(February 1, 2024) MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Association for Justice is proud to announce the participants of its 2024 ELITE (Empowering Leaders in Training & Education) Leadership Academy class.
The mission of the ELITE Leadership Academy is to engage a diverse network of lawyers with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to provide leadership in their profession and communities and further the cause of the Seventh Amendment. Participants are in good standing with the Alabama State Bar, are ALAJ members in good standing, and are active members of the Emerging Leaders or practicing for 15 years or less.
“As an association, we’re extremely excited to work with this year’s class,” ELITE Leadership Academy Co-Chair Erik Heninger said. “Their involvement with the ELITE program bolsters our effectiveness and strengthens the future leadership of ALAJ.”
Each member of the 2024 class brings a unique blend of expertise, experience, and dedication to the legal profession. This group not only reflects the high standards of the Alabama Association for Justice but also signifies a bright future for legal advocacy in the state and beyond. Their diverse experiences and profound dedication to justice are sure to inspire future generations of lawyers.
“This class is a testament to the association's commitment to nurturing leaders who are not only skilled in law but also deeply invested in their communities and the cause of the Seventh Amendment,” ELITE Leadership Academy Co-Chair Nathan Harris said. “I look forward to seeing the impact that these exceptional individuals will have in their respective fields and the broader community.”
Congratulations to the following members of the ELITE Leadership Academy Class of 2024: Kirkland Back, The Rhea Firm (Gadsden); Joseph P. Callaway, Marsh Rickard & Bryan (Birmingham); Anna M. Carroll, Heninger Garrison Davis (Birmingham); Tyler Flowers, Cunningham Bounds (Mobile); Dillon Hobbs, Law Office of Fob James (Birmingham); Marc Mandich, Southern Institute for Medical & Legal Affairs (Birmingham); Clay Martinson, Martinson & Beason (Huntsville); Matt Roden, Shelby Roden (Birmingham); Malia Tartt, Farris Riley & Pitt (Birmingham); and Blake Williams, Prince Glover Hayes (Tuscaloosa).
Kirkland Back, The Rhea Firm
Kirkland graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of Alabama, then joined the Teach For America Nashville Corps where she earned her M.Ed. in Instructional Practice from Lipscomb University. After teaching middle school English for three years, she attended Cumberland School of Law as the Jere F. White Fellow, graduating with her J.D. in 2020. Kirkland practices in several areas of litigation, including workers' compensation, criminal defense, family law, personal injury, appellate, and general civil litigation. She is supported by her husband and fellow attorney, Morgan Cunningham, her son John “Eris” Cunningham, and Fargo the Dog.
Joseph P. Callaway, Marsh Rickard & Bryan
Joseph P. Callaway recently joined Marsh, Rickard & Bryan to serve in its appellate and legal writing department. A 2014 graduate of Cumberland School of Law, Joseph’s passion for legal writing developed while serving as a federal judicial clerk to the Honorable Robert Propst and Honorable Karon O. Bowdre. Before joining MRB, Joseph developed his skills as an appellate writer at a domestic relations firm and served as corporate in-house counsel. Joseph’s passion for civil justice developed as a law clerk at MRB over a decade ago, and he is proud to join the firm that first showed him the impacts that trial lawyers can make in their clients’ lives.
Anna M. Carroll, Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC
As a trial attorney, Anna Carroll represents individuals and businesses all over the state in a wide variety of cases. Anna began working at Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC, in 2016 upon graduation from the University of Alabama School of Law. She has devoted her career to representing people or businesses that have suffered injuries, whether physical, emotional, mental, or financial. She strives to meet her clients’ needs and to help make the legal process understandable and accessible for everyone. Anna’s practice focuses primarily on personal injury and wrongful death, including medical malpractice, motor vehicle collisions, and premises liability. In addition to practicing in Alabama, she is also licensed in New Jersey and Tennessee. Anna finds the most joy in her practice through her interactions with other people, whether clients, defendants, attorneys, or judges.
Tyler Flowers, Cunningham Bounds
Tyler Flowers is an attorney with the law firm of Cunningham Bounds. He practices in the areas of automobile and trucking accidents, premises liability, product liability, industrial accidents, medical malpractice, and fraud. Tyler grew up in Mobile, Alabama. After graduating from the University of Alabama, he obtained his law degree from Cumberland School of Law, where he served as President of the Student Bar Association and a member of the Black Law Student Association (BLSA). As a trial attorney, Tyler is fulfilling a lifelong aspiration to combat injustice, operating within the courtroom where all parties are treated as equals under the law. – the courtroom. His unwavering commitment to victory and absolute determination to each client’s case make him both a powerful litigator and a trusted advocate.
Dillon Hobbs, Law Office of Fob James
Thomas Dillon Hobbs is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and a graduate of Samford University Cumberland School of Law. Dillon was admitted to practice law in the State of Alabama in 2017. Dillon represents victims harmed due to the wrongful actions of others. At an early age, Dillon knew he wanted to be an attorney. He has drawn inspiration from his grandfather, Thomas J. Dillon (deceased), who was elected to three consecutive terms in the Georgia House of Representatives before his appointment as Judge of Fulton County Juvenile Court and later serving as Presiding Judge of the Atlanta Circuit Juvenile Court. Dillon hopes to continue his grandfather’s legacy by helping others through his career as a personal injury attorney.
Marc Mandich, Southern Institute for Medical & Legal Affairs
Marc is a native of New Orleans, now living in Vestavia Hills with his wife, Gianna, and son, Luka. He is a graduate of Jesuit High School New Orleans (Summa Cum Laude ’06), LSU’s College of Business (’10) and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law(Magna Cum Laude ’13). He is licensed in Alabama and Louisiana and maintains a national practice, working for the Birmingham firm of Southern Med Law. He specializes in medical negligence, product liability, maritime law, insurance litigation, and complex personal injury litigation. Most recently, he was named to the Plaintiff Steering Committee for the Social Media Adolescent Addiction “Judicial Council Coordinated Proceeding” in Los Angeles County, CA and is proudly representing the interests of hundreds to thousands of young people harmed by exploitative social media therein. He is also an accomplished appellate advocate, having argued cases to the U.S. 5th, 9th, and 4th Circuits.
Clay Martinson, Martinson & Beason
Clay Martinson was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama. He attended the University of Alabama where he was a leader in the Student Government Association. Clay graduated from UA with a degree in History. After graduation, Clay continued his education at the University of Alabama School of Law. In Law School, he was a member of the Moot Court Board and competed in Moot Court competitions. Clay graduated from UA Law in May 2023 and passed the bar in September 2023. He then joined Martinson & Beason as a fourth-generation lawyer at the family firm. Clay practices in the areas of personal injury, probate and trust litigation, business formation and litigation, and fiduciary litigation.
Matt Roden, Shelby Roden
Matt grew up inspired by watching his father and fellow trial lawyer fight for those that had been wronged by the actions of another, which lead him to where he is today. He attended the University of Alabama, where he graduated with his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration. He first formally joined Shelby Roden in 2017. Since then his primary focus has been on handling motorcycle injury cases by leading the firm’s division better known as Law Tigers. He has handled well over 200 motorcycle injury cases in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. When not in the office, you will find him spending time with his wife and daughter, doing CrossFit workouts and riding his motorcycle.
Malia Tartt, Farris Riley & Pitt
The daughter of a hard-working single mother, Malia knows there is no substitute for grit, determination and heart. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biological anthropology from the University of Alabama before attending the Birmingham School of Law while working full-time at Farris, Riley & Pitt as a litigation legal assistant. At BSL, she co-founded the first Women’s Association on campus and led the 2021 mock trial team. Malia was licensed to practice law in the State of Alabama in 2021 and serves on boards for Girls, Inc. of Central Alabama, the Birmingham Bar Association and Alabama Association for Justice. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, live music and chasing her labrador mix, Hemingway.
Blake Williams, Prince Glover Hayes
Blake Williams is a partner with the law firm of Prince Glover Hayes in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Blake’s practice areas include personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, and insurance bad faith. Blake received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama and is a graduate of Cumberland School of Law, where he was a proud member of the nationally ranked trial team. Blake has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and included in the Top 40 Under 40 and Top 100 by The National Trial Lawyers. Blake currently lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with his wife, Kristine, and their three children. Blake and his family attend Church at the Oaks in Tuscaloosa and enjoy serving with the missions sending team.
The mission of the Alabama Association for Justice is to preserve and protect the constitutional right to a trial by jury guaranteed by the Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution by ensuring that every person or business harmed or injured by the misconduct or negligence of others can hold wrongdoers accountable in the one room where everyone is equal – the courtroom.
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