Alabama Appleseed

Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice
Current Board of Directors »» Biographies

Cassandra W. Adams is the Director of Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law Community Mediation Center and Public Interest Project. She received her J.D. degree from The University of Tennessee School of Law, her MSPH degree from Meharry Medical College and her B.A. from Fisk University. Ms. Adams has worked as a Restorative Justice Trainer for the Community Justice Institute at Florida Atlantic University, Volunteer Mediator with the Office of the State Attorney, 4th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Project Director for the Victim-Offender Reconciliation Project for the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts. She is also a member of the Alabama State Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyer’s Committee, Birmingham Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Magic City Bar Association, Alabama Lawyers Association and the American Bar Association.

Lisa W. Borden, who works out of Baker Donelson's Birmingham office, is the Firm's Pro Bono Shareholder.  In that capacity, Ms. Borden is responsible for overseeing the development, growth, and administration of the Firm's pro bono programs.  Ms. Borden's own pro bono legal work focuses on representation of indigent death row inmates in post-conviction proceedings, and representation of the homeless as part of the Firm's work with the Homeless Experience Legal Protection program.

Brannon J. Buck is a founding partner of Badham & Buck, LLC in Birmingham, Alabama specializing in Civil Commercial Litigation representing plaintiffs and defendants. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1997 and his B.A. degree from Davidson College. Mr. Buck serves as a board member for the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, Chair on the Quality of Life Committee of the Alabama State Bar, Chair of the Community Education Committee of the Birmingham Bar Association, has served as President (2004-2005), Secretary (2002-2003), Treasurer (2001-2002), and Executive Committee Member (1999-2001) for the Young Lawyers Section of the Alabama State Bar.

Henry A. Callaway is an attorney with Hand Arendall LLC in Mobile, Alabama. His practice focuses primarily in the field of business litigation, including areas of consumer finance, bankruptcy, lender liability, trade secrets, shareholder disputes, probate litigation, class actions, condemnation and landlord/tenant law. Mr. Callaway received his J.D. degree from Vanderbilt Law School in 1983 and his B.A. degree from Harvard University. He is a member of the Mobile County Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the American Bankruptcy Institute. Mr. Callaway is a State Bar Commissioner and is the vice-president of the Mobile Bar Association. He has served as president of the Mobile Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Program, appointed by the Alabama Supreme Court to the state’s Access to Justice Commission and served for many years on the board of Legal Services Alabama.

Richard P. Carmody is a partner with Adams and Reese, LLP in Birmingham, Alabama with experience in Banking and Finance law, Bankruptcy Law and Contracts. He received his J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1975 and his B.A. degree from the University of Illinois. Before attending law school, Mr. Carmody served eight years as an officer in the United States Army Field Artillery, including two tours in Vietnam. In 1999, Mr. Carmody was inducted as a fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy and currently serves on its Pro Bono Committee. He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Pro Bono Committee, a member of the Alabama Law Institute’s Committees for revision of the UCC, has been recognized by the Alabama State Bar as a “Lawyer Rendering Service”, he is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law), is a member of the Standards Committee of the American Board of Certification, and served as co-chair of the Ethics Committee of the American Bankruptcy Institute (1999-2005).

David Davis is the founder and president of DavisDenny, a multi-faceted communications firm headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, specializing in public relation/communications. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama. Mr. Davis has served on the board of directors for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Alabama, The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Alabama, The Birmingham Cultural and Heritage Foundation, The University of Alabama Alumni local chapter and as a Community Advisor to the Junior League of Birmingham. He has also been recognized as “Public Relations Practitioner of the Year” by the Public Relations Council of Alabama.

Jerome Dees is a Professor of Law at Thomas G. Jones School of Law in Montgomery, Alabama where he teaches Professional Responsibility, Secured Transactions, Sales, Negotiable Instruments and Sports Law. He received is J.D. degree from Cumberland School of Law and his B.A. degree from Auburn University. Mr. Dees is a member of the American Bar Association, the Alabama Bar Association, the Georgia Bar Association and the National Sports Law Institute and has been admitted to the Supreme Court of Alabama, the United States District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Alabama, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.  He currently serves on the Alabama State Bar UPL Committee, the Alabama Task Force on Allied Professions and is also the President of the Capital City Bar Association.

Patricia C. Diak is a partner of Haskell Slaughter Young & Rediker in Birmingham, Alabama. She received her J.D. degree from Yale Law School in 1994 and her B.S. degree from Grand Canyon College. She served as a Senior Editor of the Yale Law Journal. She began her legal career as Law Clerk to the Honorable Louis F. Oberdorfer, District Court Judge for the District of Columbia in 1994-1995. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Yale Law School Association and the Board of the Old Firehouse Shelter in Birmingham. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Alabama State Bar, Alabama Association for Justice, American Association for Justice and the Birmingham Bar Association.

Samuel H. Franklin is a founding partner of Lightfoot Franklin White, LLC in Birmingham, Alabama with experience in jury trials in many different areas, ranging from personal injury/wrongful death to complex business disputes. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1972, an LL.M. degree from Harvard University and B.A. degree from Auburn University. Mr. Franklin is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, and an Advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates.  He is a former President of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, and has been active in State Bar matters, including serving as a member of the Board of Bar Commissioners from 1991 through 2000; serving as a member of the Board of Disciplinary Appeals of the Alabama State Bar from 2000 to 2008; serving as President of the Alabama Law Foundation, and is a Fellow in both the American Bar and Alabama Law Foundations.  He has been listed, for years, in two categories in The Best Lawyers in America:  Business Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation. 

Joe Joseph is a partner at Burr & Forman, LLP in Birmingham, Alabama where he is the Chair of Creditors Rights and Bankruptcy Section. He received his J.D. degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1987 and his B.S. degree from the University of Alabama. Mr. Joseph is a member of the American Bar Association, the Alabama Bar Association and the American Bankruptcy Institute. He has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America and Best of the Bar according to the Birmingham Business Journal and has lectured on Bankruptcy and Workouts, Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Mark E. LaGory is Professor and Chair of the Sociology Department at the University of Alabama Birmingham. He received his Ph.D., M.A. and B.A. degree’s from the University of Cincinnati. Mr. LaGory is an urban sociologist whose research deals with the significance of place and environment for the well-being and health of urban residents. He has special interest in those who, because of poverty or other personal circumstances, have been deprived of place (homelessness). He also does research on the role that various forms of social capital (social support, religious ties, voluntary associations) play in mediating the consequences of stress. He has published over 60 refereed journal articles and 5 books.

Kimberly B. Martin is an attorney with Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP in Huntsville, Alabama. Her practice focuses on general litigation with an emphasis on medical device and pharmaceutical, commercial, products liability and labor and employment litigation. Ms. Martin received her J.D. degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1994 and her B.A. degree from the University of Alabama. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Alabama State Bar, Huntsville/Madison County Bar Association, Madison County Inns of Court, Defense Research Institute, Drug and Medical Device Committee and International Association of Defense Counsel.

Derrick A. Mills is an associate with the law firm of Marsh, Rickard & Bryan, P.C. in Birmingham, Alabama. He focuses his practice in civil litigation, personal injury and products liability. Mr. Mills received his J.D. degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2003 and his B.S. degree from the University of North Alabama. Before becoming an associate, Mr. Mills clerked for U.S. District Court Judge U.W. Clemon. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Alabama Association for Justice, Birmingham Bar Association as the Executive Committee for the Young Lawyers Section and the Magic City Bar Association as Parliamentarian.

Steve C. Olen is a partner with Cunningham Bounds, LLC in Mobile, Alabama, focusing on complex litigation, business litigation, class actions and bankruptcy litigation. He received his J.D. degree summa cum laude from Cumberland School of Law and his B.S. degree from Princeton University. Mr. Olen serves on the Executive Committee of the Alabama Association for Justice and the Executive Committee of the South Alabama Trial Lawyers Association. He is a member of the American Association for Justice and Executive Committee and Chairman of the Civil Practice Committee of the Mobile Bar Association.

Jerry F. Perkins, Jr. is a Senior Attorney with Vulcan Materials Company in Birmingham, Alabama. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1997 and B.S. degree from the University of Alabama. Mr. Perkins is a CPA and practiced accounting with an international accounting firm before beginning his legal career. He is a member of the Board of Directors of YouthServe, Inc. and The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, the American Bar Association, Alabama State Bar, Birmingham Bar Association, Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club, Alabama Corporate Counsel Association, and Society of Corporate Secretaries & Governance Professionals.

Robert D. Segall is a partner of the law firm Copeland, Franco, Screws & Gill, P.A. in Montgomery, Alabama with extensive litigation experience in state and federal courts. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1971, an LL.M degree from Harvard University and his B.A. degree from Vanderbilt University. Mr. Segall has served a the Alabama State Bar President (2004-2005), Alabama State Bar Board of Commissioners (1995-2004), Executive Counsel of State Bar (3 years), President of the Montgomery Country Bar Association (1989), Montgomery Trial Lawyers Association (1983), Board of Legal Services Corporation of Alabama (1990-1996). He currently serves on the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism and the Board of Federal Defenders Program for Middle District of Alabama.

Roman Shaul is an attorney with Beasley Allen P.C. in Montgomery, Alabama. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1998 and his B.S. degree from the University of Alabama. Mr. Shaul is a member of the Alabama State Bar, Christian Trial Lawyers Association, Mississippi State Bar, Arkansas State Bar and South Carolina State Bar.

David L. Silverstein is a principal with Bayer Properties, L.L.C., a real estate development company in Birmingham, Alabama. He is in charge of managing relationships with governmental entities around the country. He received his J.D. degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1981 and his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University. He serves as a board member for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Operation New Birmingham and Camp Seale Harris, Mr. Silverstein is on the Members Council for Leadership Alabama and is a member of the Kiwanis.

Founders Advisory Board Members » Biographies

Albert Brewer is the Distinguished Professor of Law and Government at Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He served as Governor of Alabama from 1968 to 1971 and has also served as Lieutenant Governor of Alabama, member of the Alabama House of Representatives, and as Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives.

Gregory S. Cusimano is an owner of the law firm of Cusimano, Keener, Roberts & Kimberly, P.C. He has held every elected position in the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, including president. Mr. Cusimano has published several articles in state and national magazines and various treatises and is a contributing editor of the Alabama Tort Law Handbook and Alabama Tort Law, second edition.

J. Mason Davis is a senior partner of the law firm of Sirote & Permutt in Birmingham.

John H. England, Jr. is a Circuit Court judge in the 6th Judicial Circuit in Tuscaloosa. He was formerly as Associate Justice on the Alabama Supreme Court.

Bryan K. Fair is the Thomas E. Skinner Professor of Law and Director of Diversity and International Programs at the University of Alabama School of Law in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. His primary teaching area is in Constitutional Law. He received his J.D. degree from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law in 1985 and his B.A. degree from Duke University. Mr. Fair is a member of the American Law Institute and serves on the board of directors for Alabama Credit Union and Equal Justice Initiative. He is a faculty advisor for Outlaw, Law Democrats, and the Black Law Students Association.

A.H. “Nick” Gaede, Jr. is Vice President and General Counsel of BE&K, Inc., an international construction company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. He joined BE&K in September 2007. Prior to joining BE&K, he was a partner of Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP in Birmingham, Alabama and a senior member of the Construction and Procurement Practice Group. With Bradley Arant, he concentrated his practice in the areas of construction law, domestic and foreign, government contracts and general litigation. He received his J.D. degree from Duke University School of Law and his B.S. degree from Yale University. Mr. Gaede is a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers (Treasurer, President, and Executive Committee), a member of the American Law Institute, American Bar Association, International Bar Association, Birmingham Bar Association, The Best Lawyers in America and a member of Class VI of Leadership Alabama. He has been a recipient of the Charles A. Dukes award for outstanding volunteer service to Duke University. He served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at University of Alabama (EU Law), joint University of Alabama and Fribourg (Switzerland) University (Int'l Arb), and Cumberland School of Law (Negotiations).

C.C. Torbert, Jr. is a partner in the Birmingham law firm of Maynard, Cooper & Gale. He served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama from 1977 to 1989. After declining to seek reelection, Mr. Torbert held the Leslie S. Wright Chair of law at the Cumberland School of Law and the John Sparkman Chair of Law at the University of Alabama School of Law. Before becoming Alabama Supreme Court Justice, he was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives and later to the Alabama State Senate. In the Korean conflict, he served with the United States Air Force, attaining the rank of Captain.

Past Board Members » Biographies

John L. Carroll is the Dean and a Professor of Law at Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He became Dean in 2001. He received his J.D. degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1974, an LL.M from Harvard Law School and his B.A. degree from Tufts University. Before joining Cumberland's faculty, he served as a U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of Alabama and was a Legal Director and attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Henry Lomax Cassady, Jr. is the managing partner of the law firm of Capell & Howard, P.C. in Montgomery, Alabama.

Herman Cobb is a founding partner in the law firm of Cobb, Derrick, Boyd & White in Dothan, Alabama. He received his J.D. degree from the Cumberland School of Law in 1968 and has practiced law in Alabama since graduation. At the start of his legal career, Mr. Cobb clerked for the Honorable Virgil Pittman, U. S. District Judge for the Southern District of Alabama. Mr. Cobb is a member of the Alabama State Bar, American Bar Association, and the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association. Mr. Cobb has served as President of the Houston County Bar Association and has served as the City Attorney for the City of Dothan.

William D. Coleman is the managing partner of the law firm of Capell & Howard, P.C. in Montgomery, Alabama.

Merceria Ludgood is a County Commissioner of Mobile County. She received her J.D. degree from the Antioch School of Law in Washington, DC in 1981, Master of Divinity from the Alabama Interdenominational Seminary, and her B.S. and M.A. degrees from the University of Alabama. Ms. Ludgood entered the legal profession in 1981, and served as Executive Director of the Legal Services Corporation of Alabama from 1991 to 1995.  In 1995, she joined the staff of the national office of the Legal Services Corporation as Director of the Office of Program Services. She is a member of the Alabama State Board of Bar Commissioners, Alabama Bar Foundation Fellow, A+ Education Fellow, Leadership Alabama, Mobile United, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and the United Way Women’s Initiative.

David H. Marsh is the founder of the firm of Marsh, Rickard & Bryan, located in Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. Marsh serves on the Executive Committee of the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association as its Vice President, and served as its President in 2003. Mr. Marsh received his undergraduate degree from Auburn University and his law degree from Cumberland School of Law. Mr. Marsh is currently and has been listed in the last five editions of The Best Lawyers in America.

Sue H. McInnish is Executive Director of the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation in Montgomery, Alabama.

Thomas Methvin is the managing shareholder/partner with the law firm of Beasley Allen in Montgomery, Alabama.

Kenneth C. Randall is the Dean of the University of Alabama School of Law. He holds four law degrees: a doctorate from Columbia University School of Law (1988), where he was the W. Bayard Cutting Jr. Fellow of International (1984-85); a master's from Columbia (1985); a master's from Yale University (1982), which he attended on a fellowship; and a J.D. from Hofstra University (1981), where he was the editor-in-chief of the Hofstra Law Review. Dean Randall practiced law with the Wall Street firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett from 1982 to 1984. He joined the Alabama faculty in 1985. His articles have appeared in numerous law journals, including the Columbia, Texas, Minnesota, Washington University (St. Louis), Ohio State, and N.Y.U. International law reviews.

Dudley C. Reynolds is President and Chief Operating Officer of Alabama Gas Corporation. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Georgia Law School in 1978 and his B.A. degree from Furman University. Mr. Reynolds is a member of the Alabama Bar Association, Georgia Bar Association and Birmingham Bar Association. He is a past Chairman of the Legal Section Managing Committee of the American Gas Association, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Southern Gas Association, United Way of Central Alabama, Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, Metropolitan Development Board, Regional Cultural Alliance, Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (currently serving as Chairman of The Board), Operation New Birmingham, and the Board of Trustees of the Alabama Ballet.

Barrett Clinton Shelton, III is the managing editor of The Decatur Daily in Decatur, Alabama.