As a member of Butler Snow’s Products, Catastrophic and Industrial Litigation and Appellate practice groups, Xan focuses her practice on defending product manufacturers in complex litigation and mass tort cases. Xan’s experience spans every stage of a case, whether that be a trial or final hearing in a litigated or arbitrated matter, or in immigration court, or seeking appellate relief via mandamus petitions, or interlocutory or secondary appeals. Xan has argued in front of the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, regularly practices in both state and federal trial and appellate courts, and been selected to act as special appellate counsel, amicus counsel, pro bono counsel, and trial counsel. In addition to her product liability and appellate practices, Xan also has experience advocating for her clients in a wide range of commercial, insurance, bankruptcy, OSHA, and personal injury litigation, including recently achieving a defense verdict in a personal injury matter in Alabama state court.
Overview
As a member of Butler Snow’s Products, Catastrophic and Industrial Litigation and Appellate practice groups, Xan focuses her practice on defending product manufacturers in complex litigation and mass tort cases. Xan’s experience spans every stage of a case, whether that be a trial or final hearing in a litigated or arbitrated matter, or in immigration court, or seeking appellate relief via mandamus petitions, or interlocutory or secondary appeals. Xan has argued in front of the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, regularly practices in both state and federal trial and appellate courts, and been selected to act as special appellate counsel, amicus counsel, pro bono counsel, and trial counsel. In addition to her product liability and appellate practices, Xan also has experience advocating for her clients in a wide range of commercial, insurance, bankruptcy, OSHA, and personal injury litigation, including recently achieving a defense verdict in a personal injury matter in Alabama state court.
Experience
- Obtained asylee status for mother and son fleeing domestic and gang violence following full evidentiary hearing before judge with 90% denial rate.
- Argued in front of United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit as special appellate counsel in secondary appeal from order entered in Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.
- Drafted amicus brief with Supreme Court of Mississippi on behalf of prevailing party.
- Assisted in drafting brief to United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in successful appeal of remand order under Class Action Fairness Act.
- Obtained defense verdict in trip-and-fall case on behalf of national quick-service restaurant. Xan sat second chair for trial, took multiple witnesses, drafted and argued all trial motions, and delivered closing argument.
- Obtained numerous dismissals at motion to dismiss stage on behalf of various clients.
Distinctions
- Birmingham Bar Association
- Future Leaders Forum, 2022
- Super Lawyers®
- Mid-South Rising Stars, Civil Litigation: Defense, 2022-2023
- International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Trial Academy, Stanford Law School, Graduate, 2023
Bar Admissions
- Alabama, 2018
- U.S. District Courts
- Alabama: Northern, Middle, Southern
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 11th Circuit
- Immigration Courts
Education
- Cumberland School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2018
- Online Research Editor, Cumberland Law Review
- Associate Justice, Henry Upton Sims, Moot Court Board Executive
- Judge Abraham Caruthers Teaching Fellow
- Finalist, CKP Cup Moot Court Competition, 2018
- Finalist, Saad Moot Court Competition, 2017
- Finalist, Donworth Moot Court Competition, 2016
- Children, Law and Ethics Scholarship
- University of Texas at Austin, B.A., Linguistics, Minor in History, 2015
- Liberal Arts Honors College
- Liberal Arts Honors Saljon Family Scholarship
- Liberal Arts Fall 2013 Out of State Tuition Waiver
- Award for Excellence in Hindi
- Scholar of Merit, Estate and Trust Administration, Spring 2018
- Scholar of Merit, International Law, Fall 2017
- Scholar of Merit, Civil Procedure, Fall 2015
- Externship, United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama, Birmingham, Ala., January 2018 - May 2018
- Internship, International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands, May 2017 - August 2017
Associations
- Birmingham Bar Association
- Alabama Bar Association
- Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Product Liability Committee
- Young Lawyers Specialized Litigation Group (SLG)
- Vice-Chair, 2021-2023
- Marketing Chair, 2020-2021
- Young Lawyers Specialized Litigation Group (SLG)
- DRI Young Lawyers
- Product Liability Committee
Papers, Presentations & Publications
- Co-Author, "A New Look at an Old Hot Topic: The Internet of Things," 2024 Litigation Update: Navigating Emerging Trends and Technology, March 2024.
- Co-Author, “Navigating a Foggy Future Post-Ford Motor Co. v. Montana Eighth Judicial District Court,” DRI, Strictly Speaking, Vol. 18, Issue 1, July 6, 2021.
- Co-Author, “Making Use of Dissenting Opinions,” DRI, Certworthy, Vol. 21, Issue 2, November 23, 2020.
- Co-Author, “’The Government Said I Could’ As A Defense During COVID-19,” Law360, June 5, 2020.
- Co-Editor, Thomson Reuters Alabama Practice Series: Alabama Criminal Trial Practice Forms, 2018 Edition.
- Co-Author, Association of Defence Counsel practicing before the International Courts and Tribunals, “Prosecutor v. Laurent Gbagbo and Ble Goude,” 2017.
Civic Involvement
- Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham, Junior Board, Secretary
- Serving You Ministries, Junior Board, President