LaBella S. McCallum

About LaBella S. McCallum

For nearly 40 years, LaBella has had a passion for trying cases that can’t be settled out of court. An award-winning litigator, LaBella was recently recognized by The Best Lawyers in America as 2021 Lawyer of the Year in the field of Professional Malpractice Law Defense.

Practical experience, passion and integrity are at the heart of her practice. She has the ability to evaluate a case quickly and can work to resolve the matter early but can also try the case if it is not settled or dismissed. Clients value getting an accurate evaluation of their case. LaBella is not afraid to take a case to court, whether it be federal or state.  She is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocacy and the International Academy of Trial Advocates,

LaBella’s practice focuses on medical malpractice defense, liquor and premise liability, aviation, coverage and other general insurance defense work. Her professional liability work includes hundreds of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and employment liability claims, medical malpractice defense, construction/architect liability, and Civil Rights liability alleging violations under 42 U.S.C. 1983. LaBella brings an extra dimension to liquor liability claims due to her experience as a certified ABC Board Responsible Vendor Program trainer. She also trains individuals and companies that hold alcohol licenses, which helps her in liquor liability cases.

LaBella has been a member of the Alabama State Bar since 1984. A graduate of Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, she has an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell and is a Fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Membership in these organizations is reserved for only the most experienced trial attorneys.

Away from the office, LaBella is an avid horseback rider. She competes in hunter/jumper and dressage disciplines and has won many equestrian competitions, including victories in two divisions during the 2010 Alabama State Championships.

Qualifications

Bar Admissions

• Alabama, 1984
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 5^th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11^th Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama
• Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribal Court, 2018

Education

• Auburn University, 1977, B.S. magna cum laude (Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa; Phi Kappa Phi)
• University of Houston, 1981, M.A. cum laude
• Samford University Cumberland School of Law, 1984, J.D. magna cum laude Cumberland Law Review, Associate Editor; Curia Honoris; order of Barristers; Trial Advocacy and Moot Court Board, Associate Justice; National Trial Team

Resources

• Be Young, Be Smart, Be Good at Marketing
• LaBella S. Alvis featured in current Super Lawyers®
• The Evolution of an Idea: The Vision of a Firm

Professional and Community Involvement

• Alabama State Bar Board of Bar Commissioners: Bar Commissioner Circuit 10
• Alabama State Bar: Pro Bono and Public Service Committee; Judicial Liaison Committee; Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee; Standing Rules Committee
• Birmingham Inns of Court: President, Fall 2015-April 2016
• Samford University Cumberland School of Law: Adjunct Professor, Trial Advocacy Program, 1992-94; Member, Annual Fund Advisory Board; President of Cumberland Alumni Club, 2004; Cumberland Advisory Board, 2008-2011
• Birmingham Bar Association: Member, Young Lawyers Section, 1986-1990; President-Elect, 1989; President, 1990; Executive Committee, 1990, 1994-96; Women Lawyers Section: Membership Chair, 1996; Treasurer, 1997; Distinguished Service Award, 2007
• Birmingham Bar Foundation: Fellow; Board of Directors, 1997-2009; Secretary, 2006-07; Medical Liaison Committee, present; Producer, Cabaret comprised of judges and lawyers to raise money for Children’s  Hospital on behalf of the Birmingham Bar Foundation, 2001
• International Academy of Trial Lawyers: Board of Directors, 2014-2020; Alabama State Co-Chair
• American Board of Trial Advocates: Board of Directors
• Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel (FICC): Member
• International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC): Emeritus
• Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Association: Co-Founder; Past Director
• Canterbury Methodist Church: Member; Small Group Facilitator
• Alabama Law Foundation
• President of Cumberland Alumni Club, 2004, Cumberland Advisory Board, many years
•  Special District Court Judge during the 1990s, serving Jefferson County, Alabama

Awards and Recognition

• The Alabama State Bar Tony McLain Professionalism Award – 2021
• AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating for Martindale-Hubbell
• Recipient of the Alabama State Bar’s 2019 President’s Award
• Recipient of the Alabama State Bar 2018 Commissioner’s Award
• Recipient of the Alabama State Bar Tony McClain Professionalism Award
• International Academy of Trial Lawyers: Fellow
• Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® as 2021 Lawyer of the Year in the field of Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Selected for inclusion in the 2017 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America
• Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2010-2021 in the field of Personal Injury Litigation, Defendants; 2020-2021 in the fields of Civil Rights Law; Product Liability Litigation Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants; 2021 in the field of Medical Malpractice Law -Defendants
• Selected for inclusion in 2021 Mid-South Super Lawyers
• Selected for inclusion in Alabama Super Lawyers® 2008-2021 in the fields of insurance coverage and personal injury defense (general and medical malpractice) and 2012-2015 in the field of personal injury defense, general; in Mid-South Region Super Lawyers® in 2016-2018 in the field of personal injury defense, general
• Listed as one of the Top 50 Women Mid-South Super Lawyers® in 2017-2021; Top 25 Women Alabama Super Lawyers® in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2019
• Selected for inclusion in Benchmark Litigation’s list of Alabama Litigation Stars 2010-2021; Top 250 Women in Litigation, 2012-2020
• Selected by the National Diversity Council as one of its Top 15 Business Women in Alabama in 2015
• Listed by B-Metro magazine among its 2016-2019 Top Flight Attorneys and 2015-2020 Top Women Lawyers
• Selected as a member of the Birmingham Business Journal’s 1995 Top 40 Under 40 class
• Birmingham Legal Secretaries Association, Lawyer of the Year, 1992-93
• National Award for Outstanding Achievement in Systems Advocacy,1991

Publications and Presentations

• Author, Emerging Issue of Expert Back-Tracking in Litigation of Liquor Liability Cases, Christian & Small Nonstop Insights Blog (May 2015)
• Presenter, Emerging Issues in the Litigation and Coverage of Liquor Liability Cases, CLM 2015 Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Conference (February 2015)
• Co-Author with Duncan Y. Manley, The Evolution of an idea: The Vision of a Firm, The Primerus Paradigm, 48 (Winter 2011)
• Co-Author with Duncan Y. Manley, Be Young, Be Smart, Be Good at Marketing, The Primerus Paradigm, 12 (Spring 2009)