Accolades
American Board of Trial Advocates Inducts New Members, Officers
At its annual meeting in November, the Alabama Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) inducted three new members, as well as new officers.
ABOTA membership is by invitation and only trial lawyers who have demonstrated exceptional skills in jury trials and meet stringent standards of professionalism are inducted.
Alabama attorneys accepted this year are:
S. Allen Baker, Jr., Balch & Bingham LLP, Birmingham
Edgar M. Elliott, IV, Christian & Small LLP, Birmingham
R. Graham Esdale, Jr., Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, PC, Montgomery
Alabama Chapter ABOTA officers for the coming year are:
Ed Hardin, president, Burr & Forman LLP, Birmingham
Trey Traylor, vice president, Yearout & Traylor, PC, Birmingham
Joseph S. Miller, treasurer, Starnes Davis Florie LLP, Birmingham
Scott M. Salter, national board representative, Starnes Davis Florie LLP, Birmingham
Jeff Kirby, national board representative, Kirby Johnson PC, Birmingham
Hardin was inducted into ABOTA in 1993 and has held several leadership positions, including president-elect of the Alabama chapter and national board member, and Miller was recognized for his outstanding service as president of the Alabama chapter for the past year.
The American Board of Trial Advocates is a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Johnston Receives ABA Phoenix Award
The American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy and Resources recently presented Neil Johnston, a member in Hand Arendall’s Mobile office, with The Phoenix Award. Johnston served as the 2010–2011 chair of the Forest Resources Committee. The Phoenix Award is a special recognition given to the committee that has made an outstanding effort to improve its performance over the past year.
Smith Heads NABL Securities Law & Disclosure Committee
Maynard, Cooper & Gale PC shareholder Joseph E. Smith was named chair of the Securities Law & Disclosure Committee of the National Association of Bond Lawyers. As chair, Smith advises the NABL board of directors on developments in federal securities laws and in disclosure practices relating to municipal securities.
Smith also serves as an editor of NABL’s Federal Securities Law of Municipal Bonds Deskbook. For the last two years, he served as vice chair of the committee.
The National Association of Bond Lawyers exists to promote the integrity of the municipal securities market by advancing the understanding of and compliance with the laws affecting public finance.
