Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense

Tom Burgess

Birmingham, AL

• E-Mail: tburgess@burgessroberts.com

Years of Experience: 41

Practice Areas

• Architects and Engineers
• Automobile Liability
• Bad Faith
• Business Litigation
• Casualty Insurance Law
• Complex Litigation
• Construction Accidents
• Contract Disputes
• Coverage Litigation
• Design Professionals
• Dram Shop
• Engineering and Construction
• Extra-Contractual Litigation
• Insurance Coverage Litigation
• Mold Litigation
• Pharmacy Defense
• Premises Liability
• Product Liability Defense
• Professional Errors and Omissions
• Self-Insured Defense
• Tort Litigation
• Trucking Litigation
• Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist
• Workers' Compensation
• Wrongful Death

Admitted

• Alabama, 1981
• U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits
• U.S. Supreme Court

Tom is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. He received his undergraduate degree in English Literature from the University of Alabama (B.A. '70) and his law degree from Birmingham School of Law (J.D.'80). Tom is admitted to practice in all Alabama State and Federal District Courts, the Fifth and Eleventh U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the Birmingham, Alabama, and American Bar Associations, Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, and Defense Research Institute. Tom holds the prestigious "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Throughout his career, Tom has held special interest in handling all aspects of tort, contract and insurance litigation with emphasis on defense of Professionals, insurance and real estate agents, fraud, bad faith and insurance coverage litigation of all kinds, including emphasis on workers' compensation litigation, construction defense and architects and engineers malpractice. Tom has successfully represented clients in dozens of "first impression" cases in the Alabama and federal appellate courts. For many years, he has served as a faculty Professor at Birmingham School of Law teaching Tort Litigation. He frequently lectures throughout the State on a wide range of topics and defense strategies, including lectures to claims professionals on insurance coverage and bad faith/fraud litigation.

Memberships:

• American and Birmingham Bar Associations
• Alabama State Bar

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.A., 1970
• Birmingham School of Law, J.D., 1980

Scott M. Roberts

Birmingham, AL

• E-Mail: sroberts@burgessroberts.com

Years of Experience: 32

Practice Areas

• Automobile Litigation
• Bad Faith
• Business Litigation
• Casualty Insurance Law
• Commercial General Liability
• Commercial Transportation Litigation
• Complex Litigation
• Contracts
• Dram Shop
• Employer Liability
• Employment Litigation
• Fraud
• Litigation Defense
• Premises Liability
• Premises Litigation
• Product Liability
• Property and Casualty
• Retail and Restaurant Defense
• Self-Insured Defense
• Tort Claims Defense
• Trial Practice
• Trucking Litigation
• Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist
• Wrongful Death
• Wrongful Termination
• Workers' Compensation

Admitted

• Alabama, 1990
• Tennessee, 2003
• U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama, 1990
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2006

Scott is a native of Clearwater, Florida but he has lived in Alabama for over 30 years. He received his undergraduate degree from Auburn University in 1987 and his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1990. Scott is admitted to practice in all Alabama State and Federal District Courts and the Eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Scott is a member of the Birmingham, Alabama, and Tennessee Bar Associations, Defense Research Institute, Trucking Lawyers Association, Business Council of Alabama, Alabama Self-Insurers Association and the Alabama Workers' Compensation Organization.

Scott holds the prestigious "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He is listed in the Alabama Super Lawyers Publication and the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. 

Memberships:

• Tennessee and Birmingham Bar Associations
• Alabama State Bar
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Atlanta Claims Association
• Alabama Workers' Compensation Claims Association
• Trucking Industry Defense Association

Education:

• Auburn University, B.A., 1987
• The University of Alabama, J.D., 1990

J. Kerry Burgess

Birmingham, AL

• E-Mail: kburgess@burgessroberts.com

Years of Experience: 16

Practice Areas

• Appellate Practice
• Architects and Engineers
• Automobile Litigation
• Bad Faith
• Breach of Contract
• Business Litigation
• Commercial Litigation
• Complex Litigation
• Construction Litigation
• Contracts
• Coverage Litigation
• Design Professionals
• Dram Shop Liability
• Employment Litigation
• Engineers
• Extra-Contractual Litigation
• General Civil Litigation
• Homeowners
• Insurance Coverage Litigation
• Mold Litigation
• Personal Injury Litigation
• Premises Liability
• Property and Casualty
• Retail and Restaurant Defense
• Self-Insured Defense
• Tort Litigation
• Trucking Litigation
• Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist
• Workers' Compensation
• Wrongful Death

Admitted

• Alabama, 2006
• U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

J. Kerry Burgess is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. Kerry received his secondary education at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, majoring in classical guitar performance. He earned his undergraduate degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (B.M. '94) majoring in classical music performance. He has performed in various venues in several states, studied with world renowned artists and he has placed in state and national competitions.

Kerry has extensive experience in human resources and managing business operations. Prior to attending law school, he worked for seven years as an executive manager of a major business in Birmingham in the hotel industry. Kerry also has experience in public speaking and teaching, including serving as an adjunct instructor at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Kerry attended Birmingham School of Law (J.D. '06). He won the award for Excellence in Negotiation and Counseling, the award for Outstanding Trial Advocate and was twice chosen by the Law School's Trial Advocacy Committee to compete in the National Trial Advocacy Mock Trial Competition.

Kerry's areas of practice include general insurance defense litigation, engineer and architect liability, business litigation, municipal liability, construction defense and products liability. Kerry is admitted to practice in all Alabama courts including the United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He is an active member in numerous legal industry groups including the Birmingham Bar Association, Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, Young Lawyers Division of the Alabama Bar, American Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute.

Memberships:

• American and Birmingham Bar Associations
• Alabama State Bar

Education:

• San Francisco Conservatory of Music, B.M., 1994
• Birmingham School of Law, J.D., 2006

Amanda L. Mink

Birmingham, AL

• E-Mail: amink@burgessroberts.com

Years of Experience: 14

Practice Areas

• Appellate Practice
• Automobile Liability
• Employment Law
• Insurance Defense
• Premises Liability
• Product Liability
• Trucking Litigation
• Workers' Compensation

Admitted

• Alabama, 2008
• U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar

Education:

• Samford University, B.S., 2001
• Samford University, J.D. (Dean's List), 2008

Scott Holmes

Birmingham, AL

• E-Mail: sholmes@burgessroberts.com

Years of Experience: 18

Practice Areas

• Architects and Engineers
• Automobile Litigation
• Bad Faith
• Casualty Insurance Law
• Civil Trial Practice
• Employment Law
• General Defense Civil Litigation
• Insurance Defense
• Litigation Defense
• Personal Injury Defense
• Premises Liability
• Tort Litigation
• Trucking Litigation
• Workers' Compensation

Admitted

• Alabama, 2004
• Mississippi, 2005
• U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama, 2004
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 2005

Scott practices exclusively in civil litigation. While successful resolutions may come in many forms (including negotiated or mediated settlement), when the other side is unreasonable, Scott relishes the opportunity to try a case to verdict. His ability and dedication to his clients has been recognized by his peers:
AV-Preeminent Rating by Martindale Hubbell
2014 Super Lawyers “Alabama Rising Star”
2011 Birmingham Magazine “Top Attorney - Insurance”
2009 Birmingham Magazine “Top Attorney - Rising Star”
Scott has been admitted to practice in all State and Federal Courts in both Alabama and Mississippi.
LEGAL EDUCATION
Scott graduated with Honors from the University of Alabama School of Law. While in law school, Scott is proud to have been recognized as a Hugo Black Scholar which was named for the State of Alabama's most accomplished jurist. Other law school honors include:
Senior editor of the Alabama Law Review
Assistant Prosecutor for the UA Honor Court 
Vice-President of Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity
Lieutenant Governor for the American Bar Association's Fifth Circuit
Member of the Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.S. (cum laude), 1997
• Troy University, M.A. (summa cum laude), 2001
• The University of Alabama, J.D. (cum laude), 2004

Blair Mercer

Birmingham, AL

• E-Mail: bmercer@burgessroberts.com

Years of Experience: 1

Practice Areas

• Insurance Coverage
• Subrogation
• Professional Liability
• Workers' Compensation
• Property and Casualty
• Premises Liability
• Construction Defect

Admitted

• Alabama, 2021
• U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama

Blair Mercer represents a broad array of defendants across a myriad of legal practices, including insurance coverage disputes, subrogation, professional liability, workers' compensation, property and casualty liability, premises liability, and construction defect litigation. He is admitted to practice in all Alabama Courts, including the United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts. Blair is also a member of both the Alabama and Birmingham Bar Associations.
 
Blair received his J.D. from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where he also studied concurrently to receive his M.B.A. from the Brock School of Business. During his time at Samford, Blair was a member of the Trial Advocacy Board and competed in various trial and A.D.R competitions to hone his skills as an attorney. He also had the honor of completing a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Elisabeth A. French.

Blair takes pride in placing a distinct emphasis on giving back to the community, something he has cherished doing since his youth. He is a Junior Board member of King's Home, an Alabama non-profit tasked with providing aid to women and children in abusive and impoverished conditions. He has also spent the last four years coaching youth football teams in Birmingham, providing children with both a motivational outlet and a pillar of support outside their homes.

An alumnus and avid fan of the University of Alabama, Blair spends his free time watching the Tide with his friends and family, reading through an extensive backlog of classic novels, and playing with his German Shepherd, Henry.

Memberships:

• Alabama State Bar
• Birmingham Bar Association

Education:

• The University of Alabama, B.A., 2018
• Samford University, J.D./M.B.A., 2021

Lauren Huston

Birmingham, AL

• E-Mail: lhuston@burgessroberts.com

Practice Areas

• Insurance Defense
• Insurance Coverage
• Workers' Compensation
• Property and Casualty
• Construction Defect

Admitted

• Alabama, 2022

Lauren is an attorney at Burgess Roberts, LLC. Lauren represents defendants in a range of insurance litigation in both state and federal courts. As a former claims adjuster for Auto-Owners Insurance Company, Lauren’s utilizes her extensive experience in the insurance industry to inform all aspects of her practice, including claims, coverage, workers' compensation, property and casualty liability, and construction defect litigation.

Lauren received her J.D. from Samford University, Cumberland School of Law, where she served as the Trial Advocacy Board’s Associate Judge of Alternate Dispute Resolution and competed as a member of Cumberland's National Negotiation Team. In addition to her legal studies, Lauren served as Membership Chair for Young Professionals of Birmingham, whereby Lauren cultivated young professionals in the Birmingham community through networking, outreach involvement, and social gatherings.

Education:

• Troy University, B.S., 2016
• Samford University, J.D., 2021