The Trial Attorneys of America installed firm member Joe Babington as its President during its annual meeting in Chicago this week.  TAA is an invitation-only organization of commercial litigation and product liability defense trial counsel.  Mr. Babington has served the past two years as the organization’s Vice President and Program Director.  His term as President runs through June 2019.

Casey Pipes was elected Vice President of the Petroleum and Convenience Marketers of Alabama (PCMA) Associate Board for 2017.  The PCMA is the advocacy group for the convenience store and motor fuel retailer industry in Alabama.  The Associate Board is comprised of people who serve the C-store industry, such as fuel distributors, food and beverage distributors, and service providers.  Mr. Pipes’ connection with the PCMA is his representation of numerous C-store owners and tenants in land condemnation actions throughout Alabama.  The Associate Board helps raise money for and oversee the PCMA Educational Foundation which provides college scholarships to employees and family members of employees who work in the C-store industry.  For more information, please visit pcmala.org.

U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers recently announced the “Best Law Firms” rankings for 2017, and Helmsing Leach is among the select group of firms named.  This coveted honor is reserved for firms recognized for professional excellence that have consistently garnered accolades from clients and peers.

Alan Alexander, Joe Babington, Russell Buffkin, Jeff Hartley, Warren Herlong, John Leach, Jim Newman, Charlie Mixon, Casey Pipes, Robert Rouse and Win Stuardi were all selected for inclusion in the 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (copyright by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, South Carolina). In addition, Mr. Hartley (bankruptcy), Mr. Newman (insurance law), Mr. Pipes (municipal law) and Mr. Stuardi (professional malpractice law – defendants) were each recognized as Mobile, Alabama Lawyer Of The Year in their respective specialty practice areas.

Casey Pipes was recently named Secretary/Treasurer of the Associate Board of the Petroleum and Convenience Marketers of Alabama.  Mr. Pipes has been a member of the Associate Board for the past three years, and is now in line to become the President of the Associate Board.

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.

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.