Helmsing, Leach, Herlong, Newman & Rouse, P.C.
Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense
- Telephone: 251-432-5521
- Fax: 251-432-0633
- Website: www.helmsinglaw.com
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2767, Mobile, AL 36652
Established: 1976
Practice Areas
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Appellate Practice
- Automobile Liability
- Aviation
- Bad Faith
- Bankruptcy
- Business Bankruptcy
- Business Formation
- Business Law
- Business Transactions
- Casualty Defense
- Catastrophic Claims Defense
- Church Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Complex Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Contract Disputes
- Creditor Rights
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Eminent Domain
- Employment Law
- Entertainment Law
- General Liability
- Health Care
- Hospitals
- Hurricanes, Floods and Storms
- Insurance Coverage
- Insurance Defense
- Land Use
- Legal Malpractice
- Medical Devices
- Medical Liability
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Municipal Law
- Pharmaceutical
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability
- Professional Liability
- Property
- Railroad Law
- Real Estate
- Wrongful Death
Firm Highlights
Helmsing Leach lawyers have top-tier practices in “bankruptcy and creditors’ rights,” “banking and finance," “condemnation and eminent domain,” "medical malpractice defense," “insurance coverage and extra-contractual litigation," “municipal law,” “product liability defense,” “real estate transactions and litigation,” “tax, trusts and estates, and probate,” and “white collar criminal defense and corporate investigations".
How We Offer Value
Helmsing Leach’s successes include countless victories in courts across the region and the nation, among them signature wins in the United States and Alabama Supreme Courts. They are a testament to the skill, experience and commitment of our lawyers whose quality is evident in their credentials. All have superior academic records.
Client Information
Insurance Clients
- St. Paul Travelers
- State Farm Fire and Casualty Company
- State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
- United States Aviation Underwriters, Inc.
Non-Insurance Clients
- Alabama Power Company
- Ascension Health
- Black & Decker (U.S.), Inc.
- Brunswick Corporation
- Cessna Aircraft Company
- City of Foley, Alabama
- Emerson Electric Company
- Evonik Industries
- Florida Gas Transmission Co., LLC
- GlaxoSmithKline
- GreatAmerica Financial Services
- Huttig Building Products, Inc.
- International Paper Company
- Johnson & Johnson
- Keystone RV Company
- Matrixx Initiatives, Inc.
- MoBay Storage Hub, LLC
- Mobile Infirmary Medical Center
- Parsons & Whittemore Enterprises Corp.
- Providence Hospital
- Schlumberger Technologies, Inc.
- The Sherwin-Williams Company
- Southern Cancer Center, P.C.
- Stihl Incorporated
- Union Pacific Railroad Company
- University of Mobile
- Utilities Board of the City of Foley
- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Third Party Administrators
- Advocat, Inc./Diversicare Management Services
- Littleton Group
- Sedgwick CMS
Personnel Information
Firm Members
James B. Newman
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: jbn@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Catastrophic Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Health Care
- Real Estate
Admitted
- Alabama, 1976
- U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
Memberships:
- American and Mobile County Bar Associations
- Alabama State Bar (President, Litigation Section, 1999)
- Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (Past Director)
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- Vanderbilt University, B.A., 1970
- Cumberland University School of Law, J.D. (magna cum laude), 1976
Robert H. Rouse
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: rhr@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Banking
- Finance
- Real Estate
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Corporate and Business Transactions
Admitted
- Alabama, 1980
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama
- U.S. Tax Court
Memberships:
- American and Mobile County Bar Associations
- Alabama State Bar
Education:
- Louisiana State University, B.A., 1977
- The University of Alabama, J.D., 1980
- New York University, LL.M., 1981
Joseph P. H. Babington
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: jpb@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Product Liability
- Medical Devices
- Pharmaceutical
- Class Actions
- Catastrophic Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Commercial Litigation
- Insurance Coverage
- Aviation
Admitted
- Louisiana, 1984
- Alabama, 1988
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits
- U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships:
- American, Louisiana State and Mobile County Bar Associations
- Alabama State Bar
- Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (Board of Directors, Young Lawyers Section)
- Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
- Defense Research Institute
- Trial Attorneys of America
Education:
- University of Notre Dame, B.A. (with highest honors), 1981
- University of Virginia, J.D., 1984
Honors:
Phi Beta Kappa
R. Alan Alexander
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: raa@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Legal Malpractice
- Medical Malpractice
Admitted
- Alabama, 1984
- U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
- U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships:
- American and Mobile (Ethics and Inter-professional Relations Committees, 1984-present) Bar Associations
- Alabama State Bar (Disciplinary Rules Committee, 1997, 1984-present)
- Defense Research Institute (Medical Malpractice Committee, 1985-present)
- Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (Chairman, Personal Injury Section; President, 2006-2007, 1985-present)
- American Health Lawyers Association (1996-present)
- International Association of Defense Counsel
Education:
- University of South Alabama, B.S., 1978
- Samford University, J.D., 1984
Fraternity Information:
Delta Theta Phi
Law Review:
Associate Editor, American Journal of Trial Advocacy
John T. Dukes
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: jtd@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Business and Corporate Transactions
Admitted
- Alabama, 1994
- U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships:
- American and Mobile County Bar Associations
- Alabama State Bar
Education:
- Washington and Lee University, B.A. (cum laude), 1991
- The University of Alabama, J.D. (cum laude), 1994
Law Review:
Alabama Law Review
Honors:
Farrah Law Society
Jeffery J. Hartley
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: jjh@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Bankruptcy
- Creditors' Rights
Admitted
- Alabama, 1990
- U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Memberships:
- American and Mobile County Bar Associations
- State Bar of Alabama
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees
- Federal Panel of Neutrals, Southern District of Alabama
Education:
- Spring Hill College, B.S., 1987
- The University of Alabama, J.D., 1990
J. Casey Pipes
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: jcp@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Eminent Domain
- Land Use
- Real Estate
- Municipal Law
Admitted
- Alabama, 1996
- U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Memberships:
- American, Baldwin and Mobile County Bar Associations
- Alabama Association of Municipal Attorneys
- International Right-of-Way Association
Education:
- Washington and Lee University, B.A., 1993
- The University of Alabama, J.D. (cum laude), 1996
Russell C. Buffkin
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: rcb@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Product Liability
- Personal Injury
- Bad Faith
- Wrongful Death
- Complex Commercial Litigation
- Employment
- Medical Practice
- Construction Disputes
Admitted
- Alabama, 1999
- U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Memberships:
- American and Mobile Bar Associations
- Alabama State Bar (Board of Directories, Young Lawyers Section)
- Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
- Defense Research Institute
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Trial Attorneys of America
Education:
- Spring Hill College, B.S., 1992
- Spring Hill College, M.B.A., 1996
- The University of Alabama, J.D. (cum laude), 1999
Patrick C. Finnegan
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: pcf@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Complex Litigation
- Health Care
- Catastrophic Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Commercial Litigation
- Product Liability
- Class Actions
- Medical Devices
- Pharmaceutical
- Appellate Practice
Admitted
- New York, 1995
- Alabama, 2003
- U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Memberships:
- American, New York State and Mobile County Bar Associations
- Alabama State Bar
- Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
Education:
- National University of Ireland, Galway, B.S., 1983
- Queens College of the City University of New York, B.S., 1990
- Fordham University, J.D., 1995
A. Edwin Stuardi, III
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: aes@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Medical Malpractice
- Health Care
Admitted
- Alabama, 1994
- Mississippi, 1997
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi
- U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Memberships:
- Alabama State Bar
- The Mississippi Bar
- Mobile County Bar Association
Education:
- Spring Hill College, B.S., 1990
- Loyola University, J.D., 1994
Leslie G. Weeks
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: lgw@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Tax Law
Admitted
- Florida, 1999
- Alabama
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama
Memberships:
- American Bar Association
- The Florida Bar
- Alabama State Bar
Education:
- The University of Alabama, B.A., 1994
- The University of Alabama, J.D. (cum laude), 1999
- New York University, LL.M., 2000
Thomas Ryan Luna
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: trl@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Labor and Employment
- Insurance Defense
- Construction Litigation
Admitted
- Alabama, 2003
- U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
Memberships:
- Alabama State Bar
- Mobile Bar Association
- Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- Lambuth University, B.S., 2000
- Samford University, J.D., 2002
W. Kirkland “Kirk” Mattei
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: wkm@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Medical Malpractice
- Professional Liability
Admitted
- Alabama, 2014
- U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
Education:
- The University of Alabama, B.A. Political Science, 2009
- Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, J.D. (Dean's List), 2014
Thomas O. Gaillard, III
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: tog@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Governmental Liability
- Product Liability
- Medical Devices
- Pharmaceutical
- Medical Malpractice
- Professional Liability
- Labor and Employment
- Environmental Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Litigation
Admitted
- Alabama, 1997
- Mississippi, 2004
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits
- U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships:
- American and Mobile Bar Associations
- Alabama State Bar
- The Mississippi Bar
- Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
- Defense Research Institute
- International Association of Defense Counsel
Education:
- Auburn University, B.S., 1992
- The University of Alabama School of Law, J.D., 1997
Karen Tucker
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: ktl@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Medical Malpractice
- Appellate Practice
Admitted
- Alabama, 1997
Memberships:
- Alabama State Bar
- Baldwin County and Mobile Bar Associations
Education:
- Auburn University, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1994
- The University of Alabama School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 1997
William W. Watts, III
Mobile, AL
- E-Mail: www@helmsinglaw.com
Practice Areas
- Appellate Practice
- Catastrophic Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Environmental Law
- Class Actions
- Medical Malpractice
- Professional Liability
- Real Estate
Admitted
- California, 1980
- Alabama, 1987
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Education:
- Amherst College, B.A., 1974
- University of Southern California, J.D., 1980
Associates
- Samantha N. Gunnoe
- Rachel Palmer
- Keri Coumanis
- Alex Gressett
- Thomas D. Hannahan
- Lisee B. Conwell
Of Counsel
- T.K. Jackson, III
- Joshua D. Friedman
Additional Links
Service Areas
Helmsing Leach has expertise in assisting insurers with large-scale or catastrophic claims and coverage issues arising from hurricanes, floods and storms on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, and catastrophic claims defense all over the Southeast.
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