Courtney French is a founding partner of the law firm of Petway, French & Ford, LLP, in Birmingham, Alabama. He has devoted his entire legal practice to representing individuals and families who have suffered serious personal injuries and wrongful death. Throughout his career, Courtney has handled numerous cases, which have resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients.
Courtney is a lifelong resident of Birmingham, Alabama. He graduated from Birmingham-Southern College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in English in 1995. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1998. After graduating from law school, Courtney served as a law clerk for Justice Ralph D. Cook of the Supreme Court of Alabama.
Courtney has been recognized by Business Alabama as one of the Top Attorneys of Alabama. He has been named as one of the “Top 40 Lawyers under 40” by National Trial Lawyers. Ebony Magazine has named him one of “50 Future Leaders of America.” Courtney has served as the President of the Alabama Association for Justice and as President of the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation. He serves on the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice and on the Board of Directors for the Shades Valley YMCA. He serves as a trustee for the National College of Trial Advocacy. Courtney frequently speaks across the country to other lawyers regarding emerging legal issues.
Courtney is married to Judge Elisabeth A. French, Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge. They are the proud parents of three children. Mr. French is an active member of the Living Stones Temple Church, where he serves as a church musician.
Practice Areas
- Wrongful Death
- Defective Products
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Business Litigation
- Nursing Homes
- Workplace & Construction Injury
- Workers' Compensation
For 35+ years, Tony Clayton has been the go-to advocate for people in Louisiana. Born and raised in Louisiana, he likes to say he practices law "on the same soil" where he grew up, played on the street, went to school, and played football. Today, he fights for regular folks against the insurers and companies that rob them of the life and financial recovery they deserve. He has won over $1 billion throughout his career; his history of results includes some of the most famous cases in Louisiana history, both from his time as the Special Prosecutor and as a private personal injury attorney.
Tony graduated from Southern University’s Law Center and was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar in 1991. He has since had the privilege of serving the courts in other areas of the law, including District Court Judge for the Louisiana Supreme Court and Special Prosecutor for East Baton Rouge Parish.
Tony is an avid hunter and fisherman who is committed to preserving and protecting the wetlands critical to the Louisianan way of life. It is his deep love of his state, as well as his calling to public service, that has led Tony to represent the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in cases involving pipeline companies endangering our wetlands. For decades, Tony has protected communities throughout the Baton Rouge area, and he is now committed to doing the same for the natural beauty of our state. He will do everything possible to hold pipeline companies accountable for the damage they have caused—while ensuring they clean up the mess they left.
Education
- J.D., Southern University Law Center (1991)
- B.A., Southern University (1988)
Professional Associations & Memberships
- Federalist Society, 2023-present
- Super Lawyers, 2018-present
- Southern University Law Center Alumni Organization
- American Inns of Court, Barrister
- Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance Board
- Louisiana District Attorney Association
Khalilah Spencer is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Department. Recognized as a Super Lawyer-Rising Star, she has significant and successful experience in several jury trials and arbitrations involving a wide variety of complex commercial, environmental tort and employment matters. She primarily represents public and private companies in various industries including automotive, financial services, telecommunications, and real estate. She also has significant pro bono experience in civil rights advocacy related to public education, voting rights, and election protection.
Khalilah also serves as Honigman’s Inclusion, Equity and Social Responsibility Partner. In that role, she serves as an ex-officio member of the firm’s Board of Directors, chairs the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and leads the firm’s women and minority recruitment and community outreach activities. Additionally, Khalilah is responsible for development and implementation of firm’s pro bono and social responsibility programs.
Education
University of Michigan Law School, J.D.
- Howard and Howard Scholarship
- Michigan Journal of Race and Law, Article Editor
University of Michigan, B.A.
Admissions
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Terina Williams concentrates her practice on labor and employment law, with more than 15 years of litigation experience representing employers and insurers in matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour violations, and leave-related issues under state and federal law.
Ms. Williams has experience handling Employment Practices Liability Insurance matters, internal investigations, and employment counseling. She advises clients on employee discipline, accommodations, whistleblower concerns, and policy development, and represents employers in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Her practice includes employment counseling and litigation, with a focus on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act.
Before joining Kaufman Dolowich, Ms. Williams served as a Senior Associate at a national law firm, where she represented employers and insurers in labor and employment matters throughout California. She previously served as an Attorney-Advisor, advising on employment, labor, and administrative law matters.
Admissions
Education
- Golden Gate University – L.L.M
- University of California College of the Law, San Francisco – J.D.
- University of California, Irvine – B.A.
Kevyn Orr provides strategic crisis management advice, identifying creative approaches to novel or first impression situations with an eye toward developing practical business-oriented solutions. He has practiced in the areas of business restructuring, distressed M&A, corporate governance and decision-making in distressed environments, and complex commercial litigation and settlement negotiations for more than three decades. He is experienced in all aspects of complex and precedent-setting matters, and The National Law Journal recognized him as a "Crisis Trailblazer" in 2021.
Kevyn's recent representation includes counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Toys "R" Us Property Company I chapter 11 cases. Prior to rejoining Jones Day, Kevyn served as Emergency Manager of the City of Detroit and was charged with restructuring the city's finances and operations. During his tenure, he oversaw the largest and most complicated municipal bankruptcy proceeding in the nation's history, and the city successfully restructured $18 billion in debt, reduced overall debt by $7 billion, developed and implemented a multiyear $1.7 billion revitalization plan for city services and operations, streamlined key city operations, helped improve public safety, put the city's art in a perpetual public trust, and avoided drastic cuts to pension and related retiree benefits. Kevyn received Turnaround Management Association's Mega Transaction of the Year Award for the City of Detroit, Michigan in October 2015.
At Jones Day, Kevyn has advised Chrysler on its bankruptcy, National Century Financial Enterprises in its bankruptcy and asserting its claims in the health care provider bankruptcies of PhyAmerica Corporation and DCHC/Greater Southeast Hospital, and Laidlaw Corporation in its defense of a $1 billion claim by the purchaser of its environmental cleanup division.
Kevyn is a member of the American Bar Association and the American Bankruptcy Institute and a Fellow of American College of Bankruptcy.