Many construction contracts used in the industry include clauses mandating that any disputes be decided by binding arbitration rather than a jury or bench trial. The standard AIA forms provide the parties with the option of court or arbitration. Trial courts, overwhelmed by a flood of cases and supported with strong caselaw and statutory precedent, regularly enforce arbitration clauses. Yet the decision to choose arbitration over litigation is a major business decision when drafting and negotiating contracts that should not be made lightly...
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Main Contacts

Margaret Oertling Cupples
PartnerOffices
Overview
Bradley is a national law firm with a reputation for skilled legal work, exceptional client service, and impeccable integrity. We provide business clients around the world with a full suite of legal services in dozens of industries and practice areas.
Founded in 1870 in Elyton, Alabama, before moving to Birmingham the following year, Bradley has retained the tradition of southern hospitality even as the law firm has grown into a global force. Our founding partners established the highest standards of value, ethics, and professional excellence in the practice of law - standards that have guided us through to the present day. Respect for our clients, colleagues, and communities and passion for our work are the driving forces behind everything we do. That kind of integrity means that clients can trust us to not only serve their needs, but ensure that the work is completed the right way.
Our 10 offices are located in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, giving us an extensive geographic base to represent clients on a regional, national, and international basis. We frequently serve as national coordinating counsel, regional counsel, and statewide counsel for clients in various industries.
Diversity and equality in the workforce are core values at Bradley, allowing us to leverage a wide range of perspectives to help us achieve the results that we expect and our clients demand. We are also committed to giving back to our communities with meaningful pro bono legal services and charitable contributions through the Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Charitable Foundation.
Although we are a large law firm with more than 500 lawyers, our clients still enjoy the personal attention, responsiveness, and deep relationships they would expect from a boutique firm. Our attorneys and staff combine legal experience and knowledge with a sophisticated understanding of industries to work side by side with clients and come up with practical, strategic solutions specifically tailored to their business operations. Bradley lawyers use their talents, judgment, work ethic, and experience to go above and beyond expectations to help our clients meet their goals.
Areas of Practice
Professionals
Partners

Simon Turner Bailey
Partner
Michael J. Bentley
Partner
Jeffrey R. Blackwood
Partner
Elizabeth M. Boone
Partner
Roy D. Campbell
Partner
David W. Clark
Retired Partner
W. Rodney Clement
Partner
Margaret Oertling Cupples
Partner
W. Wayne Drinkwater
Partner
Jason Fortenberry
Partner
Ralph B. Germany
Partner
Meade Hartfield
Partner
Johanna L. Jumper
Partner
J. William Manuel
Partner
Dinetia M. Newman
Retired Partner
William R. Purdy
Partner
Alex Purvis
Partner
Erin D. Saltaformaggio
Partner
Stephen L. Thomas
Partner
Slates C. Veazey
Partner
Michael Casey Williams
Partner
Stephen M. Wilson
PartnerAssociates

Jonathan M. Barnes
Associate
R. Sumner Fortenberry
Associate
Stephen Fritz
Associate
Whitney J. Jackson
Associate
Stevie F. Rushing
Associate
Christina M. Seanor
Associate
Jaime Weida
AssociateOf Counsel

Jennifer Morrison Ersin
Counsel
Jennifer Morrison Ersin
Counsel
Tiffany M. Graves
Pro Bono Counsel
A. Kate Margolis
Counsel
Alan W. Perry
Counsel
Molly M. Walker
CounselOther

Kelly R. Blackwood
Senior Attorney
Susan A. Eaton
AttorneyArticles
Key Takeaways from the 2022 FDA Food Code
In the waning days of 2022, FDA issued an updated Food Code with several important updates. FDA is responsible for more than a quarter of the U.S. economy, and the Food Code impacts virtually every American...
Press
Two Bradley Attorneys Named to 2023 Texas Rising Stars
Bradley is pleased to announce that Melissa Gutierrez Alonso and Saira S. Siddiqui, both associates in the firm’s Houston office, have been named by Super Lawyers to the 2023 Texas Rising Stars list. Ms. Alonso is a litigator in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group with extensive experience in financial services, real estate and commercial litigation. She assists a wide variety of lenders, loan servicers, and other financial institutions in Texas and Louisiana in matters involving both borrower litigation and complex business disputes. Ms. Alonso is a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center and earned a B.B.A. from Texas A&M University...
Bradley Launches New Intellectual Property Blog: IP IQ: News and Insights Relating to All Things Intellectual Property
Bradley is pleased to announce the publication of IP IQ, its latest blog covering intellectual property news and insights. The IP IQ blog discusses patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, antitrust, and technology laws impacting the business community. Bradley’s IP attorneys write regularly on how these laws affect an array of industries and sectors – from automotive, biotechnology and software to food and beverage and franchises. Topics cover a broad range of issues, including USPTO, patent litigation, infringement, licensing, engineering, computing, pharmacology, biotechnology, cybersecurity, and more...
Blogs
BuildSmart
Significant issues can arise during the three phases of the design and construction process. Effective planning, performance and completion are critical to the success of any construction project. So is informed counsel that addresses a variety of business issues, including mergers and...
Declassified
The Declassified blog offers commentary and insights on the latest class action suits, significant class action opinions, relevant changes to laws and rules, and important class action trends. Declassified covers topics ranging from significant Supreme Court and appellate court decisions regarding...
Financial Services Perspectives
Bradley's Financial Services Litigation and Compliance Team offers the full spectrum of legal services to banks, bank holding companies, mortgage servicers, home mortgage lenders, and other consumer finance companies.
It Pays to Be Covered
Bradley's It Pays to Be Covered Blog discusses insurance law developments and industry trends in property and casualty insurance, including the growing cyber insurance market, coverage for drones, and blockchain exposures. We also address practical risk management strategies of interest to risk...
Labor & Employment Insights
Our Labor and Employment team has extensive experience helping our clients resolve disputes both in and out of the courtroom. We are proud to work with a large and diverse group of local, regional, and national clients in a variety of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, mining, media,...
Online and On Point
A Resource for Privacy Developments and Cybersecurity Risks in an Era of Evolving Technology
Patent 213
Patent law, like most things in life, is subject to change. Changes to patent laws not only impact investment in your existing IP, but directly shape strategies to protect your freedom to operate. The Patent 213 blog provides up-to-date, insightful analysis of the evolution in the written...
The Law of Order
Bradley’s The Law of Order blog serves as a general parliamentary procedure resource, providing information about creation and revision of governing documents (constitutions, bylaws, or rules), application of Robert’s Rules of Order and other procedural authorities in a variety of contexts (such as...
Underwritten
Underwritten covers topics related to life, health, disability and long-term care insurance. Our team of experienced attorneys and authors offers insight on the issues insurers face as they seek to serve their policyholders and to mitigate risk. The blog covers significant court decisions,...