Michael D. Ermert

Mr. Ermert joined the firm in 1990 and became a partner in 1996. Raised in Athens, Alabama, he obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in 1983. After serving our country as an Army officer for four years, Mr. Ermert returned to the University of Alabama for law school, graduating in 1990 and becoming the first lawyer in his family.

Mr. Ermert has been recognized as one of the most highly decorated students in the law school’s history by serving as a member of the Alabama Law Review, the National Trial Advocacy team, and the John A. Campbell Moot Court Board — all at the same time. He was selected for membership in the Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society as well as the Order of Barristers, was a Hugo Black Scholar, wrote the best examination paper in several of his classes, was a member of the Farrah Law Society and earned admission to the Order of the Coif, an honor reserved for those who graduate in the top ten percent of their class. As an alumnus, he later served as President of the law school’s Order of the Coif chapter during 2004-2005 and just completed a two year term during as Chair of the Farrah Law Alumni Society, the alumni association for the University of Alabama School of Law.  Mr. Ermert was awarded the Neal C. Newell Scholarship during his Senior year of law school, gaining him the introduction to the firm which led to his becoming an associate with Hare Wynn upon graduation.

Since beginning his practice, Mr. Ermert has become known as one of the state’s leading experts in medical malpractice cases, trying or settling cases with recoveries totaling in the tens of millions of dollars. He has also served as lead counsel in a complex class action in which he represented hundreds of industrial customers in a breach of contract action, a case which resulted in an $18,000,000 settlement. When the University of Alabama faced significant penalties from the NCAA in the mid-1990s, the school’s Faculty Athletics Representative turned to the firm for help. After Mr. Ermert and two other Hare Wynn attorneys made presentations before the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee, many of the sanctions were overturned and the firm’s client was exonerated — the first successful appeal in NCAA history. Over the years, Mr. Ermert has also represented individuals, families, and small businesses in a wide variety of litigation ranging from catastrophic tractor-trailer collisions to commercial disputes.

Mr. Ermert has been active in professional organizations on a local, state, and national level, chairing a wide range of Bar committees. He was elected by his peers to serve on the Birmingham Bar Association Executive Committee from 2006 to 2008, was a member of the Jefferson County Differential Case Management Committee, and is on the Board of Directors of the Birmingham Bar Foundation, now serving as its Vice President. He currently serves as President of the Alabama Association for Justice as well as serving on the Editorial Board for the Journal published by that association. A sought-after speaker, Mr. Ermert has spoken at a large number of continuing legal education seminars across the state and around the southeast.  Mr. Ermert has been inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates and selected by Benchmark Litigation, as one of the top litigation attorneys in the state of Alabama. He has also been selected as an Alabama Super Lawyer, named as one of the Top 50 lawyers in Alabama, and is listed as one of the Best Lawyers in America. He also has been given an AV rating, the highest attainable, by Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Ermert is married to his high school sweetheart and is the proud father of two beautiful daughters. He is involved in a number of community organizations, including service as the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Management for the Downtown Birmingham YMCA, and is Immediate Past President of the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation and is the current President of the Red Elephant Club of Birmingham. For over a decade, he served on the Missions Committee at his church- a role which allowed him to travel to some of the most remote villages in West Africa.