John Leach & James Newman Recognized By Benchmark Litigation

John Leach and James Newman have been selected as litigation stars in the 2013 edition of Benchmark Litigation, a reference publication used by Fortune 1000 general and litigation counsel, named in-house counsel at US investment banks, financial institutions, commercial banks and partners at leading litigation firms in each state.

Firm Retained By Many Landowners Affected By Major Mobile County Road Widening Project

The Alabama Department of Transportation and Mobile County are currently undertaking a major road widening project on Schillinger Road, one of the County’s main thoroughfares.  Owners of approximately twenty-five separate tracts of land impacted by this work have retained Warren Herlong and Casey Pipes to represent them in connection with the project.

Ten Helmsing Leach attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers rating service

Attorneys Joseph P.H. Babington, Russell C. Buffkin, Jeffery J. Hartley, Warren C. Herlong, Jr., John N. Leach, Jr., James B. Newman, Robert H. Rouse and A. Edwin Stuardi, III were named as 2012 Super Lawyers and Christopher T. Conte and T. Ryan Luna were named as Rising Stars. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers in more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. The firm is proud of the selected attorneys for their well-deserved recognition.

Christopher Conte’s Article on a Key Eleventh Circuit Bankruptcy Decision Appears in “Stream of Commerce,” the publication of the Alabama State Bar’s Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section

The Eleventh Circuit’s recent opinion in In re Lett, 632 F.3d 1216 (11th Cir. 2011) greatly expands the role of bankruptcy courts in approving Chapter 11 plans.  The decision essentially requires a bankruptcy court to determine independently whether such a plan satisfies the “absolute priority rule” where no creditor has objected to the plan on that ground, thereby transforming the judge from a neutral arbiter into an advocate for creditors.  Mr. Conte’s article, published in the January 2012 issue of Stream of Commerce, discusses In re Lett and its progeny thus far, and explores the decision’s potential ramifications.  Click here to read Mr. Conte’s article.

Warren Herlong Elected to Serve on Owners’ Counsel of America Board of Directors

At its recent annual meeting in San Diego, California, the members of the Owners’ Counsel of America elected Warren Herlong to serve on its Board of Directors.  The Owners’ Counsel of America is a nationwide network of independent condemnation attorneys who focus on representing property owners in eminent domain actions.  Warren is the only lawyer from Alabama who is a member of the Owners’ Counsel of America.  For more information about the Owners’ Counsel, please visit its website at www.ownerscounsel.com.

Firm’s Partners At National Eminent Domain Conference

Warren Herlong, Casey Pipes and Chris Conte attended the annual ALI-ABA Eminent Domain and Condemnation 101 conference in San Diego, California from January 26-28, 2012. While at this conference, Warren Herlong co-presented a paper on How to Depose the Opposing Appraiser. This is one of the leading eminent domain conferences in the country.

Christopher Conte, a partner in the firm’s Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights practice group, gives presentation at December 5, 2011 foreclosure and bankruptcy seminar in Mobile sponsored by National Business Institute.

Mr. Conte’s presentation focused on debtor and creditor issues in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, and the elements of a confirmable Chapter 13 Plan.  Mr. Conte also covered recent developments in bankruptcy law, including the United States Supreme Court’s June 23, 2011 decision in Stern v. Marshall, 131 S. Ct. 2594 (2011) and its impact on bankruptcy court jurisdiction.

Firm Makes Annual Christmas Donation to Local Family

Donating funds to help a local family in need has become an annual Christmas-time tradition at Helmsing Leach.  This year, members of the firm and staff donated $1,545.00, which was more than enough to pay for items on the family’s Christmas lists, plus a few extras.  The remainder of the money will be divided between the Bay Area Food Bank and Waterfront Rescue Mission.  Thanks to our members and staff for donating.