News Post

The Alabama State Bar on Monday announced the names of the 30 attorneys selected as members of the 2015 Leadership Forum Class 11.

Created in 2005, the bar’s Leadership Forum has produced 287 graduates.  Participants will undergo a rigorous education and training process focusing on servant leadership, ethics and career development.  Candidates are required to attend five separate sessions including a three-day orientation program.

“As a graduate of the program, I know firsthand the positive impact it can have on your legal career, and how it further prepares the participants to serve their clients, their communities and the profession,” said Alabama State Bar President Rich Raleigh of Wilmer & Lee, PA (Huntsville). “The Leadership Forum offers a dynamic and educational environment that creates conversation, inspires new ideas and fosters strong working relationships among attorneys.”

While there is no age requirement, participants must have practiced law for at least five years and no more than 15 years. Candidates are selected based on demonstrated leadership qualities and service to their communities.  Entry to the program is competitive, with approximately 40 percent of applicants chosen for the 30 positions each year.

The lawyers selected for the 2015 Leadership Forum Class 11 include:

William Reeves Andrews, Marsh Rickard & Bryan, PC (Birmingham)
Benjamin Huff Barron, Lee Livingston Lee & Nichols, PC (Dothan)
Rebecca Ashley Beers, Rumberger Kirk & Caldwell (Birmingham)
Christopher Patrick Bodden, Regions Financial Corporation (Birmingham)
Haley Andrews Cox, Lightfoot Franklin & White, LLC (Birmingham)
Howard Hube Dodd Jr., The Dodd Firm, LLC (Birmingham)
Christopher Ramsey Duck, The Duck Law Firm (Homewood)
Roy Clay Dumas, Hill Hill Carter Franco Cole & Black (Montgomery)
Prim Formby Escalona, Maynard Cooper & Gale, PC (Birmingham)
Brandon Keith Essig, U.S. Attorney’s Office – Middle District of Alabama (Montgomery)
Andrew Brent Freeman, Adams & Reese, LLP (Mobile)
Timothy Justin Flinn Gallagher, Sasser Sefton & Brown, PC (Montgomery)
Shera Craig Grant, Office of the Public Defender – Jefferson County (Birmingham)
Scott Bradley Holmes, City Attorney’s Office (Tuscaloosa)
George Allen Howell, Samford University – Cumberland School of Law (Birmingham)
John W. Johnson II, Christian & Small, LLP (Birmingham)
Henry Sprott Long III, Butler Snow LLP (Birmingham)
Thomas Matthew Loper, The Gardner Firm, PC (Mobile)
Glory Rachel McLaughlin, University of Alabama School of Law (Tuscaloosa)
Harold Dean Mooty III, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP (Huntsville)
Kathleen Megan Shuey O’Connell, HealthSouth Corporation (Birmingham)
Adam Patterson Plant, Battle & Winn, LLP (Birmingham)
John Thomas Richie, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP (Birmingham)
Rachel Laurie Riddle, State of Alabama Legislative Fiscal Office (Montgomery)
Kelly Burleson Rushin, Liles & Rushin, LLC (Birmingham)
Ernest Glenn Smith Jr., Carr Allison (Daphne)
Kristofor David Sodergren, Rosen Harwood, PA (Tuscaloosa)
Brian Michael Vines, Hare Wynn Newell & Newton, LLP (Birmingham)
Mickey Jansen Voss, Scott Sullivan Streetman & Fox, PC (Birmingham)
William Christopher Waller Jr., Ball Ball Matthews & Novak, PA (Montgomery)

Additional information on the Alabama State Bar Leadership forum can be found here.