Butler Snow LLP > Birmingham, United States > Firm Profile

Butler Snow LLP
COLONIAL PLAZA, SUITE 1125
2101 6TH AVENUE NORTH
BIRMINGHAM, AL 35203
ALABAMA
United States

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices Tier 2

With its roots in the Deep South but now increasingly national in scope, Butler Snow LLP continues to gain excellent traction in the market on behalf of medical device and pharma companies. The team works well with other law firms and has gained a strong reputation approach in the context of “virtual law firms” in the defense of mass tort litigation. The firm acted as national coordinating counsel for Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon in the sprawling pelvic mesh MDL led to a raft of work throughout the litigation life cycle – including for the motions sub-group, which oversaw and drafted a huge number of summary judgements and Daubert motions. Although the MDL is now closed, the firm continues to handle individual cases outside of the consolidated process, recently securing a series of back-to-back defense verdicts at trial. William Gage is vastly experienced both a trial level and in terms of his over overarching strategic prowess; he continues to manage the firm’s relationship with Johnson & Johnson in the pelvic and hernia mesh litigation. Although she is capable at all stages of the litigation process, Austin-based partner Kim Bueno  is particularly adept at trying cases. With many years’ private practice experience under her belt and also attuned to understanding the underlying business implications, as a result of her previous three-year secondment at a major pharma company, team head Alyson Jones is a popular choice among clients for managing MDLs as well as handling individual plaintiff cases. All named practitioners are based out of Mississippi, unless otherwise indicated.  

Practice head(s):

Alyson Jones

Other key lawyers:

Kim Bueno; Paul Cassisa; La’Verne Edney; William Gage; Eric Hudson; Chad Hutchinson; Rod Richmond; Kari Sutherland; Tara Blake; Susanna Moldoveanu; Paul Rosenblatt; Travis Swearingen; Kasey Adams

Key clients

AbbVie Inc.

Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Daiichi Sankyo

Genentech

Johnson & Johnson

Merck & Co. Inc.

Novo Nordisk, Inc.

Sunrise Medical (US) LLC

Work highlights

  • Representing AbbVie in defending litigation involving use of the ZELTIQ/Allergan CoolSculpting® device, including a lawsuit filed by model Linda Evangelista.
  • Representing Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon, Inc. in the pelvic mesh MDL, one of the largest litigations in history.

Firm Overview

Some law firms promise client service. Butler Snow delivers on that promise. Surveys by respected national consultants consistently rank Butler Snow among the best nationwide in service – in anticipating needs, in a commitment to help, in providing value, in client satisfaction.

Butler Snow has emerged from being primarily a regional firm to one with national scope and has built a team of talented legal professionals who share a commitment to serve clients – from Fortune 100 companies to emerging-technology start-ups.

Butler Snow’s practice areas include the full range of business law and litigation services. The firm offers the depth to represent a broad spectrum of national and regional clients in a variety of legal areas, including:

  • Corporate/Business Services
  • Public Finance, Tax Incentives and Credit Markets
  • Financial Services
  • Bankruptcy and Reorganization
  • Government, Environmental, Utilities and Energy
  • Taxation
  • Product Liability
  • Intellectual Property
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Appellate and Written Advocacy
  • Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Industry
  • Investigations
  • General Litigation
  • Labor and Employment
  • Real Estate

The firm’s team approach utilizes resources across the firm to match legal experience with client needs. As a result, clients benefit from the firm’s strategic counsel, efficient execution and innovative solutions to complex challenges.

In an increasingly sophisticated business environment, clients need law firms that have the experience and depth to handle significant matters. Butler Snow’s attorneys offer diverse legal, business and governmental backgrounds, bringing vast experience and practical knowledge to each client they represent. Practice areas are focused on specific legal disciplines, and the firm also has teams that are equipped to address the needs of particular industries, including healthcare, banking and finance, gaming, environmental, manufacturing, governmental, and pharmaceutical and telecommunications.

The firm has represented clients in all 50 states and in the District of Columbia, as well as internationally in more than 30 countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Kuwait, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

Values

  • Pro Bono. Butler Snow’s pro bono program is a firm-wide commitment to the public good. The firm performs pro bono legal services in litigation and non-litigation matters for individuals and non-profit organizations to directly benefit the communities where the firm’s attorneys live and work.
  • Women’s Initiative. Butler Snow is dedicated to promoting and supporting the advancement of women. The Women’s Initiative is a key component of its diversity and inclusivity efforts. In a culture that’s focused solely on serving the client without concern for who’s going to get the credit – many of the traditional roadblocks that have stunted the advancement of women in the legal profession are replaced with an environment where women attorneys can thrive.
  • Butler Snow Foundation. Butler Snow’s commitment to supporting and investing in local communities stretches back to the firm’s founding in 1954. The commitment to actively participate in the betterment of communities is even outlined in the firm’s Partnership Principles. This commitment to communities has transcended into the founding of the Butler Snow Foundation, which was established in 1997 with funding from a client who was especially appreciative of the firm’s work on a major legal matter. The Foundation is a private foundation supported primarily by Butler Snow attorneys.

Inclusivity

Butler Snow believes inclusion is a key driver of innovation and creativity. The firm has long been committed to fostering, maintaining and celebrating an environment where creative solutions and new ideas are welcomed. Butler Snow believes its diverse workforce contributes to its competitive advantage. Firm culture is rooted in collaboration and partnership, and an inclusive environment is paramount to preserving that culture and delivering an elevated level of client service.

This dedication extends beyond the firm through active participation in and sponsorship of diverse organizations and events domestically and internationally. Butler Snow promotes outreach through professional associations, mentoring, recruiting, sponsorships and networking. The firm is also proud to be a Law Firm Affiliate of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. Butler Snow was one of only three law firms worldwide selected as an inaugural recipient of the prestigious AT&T Legal Department Diversity and Inclusion Award.

Butler Snow is also proud to have achieved Mansfield Rule Certified Plus in 2022 and 2023. The goal of the Mansfield Rule is to boost the representation of historically underrepresented lawyers in law firm leadership. The Mansfield Rule has become the standard by which law firms track and measure that they have affirmatively considered at least 30% women, lawyers from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, lawyers with disabilities and LGBTQ+ lawyers for top leadership roles, senior-level lateral hiring, promotions into the equity partnership and participation in client pitch meetings. The “Certification Plus” category that evaluates whether firms and legal departments have achieved diversity in leadership, not just considered it.

Department Name Email Telephone
Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Litigation Alyson Bustamante Jones (PGL)
Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Litigation Caroline Walker (Asst. PGL)
Commercial litigation Kevin Baltz (Asst. PGL)
Commercial litigation Edward L Stanton III (PGL)
Tort, Transportation & Specialized Litigation Arthur D Spratlin Jr (PGL)
Labor and employment Kara Shea (PGL)
Health Law Mark Garriga (PGL)
Health Law Ann Lundy (Asst. PGL)
Business services John J Healy III (PGL)
Regulatory and Government Melvin J Malone (PGL)
Public Finance, Tax Incentives, and Credit Markets Thad W Varner (PGL)
Public Finance, Tax Incentives, and Credit Markets Blake Sharpton (Asst. PGL)
Finance, Real Estate and Restructuring Gregg C. Gumbert (PGL)
Business Services George Crawford (Asst. PGL)
Products, Catastrophic & Industrial Litigation Righton J Lewis (PGL)
Photo Name Position Profile
Caroline Walker photo Caroline Walker
Number of Partners : 244
Number of Other Fee-Earners : 160
Other Staff : 343
Chairman : Christopher R. Maddux (601 985 4502, Chris.Maddux@butlersnow.com)