The law firm of Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt, L.L.C. is pleased to announce the election of Phillip D. Corley, Jr., as its Managing Member. Mr. Corley’s three-year term will commence January 1, 2008. Corley, a 1994 graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law will continue his practice in real estate and commercial transactions while serving in this leadership capacity. A Birmingham native, Phillip attended Vestavia Hills High School before attending and graduating from the University of Alabama.

Annemarie C. Axon has joined the firm of Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt, L.L.C. as Counsel. She is a member of the Alabama State Bar, the Birmingham Bar Association, and the Estate Planning Council. Ms. Axon graduated from the University of Alabama in 1995 and received her J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1999. She practices in the areas of tax, trust, and estate litigation as well as environmental litigation.

OCTOBER 2007

Three lawyers from Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt, L.L.C. were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2008 (Copyright 2007 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). Michael J. Brandt has been selected in the field of real estate law, Glenn E. Estess, Jr. in tax law and William B. Stewart in health care law. Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 25,000 leading attorneys cast almost two million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their specialties, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.

AUGUST 2007

Atley A. Kitchings, Jr. has joined the firm of Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt, L.L.C. as Distinguished Senior Member. A member of the Alabama and Mississippi State Bars for over fifty years, Mr. Kitchings practiced with the firm of Steiner, Crum & Byars for four years and with Lange, Simpson, Robinson & Somerville for twenty years. In addition to his private practice, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and as the acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. Before that, he was counsel to South Central Bell for twenty-five years. He is a graduate of Mississippi College and the University of Virginia Law School. Mr. Kitchings also served in the U.S. Navy and Reserves, as adjunct professor at Cumberland School of Law of Samford University, and on the Board of Deacons at Mountain Brook Baptist Church for many years. Mr. Kitchings’ practice will involve counseling regulated industries, corporations, non-profit organizations, and individual clients.

APRIL 2006

Oscar M. Price III and Michael L. Jackson with Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt filed a brief with the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals on behalf of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama ("ABC") and the Alabama Associated General Contractors ("AGC") as amici curiae (friends of the court) in the case of Valley Joist, Inc. v. CVS Corporation and Halstead Contractors LLC, No. 2050160. The case could involve an important question of law regarding the interpretation of lien statutes. The case is important because if the plaintiff prevails and changes the current law, it could significantly increase the exposure and liability of owners and general contractors. This would negatively affect all parties involved in a construction project because it would mean an increase in the requirements and documentation necessary for payment of subcontractors and suppliers down the line and the additional delay and expense that results. A copy of the brief is available by clicking here.

MARCH 2006

Oscar M. Price III was featured in an article in the Birmingham Business Journal: "Private-industry jobs give lawyers real-world challenge." http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2006/03/27/focus3.html

JANUARY 2006

Julie Bonner DeArman has become a Member of the firm. Ms. DeArman practices in the areas of estate planning, probate and estate administration, corporate law, and non-profit organizations.

SEPTEMBER 2005

Glenn E. Estess has been selected by his peers to be included in the 2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Tax Law.


Larry S. Logsdon was chosen by The Birmingham Business Journal as one of Birmingham's "Best of the Bar" in Construction Law.


Jason E. Gammons joins the firm as an Associate. He practices primarily in the area of civil litigation.