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Biographical Information

Jerome (“Jerry”) Chapman is an associate in the Firm’s litigation section. He is a passionate advocate who is proud to serve his clients’ causes. Jerry’s practice is focused on liability defense, coverage analysis, and related areas of insurance-linked civil litigation.

Prior to joining Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, Mr. Chapman worked for a matrimonial and family law practice in Birmingham, Alabama, serving high-asset clientele in divorce and custody cases with complex financial components and parallel, non-divorce claims. Prior to that, he was an associate with a civil litigation firm representing large commercial clients and insurance companies in the state and federal courts of New York City, Long Island and the downstate region of New York. His prior experience in litigation includes insurance claims and coverage, construction litigation, and the defense of insured retailers, distributors, and manufacturers in products liability cases.

Mr. Chapman obtained Juris Doctor from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City in 2017. While studying at Cardozo, Jerry served as an Associate Editor on the Cardozo Arts and Entertainment Law Journal. His focused in pretrial practice and trial advocacy, and he is an alumnus of both the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program and the Advanced Trial Advocacy programs. While in law school, Mr. Chapman volunteered with the Nassau County Legal Aid Society to assist with weekend arraignments and served on several successful political campaigns for local judges.

Mr. Chapman earned a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University where he majored in Non-fiction Composition in the English Language. While attending Vanderbilt, he co-founded Blessings in a Backpack, and served as leadership in his fraternity.

Mr. Chapman lives in Birmingham with his fiancée, Brooke. Outside of the office, he enjoys golf, softball, photography, and cooking.  

Admissions

  • Alabama State Bar
  • New York State Bar
  • Southern District of New York (SDNY)
  • Eastern District of New York (EDNY)

Education

  • J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, 2017
  • B.A., Vanderbilt University, 2013

Additional Information

Civic and Professional Affiliations

  • Alabama Bar Association
  • Birmingham Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association
  • New York State Trial Lawyers Association

Biographical Information

Laurel Thorpe serves as of counsel in the Firm’s litigation section. She maintains a diverse practice with an emphasis on employment law, worker’s compensation, and health care regulatory compliance. Laurel brings her comprehensive human resources experience to provide practical solutions for employers in their compensation, leave, wellness, and benefits programs. She works thoughtfully and strategically to assist clients in the development and administration of workplace safety, privacy, discrimination, discipline, and termination policies.

With a background in health care administration, public health services, and medical ethics, Laurel has assisted health care organizations, providers, and employers in complex regulatory compliance issues. This includes the identification and remediation of issues related to federal and state fraud and abuse, research ethics, health care privacy, and the negotiation of compensation and operational agreements.

Laurel received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center. While at UHLC, she served as the Managing Editor of the inaugural board of the Houston Journal of Health Law and Policy, and she served on the editorial board of the Houston Journal of International Law. Laurel refined her research and writing skills as an assistant to employment and health care law professors in the Health Law and Policy Institute. There she worked extensively on issues related to ethical decision making, health care and employment regulations, and disability related claims. 

After law school, Laurel began her practice in the Houston office of a national firm. She returned home to the Gulf Coast where, in addition to her law practice, she devotes her time to family, community, and church. She enjoys teaching and speaking at women’s ministry events and professional development programs.

Admissions

  • Alabama State Bar, 2008
  • Texas State Bar, 2002

Education

  • J.D., University of Houston Law Center, cum laude
  • B.A., University of Alabama at Birmingham

 

Additional Information

Civic and Professional Affiliations

  • Mobile County Bar Association
  • Baldwin County Bar Association
  • Heart for Athletes, Board of Directors

 

Biographical Information

Chase Pritchard is an associate in the Firm’s business section.  He assists clients in a wide variety of transactional matters, including real estate, mergers & acquisitions, contract negotiation, and entity formation.

Before joining the Firm, Chase served as vice president and in-house counsel for an international construction company that specialized in industrial and port construction.

Chase and his wife, Sara, live in Mobile with their two young children, Mary Helen and Cuen.  Chase is also active in his community, including serving as vice president of St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus and on the board of directors for Rapahope.

Admissions

  • Alabama State Bar, 2016

Education

  • J.D., University of Mississippi School of Law, 2016
  • B.A. University of South Alabama, 2013  

Biographical Information

Jennifer Roselius rejoined Hand Arendall Harrison Sale as Of Counsel following her tenure as in house counsel for a national homebuilder. She practices in the firm’s Business Section. She has extensive experience in corporate transactions, real estate, and commercial finance. Her clients span a broad range of industries, including real estate developers, health care providers, banks, and builders. Thanks to her years spent as in house counsel, Jennifer has a unique understanding of the needs of her corporate clients.

Jennifer received her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and was awarded the school’s C.V. Starr Scholarship. While at Fordham, Jennifer served in the Fordham Child & Family Litigation Clinic and attended the Cornell-Paris Summer Institute of International and Comparative Law. Jennifer received her B.S., magna cum laude, from the University of Alabama. Prior to joining Hand Arendall for the first time, Jennifer practiced at a firm in New York.

Admissions

  • Alabama State Bar
  • New York State Bar

Education

  • J.D., Fordham University School of Law, 2006
  • B.S., University of Alabama, B.S., magna cum laude, 2001

Additional Information

Civic and Professional Affiliations

  • Member, Mobile Bar Association
  • Member, Alabama State Bar

Publications and Presentations

  • Hand Arendall Sustainability Initiatives – Presenter – November 2010
  • Green Coast Council Financing Opportunities, Incentives and Regulations for Green Building – Panel Speaker – December 2010 Green Building Focus Seminar Series, Mobile, Alabama
  • Legal Issues Associated with Green Building Projects – Presenter – September 2011 – USGBC Alabama Chapter
  • Title Risks and Insurance Coverage – Presenter and Author and Curing Title Defects – Presenter – December 2011 – National Business Institute Advanced Issues in Real Estate Law CLE Seminar
  • Public Trust Doctrine in Alabama – Speaker and Co-Author – March 2012 – Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program CLE Seminar
  • Financing Green Improvements – Speaker – July 2012 – Green Coast Council
  • Update on Incentives for Green Building – Speaker – February 2013 – Green Coast Council
  • The Commercial Real Estate Cycle – Speaker – March 2013 – Alabama Association of Paralegals, Region III
  • Getting and Keeping the Business: A Discussion with In-House Counsel – Alabama State Bar 2017 Annual Meeting

Biographical Information

Matthew is an associate in the Firm’s business section. Matthew’s practice focuses on representing developers, owners, sellers, builders and lenders in a broad range of real estate transactions, including the acquisition, development and conveyance of real property.

Matthew graduated from the Faulkner University, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law in 2020 where he served as President of the Jones School of Law’s Chapter of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, and as a member of the nationally recognized Ernestine S. Sapp Chapter of the Black Law Students Association. Matthew was also a member of the Jones School of Law’s Board of Advocates and competed on the National Trial Team that finished as a finalist in the 2018 Martin Luther King, Jr. National Civil Rights Trial Competition in Sacramento, California. Upon graduation, Matthew was also inducted as a Fellow into the Public Interest Society.

During law school, Matthew served as a summer law clerk for the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office, where he represented the DA’s Office in court with his third-year practice card. Additionally, Matthew also worked as a real estate law clerk for a Montgomery based law firm, where he later began his career as an attorney focusing his practice on various real estate-related matters.

Prior to attending law school, Matthew worked as a real estate agent in Mobile and was a member of the National Association of Realtors, Alabama Association of Realtors, and Mobile Area Association of Realtors. He also worked in higher education as an admissions officer for the University of South Alabama. Matthew received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of South Alabama and was initiated into the Lambda Pi Eta National Honor Society and the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Born and raised in Mobile, Matthew is glad to be home on the gulf coast and grateful for the opportunity to serve his community.

Admissions

Alabama State Bar

Education

  • J.D., Faulkner University, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, 2020
  • B.A., University of South Alabama, 2012

Additional Information

Civic and Professional Affiliations 

  • Mobile Bar Association
  • Baldwin County Bar Association

Awards

  • Fellow, Public Interest Society
  • Finalist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Civil Rights Trial Competition

Biographical Information

Matthew R. Brooks is an Associate in the Panama City office. His practice is focused on Civil Litigation, dealing primarily in insurance claims, commercial disputes, business, construction, and general property litigation.

Matt earned his Juris Doctor from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida where he also served as the Vice President of the Student Veterans Law Symposium. Matt grew up in southeastern Kentucky and earned his B.A. from Morehead State University (KY). After completing his undergraduate degree in 2004, Matt spent 9 years in the U.S. Marines serving in ground infantry and armor occupational specialties. During this service, he completed numerous deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. In addition, Matt spent 2 years as a project officer in future technologies at the Warfighting Laboratory in Quantico, VA.

Matt continues to assist our nation’s veterans through his active involvement with the Veterans Business Outreach Center of Florida.  

Mr. Brooks joined the Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC’s Panama City Office in July 2021.

Admissions

  • Florida State Bar
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida

Education

J.D., Florida State University College of Law, 2021
B.A., Morehead State University (KY), 2004

Biographical Information

Jennifer Wintrode Shuler is Of Counsel with Hand Arendall Harrison Sale. Ms. Shuler is Florida Bar Board Certified in City, County, Local Government Law and has been a local government attorney for twenty years, working in both the private and public sector. Ms. Shuler began her legal career in her home state of Michigan working for a private law firm that represents villages, towns, and cities in the greater Detroit area. Upon moving to Florida, Ms. Shuler continued her local government work while representing the City of Mary Esther. Ms. Shuler next spent four years practicing with a firm handling insurance litigation for insurers such as Florida Association of Counties Trust, Preferred Governmental Insurance Trust and the Florida Sheriff’s Insurance Fund in defense of local government clients all over the Florida Panhandle. In 2012, Ms. Shuler joined the Bay County Attorney’s office, where she served as the Deputy Assistant County Attorney for nine years.

Throughout her legal career in Florida, Ms. Shuler has provided numerous Ethics, Public Records Act and Sunshine Law presentations to County Boards and Commissions. In addition, she has provided ethics training to the Emerald Coast Section of the American Planning Association and presented continuing legal education to the Florida Association of County Attorneys entitled, “HIPAA Training for EMS Providers.”

Ms. Shuler currently serves as the County Attorney for Liberty County and helps to represent many Firm local governmental clients, as well as private individuals who request assistance with government and administrative matters.

Ms. Shuler earned her Juris Doctorate from Santa Clara School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California: Santa Cruz.

Ms. Shuler is a member of The Florida Bar, The Michigan Bar, and the Federal Bar of the Northern District of Florida. Ms. Shuler has volunteered for many years with Legal Services of Northwest Florida and in 2018, she was honored to receive the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award in a Florida Supreme Court ceremony.

Admissions

  • Florida State Bar
  • Michigan State Bar
  • Federal Bar of the Northern District of Florida

Education

  • J.D., Santa Clara University, 2001
  • B.A., University of California: Santa Cruz, 1991

Additional Information

Publications and Presentations

  • Ethics Training for the Emerald Coast Section of the American Planning Association
  • “HIPAA Training for EMS Providers,” continuing legal education to the Florida Association of County Attorneys
  • Ethics, Public Records Act and Sunshine Law Presentations for Florida Government Officials

Biographical Information

Ben Thomas is an associate in the Firm’s litigation section.  He is a dedicated advocate who takes joy in effectively representing his clients through even the most difficult issues.  From his time working for the Attorney General of Alabama to clerking in the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Alabama, he has garnished invaluable experience that he uses to represent clients in civil litigation. Mr. Thomas has handled matters in a wide array of practice areas including general insurance defense, tractor trailer accidents, coverage law, and automotive liability defense.  Prior to joining Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, he practiced at a firm specializing in civil litigation. 

Mr. Thomas spent his undergraduate years at Washington and Lee where he played four years of varsity baseball, was a member of Beta Theta Pi and Reformed University Fellowship.  While playing baseball, he was named the team’s Student Athlete Mentor.  Mr. Thomas obtained his Juris Doctorate at The Cumberland School of Law where he was a Dean’s List recipient.  While in law school, Mr. Thomas also clerked for The Alabama Securities Commission, The Mobile District Attorney’s Office, The Attorney General of Alabama and The Judicial Inquiry Commission. 

Mr. Thomas currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife, Rachael Thomas and their two dogs Lucas and Tito. In addition to practicing law, Mr. Thomas is involved with Easter Seals and enjoys spending time with his wife, hunting and cooking.

Admissions

  • Alabama State Bar

Education

  • J.D., The Cumberland School of Law
  • B.A., Washington and Lee University

Additional Information

Civic and Professional Affiliations

  • Birmingham Bar Association Membership Committee
  • Easter Seals Junior Board Member
  • Alabama Defense Lawyer’s Association

Biographical Information

Alan Duke is an experienced litigation and appellate attorney who regularly handles cases involving the administration of substantial and complex estates and trusts. He has been recognized multiple times by Birmingham Magazine in its Top Attorneys list as well as the Mid-South’s Rising Stars by Super Lawyers.

Alan’s probate practice is well-rounded; he often represents personal representatives and trustees during their administration, serves as attorney for beneficiaries in protecting their interests in trusts and estates, and is even appointed as an estate administrator when necessary. Alan draws on his unique background in engineering to take a detail-oriented approach in the matters that he handles and leverages that experience for success in his role as an attorney representing clients in trust and estate litigation. 

Beyond his practice, Alan works to stay informed about trust and estate issues by teaching Trusts & Estates and Alabama Probate Law at Birmingham School of Law. Alan has also served as an adjunct professor in the Building and Construction Technology department at Jefferson State Community College, where he teaches Contracting and Construction Law.

Admissions

  • Alabama State Bar
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama
  • Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Education

  • J.D., Birmingham School of Law, 2010
  • B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2006

Additional Information

Civic and Professional Affiliations

Biographical Information

Ms. Dorissa Smith is an associate in the Firm’s litigation section and focuses her practice primarily on insurance claims and coverage litigation. Ms. Smith is a 2009 graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English.  In 2013, Ms. Smith graduated from The University of Mississippi School of Law, where she was a member of the Moot Court Board and the Trial Advocacy Board and a Dean’s List recipient.  While in law school, Ms. Smith completed internships with the Mississippi Secretary of State and the Mississippi Supreme Court.  Following law school, Ms. Smith also completed clerkships with a Mississippi trial court and the Mississippi Court of Appeals. She later joined private practice as an associate with law firm in Jackson, Mississippi, where she focused her work primarily on insurance defense and personal injury matters. 

 

Admissions

  • Mississippi, State and Federal (Northern and Southern Districts)
  • Alabama State Bar
  • Alabama Federal (Northern District)

Education

  • J.D., University of Mississippi School of Law, 2013
  • B.A., University of Southern Mississippi, 2009

Additional Information

Civic and Professional Affiliations

  • National Bar Association
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • Birmingham Bar Association
  • Magnolia Bar Association, Inc.

Awards

  • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Rising Stars (2022)
  • Birmingham Business Journal NextGen Law 2022
  • Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch, Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2022

  • Mid-South Rising Stars (2017-2020)

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