AUBURN, ALABAMA (JUNE 27, 2025) – The Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (ADLA) held its 60TH Annual Membership Meeting and Elections on June 14, 2025, confirming a new slate of officers and directors at the close of the business meeting. The Annual Meeting was held at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Alabama. Birmingham attorney Bains Fleming of MMPO Defense, began his term as President of the ADLA. “The opportunity to serve as President of the ADLA is a career highlight. The ADLA is the preeminent defense lawyer organization in Alabama and is a leader in advancing fairness in the civil justice system. I look forward to continuing the work of outgoing president Megan McCarthy and building on the growth we have seen in the over 60 year history of the ADLA.”
2025-26 President – BAINS FLEMING of MMPO Defense assumes the position of President. Fleming is the Chief Trial and Managing Attorney for the Alabama Office of MMPO Defense. His practice is devoted to the defense of healthcare providers. Fleming is a thought leader on trial strategies and known for his innovative approach and unwavering commitment to the defense of civil lawsuits. He is the past president of the ADLA’s Young Lawyers Section and has served on the ADLA’s Board of Directors and the faculty of the ADLA Trial Academy for many years.
2025-26 President-Elect – MARK DEBRO of Grace Matthews and Debro in Huntsville was elected as President-Elect. His practice focuses on civil litigation to include personal injury, general liability defense, insurance litigation and construction litigation matters. Debro serves on the Alabama State Bar, Board of Bar Commissioners. He is active in the Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association, where he has served as President. Debro previously served two different terms on the ADLA Board of Directors. Debro is actively involved on numerous other bar and court committees and has served on other community boards. Debro previously served on the ADLA Board of Directors and was elected secretary-treasurer from 2024-2025.
2025-26- Secretary-Treasurer – MELISSA HUNTER of Galloway Wettermark & Rutens LLP in Mobile was elected as Secretary-Treasurer. Melissa is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College and the University of Alabama School of Law. She became a member of the Alabama State Bar in 2008 and is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Alabama, the U.S. Court of Appeals and the Eleventh Circuit. Since joining Galloway, Wettermark and Rutens in 2009, Melissa’s practice has focused primarily on general and civil trial practice with an emphasis on insurance defense and municipal/governmental liability. She is a member of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, the Mobile Bar Association, South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program, and the Mobile Bar Association Women’s Lawyers. Melissa previously served on the ADLA Board of Directors and as president of the Women in the Law Section from 2023-2025. Outside of her legal practice, Melissa teaches Sunday school and serves on the Vestry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. She and her husband, Robert, are the proud parents of Charlie (10) and Mae (3).
2025-26 – Immediate Past President – MEGAN K. MCCARTHY is a partner at Ball Ball Matthew and Novak’s Montgomery office. Her vigorous litigation practice is in the fields of auto liability, trucking defense, bad faith defense, dram shop claim, personal injury defense, general insurance, and construction law. In her 21 years of experience, Megan has tried over 180 cases in Alabama State Circuit and District Courts, and Federal courts throughout Alabama, with great success. Megan was President of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (“ADLA”) during the 2024-2025 term. She also previously served as the President of the Young Lawyers Section of ADLA, served two terms on the ADLA Board, served as Secretary-Treasurer of ADLA and served as Vice President of ADLA.
The ADLA welcomed the following new members of the Board of Directors to serve a three-year term ending in 2028:
District 1 Director: GERRI PLAIN is a graduate of Cumberland School of Law and practices at Gaines Gault Hendrix in Huntsville. Prior to law school, Gerri worked as a paralegal for a boutique personal injury firm in Greenville, South Carolina. After obtaining her master’s degree, she worked in human resources as a recruiting and safety coordinator for the County of Greenville, South Carolina. Culminating her years of experience and education, Gerri now focuses her practice on the defense of automobile litigation, trucking litigation, premises liability, product liability, and construction defect claims. Gerri tried numerous cases to verdict in various counties in North Alabama and obtained defense verdicts in 75% of her trials that reached a verdict. Additionally, she has a successful motion practice, obtaining summary judgment and dismissals of multiple cases. Plain is serving her second three-year term on the ADLA Board of Directors.
District 2 Director: HANNAH STOKES grew up in North Alabama. She attended The University of Alabama for both undergraduate and law school. Upon passing the bar exam, she practiced at insurance defense firms in Birmingham before joining NaphCare, Inc. in 2023, where she is Senior Corporate Counsel – Compliance. NaphCare partners with city, county, state and federal government agencies to provide innovative healthcare, technology, and administrative solutions to address complex problems within the correctional and justice systems. With operations in 49 states around the country, Hannah enjoys working for an evolving and growing company that remains steadfast in its mission to improve and save lives. Stokes is an active member of the ADLA Women in the Law Section and just completed her term as Chair of the Young Lawyers Section.
District 3 Director: CAITLIN “CATIE” MALONE is a Shareholder at Webster Henry in Montgomery and has focused her practice on defending companies and individuals in auto liability and general personal injury claims. She is a native of Ozark, Alabama and previously taught Public Speaking, Critical Decision Making, and Intro to Human Communications at The University of Alabama and Shelton State Community College before attending law school at The University of Alabama, graduating in 2017. She also serves as a member of the Montgomery County Board of Directors and has previously served as a district director on the ADLA Young Lawyers Board of Directors.
District 4 Director: JAY ROBINSON is a partner at Frazer, Greene, Upchurch and Baker, LLC in Mobile. Robinson has significant experience in all areas of civil defense, with his primary focus on healthcare and medical liability, professional liability, municipal law, and general civil defense litigation. He is serving his second three-year term on the ADLA Board of Directors.
District 4 Director: ROSS FRAZER is a member at Frazer Greene in Mobile, Alabama, where he focuses on civil trial and appellate practice in state and federal courts. His areas of expertise include medical malpractice, employment law, professional liability, personal injury, construction litigation, and commercial litigation. Frazer has previously served on the ADLA Board of Directors and is completing an unfulfilled term in 2025-2026, which was vacated by Melissa Hunter, who is now serving as the Secretary-Treasurer of the ADLA.
Additionally, the ADLA welcomed 2025-2026 Young Lawyers Section Officers
STEPHEN PALMER is the Chair of the Young Lawyers Section. Palmer is an Attorney at Hickcox, Robertson, & Stunda in Birmingham, Alabama where his practice focuses entirely on workers’ compensation defense here in Alabama. He did his undergraduate studies at Birmingham-Southern College, earned his Masters at Duke University, and attended law school at the University of Alabama. Palmer recently assumed the role of editor of ADLA’s award-winning Journal publication in 2025, and served as district director, 1st and 2nd vice-chair of the Young Lawyers Section.
KEVIN BUFFORD was elected 1st Vice Chair. Kevin is a partner at Samford & Denson, LLP in Opelika, AL where he practices medical malpractice defense and other civil defense litigation. Kevin attended Auburn University and Cumberland School of Law. He maintains close ties as an alumni with both institutions. Namely, Kevin volunteers as an assistant coach to Cumberland School of Law’s National Negotiation Team as well as its other ADR teams. Bufford previously served as a district director and 2nd Vice Chair of the Young Lawyers Section.
ASHLEY BRITTON was elected 2nd Vice Chair of the Young Lawyers Section. Britton is a partner at Holtsford Gilliland’s Montgomery, Alabama office, where she practices various types of civil litigation, including civil rights, constitutional law, and general insurance defense. Britton has been with Holtsford Gilliland since 2019, upon her graduation from the University of Alabama School of Law and completion of the bar exam. Britton is an active member of the ADLA Women in the Law Section and previously served as a district director of the Young Lawyers Section.
ANDREW TOWNSLEY is the Immediate Past Chair of the Young Lawyers Section. Andrew is a shareholder at Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne in Huntsville. He regularly defends hospitals, doctors, nurses, and other providers in medical malpractice cases. He also defends municipalities, businesses, and individuals in automobile and premises liability cases. Andrew serves on the Boards of Directors for the Madison County Volunteer Lawyers program and United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley. He previously served as the YLS Chair, 1st and 2nd Vice Chair.
About the ADLA: Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (ADLA) is a professional organization of over 950 attorneys dedicated to defending civil actions and promoting fairness and integrity in the civil justice system. For more information about the ADLA, please contact (334) 395-4455 or visit www.adla.org.