Helmsing Leach Recognized as a Tier 1 Law Firm

U.S. News – Best Lawyers has recognized Helmsing Leach as a Tier 1 law firm in its 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in America.  This recognition is reserved for those firms that score in the top percentile during the annual review process.

Samantha Gunnoe Joins Helmsing Leach

Helmsing Leach is pleased to announce that Samantha Gunnoe has joined the firm as a litigation associate.  Prior to joining Helmsing Leach, Samantha practiced at a civil defense firm in the Mobile area and clerked for the Honorable Robert H. Smith and the Honorable S. Wesley Pipes of the 13th Judicial Circuit of Alabama.  Samantha’s background includes general insurance defense, motor vehicle litigation, and premises liability litigation.  Samantha obtained her law degree from Loyola University New Orleans and earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mississippi.

A. Edwin Stuardi, III Inducted as Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers

Helmsing Leach is pleased to announce that A. Edwin Stuardi, III has been inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) at their Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois on October 3, 2021.

Founded in 1950, the ACTL is composed of the best of the trial bar for the United States and Canada. Fellowship in the ACTL is extended by invitation only after careful investigation. Fellows must be experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by high standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. A lawyer must have a minimum of fifteen years trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship. Membership in the ACTL cannot exceed 1% of the total lawyer population of any state or province.

Stuardi has represented clients in hundreds of cases during his 25-plus years of practice in Alabama. His active trial practice includes all types of complex litigation, although he focuses mainly on representing hospitals, physicians and long-term care facilities across Alabama in medical negligence lawsuits and other healthcare-related litigation. Stuardi has been recognized by Best Lawyers of America and Super Lawyers every year since 2009 and he has an AV-preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubble.

Firm Has 6 Recognized by Best Lawyers as a Lawyer of the Year

Best Lawyers has identified six of the Firm’s lawyers as being “Lawyer of the Year” in the Mobile, Alabama market for 2022 in their respective areas of practice.  Included in this years recognition by Best Lawyers are:

Casey Pipes to Speak at ACREL Conference

Casey Pipes will join Leslee Lewis and Michel Couillard in making a presentation to the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) on the Counselors of Real Estate’s Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate for 2019-2020.  The presentation will be in conjunction with the ACREL national conference on March 19-21, 2020 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Bill Watts and Tom Gaillard successfully defend City of Mobile Police Officer

On September 27, 2018, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of the action filed in federal district court against the City of Mobile and one of its police officers sued for alleged violation of the plaintiff’s constitutional rights arising from the officer’s investigation of a traffic accident.  Tom Gaillard and Bill Watts represented the police officer before the district court and the court of appeals.

Casey Pipes Joins Faculty for Eminent Domain Seminar

J. Casey Pipes has been added to the faculty for the 2019 American Law Institute Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Seminar on January 24 – 29, 2019, in Palm Springs, California.  This annual event is the preeminent eminent domain seminar and attracts the best condemnation lawyers from all over the country.

 

Appellate Court Upholds Defense Verdict

In August of 2016 firm members Win Stuardi and Russell Buffkin, representing a local hospital, successfully obtained a defense verdict in a wrongful death action filed against the hospital in Baldwin County Circuit Court.  In February of 2018, the Alabama Supreme Court affirmed the verdict.  Firm member Bill Watts handled the appeal on behalf of Thomas Hospital.

Casey Pipes to Speak at MAAR Luncheon

Case Pipes will be the guest speaker at the May 24th meeting of the Mobile Area Association of Realtors.  He will be giving an updated review of the Map for Mobile, the City of Mobile’s comprehensive plan for long-term preservation, revitalization and growth.

The luncheon is open to MAAR members and will be at the Country Club of Mobile on May 24, 2018, from 11:30-1:00.