Balch & Bingham LLP is pleased to announce that 105 of the firm's attorneys were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America^®. 

The Best Lawyers in America^® is 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. 

10 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.

Balch attorneys recognized as a "Lawyer of the Year" include:      

Atlanta

• Chris Anulewicz - Appellate Practice

Birmingham

• Alan Rogers - Insurance Law

• Lyle Larson - Energy Law

• Stephen Gidiere - Environmental Law

• Eason Balch, Jr. - Government Relations Practice

• Tim Tracy - Corporate Law

Gulfport

• David Duhé - Corporate Law

Montgomery

• Dorman Walker - Appellate Practice

• Jim Byram - Insurance Law

Jackson

• Scott Andress - Gaming Law

This year, 23 Balch attorneys were also selected as Best Lawyers: "Ones to Watch," a recognition honoring associates and other lawyers, 5-9 years into their careers, for outstanding professional excellence in private practice. Those selected for this honor are divided by geographic region and practice areas and reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise.  

Balch attorneys recognized as "Ones to Watch" include:      

Atlanta

• Jonathan DeLuca - Commercial Litigation

• Patrick Silloway - Commercial Litigation

Birmingham

• Julia Barber - Environmental Law

• Robert Baxley - Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Banking and Finance

• Steven Corhern - Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Litigation – Environmental; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

• Thomas DeBray - Health Care Law; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

• Elizabeth Flachsbart - Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Health Care Law; Litigation – Environmental; Litigation - Real Estate; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

• Ryan Hodinka - Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation

• Jonathan Hoffmann - Banking and Finance Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Litigation

• Adam Israel - Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation; Intellectual Property Law; Litigation - Banking and Finance; 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; Real Estate Law

• Irving Jones - Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Environmental; Litigation - Labor and Employment

• Craig Lawrence - Real Estate Law

• Ginny Willcox Leavens - Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Real Estate

• Joe Leavens - Commercial Litigation; Communications Law; Litigation - Construction

• Dan Ruth - Corporate Law; Tax Law

• Michael Taunton - Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Banking and Finance

• Jimmy Williams - Commercial Litigation

Gulfport

• Katie Hood - Litigation – Environmental; Litigation - Real Estate

Balch attorneys recognized in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America^® are listed by below by office. Attorneys making their first appearance in the 2021 edition include: Walt Jones, Hugh Peterson III, Frank Long, Kevin McNamee, Chad Pilcher and Pam Smith. 

Many Balch attorneys have been listed as "Best Lawyers" for multiple years. Attorneys who have been listed for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 years are denoted within the following list:

Atlanta

• Chris Anulewicz [5] - Appellate Practice

• Mike Bowers [15] - Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

• Jim Hollis - Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

• Walt Jones - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

• Hugh McNatt - Insurance Law

• Dart Meadows - Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

• Tom Penland - Energy Law

• Hugh Peterson III - Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Augusta

• Benjamin H. Brewton [10] - Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants

Birmingham, AL

• Amy Adams [5] - Trusts and Estates

• Leslie Garrett Allen [5] - Energy Law

• Bert Amason  [5] - Banking and Finance Law

• Allen Baker [15] - Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

• Eason Balch Jr. [10] - Administrative / Regulatory Law; Energy Law; Government Relations Practice

• Mac Beale [15] - Corporate Law

• Stan Blanton [15] - Energy Law; Government Relations Practice

• David Bowsher - Banking and Finance Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Government Relations Practice; Mergers and Acquisitions Law

• James Bradford [10] - Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Real Estate; Real Estate Law

• Chuck Burkhart [5] - Construction Law; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

• Steven Burns [5] - Environmental Law

• Greg Butrus [10] - Energy Law; Government Relations Practice

• Marcus Chatterton - Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Real Estate

• Foster Clark [15] - Public Finance Law

• Greg Cook [10] - Commercial Litigation; Consumer Law; Litigation - Real Estate; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

• Tom DeLawrence - Environmental Law

• Mike Edwards [35] - Antitrust Law; Arbitration; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Litigation – Securities; Mediation

• Allen Estes [5] - Commercial Litigation

• Rob Fowler [10] - Environmental Law

• Tom Francis  [10] - Public Finance Law

• Stephen Gidiere [10] - Environmental Law; Litigation - Environmental

• Scott Grover - Energy Law; Energy Regulatory Law

• Kelly Gwathney [5] - Corporate Law

• Curt Gwathney [5] - Public Finance Law

• Ed Haden [10] - Appellate Practice; Energy Law

• Jim Hancock  [10] - Water Law

• Doug Kauffman [10] - Employment Law – Individuals; Labor Law – Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment

• Chris Kimble [15] - Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Health Care Law; Insurance Law

• Lyle Larson  [15] - Energy Law; Energy Regulatory Law

• Peter LeJeune  [5] - Administrative / Regulatory Law

• Debra Lewis [5] - Banking and Finance Law

• Bo Lineberry [10] - Economic Development Law; Nonprofit / Charities Law

• Frank Long - Public Finance Law

• Dan McCrary [10] - Energy Law

• Kevin McNamee  - Energy Law

• Grady Moore  [10] - Environmental Law

• Brad Neighbors - Financial Services Regulation Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law

• Phil Nichols  [10] - Antitrust Law; Corporate Law

• John Pickering [10] - Banking and Finance Law; Real Estate Law

• Chad Pilcher- Energy Law

• Jeremy Retherford [5] - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law