Barry Birdwhistell

Joe Hamilton is a Member of the firm and has been based in the Louisville office since 1986. He is a member of the Business Litigation Service Group, which is home to approximately 60 attorneys and paralegals and is co-chair and co-founder of the firm's 20 member Class Action Defense Practice Group. His practice emphasis is in class action defense and other complex business and business insurance litigation. With regard to his class action defense practice, Mr. Hamilton has been counsel in ov...

Doug Bates is an experienced trial lawyer who has been with the firm since 1992. He appears in state and federal courts throughout Indiana and Kentucky and has argued both before the Indiana Court of Appeals and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Bates regularly defends aviation clients, including airlines, major municipal airports, product manufacturers, aircraft mechanics and fixed base operators, and is often asked to speak at national aviation-related seminars. Mr. Bates also represent...

Ronald G. Sheffer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law and Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants. Ronald G., who practices law in Louisville, Kentucky, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ronald G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Terry Wright is a Registered Patent Attorney whose practice focuses on designing and implementing intellectual property protection strategies. Terry has extensive experience advising clients ranging from small, privately held companies to multi-national, publicly traded companies. He regularly prepares protection plans for intellectual property associated with consumer goods, medical and other mechanical devices, and life sciences-associated technologies. As part of his practice, Terry routin...

Tom Halbleib is a transactional lawyer with substantial experience representing airport sponsors, governmental agencies and other tax exempt organizations, commercial lenders, and buyers and sellers of assets and businesses. Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications Mr. Halbleib's topics have included Third-Party Legal Opinions in Commercial Transactions (Louisville Bar Association) and Airport Law (Kentucky Aviation Association, Airports Council International, and the American Association...

Mike Risley is Co-Chair of the firm’s Appellate Advocacy Group and former Chair of the Louisville office’s Litigation Service Group. A seasoned litigator, Mike frequently appears before both state and federal appellate courts. He also has deep experience in disputes involving insurance bad faith and coverage, ERISA, and commercial and employment-related matters. Mike currently is serving the firm as Louisville Office Executive Member and is a former member of the firm’s Mana...

Mr. Saffer is a transactional lawyer focusing on real estate and lending law, with an emphasis in commercial lending. He regularly represents institutional lenders in making all types of commercial loans. He also represents public and private borrowers in all types of secured and unsecured syndicated loan transactions. He also has represented clients in numerous asset acquisitions and dispositions, including those involving a number of coal companies. More Than Stites & Harbison Mr. Saffe...

Richard Wehrle is a Member of the firm and is based in the Lexington office. His practice focuses on trusts and estate administration, estate planning and charitable giving, charitable and non-profit organizations, estate and gift taxes, probate, and fiduciary law. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. More Than Stites & Harbison Prior to joining Stites & Harbison, Richard was a partner at Bowles Rice LLP in Lexington, Kentucky, handling trusts and estate planning for eight years....

David Nagle is a Registered Patent Attorney who has been with the Intellectual Property & Technology Service Group since its inception. He holds an advanced engineering degree, and his technical knowledge consistently allows him to better understand his clients' business needs and processes. David has extensive experience prosecuting domestic and foreign patent applications covering a wide range of subject matter, including consumer goods, mechanical devices, software and business methods...

Timothy J. Weatherholt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Timothy J., who practices law in Louisville, Kentucky, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Timothy J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.