers place an emphasis on educating clients about the issues they are facing, providing them with choices, and working with them to identify and achieve their goals. Nolan and Byers provide clients throughout Central Alabama with exceptional legal services in all aspects of family law, including: divorce, asset valuation and division, spousal and child support, child custody, paternity and dependency matters, adoption, jurisdictional issues, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and marital settlement agreements. Nolan Byers, PC is also one of only a few firms in the area qualified to offer Collaborative Divorce, a private, consensual no-court alternative to conventional dispute resolution.
Nolan Byers, PC THE KRESS BUILDING
// 301 19TH ST NORTH, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35203 // 205.314.0638
WWW.NOLANBYERS.COM
2001 PARK PLACE NORTH, SUITE 550//BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35203 // (P)205-326-3555 • (F)205-326-1081 No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
W e Cong r atu l at e Glen da Coch r a n f or be ing S elect ed a s on e of t h e Top women At torn e ys of 2016
[ Quest
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for Truth]
cOmmitment is fOcused On cases invOlving catastrOphic persOnal injury
and wrOngful death.
in
Our quest fOr truth, we will leave nO stOne unturned.
GL E NDACOC H RAN.COM 2 05 3 2 8 5050 No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers
Winning #LikeAGirl Celebrating Over 125 Years of Legal Excellence
Tempe Smith, Trial Lawyer
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BIRM INGHA M
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LITTLE ROCK
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F A Y ETTEVILLE
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#LikeAGir l
LEXIN GTO N YEARS
Lawyers Helping People We keep it simple—we hire good people, and we work hard all of the time. We go the extra mile, we call people back, and we listen. We get it done, day in and day out—we work together, and we like to win. We are so proud to see two of our finest lawyers achieve B-Metro’s Top Women Lawyers of 2016. Winning #LikeAGirl is just one more way we can enjoy celebrating more than 125 years of legal excellence.
Lawyers Helping People—Since 1890
HelpingAlabama.com
205-328-5330
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Sirote & Permutt congratulates our “2016 Top Women Attorneys.” Katherine Barr
Elizabeth Hutchins
Lenora Pate
Ginny Rutledge
Gaile Gratton
Melinda Mathews
Kelli Robinson
Tanya Shunnara
Estate Planning
Litigation
BIRMINGHAM ®
WE’RE THERE. ALWAYS.®
Estate Planning & Tax
Estate Planning & Tax
HUNTSVILLE
MOBILE
Health Care
Health Care
FORT LAUDERDALE
Heather Fann
The first female shareholder at the firm of Boyd, Fernambucq, Dunn & Fann, P.C., a firm whose members have been leaders in the practice of family law in Alabama since 1987, Heather Fann served the last two years as Chair of the Family Law Section of the Alabama State Bar, and appears regularly in both domestic relations and family courts on financial and custody aspects of paternity, divorce, and post-divorce matters. In March of this year, Heather secured a rare family law victory from the United States Supreme Court in the case of V.L. v. E.L., which reversed the Alabama Supreme Court to affirm the parental rights of her client, who adopted her children of a same-sex relationship in another state. Heather additionally serves along with civil rights attorneys from across the country on the legal team for the Strawser v. Strange case, which created plaintiff and defendant classes for enforcement of the rights of same-sex couples to marry in Alabama. “Family law should always be about equality,” she says, “Nothing is more important to us than our families, and litigants and their children deserve to be treated fairly by attorneys and judges alike regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. It’s the kind of thing worth fighting for.”
Boyd, Fernambucq, Dunn & Fann, P.C. 3500 BLUE LAKE DRIVE, SUITE 220//BIRMINGHAM, AL 35243// (205) 930-9000
WWW.BFATTORNEYS.NET No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. B-METRO.COM
Estate Planning & Litigation
ORLANDO
PENSACOLA
No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
WOMEN ATTORNEYS TO WATCH:
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Mortgage Banking
Leading the Industry. Serving Our Community. All of our attorneys exemplify Sirote’s simple, yet powerful mission: Be there for our clients and our community. Always.
205.930.5100 l SIROTE.COM
Our lawyers do a lot of great things. Fortunately, this is one we can disclose. Congratulations to Augusta Dowd, Linda Flippo, Laura Gibson, Karen Hennecy, Kitty Rogers Brown, and Lisha Graham
for being named B-Metro’s “Top Women Attorneys.”
Attorneys at Law 2025 Third Avenue North, Suite 500, Birmingham, Alabama 35203
205-323-1888 WhiteArnoldDowd.com
No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
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B-METRO.COM 109 7/14/16 12:04 PM
SPECIAL PROMOTION
WOMEN ATTORNEYS TO WATCH:
Judith E. Dolan and Leslie M. Klasing
WOMEN ATTORNEYS TO WATCH:
AshLeigh Meyer Dunham and April Hare DeLuca
AshLeigh Meyer Dunham & April Hare DeLuca are both Cumberland School of Law graduates. During their time at Cumberland they discovered their love for the Magic City. They established Magic City Law, LLC, a boutique all female law firm, where they focus on divorce, family law, and child custody. At Magic City Law, they believe clients are more than their case file. They take the time to get to know their clients, their families, their goals, and counsel clients about all of their legal options. At Magic City Law, their mission is to help Magic City families move forward.
Magic City Law, LLC 2 OFFICE PARK CIRCLE SUITE 220 BIRMINGHAM, AL 35223// 205-582-2832
INFO@MAGICCITYFAMILYLAW.COM
No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Waldrep Stewart & Kendrick congratulates Leslie M. Klasing and Judith E. Dolan on being recognized as two of Birmingham’s Top Women Attorneys! Klasing represents a wide variety of public entities including various municipalities, school boards, universities and civic center authorities and is significantly experienced in real estate law, employment law and complex contract drafting. Klasing has significant expertise with regard to all matters affecting public entities in Alabama. Dolan is an experienced litigator, with expertise in insurance defense, employment, trucking and auto matters. Clients include major insurance companies and global businesses. Dolan is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society.
Waldrep Stewart & Kendrick LLC 2323 Second Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 254-3216
WSKLLC.COM
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No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
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CELEBRATES
birmingham’s
TOP WOMEN ATTORNEYS
Thursday, August 18 5:30-7:30pm
Tonya Jones SalonSpa English Village 2410 Fairway Dr Mountain Brook, AL 35213
For more details and to rsvp, facebook/b-metro