Helmsing Leach attorneys Jeffery Hartley and Casey Pipes were recently recognized in Business Alabama magazine’s Legal Elite listing. Jeffery was recognized in the Bankruptcy and Workout practice area, and Casey was recognized in the Eminent Domain practice area. Attorneys named to the Legal Elite are nominated for their expertise and voted on by their peers across the state of Alabama.

Win Stuardi was recently named the Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers® for 2026 in Mobile, Ala. Best Lawyers® highlights top legal talent around the world based on peer evaluations, and each year the publication recognizes one attorney per metropolitan area and practice area as the Lawyer of the Year. Lawyers of the Year receive the highest votes from their peers.

In addition to his Lawyer of the Year award, Win was named one of The Best Lawyers in America® in the following practice areas:

• Commercial Litigation
• Litigation – Construction
• Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants

An experienced trial lawyer, Win has represented clients in hundreds of cases during his more than 30 years of practice in Alabama. Win has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® since 2009.

Russell Buffkin, Tom Gaillard, and Casey Pipes were recently recognized by Best Lawyers® for 2026 in Real Estate Litigation and Municipal Law. Each attorney and practice area is listed below:

Russell Buffkin

• Litigation – Real Estate

Tom Gaillard

• Municipal Law

Casey Pipes

• Land Use and Zoning Law
• Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
• Litigation – Real Estate
• Municipal Law
• Real Estate Law

Helmsing Leach attorneys have extensive experience representing property owners and governmental entities in a variety of matters. To learn more, visit our practice area pages:

• Real Estate Law
• Land Use and Zoning
• Municipal Law

Kirk Mattei was recently named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in Mobile, Ala. Each year, Best Lawyers® recognizes top lawyers in their practice areas and location based on peer evaluations. Kirk was recognized in three practice areas, including:

• Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Professional Malpractice Law

Kirk has a civil litigation practice with a focus on medical malpractice and product liability defense. He was previously recognized by Best Lawyers® in their 2025 edition.

Jeffery Hartley was recently named to Best Lawyers in America® in Mobile, Ala. in three practice areas:

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Bet-the-Company Litigation
• Litigation – Bankruptcy

Jeffery is consistently awarded for his bankruptcy and creditor’s rights practice. He has been actively involved in bankruptcy, reorganization, workout, corporate divorce, creditor’s rights and insolvency litigation for more than thirty years.

Casey Pipes was recently recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2026 Lawyer of the Year in Mobile, Ala. in two practice areas—Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Litigation. Best Lawyers® highlights top legal talent around the world, and only one lawyer is named Lawyer of the Year per practice area and location. Lawyers of the Year receive the highest reviews from their peers.

In addition to his Lawyer of the Year awards, Casey was named one of The Best Lawyers in America® in the following practice areas:

• Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
• Land Use and Zoning Law
• Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
• Litigation – Real Estate
• Municipal Law
• Real Estate Law

Casey has been named to The Best Lawyers in America® since 2011, including nine years as a Lawyer of the Year.

Joe Babington, Tom Gaillard, Win Stuardi, and Karen Tucker were recognized as top attorneys in medical malpractice and professional liability defense by Best Lawyers in America® in Mobile, Ala. for 2026. The attorneys and their practice areas are below:

Joe Babington

• Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Tom Gaillard

• Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Win Stuardi

• Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants

Karen Tucker

• Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants

From proactive risk management to the defense against professional liability claims, Helmsing Leach’s medical malpractice and professional liability defense attorneys are continually sought for their expertise and guidance. We have a proven track record defending professionals in the medical field as well as other licensed professionals across the country.

Joe Babington, Russell Buffkin, John Dukes, Jim Newman, and Win Stuardi were recently named to Best Lawyers in America® in Mobile, Ala. for 2026. Best Lawyers® annually highlights the top lawyers around the world, and Helmsing Leach attorneys are recognized year after year across practice areas.

Helmsing Leach is a leading commercial litigation firm. Our attorneys have handled complex matters in this area in state and federal courts across Alabama and the nation since the firm’s founding almost 40 years ago.

Bill Watts and Karen Tucker were recently named Best Lawyers® for 2026 in Appellate Practice in Mobile, Ala. Best Lawyers® identifies top lawyers in a practice area and location each year. Bill and Karen are routinely recognized as leading appellate advocates in state and federal court.

Helmsing Leach’s experienced litigators are admitted to appellate courts in the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, the United States Courts of Appeal for the 5th Circuit and 11th Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. To learn more, visit our appellate practice area page.

Twelve Helmsing Leach attorneys were named to the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America® in Mobile, Ala. Best Lawyers® recognizes the top attorneys in a metropolitan area each year. The full list is below:

Joseph P.H. Babington

• Commercial Litigation
• Litigation – Construction
• Litigation – Environmental
• Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

Russell C. Buffkin

• Commercial Litigation
• Litigation – Real Estate

John T. Dukes

• Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
• Real Estate Law

Thomas O. Gaillard III

• Litigation – Construction
• Municipal Law
• Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

Jeffery J. Hartley

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Bet-the-Company Litigation
• Litigation – Bankruptcy

James B. Newman

• Commercial Litigation
• Insurance Law
• Litigation – Banking and Finance
• Litigation – Construction
• Litigation – Labor and Employment

J. Casey Pipes

• Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
• Land Use and Zoning Law *Lawyer of the Year
• Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
• Litigation – Real Estate *Lawyer of the Year
• Municipal Law
• Real Estate Law

Robert H. Rouse

• Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
• Tax Law
• Trusts and Estates

A. Edwin Stuardi III

• Commercial Litigation
• Litigation – Construction
• Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants *Lawyer of the Year
• Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants

Karen Tucker

• Appellate Practice
• Litigation – Health Care
• Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants

William W. Watts III

• Appellate Practice

W. Kirkland Mattei (Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®)

• Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Professional Malpractice Law