Andrew Beatson

For over twenty-five years, Wendy has represented a diverse range of energy clients including investor-owned utilities, independent generators, investors in transmission infrastructure and local gas distribution companies before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Department of Energy and federal courts. Her practice focuses on rate regulation, energy market rules and operation, open access transmission issues, administrative litigation, mergers and acquisitions, enforcement ...

Jonathan S. Gelman counsels developers, investors and institutions in a wide variety of real estate and general business matters. In his 17 years of practice, Jon has structured and closed hundreds of real estate transactions, including many notable local and national projects.

Stephen is a member of Butler Snow’s Tort, Transportation and Specialized Litigation Group.

Martin Burkett serves as co-chair of Akerman’s M&A and Private Equity Practice. Martin represents public and private companies and private equity funds in a variety of corporate transactions, with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions. Martin’s practice includes structuring and negotiating complex business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, going private transactions, venture and growth capital investments, debt and equity fi...

The first and foremost objective of Lee’s practice is to provide innovative and value-driven solutions to the litigation-related problems facing clients. This objective has been successfully achieved through direct and open communication with the client, early and immediate assessment of the issues, strategic evaluation of the problem and its solution, aggressive representation, and reliance upon Lee’s trial experience. A significant focus of Lee’s practice relates to the re...

Hannah E. Taylor is a Deputy Managing Partner of the firm and a partner in the Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations and Emerging Technology Groups. Ms. Taylor works with clients to structure and negotiate virtually every type of media-related transaction, advises clients on compliance with federal, state, and local laws, as well as on compliance with relevant self-regulatory guidelines and social media platform terms, and represents advertisers before the Federal Trade Commission and...

Senior partner and Best Lawyers® honoree Lisa Reilly Payton focuses her law practice on estate planning, tax planning, and federal and state tax controversy. Lisa is a popular speaker and has appeared multiple times on the Emmy Award-winning talk show The List. Lisa's estate planning experience includes helping individuals, couples, and business owners identify their planning options and tailoring their choices to their unique situations and goals. In guiding her clients through the plann...

Allan C. Bell is Chair of the Trusts and Estates Practice Group. Mr. Bell practices primarily in tax planning for individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, estates and trusts. He brings his innovative, in-depth tax planning experience as well as the ability to analyze, explain and implement sophisticated techniques to his clients. His insight into the government’s interpretations and views on issues allows him to provide efficient and thorough services and work product without t...

Harold Stephens is a litigation attorney in the firm's Huntsville office. He began his practice in 1980 as an Assistant United States Attorney in Birmingham. For more than twenty years, he has handled a variety of civil litigation, both at the trial and appellate level. In his litigation practice, Harold has defended numerous products liability claims involving forklifts, chainsaws, logging equipment, medical devices, computer software and hardware, punch presses, farm equipment, electrical d...

John Butts is Chair of the Firm’s Commercial Litigation Group. He has prevailed in trials and arbitrations across the country for a wide range of clients in high stakes commercial disputes. John represents clients in a broad range of matters, including complex contract disputes, business torts, trade secrets cases, consumer matters, and class actions. His work has spanned a number of industries, including the automotive industry, financial services, real estate, and biotechnology.