Capell & Howard P.C. Attorneys At Law Montgomery & Auburn/Opelika, AL

Capell & Howard Recognized in “Best Law Firms” Rankings

Best Lawyers® and U.S. News & World Report, for the 13th consecutive year, collaboratively announced the release of the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings.

Capell & Howard P.C. was recognized as a “Best Law Firm” in the Metro Montgomery area and was regionally ranked in 21 practice areas, 16 of which received a Tier 1 ranking.

The U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in the field and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process.

According to Best Lawyers, “Achieving a tiered ranking in U.S. News – Best Lawyers ‘Best Law Firms’ signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.” Their press release, dated November 3, 2022, goes on to say, “Firms that received a tier designation reflect the highest level of respect a firm can earn among other leading lawyers and clients from the same communities and practice areas.”

This fall, 21 attorneys at Capell & Howard were selected for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, six of whom were recognized in seven practice areas as “Lawyer of the Year” in the Metro Montgomery area. Another of the firm’s attorneys was selected for The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™.

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In compliance with the Alabama State Bar, Capell & Howard states, “No representation is made that the quality of the legal service to be performed is greater than the quality of the legal services performed by other lawyers.”

Governor Kay Ivey’s Proclamation – Mediation Week

The Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution joined with the Alabama State Bar in recognizing the contributions of mediators during the third week of October. Governor Kay Ivey proclaimed the week of October 17-21, 2022 as “Mediation Week.”

Alabama recognizes the great need to promote mediation as a means for litigants to resolve their cases by agreement rather than requiring the court’s resources for a resolution and highlights the contributions of the Alabama Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution, the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution, the Dispute Resolution Section of the Alabama State Bar, state agencies, community-based mediation programs and pro bono mediation programs.

Pictured with Governor Kay Ivey at the Proclamation Signing Ceremony for “Mediation Week” are Bradley Edmonds with the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Mediation Office; James N. Walter Jr., Chair of the Alabama Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution; Tom Corbett, Chair of the Dispute Resolution Section of the Alabama State Bar; and Eileen Harris, Executive Director of the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution.

Capell & Howard attorney Jimmy Walter is a certified arbitrator and mediator registered with the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution. He has been a member of the American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Neutrals since 2014. To view Jimmy’s full bio, click here.

Barbara J. Wells Speaks at Construction Industry Conference

Barbara J. Wells, Capell & Howard attorney and shareholder, made a presentation at the Inaugural Gulf Coast Construction Industry Conference in Mobile on July 13, 2022. Her presentation was entitled “Employment Law and Practices for Construction Companies: 10 Things Managers Say That Invite Workplace Problems.” Barbara also spoke at the 8th Annual Construction Industry Summit in Birmingham on December 1, 2021. Also about Employment Law, her presentation was entitled “What Do You Mean They Are My Employees? How to Avoid Employment Claims for Direct Hires, Leased Employees, and Borrowed Servants.”

Both events were hosted by the Construction Industry Section of the Alabama State Bar and Alabama Associated General Contractors. Capell & Howard was pleased to support both of these conferences as a Grand Patron Sponsor.

Firm Welcomes Second Group of Summer Clerks

We are pleased to welcome our second group of clerks to Capell & Howard this summer: Margaret Canary, Mitchell Sikes and Libby Wheeler.

Margaret Canary returns for her second clerkship with our firm. Originally from Montgomery, Margaret graduated from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland where she received her Master of Arts (Hons.) degree in Modern History.

Margaret recently completed her second year at The University of Alabama School of Law, where she served as Junior Editor of the Journal of the Legal Profession and has a note that will published in the Journal’s forthcoming edition. Margaret currently serves as Law Review Articles Editor.

Mitchell Sikes is a Montgomery native and not a stranger to Capell & Howard, having worked as a runner at our firm in recent years. Mitchell studied Finance at Auburn University before receiving his B.S.B.A. degree in Finance from Auburn University Montgomery.

He recently completed his second year at the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law at Faulkner University, where he serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Faulkner Law Review. Mitchell was a Most Outstanding First Year Student Award Nominee and a participant in the 2021 John Garman Moot Court Tournament.

Libby Wheeler hails from West Point, GA, and is a graduate of Duke University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy Studies. As part of the Duke Immerse Program, she participated in Human Rights Study there in Durham and in Mexico City.

Libby recently completed her first year at The University of Alabama School of Law, where she received the Fuller E. Callaway Hatton Lovejoy Scholarship, the University of Alabama Law School Merit Scholarship and was selected as a Legal Writing Fellow.

 

Capell & Howard Welcomes Summer Clerks

We are pleased to welcome our first group of clerks to Capell & Howard this summer: Kazie Hale, Tara Chambliss and Addison Franklin.

Kazia Hale currently lives in Birmingham, Alabama. She graduated from Faulkner University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies. Kazia recently completed her second year at Samford University Cumberland School of Law, where she served as a member of the National Trial Team and Co-chair of the Thurgood Marshall Symposium of the Black Law Student Association.

Kazia also served as Vice President of Community Service for the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, Public Interest Panel Co-chair for the Public Interest and Community Service Organization, as well as a Career Development Advisory Board Member. As a third-year law student, she will serve as a senior member of Cumberland’s Trial Advocacy Board.

Tara Chambliss is from Prattville, Alabama. Prior to pursuing a career in law, and with a background in Civil Engineering, Tara had a successful career working as an Alabama Licensed Professional Engineer and National Bridge Inspection Standards Certified Bridge Inspector.

More recently, Tara has completed her second year at the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, where she serves as Managing Editor of the Law Review (2022-23). She was a member of the National Moot Court Team (2021-22) and a 2021 Finalist for the John Garman Moot Court Tournament. Tara was also the recipient of the 2021 Most Outstanding First Year Student Award.

Addison Franklin is from Pelham, Alabama. She graduated from Huntingdon College with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, graduating summa cum laude, with numerous other awards and accolades; among them, the Willard D. Top Award, Margaret Read Scholarship Medal, Dean Fran Taylor Award, and Jane Williams Scholarship Award.

Prior to law school, Addison worked as a legal assistant and served as a legislative intern at local law firms. Addison recently completed her first year at The University of Alabama School of Law, where she is active in The Federalist Society, Raise the Bar, and the Dorbin Women’s Association.