29 Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2026

Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC is pleased to announce that 29 lawyers have been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2026.

Best Lawyers® is an elite global network of legal professionals recognized through trusted, peer-reviewed distinction. For over four decades, our Purely Peer Review® methodology has upheld the principle that recognition should be earned through the opinions of fellow attorneys, not marketing influence or paid listings.

Each year, more than 13 million confidential evaluations are collected worldwide, contributing to one of the legal industry’s most rigorous and trusted vetting processes. Only about 5% of lawyers in the United States and 3% globally are recognized, reflecting the selectivity and credibility of the results. Proprietary safeguards are in place to reduce bias and uphold the accuracy of the peer feedback.

For the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, more than 26 million evaluations were analyzed. The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America recognitions were determined based on more than 5.4 million evaluations.

Two attorneys were also selected as Best Lawyers: “Ones to Watch,” a recognition honoring associates and other lawyers, 5-9 years into their careers, for outstanding professional excellence in private practice. Those selected for this honor are divided by geographic region and practice areas and reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise.
Congratulations to the following attorneys recognized as “Ones to Watch”:

Britley Leonard Brown, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Katherine Manning, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendant

Hand Arendall Harrison Sale attorneys listed in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® are listed by below by office.

Athens, Alabama

E. Shane Black, Commercial Litigation

Birmingham, Alabama

Roger L. Bates, Commercial Litigation
I. Ripon Britton, Jr., Trusts and Estates
Joseph L. Cowan, II, Insurance Law
Tracy R. Davis, Health Care Law
W. Alan Duke, Jr., Appellate Practice, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
Gregory H. Hawley, Commercial Litigation, Litigation — Environmental
Mark D. Hess, Insurance Law
C. Dennis Hughes, Insurance Law
J. Fred Kingren, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
John E. Rollins, Litigation – Real Estate
Drew Sinor, Insurance Law

Fairhope, Alabama

Heather M. Houston, Litigation – Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Michael C. Niemeyer, Litigation – Construction

Mobile, Alabama

Paul T. Beckmann, Admiralty and Maritime Law
Windy Cockrell Bitzer, Appellate Practice, Litigation – Labor and Employment
R. Preston Bolt, Jr., Public Finance Law
Rodney R. Cate, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Lisa Darnley Cooper, Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
Christopher M. Gill, Real Estate Law
Neil C. Johnston, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental, Natural Resources Law, Real Estate Law, Timber Law, Water Law
Douglas L. McCoy, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation, Trusts and Estates
T. Bruce McGowin, Corporate Law, Environmental Law, Real Estate Law
Brooks P. Milling, Corporate Law
Henry T. Morrissette, Insurance Law
Caine O’Rear III, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction
J. Burruss Riis, Litigation – Construction, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, Transportation Law
Norman M. Stockman, Admiralty and Maritime Law
George M. Walker, Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Individuals, Employment Law – Management, Insurance Law, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants