Douglas L. McCoy

A fifth-generation attorney with 40 years of legal experience, Bill’s practice at Helmsing Leach is focused on civil litigation with an emphasis on appellate advocacy. He has handled numerous appeals in state and federal courts resulting in more than one hundred published decisions. Bill’s practice also includes environmental law and insurance litigation, and he has represented clients in a variety of civil disputes in product liability, construction litigation and more. In additi...

Sumpter M. McGowin II is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Corporate Law. Sumpter M. practices law in Mobile, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized Sumpter M. McGowin II since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Sumpter M. McGowin II is held by other lawy...

Clay Lanham is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He focuses on real estate development and finance. Clay regularly represents private equity funds in the negotiation and documentation of loans secured by real estate and other assets as well as the purchase and sale of loans, real estate, and other assets. Clay also represents developers and investors in the purchase and sale of properties and throughout the entire development process, from the formation of development entities, initi...

Jay Minus practices in the areas of municipal law, commercial litigation and labor and employment. His practice focuses on all aspects of employment law in the defense of union issues, Title VII ADEA, ADA, FLSA, FMLA, OSHA and civil rights claims. Mr. Minus also specializes in personal injury claims involving wrongful death, products liability, industrial accidents, and fraud. As general counsel for two cities, he handles all aspects relating to city operations including public meetings, muni...

Britten Britt practices primarily in the areas of probate and estate planning, business and tax planning, and trusts and estates. She also handles corporate transactions, family limited partnerships, limited liability companies, corporate tax matters, charitable foundations and assists in the preparation of fiduciary estate tax returns.

Karen practices civil litigation with a focus on the defense of medical malpractice claims. Karen also has extensive experience in appellate advocacy in state and federal appellate courts.

Ben Harris is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He represents financial institutions in complex commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and related disputes. Ben has more than 30 years of experience in commercial litigation. He began his career as a clerk to the Honorable Patrick E. Higginbotham of the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit before practicing in Washington, DC, first with the General Counsel’s Office of the Federal Trade Commission and later with Williams & C...

A senior tax and corporate lawyer, Robert’s trusts and estates practice includes estate and gift planning and taxation, charitable planning and estate and trust administration. His corporate practice includes general corporate representation, entity selection and formation issues, corporate business and tax planning, and corporate transactions.

As the lead and co-lead counsel in numerous cases that have resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements totaling over $200 million in recoveries for his clients, David Cain’s reputation as a “litigation star” is well deserved. David has proven himself a skilled litigator at every stage in his career and his success in the courtroom has earned him an enviable reputation within the Alabama legal community as well as nationally. A few of David's successes include:...

Focusing on strategic planning, motion practice, and appeals, Dave Wirtes has worked for over three decades helping our firm and our clients be successful in litigation. Dave’s efforts in Alabama, Mississippi, and throughout the Country help protect working men and women in ways most will never know. He has won many battles against powerful defendants and in the course of doing so helped change laws to give victims justice. He has been rated by Martindale Hubbell for decades as AV® ...