Jennifer Whitworth is an experienced insurance defense attorney representing insurers, insureds, and businesses in complex civil litigation. Licensed since 2011, her practice focuses on personal injury, personal and commercial auto and trucking liability, wrongful death, industrial accidents, products liability, strict liability, premises liability, construction defect, accounting malpractice, FLSA disputes, and first-party claims involving bad faith, UIM, and breach of contract. Jennifer also provides coverage opinions, drafts reservation of rights and denial letters for insurers, and handles declaratory judgment actions on behalf of insurers disputing coverage. 

Jennifer delivers strategic, cost-effective legal representation with an emphasis on early evaluation, coverage analysis, strategic motion practice, and litigation efficiency. She has a strong record of securing favorable jury verdicts and summary judgments in high-exposure cases. Known for her responsiveness and practical insight, Jennifer is a valued partner to claims professionals across the insurance industry.

Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys hiking, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her husband, Bryan, their three sons—Logan, Ben, and Jake—and their pets, Annie and Whiskey.

Chelsey M. Edgerly was raised in Birmingham, Alabama. She graduated summa cum laude with Honors from the University of Alabama in 2007, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. In 2010, Chelsey earned her J.D. from Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama, where she was awarded a presidential merit scholarship. She was admitted to the Alabama Bar in 2010 and is licensed to practice before all state and federal courts in Alabama.

During law school, Chelsey served as Research and Writing Editor of the American Journal of Trial Advocacy and the President of Defense Research Institute. She participated in a number of school competitions and became a member of the Cumberland Trial Advocacy Board.

Chelsey’s areas of practice primarily include general insurance defense, automobile defense, commercial vehicle liability, and premises liability. She is a member of the Alabama Bar Association as well as the Birmingham Bar Association. Her outside interests include running outdoors and playing piano.

William F. (Bill) Smith, II was born in Winfield, Alabama in 1962. Raised in the Birmingham area, he was valedictorian at Shades Valley High School in 1980, where he played basketball and baseball. He received a B.S. in Mineral Engineering, Petroleum specialization, from the University of Alabama in 1984. During college, Bill worked as an engineering intern for Alabama Power Company at the E. C. Gaston Steam Plant. In 1987, he earned a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law. Bill has been married to Suzann Sherer Smith since 1984. They have two adult children, Kathleen, an ICU nurse, and Parker, an insurance agent.

Bill is admitted to practice in Alabama (1987), U.S. District Court, Northern (1988), Middle (1997) and Southern (2004) Districts of Alabama, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (1999). Bill is a member of the Birmingham Bar Association and the National Retail & Restaurant Defense Association.

Bill has practiced exclusively in insurance defense litigation for more than 30 years, having successfully tried, as first chair, a diverse range of cases in state and federal courts, including automobile & commercial trucking, insurance & bad faith claims, wrongful death, premises liability, product liability, employment cases (race and pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, and workers compensation), and disputes between business entities.

From 2014 – 2020, Bill tried more than 30 cases to verdict.

He has previously served in-house as senior litigation counsel for a major property & casualty insurer.

Bill is a frequent speaker at seminars on a variety of civil litigation topics. He is active in his church and outside interests include gardening, hiking, backpacking basketball and all youth sports.

Maloree G. McDonough was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas. In 2005, she graduated magna cum laude from Arkansas State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Political Science in ASU’s Honors College. She then attended the University of Mississippi School of Law where she obtained her Juris Doctorate in 2008. Some of Maloree’s law school academic memberships and honors include: Non-Resident Alumni Award; member of the Moot Court Board; 2006 Appellate Oral Advocacy Competition Quarter-Finalist; and author of a Bench Memorandum published in the 2008 edition of Mississippi Review of First Impressions.

In 2009, Maloree moved to Birmingham where she began her legal career practicing civil defense litigation. Her current practice focuses primarily on workers’ compensation defense, both at trial and appellate levels. She is a member of the Alabama and Birmingham Bar Associations, the Birmingham Bar Young Lawyers Section, as well as the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association. Maloree is admitted to practice in both Alabama and Mississippi.

Outside of work, Maloree is an active member of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham and the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Young Supporter’s Board. She is also a member of the Birmingham Women’s USTA Tennis League and enjoys playing competitive and recreational tennis.

Michael (Mike) Barratt graduated from the University of North Alabama in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. Mike received his Juris Doctorate degree from Mississippi College School of Law in 2004.

Mike has focused his practice on Alabama Workers’ Compensation cases, representing employers, insurance carriers, and third-party administrators in all aspects of workers’ compensation including, but not limited to, issues of coverage, compensability, occupation disease, eligibility for benefits, indemnification, subrogation, Medicare Set-Aside Allocations, and appeals. His representation has extended to retaliatory discharge, outrage, and other employment related issues. He has represented clients from every county in Alabama and has obtained favorable outcomes in both trial and appellate levels.

Mike regularly speaks at seminars and conferences including: WCI, ASIA, AWCO, and Alabama DOL WC Seminars covering numerous topics and issues. He also welcomes opportunities to speak with adjusters, managers, and supervisors at facilities regarding the proper handling of employment incidents and injuries that occur on site as well as ways to prevent and avoid workplace injuries.

Although he grew up in Chicago, Mike moved to northern Alabama as a teen with his family and has made Alabama his home. After law school, he began his practice in Mobile, Alabama, until moving to Birmingham in 2008 where he has lived ever since. Mike still has family throughout the state and actively practices in all four corners of Alabama.

Outside of work, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and four children. In addition to being an avid woodworker, Mike has a true passion for working families affected by childhood cancer. He is a familiar face on the pediatric oncology floor of Children’s Hospital of Alabama where he provides support and assistance to patients and their families. He also works with multiple organizations directly dealing with childhood cancer research and community awareness.