Representative Experience
  • Food and Beverage
    • Manage the intellectual property portfolio for various breweries, including obtaining protection for a variety of marks relating to beers, logos, and taglines.

      Work with multiple breweries to prepare employment agreements for key personnel.

      Represent brewery in litigation regarding enforceability of non-compete covenant.

      Offer strategic guidance regarding craft brewery growth and expansion, including private securities offerings, debt offerings, and bank financing.

      Advise regional craft brewery regarding potential acquisition of brewery and related real estate assets.

      Advise wine importer regarding state and local distribution laws.

      Advise craft beer and spirit manufacturer on potential tax credits and other state and local incentives.

  • Litigation
    • Hanover Insurance Co. v. BASF Corp., No. 2:18-cv-1418-TMP (N.D. Ala.)
      Obtained dismissal of all claims in case seeking a declaratory judgment to establish the existence of an express warranty and alleging breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, negligence, and a claim under the Alabama Extended Manufacturer’s Liability Doctrine. 

      Mays v. Davenport et al., Case No. 7:14-cv-00808-LSC-HNJ (N.D. Ala.)
      Obtained plaintiff’s verdict in pro bono case where inmate alleged that correctional officer failed to intervene when the inmate was being attacked by another inmate.

      James A. Phillips v. Thompson Tractor Company, Inc., CV-2011-901563 (Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Ala.)
      In alleged employment discrimination case, obtained summary judgment on all claims.

      Roderick Graham v. TASA Group, Inc., et al., 2:13-cv-00748-SGC (N.D. Ala.)
      Obtained dismissal of all claims in case alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, RICO, and various state law claims. 

      In the Matter of the Estate of Mariah Reed, Deceased, Cause No. 2012-197 (Chancery Court of Jefferson County, Mississippi)
      Established diversity jurisdiction based on fraudulent joinder.

      Jackson v. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
      Obtained ruling that plaintiff’s counsel may not distribute confidential materials, produced pursuant to a protective order, to lawyers and litigants in other cases.

      George Reed v. Alliance Discount Tire Center, et al., 2013-CV-02934 (Court of Common Pleas Stark County, Ohio)
      Favorable ruling that plaintiff owes continuing duty to preserve relevant evidence.

      In Re: Yasmin and YAZ (Drospirenone) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2100 (S.D. Illinois)

      National team member for Bayer.

      In Re: Trasylol Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1928 (S.D. Florida)
      National team member for Bayer.

      In re Chantix (Varenicline) Products Liability Litigation, 881 F.Supp.2d 1333 (N.D.Ala. 2012).
      MDL order holding that boxed warning was an adequate warning as a matter of law.

      Ingrid Anderson v. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
      Lead trial counsel in product liability case where injuries were substantial in a difficult venue in state court in South Carolina. Manage all product liability claims, cases, and trials as regional counsel for Cooper Tire in an over 20-state area.

  • Cannabis
    • Assisted financial institution and its Canadian affiliate, which provide stock transfer agent services to closely held and publicly traded companies, in evaluating their potential risk exposure and obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering Act from providing transfer agent services to a dozen marijuana-related businesses in the United States and Canada.

      Prepared a private placement memorandum and related offering documents for a fundraising round for an industrial hemp fiber processor, as well as assisted the company with various corporate matters.

      Advised credit card issuer about various terms and conditions in its cardholder agreements potentially implicated by changes in state and federal law regarding cannabis.

      On behalf of an association of independent pharmacies, obtained clarification from the Alabama Board of Pharmacy and Department of Public Health that pharmacies can sell products with cannabidiol (CBD).

      Advised Georgia-based client with diversified assets — including commercial real estate, a construction company, and agricultural interests — about the state’s recent legalization of medical marijuana.

      Provided government relations services for a startup pharmaceutical company interested in monitoring the work of the Alabama Medical Marijuana Commission and any legislative recommendations it makes.

      Advised multiple high net worth individual clients of the firm about the risks associated with investing in the marijuana industry.