Skip to Content

Our History



Hand Arendall Harrison Sale

Hand Arendall Harrison Sale provides its clients with legal services in all areas of traditional civil practice. We are legal advisors in your business success. The Alabama firm, Hand Arendall, was organized in 1941, and the Florida firm, Harrison Sale McCloy, was organized in 1984. After merging the two firms in 2018 to become Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, the firm is one of the largest law firms in the region with more than 85 attorneys. The firm has a fundamental commitment to creating long-lasting relationships. Cases and projects are staffed with the goal of achieving success for the client with maximum efficiency. With offices in Mobile, Birmingham, Fairhope and Athens, Alabama; and Destin, Panama City, Panama City Beach, and Santa Rosa, Florida, Hand Arendall Harrison Sale is uniquely situated among the Southeast’s major law firms to provide legal direction to clients throughout Alabama, Northwest Florida and Mississippi.

1941 - MOBILE ALABAMA OFFICE OPENS

Hand Arendall Harrison Sale opened its office in Mobile for the practice of law in 1941. The firm was founded by Charles C. Hand (1890-1980) and Charles B. Arendall, Jr. (1915-1993). The Mobile office has nearly 40 attorneys and is the largest law firm in the City of Mobile. In addition to being engaged in the practice of the law, the firm's attorneys are involved in many community-related organizations.

1984 - PANAMA CITY FLORIDA OFFICE OPENS

Our Panama City Florida office has roots in the legal community representing clients since 1930. The senior lawyers have practiced with the firm in its current office at 304 Magnolia Avenue in historic downtown Panama City since 1972. Franklin R. Harrison, Douglas J. Sale and D. Ross McCloy, Jr., all current practicing attorneys, formed Harrison Sale McCloy in 1984 by the merger of the two oldest law firms in Panama City and in 1991, the firm name of Harrison Sale McCloy was adopted. Harrison Sale McCloy has been active in civic organizations and involved in representing a variety of commercial, real estate and governmental clients in litigation, transactions and legislation.

1996 - BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA OFFICE OPENS

Hand Arendall Harrison Sale has maintained an office in Birmingham since 1996. When the firm merged with Tingle Watson & Bates. In 2002, the firm expanded again merging with Gladden and Sinor, PC. The Birmingham office currently has more than 20 attorneys.

2005 - NORTH ALABAMA OFFICE OPENS

Hand Arendall Harrison Sale opened a North Alabama office in February of 2005, when the firm of Sherill, Batts and Black joined HAHS. The firm's North Alabama office is located in Athens and is currently staffed by Shane Black, Anne Burrows and Britley Brown. The location of the firm's office in the Athens/Huntsville area enables HAHS to efficiently serve its clients throughout the Northern part of the State.

2007 - FAIRHOPE ALABAMA OFFICE OPENS

Hand Arendall Harrison Sale opened a Fairhope office in the winter of 2007. The location of the firm's office in Fairhope enables HAHS to further expand its service to clients in Baldwin County.

2014 - SANTA ROSA BEACH FLORIDA OFFICE ON HIGHWAY 30A OPENS

If you know the most visited and most beautiful beaches in Florida, you have heard of Panama City Beach and 30A. In 2018, with our practice expansion keeping up with the development along the Northwest Florida coast, it was vital to expand our presence westward to the heart of all the villages along 30A. The firm partners selected Redfish Village right on the 30A Highway in Santa Rosa Beach, the main transportation artery for the coastal highway as an office location of convenience for our clients. This office allows our full-time coastal living residents, business owners and second home clients to meet with us where they live, work or play.

2016 - DESTIN FLORIDA OFFICE OPENS

The Hand Arendall Harrison Sale office located on the Emerald Coast Parkway is in the heart of Destin. This office opened in 2016 and has been featured in many publications as part of print and social media campaigns. Its corner of the block and top floor location offers spectacular views of the Gulf on one side and bay views on the other. We are conveniently positioned along one of the busiest business corridors in Northwest Florida. The origin for the Destin office was the result of attorney focus to this market. It opened with one full time attorney and has grown to an office of more than five dedicated attorneys plus additional staff. This office is a multi-practice office serving clients throughout the Florida panhandle region.

2018 - PANAMA CITY BEACH OFFICE OPENS

For over 45 years and continuing today, the firm has represented the City of Panama City Beach and business clients instrumental to the development of the entire beaches area. Until the beaches office was established in 2018, the beach clients were represented by attorneys in the original office located in historic Panama City. With the economic development including real estate closings and title work along the coast, a more convenient conference office with attorneys and staff was added in Panama City Beach. After the merger with Hand Arendall in 2018, the beach office located on Panama City Beach Parkway near State HWY 79 continues to be in the middle of the growth for the beaches region and for the law firm.