Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense

Jeffrey W. Blitz

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: jwb@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Real Estate
• Commercial Transactions

Admitted

• Alabama, 1976

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Listed Since 1995); Named Lawyer of the Year in Real Estate for the Montgomery Area (2010-2012); Alabama Super Lawyers (Listed Since 2008); Listed in Birmingham Business Journal "Leading Lawyers of Alabama"; Ranked Band 1 in Real Estate by Chambers USA

Memberships:

• American and Montgomery County Bar Associations
• Alabama State Bar
• American College of Mortgage Attorneys

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.S., 1973
• The University of Alabama, J.D., 1976

Born: 1951

Dennis R. Bailey

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: drb@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Commercial Litigation
• Media & Intellectual Property
• Product Liability
• Insurance Defense
• Appellate Practice
• Environmental Law
• Labor and Employment

Admitted

• Alabama, 1979

Additional Biographical Details:

2016 Alabama State Bar President's Award in Recognition of Exemplary Service to the Profession; Best Lawyers in America (Listed Since 2008); Named Lawyer of the Year in Products Liability Litigation for the Montgomery Area 2011; Named Lawyer of the Year in Bet-the-Company Litigation for the Montgomery Area 2017; Named Lawyer of the Year in Litigation - Labor & Employment for the Montgomery Area 2019; Named Lawyer of the Year in Product Liability - Defendants 2020, 2022 and 2024; Named Lawyer of the Year in Bet-the-Company Litigation for the Montgomery Area 2023

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar
• Montgomery County Bar Association
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (President 2018-2019)
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Defense Research Institute

Education:

• Auburn University, B.A., 1975
• Samford University, J.D. (cum laude), 1979

Born: 1953

Frank J. Stakely

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: fjs@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Professional Liability
• Medical Malpractice
• Insurance Defense
• Product Liability
• Pharmaceutical

Admitted

• Alabama, 1987

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Listed Since 2008); Named 2014 and 2024 Lawyer of the Year in Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants for the Montgomery Area; Named 2018 Lawyer of the Year in Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants for the Montgomery Area; Named 2020 Lawyer of the Year in Personal Injury Litigation for the Montgomery Area; Named 2023 Lawyer of the Year in Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants for the Montgomery Area

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar
• Montgomery County Bar Association
• American College of Trial Lawyers
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.S., 1984
• The University of Alabama, J.D., 1987

Born: 1962

William S. Haynes

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: wsh@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Professional Liability
• Medical Malpractice
• Health Care
• Health Care Professional Licensure Defense
• Insurance Defense

Admitted

• Alabama, 1987

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Listed Since 2010); Named 2015 Montgomery Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Lawyer of the Year for the Montgomery Area; Named 2021 Lawyer of the Year in Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants for the Montgomery Area; Named 2023 Lawyer of the Year in Personal Injury - Defendants for the Montgomery Area; Alabama Super Lawyers (Listed Since 2008)

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar
• Montgomery County Bar Association
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.A., 1984
• The University of Alabama, J.D., 1987

Born: 1962

Helen Crump Wells

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: hcw@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning
• Corporate Law
• Business Formation
• Mergers and Acquisitions

Admitted

• Alabama, 1988

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Listed Since 1997); Named 2011, 2017, 2022 and 2024; Montgomery Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year); Alabama Super Lawyers (2008-2010); Listed in Top 25 Women Attorneys in Alabama (2010); Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers (2012-2013)

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar
• Montgomery County Bar Association
• American College of Trust & Estate Counsel

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.S., 1965
• Samford University, J.D. (summa cum laude), 1988

Born: 1943

Paul M. James, Jr.

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: pmj@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Insurance Defense
• Insurance Coverage
• Commercial Litigation
• Labor and Employment

Admitted

• Alabama, 1992

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Listed Since 2011)

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar
• Montgomery County Bar Association
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute

Education:

• Washington and Lee University, B.A., 1986
• Samford University, J.D., 1992

Born: 1964

Christopher S. Simmons

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: css@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Corporate Law
• Health Care
• Energy
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Estate Planning

Admitted

• Alabama, 1992

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Listed Since 2001); Named 2013 and 2021 Montgomery Litigation & Controversy - Tax Lawyer of the Year

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar
• Montgomery County Bar Association

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.S., 1989
• The University of Alabama, J.D., 1992
• New York University, LL.M., 1993

Born: 1967

Daniel L. Lindsey, Jr.

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: dll@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Corporate Law
• Business Formation
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Estate Planning

Admitted

• Alabama, 1994

Additional Biographical Details:

Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Listed Since 2009); Named 2013 Lawyer of the Year in Trusts & Estates for the Montgomery Area; Named 2018 and 2022 Lawyer of the Year in Tax Law for the Montgomery Area

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar

Education:

• Auburn University, B.S., 1988
• The University of Alabama, J.D., 1994
• New York University, LL.M., 1995

Born: 1966

Patrick M. Shegon

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: pms@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Professional Liability
• Medical Malpractice
• Health Care
• Health Care Professional Licensure Defense
• Insurance Defense
• Product Liability

Admitted

• Alabama, 1995
• Tennessee, 2017

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Since 2010); Alabama Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2010); Benchmark Litigation Future Star (2012)

Memberships:

• American and Montgomery County Bar Associations
• Alabama State Bar
• American College of Trial Lawyers
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute

Education:

• Auburn University at Montgomery, B.S. (summa cum laude), 1992
• The University of Alabama, J.D. (summa cum laude), 1995

Born: 1970

William I. Eskridge

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: wie@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Real Estate
• Commercial Transactions
• Environmental Law

Admitted

• Alabama, 1995

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Listed Since 2007; Named 2017 Montgomery Real Estate Law Lawyer of the Year)

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar
• Montgomery County Bar Association

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.S., 1991
• The University of Alabama, J.D., 1995

Born: 1968

L. Peyton Chapman III

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: lpc@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Professional Liability
• Medical Malpractice
• Health Care
• Health Care Professional Licensure Defense
• Insurance Defense
• Product Liability

Admitted

• Alabama, 1996

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Since 2010); Alabama Super Lawyers (2011, 2017-2021, 2023)

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar
• Montgomery County Bar Association
• International Association of Defense Counsel
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute

Education:

• Washington and Lee University, B.A., 1992
• The University of Alabama, J.D., 1996

Born: 1970

Benjamin C. Wilson

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: bcw@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Professional Liability
• Medical Malpractice
• Health Care
• Insurance Defense
• Labor and Employment
• Pharmaceutical
• Product Liability

Admitted

• Alabama, 1996

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Since 2018; Named 2024 Lawyer of the Year: Litigation and Healthcare - Montgomery Area)

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar
• Montgomery County Bar Association
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.A., 1993
• The University of Alabama, J.D., 1996

Born: 1970

Alan T. Hargrove, Jr.

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: ath@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Insurance Coverage
• Insurance Defense
• Pharmaceutical
• Commercial Litigation
• Product Liability
• Labor and Employment

Admitted

• Alabama, 1999

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Since 2015); Named 2023 Lawyer of the Year in Litigation - Insurance for the Montgomery Area

Memberships:

• Federal and Montgomery County Bar Associations
• Alabama State Bar
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute

Education:

• Birmingham-Southern College, B.A., 1994
• The University of Alabama, J.D., 1999

Born: 1972

James R. Dickens Jr.

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: jrd@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Real Estate
• Commercial Transactions
• Environmental Law

Admitted

• Alabama, 2003

Additional Biographical Details:

Selected to Alabama Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2015-2018); Listed in Best Lawyers in America Since 2023; Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers (2016-2017)

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar
• Montgomery County Bar Association

Education:

• Auburn University, B.S., 2000
• The University of Alabama, J.D. (cum laude), 2003

Born: 1978

R. Mac Freeman, Jr.

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: rmf@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Insurance Coverage
• Insurance Defense
• Professional Liability
• Product Liability

Admitted

• Alabama, 2002

Additional Biographical Details:

Alabama Super Lawyers Rising Star (2012, 2014)

Memberships:

• Federal and Montgomery County Bar Associations
• Alabama State Bar
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute

Education:

• Birmingham-Southern College, B.A., 1997
• Samford University, J.D., 2002

Born: 1975

R. Brett Garrett

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: bg@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Professional Liability
• Medical Malpractice
• Insurance Defense
• Commercial Litigation

Admitted

• Alabama, 2004

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Since 2022); Selected to Alabama Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2016-2018)

Memberships:

• Federal and Montgomery County Bar Associations
• Alabama State Bar
• Defense Research Institute

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.S., 2000
• Samford University, J.D., 2004

Born: 1978

T. Grant Sexton, Jr.

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: gsexton@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Professional Liability
• Medical Malpractice
• Commercial Litigation
• Insurance Defense
• Product Liability

Admitted

• Oklahoma, 2004
• District of Columbia, 2006
• Alabama

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Since 2022); Future Star (Benchmark Litigation 2009); Alabama Super Lawyers Rising Star - Personal Injury Defense (2012-2014, 2016-2019)

Memberships:

• Oklahoma and Montgomery County Bar Associations
• Alabama State Bar
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.A., 2001
• Oklahoma City University, J.D., 2004

Born: 1979

Stephen P. Dees

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: sdees@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Professional Liability
• Medical Malpractice
• Insurance Coverage
• Insurance Defense
• Appellate Practice
• Commercial Litigation

Admitted

• Alabama, 2007

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Since 2022)

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar
• Montgomery Bar Association
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.A. (with honors), 2004
• The University of Alabama, J.D., 2007

Born: 1982

J. Evans Bailey

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: jbailey@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Commercial Litigation
• Insurance Defense
• Labor and Employment
• Product Liability
• Professional Liability
• Appellate Practice

Admitted

• Alabama, 2008

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (2023-2024)

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar
• Montgomery County Bar Association
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute

Publications:

• Author: "Alabama Automobile Insurance Law," Thomson Reuters, 5th Ed. 2020

Education:

• The University of Georgia, B.A. (cum laude), 2005
• The University of Alabama, J.D., 2008

Born: 1982

Amanda Craft Hines

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: ach@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• General Civil Litigation
• Insurance Defense
• Medical Malpractice Defense
• Professional Liability
• Labor and Employment
• Family Law

Admitted

• Alabama, 2003
• Tennessee, 2017

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Since 2022); Alabama Super Lawyers Rising Star in Medical Malpractice (2017-2018)

Memberships:

• Federal, American and Montgomery County Bar Associations
• Alabama State Bar
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (Young Lawyers Board, 2012-2013)

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.S. (cum laude), 2000
• The University of Alabama School of Law, J.D., 2003

Clerkship:

Judicial Extern to Hon. Sharon Lovelace Blackburn

Philip A. Sellers, II

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: pas@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Insurance Defense
• Health Care
• Medical Malpractice Defense
• Professional Liability
• Labor and Employment

Admitted

• Alabama, 2012

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar
• Montgomery County Bar Association
• Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute

Education:

• The University of Georgia, B.A. (magna cum laude), 2006
• Cumberland University School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2012

Royal C. Dumas

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: rcd@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Mediation
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Commercial Litigation
• Complex Litigation
• Professional Liability
• Business Law
• Class Action Litigation

Admitted

• Alabama, 2007

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (2023-2024); President's Award and Al Vreeland Award Alabama State Bar

Memberships:

• Federal and Montgomery County Bar Associations
• State Bar of Alabama
• Fellow, Alabama Law Foundation

Publications:

• Author: "The Muddled Mettle of Jurisprudence: Race and Procedure in Alabama's Appellate Courts", 1901-1930, 58 Ala. L. Rev.417 (2006)
• "My Son and My Money Go to the University of Alabama? The Students at the University of Alabama in 1845 and the Families that Sent them", Alabama Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Law Review, Volume 1 (2011)

Education:

• The Hartt College of Music, B.Mus., 1999
• Southern Methodist University, M.M., 2002
• The University of Alabama School of Law, J.D., 2007

Honors:

President's Award and Al Vreeland Award Alabama State Bar

Thomas H. Keene

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: thk@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Professional Liability
• Medical Malpractice
• Health Care Liability
• Health Care Professional Licensure Defense
• Medical Devices
• Commercial Litigation
• Insurance Defense
• Labor and Employment
• Pharmaceutical

Admitted

• Alabama, 1974

Additional Biographical Details:

Best Lawyers in America (Listed Every Year since Inception); Named 2011 Montgomery Personal Injury Litigation Lawyer of the Year; Named 2012 Montgomery Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Lawyer of the Year; Named 2013 Montgomery Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Lawyer of the Year; Alabama Super Lawyers (Listed Since 2008); Included in Top 50 Lawyers in Alabama; Chambers USA (Ranked Band 1 - Litigation 2012-2022

Memberships:

• American and Montgomery County Bar Associations
• Alabama State Bar
• American Board of Trial Advocates (Advocate)
• International Academy of Trial Lawyers
• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.S., 1970
• The University of Alabama, M.B.A., 1971
• The University of Alabama, J.D., 1974

Born: 1948

Katie D. Archer

Montgomery, AL

• E-Mail: kd@rushtonstakely.com

Practice Areas

• Civil Litigation
• Medical Malpractice

Admitted

• Alabama, 2017

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.A. (summa cum laude), 2014
• The University of Alabama School of Law, J.D., 2017

Landon M. Eley

Montgomery, AL

Practice Areas

• Commercial Real Estate Law
• Environmental Law

Admitted

• Alabama, 2014

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar (Executive Committee, Young Lawyers Section)
• Montgomery County Bar Association (Board of Directors, Young Lawyers Section)
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.A. (cum laude), 2010
• Cumberland School of Law of Samford University, J.D., 2013

Charles A. Stakely V

Montgomery, AL

Practice Areas

• Health Care Liability
• Insurance Defense

Admitted

• Alabama, 2020

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.A. (summa cum laude), 2017
• The University of Alabama School of Law, J.D., 2020

D. Brock Hendon

Montgomery, AL

Practice Areas

• Corporate Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Estate and Tax Planning

Admitted

• Alabama, 2021

Education:

• Auburn University, B.S. Finance, 2018
• Cumberland School of Law of Samford University, J.D., 2021
• Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M. Taxation, 2022

Virginia "Ginny" Bradley

Montgomery, AL

Practice Areas

• Health Care Liability
• Insurance Defense

Admitted

• Alabama, 2022

Education:

• Troy University, B.S. (summa cum laude), 2019
• The University of Alabama School of Law, J.D., 2022

Christopher M. Griffin

Montgomery, AL

Practice Areas

• Health Care Liability
• Insurance Defense

Admitted

• Alabama, 2020

Education:

• Carleton College, B.A., 2017
• The University of Alabama School of Law, J.D./LL.M., 2020