Super Lawyers Recognizes Helmsing Leach As Top Alabama Law Firm For Business & Transactions

Super Lawyers, a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement, has recognized Helmsing Leach in its 2015 edition as Alabama’s best medium-sized firm (11-50 lawyers) for business and transactions.  Top firms were chosen based on the number of firm attorneys who have been selected to a 2014 or 2015 Super Lawyers list in business practice areas, as well as a combination of metrics indicating the quality of those attorneys.  Quality factors that were considered included the number of years selected to the list, inclusion on a top list and average blue ribbon panel score.  The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Karen Tucker Joins Firm As Litigation Partner

Helmsing Leach is pleased to announce that Karen Tucker has joined the firm as a litigation partner.  Karen received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Auburn University.  She then received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law.  She is admitted to practice law in the State of Alabama.  In addition to her litigation practice, Karen has extensive appellate experience in the state and federal appellate courts.

2015 Edition Of Chambers USA Recognizes Helmsing Leach & Four Firm Lawyers

In its 2015 edition, Chambers USA, a reference guide to the legal profession, recognizes Helmsing Leach for excellence in commercial litigation, noting that the firm has a “[b]road business litigation practice with strength in commercial disputes, product liability litigation and whistle-blower matters [and] is also noted for its handling of catastrophic injury and wrongful death defense work.”  In addition, Chambers recognized four of the firm’s lawyers for excellence in specialty areas of practice, namely,  Joe Babington (commercial litigation), Jeff Hartley (bankruptcy/restructuring), Warren Herlong (real estate) and Jim Newman (commercial litigation).

Chambers USA uses in-depth, client-focused research to rank the leading US law firms and lawyers in a wide range of practice areas.  The guide is read by major companies and organizations throughout the US and the rest of the world.  It is also widely used by law firms for referral purposes.

Chambers USA’s recognition of Helmsing Leach and individual firm lawyers has become an annual event. The current edition notes that Mr. Babington’s “broad litigation practice encompasses product liability, mass tort and class actions proceedings [and that he] has experience representing clients in the healthcare, pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors.” The entry for Jeff Hartley reads, “[Mr. Hartley] handles a wide range of creditors’ rights and insolvency litigation, as well as mediation on bankruptcy class actions. One source said: ‘He’s very plugged-in; he’s an excellent attorney, is rational, knows the law inside and out and is the consummate professional.’” And Chambers reports that Warren Herlong “earns praise in the market for his condemnation practice. ‘He’s very thoughtful, well prepared and extraordinarily knowledgeable,’ according to market commentators.”

Helmsing Leach is very pleased to be recognized again this year by Chambers USA and congratulates its four lawyers who received special commendations.

Joe Babington Presents Paper Co-Authored With Sam Rosten On Trend In The Admission Of Expert Testimony

On June 11, 2015, at the annual meeting of the Trial Attorneys of America in Chicago, firm member Joseph P. H. Babington presented a paper entitled “Assault on the Gatekeeper?: A Discussion of the Ninth Circuit’s Recent Pomona Decision and other Judicial Shortcomings in Applying Rule 702 and Daubert.”  The presentation focused on the ways that some federal courts are ignoring or misapplying the text of Fed. R. Evid. 702 and the revised admissibility standards for expert testimony following the United States Supreme Court’s Daubert trilogy and presented tactics for combatting this trend.  Mr. Babington successfully argued for petitioners in the final case of the trilogy, Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, 526 U. S. 137 (1999).  Firm associate Samuel C. Rosten co-authored the paper presented by Mr. Babington.  TAA is a national products liability defense group limited to 200 members.

 

Joe Babington Elected Vice-President Of Trial Attorneys of America – Prelude To Presidency In 2017

Firm member Joseph P. H. Babington was unanimously elected Vice-President of the Trial Attorneys of America (TAA) on June 11, 2015, at its annual meeting in Chicago.  Formed in 1971, TAA is a products liability defense group limited to 200 trial lawyers.  TAA attorneys have tried cases in most state and federal venues in the United States and Puerto Rico.  Mr. Babington was elected a member of TAA in 2000, received the coveted TAA WAA (Worker Achievement Award) in 2010, and became a member of its board of directors in 2011.  He will serve a two-year term as Vice-President before becoming President in 2017.

 

Legislature Enacts Statutes Based On Proposal By ALI Committee On Which Casey Pipes Served

The Alabama Legislature enacted a new set of statutes concerning the enforceability of contractual agreements that restrain trade, such a covenants not to compete or to solicit customers.  These measures replace Code of Alabama, Section 8-1-1 which had been the law for almost 100 years.  Casey Pipes worked on the Alabama Law Institute Study Committee which drafted a recommendation which served as the foundation for the new law.  To review the new law, which will becomes effective on January 1, 2016, please click here.

Alexander & Mahoney Score Appellate Win

The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals issued an order on June 12, 2015, affirming, without opinion, a dismissal with prejudice entered by the Circuit Court of Mobile County in a case alleging wrongful/false arrest against Providence Hospital.  Firm members Alan Alexander and Philip Mahoney represented the hospital in the case, both in the trial court and on appeal.

Newman & Luna Win Defense Verdict In Jury Trial

Jim Newman and Ryan Luna won a defense verdict for their client in an automobile accident case tried to a jury earlier this month in the Circuit Court of Mobile County. Plaintiff’s claim was based on a “zone of danger” theory, and the evidence introduced included GPS data superimposed on Google maps. The jury returned a defense verdict on May 7, 2015 after a four-day trial.  Paralegal Kathy Mallette assisted the defense team at trial.

 

Helmsing Leach Secures Victory For Client In Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Helmsing Leach recently scored a win for the Sirote & Permutt law firm in a case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.  The appeal arose from Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claims against Sirote that were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama.  On appeal, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s grant of summary judgment for Sirote on the claims.  Helmsing Leach attorneys Jeffery Hartley and Samuel Rosten represented Sirote in the trial court and on appeal.

Jim Newman Inducted As Fellow Of Alabama Law Foundation

The firm is proud to announce that Jim Newman has been inducted as a Fellow of the Alabama Law Foundation. Membership in the Foundation is by nomination of its existing members and is limited to one percent of the membership of the Alabama State Bar. Mr. Newman joins Helmsing Leach’s John Leach as a member of the Foundation.