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Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC

About Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC

THE SCOOP

With just over 60 attorneys, Lightfoot, Franklin & White is a litigation boutique with roots in Alabama but a strong reach across the U.S. Over the past 31 years, the firm’s lawyers have spent more than 4,400 days at trial.

A Forward-Thinking Trio

Lightfoot was founded in 1990 by Warren Lightfoot, Sam Franklin, and Jere White. The trio joined together to launch a litigation boutique that would follow a different course than a traditional full-service firm. Among the founders’ priorities were diversity, high-quality work, and work/life balance. According to the firm, Lightfoot was “founded on the idea that a litigation-focused firm (being small-firm nimble with big-firm resources) would allow us to better serve our clients and provide a unique experience that sets us apart.”

The lawyers at Lightfoot have quite the background in the legal field. They have included the former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama; a former Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court (who served on the Court for 20 years); a former Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Palau; six Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and much more.

Trial Ready

Lightfoot, Franklin & White has represented a broad range of clients in matters across North America. Its lawyers have handled thousands—literally—of complex litigation matters. The firm’s practice includes commercial disputes, antitrust, securities fraud, internal investigations, and much more. And when it comes to trial work, the firm is a force—in fact, Lightfoot has been named a “Top 20 Trial Law Firm” by Benchmark Litigation for three years in a row. The firm is a member of The Trial Network.

Not Boxed In

While some firms require their litigators to focus on one area, Lightfoot encourages its attorneys to gain broad experience. At Lightfoot, attorneys embrace a specialization, while also gaining broader experience across areas. The firm notes that this approach makes it more “nimble” and better able to serve its clients’ ever-changing needs.

COVID-19 Update

Although our summer program looks a little different in light of the coronavirus pandemic, Lightfoot is still providing an in-person summer program. Students are given a copy of Lightfoot’s COVID-19-related office procedures and are required to abide by them. Each student is also given his or her own workspace, instead of sharing offices, to ensure adequate social distancing. In sum, we believe that we have put together a program that will give our summer associates a feel for The Lightfoot Way, while keeping the health and safety of all employees as our number one priority.

Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC

The Clark Building
400 20th Street North
Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 581-0700

Firm Stats

Managing Partner: Melody Eagan
Hiring Partner: Haley Cox
Total No. Attorneys (2022):
50 - 100
No. of Partners Named 2021:
1
Billable-Hour Requirement:
2,100-hour target

Base Salary

Salary not disclosed.

Employment Contact

Blakeley Marston
Recruiting Manager
(205) 581-0771
bmarston@lightfootlaw.com

No. of U.S. Offices: 2

No. of International Offices: 0

Major Office Locations

Birmingham, AL
Houston, TX

Major Departments

Appellate
Class Actions
Commercial Litigation
Energy, Environmental, & Toxic Torts
Health Care
Life Sciences
Media & Communications
NCAA Compliance & Investigations
Product Liability
Professional Liability
Transportation
White Collar Defense & Corporate Investigations
*See firm website for complete list of practice areas and industries.