John Leach – Best Lawyers Bet-the-Company Litigator of the Year for 2009

Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, has named John N. Leach, Jr. as the “Mobile Best Lawyers Bet-the-Company Litigator of the Year” for 2009. This is a special designation by Best Lawyers which is given to only one lawyer in each legal community in this specialty.

Best Lawyers in America

The following lawyers were honored with inclusion in the 2009 Best Lawyers in America publication:

R. Alan Alexander (Health Care Law; Medical Malpractice Law);
Joseph P. H. Babington (Mass Tort Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation);
Jeffery J. Hartley (Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law);
Frederick G. Helmsing (Tax Law; White-Collar Criminal Defense);
Warren C. Herlong, Jr. (Antitrust Law; Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law; Real Estate Law);
John N. Leach, Jr. (Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation);
James B. Newman (Commercial Litigation);
Robert H. Rouse (Tax Law; Trusts and Estates); and
A. Edwin Stuardi, III (Medical Malpractice Law; Commercial Litigation).

Fred Helmsing has been listed in the Best Lawyers publication for over 10 years, and John Leach has been listed for over 20 years.

Win Stuardi Joins Firm

A. Edwin Stuardi, III has recently joined the Firm as a shareholder. Win Stuardi is a admitted to practice in both Alabama and Mississippi, and he has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers directories in the areas of medical malpractice and commercial litigation.

Casey Pipes speaks at ALI-ABA Eminent Domain Seminar

Casey Pipes co-presented a continuing legal education seminar at the 2009 ALI-ABA Condemnation 101: How To Prepare and Present an Eminent Domain Case seminar in Miami, Florida. Casey’s topic this year was on Basic Exhibits That Help Win Condemnation Cases.

This seminar is an annual three-day seminar that runs concurrently with the more advanced ALI-ABA Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation seminar.

John Leach – President of Mobile Bar Association

Firm shareholder, John N. Leach, has become President of the Mobile Bar Association for 2009. He most recently served as Vice President and President-Elect, and he has served in other leadership positions within the Mobile Bar Association in the past. The Mobile Bar Association celebrates its 140th anniversary this year. It is the oldest bar association in Alabama and one of the oldest in the United States.

Recognition from Chambers and Partners

Chambers and Partners released its 2008 ratings of law firms in the United States, and the firm of Helmsing, Leach, Herlong, Newman & Rouse, PC received a high rating. Chambers reports that, “This ‘high quality’ Mobile firm is recognized for its leading litigation practice with one source claiming: ‘You can’t get better lawyers in that area.’ It is the team of choice for top-notch litigation work in Mobile and is frequently referred to by its competitors.”

Chambers and Partners also gave high ratings to firm members Fred Helmsing and John Leach. Chambers reports that, “‘Experienced authority’ Frederick Helmsing practices in products liability, corporate and tax litigation; he is also recognized as being ‘highly skilled in the criminal arena’ and is ‘a phenomenal lawyer and a great guy’. John Leach is admired by peers for his ‘varied expertise at a high level’ and for being ‘universally respected by the bench and the Bar'”.

Helmsing and Leach named as Alabama Super Lawyers

Frederick G. Helmsing, Sr. and John N. Leach have been included in the recently published list of Alabama Super Lawyers which was compiled through a multi-step evaluation process that incorporated peer recognition and professional achievement. In addition, John Leach received recognition as one of the top 50 Alabama lawyers who received the highest point totals in the 2008 Alabama Super Lawyers’ nomination, research, and blue ribbon review process.

John Leach Participates in 2008 Professionalism Consortium

John Leach served as one of the six panelists at the 2008 Professionalism Consortium organized by the Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism. Mr. Leach’s topic was “Setting a Tone by Your Values: What Qualities Do Law Firms Value?” Invited attendees included Deans of the law schools in Alabama, members of the Alabama Appellate courts, State Bar Commissioners, Presiding Judges of the Circuit Courts, and local Bar Association presidents.

Casey Pipes Moderates an ABA Teleconference Panel

Casey Pipes moderated an ABA Teleconference entitled “Environmental Regulations – Compensable Takings or Permissible Legislation?” along with panelists from across the country. The purpose of the teleconference was to discuss the current state of the law in the context of a few real world situations where environmental regulations have led to regulatory takings claims.

Russell Buffkin Selected to Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum

The Alabama State Bar has selected Russell Buffkin as one of only two attorneys from Mobile to participate in the 2008 Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum. A total of only 30 lawyers were selected from across the state to become members of the forum.