34 Bradley Attorneys Honored as "Lawyer of the Year" in 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
August, 2024 - Birmingham, Alabama
Bradley is pleased to announce that 34 Bradley attorneys are named a “Lawyer of the Year” across 42 practice areas in The Best Lawyers in America® for 2025. The “Lawyer of the Year” accolade honors individual attorneys who received the highest overall peer feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region.
In total, 394 Bradley attorneys are recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, including 98 attorneys recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. The Best Lawyers in America is one of the most highly regarded attorney referral publications in the country.
“The number of Bradley attorneys who have been recognized as a ‘Lawyer of the Year’ is especially impressive and speaks to how highly they are regarded by their peers for their legal ability,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters.
Following are the Bradley attorneys named a “Lawyer of the Year” for their practice area(s), organized by office:
Atlanta
The following attorney is named “Lawyer of the Year” in Atlanta:
- Ronald T. Coleman Jr., Franchise Law “Lawyer of the Year”
Birmingham
The following 16 attorneys are named “Lawyer of the Year” in Birmingham in 19 practice areas:
- James F. Archibald, Litigation – Construction “Lawyer of the Year”
- William C. Athanas, Criminal Defense: White-Collar “Lawyer of the Year”
- Kane Burnette, Municipal Law “Lawyer of the Year”
- Michael S. Denniston, Franchise Law “Lawyer of the Year” and Trademark Law “Lawyer of the Year”
- Jeffrey D. Dyess, Litigation – Intellectual Property “Lawyer of the Year” and Litigation – Patent “Lawyer of the Year”
- Bruce P. Ely, Tax Law “Lawyer of the Year”
- Christopher R. Grissom, Project Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year”
- Rod Kanter, Public Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year”
- Stuart M. Maxey, Corporate Governance Law “Lawyer of the Year”
- Brad Robertson, Government Relations Practice “Lawyer of the Year”
- E. Mabry Rogers, Construction Law “Lawyer of the Year”
- Anne Marie Seibel, Litigation and Controversy – Tax “Lawyer of the Year”
- Jack W. Selden, Qui Tam Law “Lawyer of the Year”
- Frederic L. Smith Jr., Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) “Lawyer of the Year”
- Paul M. Sykes, Copyright Law “Lawyer of the Year” and Trade Secrets Law “Lawyer of the Year”
- J. Keith Windle, Banking and Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year”
Charlotte, N.C.
The following two attorneys are named a “Lawyer of the Year” in Charlotte in three practice areas:
- Jay R. Bender, Litigation – Bankruptcy “Lawyer of the Year”
- Robert R. Marcus, Litigation – Banking and Finance “Lawyer of the Year” and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year”
Huntsville, Ala.
The following three attorneys are named “Lawyer of the Year” in Huntsville in three practice areas:
- L. Justin Burney, Mergers and Acquisitions Law “Lawyer of the Year”
- Frank M. Caprio, Patent Law “Lawyer of the Year”
- H. Harold Stephens, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year”
Jackson, Miss.
The following three attorneys are named “Lawyer of the Year” in Jackson in four practice areas:
- Alan W. Perry, Litigation – Banking and Finance “Lawyer of the Year” and Litigation – Real Estate “Lawyer of the Year”
- Stephen L. Thomas, Litigation – Intellectual Property “Lawyer of the Year”
- Stephen M. Wilson, Litigation and Controversy – Tax “Lawyer of the Year”
Montgomery, Ala.
The following two attorneys are named “Lawyer of the Year” in Montgomery:
- Robert Emmett Poundstone IV, Litigation – Health Care “Lawyer of the Year”
- Charles Stewart, Employment Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year”
Nashville, Tenn.
The following seven attorneys are named “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville in 10 practice areas:
- Joseph W. Gibbs, Litigation and Controversy – Tax “Lawyer of the Year”
- Lela M. Hollabaugh, Energy Law “Lawyer of the Year”
- John E. Murdock III, Banking and Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” and Project Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year”
- Jim Murphy, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning “Lawyer of the Year” and Municipal Law “Lawyer of the Year”
- Scarlett Nokes, Litigation – Health Care “Lawyer of the Year”
- William L. Norton III, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law “Lawyer of the Year” and Litigation – Bankruptcy “Lawyer of the Year”
- D. Bryan Thomas, Construction Law “Lawyer of the Year”
Now in its 31st year, The Best Lawyers in America is one of the most highly regarded attorney referral publications in the country. Attorneys are selected as “Lawyer of the Year” based on extensive surveys of leading lawyers who assess the legal abilities of their peers. Only one lawyer is recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for a specialty and metropolitan location per edition.
