BURR & FORMAN - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Birmingham, AL
Abby is an Associate in the firm's Corporate & Tax practice group.
Abby earned her J.D. from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where she served as vice-president of the Student Bar Association and as an Admissions Ambassador. In addition, Abby received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Bioethics and the Law and was a Judge Abraham Caruthers Fellow.
Abby graduated from Huntingdon College in 2018, receiving a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies and a minor in English Literature. During her time at Huntingdon, Abby was a Huntingdon Ambassador and the recipient of The Most Outstanding Communication Studies Senior award. Abby was also an active member of Alpha Omicron Pi, where she served as chapter president.
Prior to joining Burr & Forman, she was a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Karon O. Bowdre in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / Jacksonville, FL
Adam serves as counsel in the firm's Commercial Litigation practice group.
Prior to joining Burr & Forman, Adam worked at the United States Department of Justice, serving as an Assistant United States Attorney for 7 years and as a Trial Attorney in the Tax Division for 8 years. During his time with the Department of Justice, Adam handled a variety of civil litigation on behalf of the government, including both specialized government litigation such as federal tax litigation, administrative law and FOIA litigation, civil rights defense, and False Claims Act investigations, as well as more general civil litigation such as contract and real property disputes, medical malpractice and general tort defense, and employment discrimination defense. Adam has extensive experience with complex litigation, as well as cases involving novel legal issues.
Prior to his time with the Department of Justice, Adam worked in private practice at a boutique litigation firm in North Carolina. He also served as a law clerk to the Honorable R. Lanier Anderson III on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the Honorable Linda M. McGee on the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Adam received his J.D. with high honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he served as Executive Editor of the N.C. Banking Institute law journal. He also received his B.A. with honors and distinction in Economics, with a minor in Biology, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a Morehead Scholar.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / Jacksonville, FL
Adrian Rust is a Partner in the firm's Jacksonville office and a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group.
His practice focuses primarily on representation of companies and individuals in the areas of complex commercial litigation, shareholder and partnership disputes, probate and trust litigation, contract litigation, business torts and real estate litigation. In addition, Adrian represents lenders in all aspects of commercial loan litigation, mortgage foreclosures, lender liability defense, and other matters related to defaulted loan workouts and collection. His practice also includes special concentration on premises liability, personal injury and insurance coverage disputes. He has trial experience in both state and federal courts.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Orlando, FL
Adrienne C. Phillips is an Associate in the Firm's Corporate and Intellectual Property Law Practice Groups. Adrienne has experience drafting and reviewing contracts, operating agreements, and purchase and sale agreements. In addition, Adrienne has conducted due diligence, drafted disclosure schedules, completed entity formations and filed trademark and copyright applications. Adrienne has experience drafting various types of intellectual property agreements.
Adrienne obtained her Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law, where she graduated cum laude. While studying at Emory, Adrienne was a teaching assistant, Chief of Staff for the Journal of Law and Religion, and a member of the Vis Moot Court team. In addition she was part of numerous organizations such as the Student Bar Association, Emory Law Veterans Clinic, and Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. Prior to law school, Adrienne obtained her Paralegal Certificate from Duke University, and earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Towson University.
In her free time, Adrienne enjoys watching college football, spending time with her dogs, and swimming. At Towson University, Adrienne was a 2X Captain of the Varsity Division 1 swim team, and she earned the title of conference champion three times.
Job Titles:
- Executive
- Partner
- Partner / Birmingham, AL
Al Teel litigates a variety of disputes including those involving catastrophic injury, wrongful death, commercial motor vehicle accidents, products liability, premises liability, Carmack Amendment claims, property damage, insurance coverage, and employment-related claims. He represents Class I and short-line railroads in suits brought under the Federal Employers' Liability Act, FRSA whistleblower claims, trespasser injuries, property damage claims, and other third-party injuries. He is also experienced in regulatory compliance for trucking companies under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and for issues affecting the rapidly evolving logistics industry.
A perfectionist day in and day out, Al makes a living pursuing what will place his clients in the most favorable position possible. With a passion for defending others' interests, Al leaves no doubt to the effort being made on behalf of his clients who deal with a broad range of legal issues within the transportation, maritime, logistics, and manufacturing industries. Al enjoys being out in the field and getting to know the people that make up the companies he has the privilege to represent in court. Al's friendliness and naturally collaborative approach allow him to successfully serve his clients on a basis of mutual respect.
When away from work, Al and his wife Elizabeth are passionate college football fans and love to spend time exploring Birmingham with their two young sons, James and George. Al is also extremely active in the Birmingham Bar Association, where his peers voted and elected him as President of the Young Lawyers Section in 2021.
Al earned his J.D. from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and his B.A. from the University of Alabama.
Experience
Obtained defense verdict for Class I railroad in jury trial in Colbert County, Alabama on FELA hearing loss claim
Al Teel Quoted in Law360 Article on Supreme Court's Missed Opportunity to Clarify Enforcement of Federal Rail Worker Safety Regulation
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Legal Talent and Development
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Accounting
Job Titles:
- Director of Risk Management and Client Intake
Job Titles:
- Director of Office Administration
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Partner
Job Titles:
- Director of Legal Talent and Development
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Officer
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Chief HIPAA Privacy Officer
Job Titles:
- Chief Privacy Officer
- Partner
Job Titles:
- Director of Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Vice - Chair of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer
Job Titles:
- Legal Practice Assistant / Paralegal