Abernethy Admitted i ...

Abernethy Admitted into American College of Trial Lawyers

November 9, 2012 | by Butler Snow

Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada, PLLC (Butler Snow) Attorney Phil B. Abernethy has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in America. The induction ceremony, at which Abernethy became a Fellow, took place recently before an audience of approximately 1,000 persons during the recent 2012 Annual Meeting of the College in New York.

“This is a tremendous honor for Phil and for the firm, and we are proud of this noteworthy accomplishment,” said Donald Clark, Jr., Chairman, Butler Snow. “He has worked tirelessly on behalf of his clients and the firm and this recognition is well deserved.”

Abernethy is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group. He focuses his practice on construction law, construction litigation, commercial litigation, product liability law and business tort law. Abernethy is an AV-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized for his work by The Best Lawyers in America, Top Lawyers, Mid-South Super Lawyers and Chambers USA. Abernethy is a frequent speaker on trial practice and construction litigation, and was an instructor on trial practice at the National Trial Academy for the International Association of Defense Counsel. He is a member of the American Bar Association, International Association of Defense Counsel, American Arbitration Association, National Arbitration Forum and the Capital Area Bar Association. Abernethy received an engineering degree from Mississippi State University and a law degree from the University of Mississippi.

Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of fifteen years trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship.

Membership in the College cannot exceed 1 percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province. There are currently approximately 5,838 members in the United States and Canada, including active Fellows, Emeritus Fellows and Judicial Fellows. The College strives to improve and elevate the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the trial profession. Qualified lawyers are called to Fellowship in the College from all branches of trial practice. They are carefully selected from among those who customarily represent plaintiffs in civil cases and those who customarily represent defendants, those who prosecute accused of crime and those who defend them. The College is thus able to speak with a balanced voice on important issues affecting the legal profession and the administration of justice.