Focusing on strategic planning, motion practice, and appeals, Dave Wirtes has worked for more than thirty years helping our firm and our clients be successful in litigation.
Dave’s efforts in Alabama and through the Country help protect working men and women in ways most will never know. He has won many battles against insurance companies, helped rewrite unfair “tort reform” laws, and helped to defeat immunity statutes to ensure protections of the right to trial by jury and adequate remedies for our citizens’ injuries and losses.
He has been rated for decades as AV® Preeminent TM as shown at www.martindale.com . This peer rating means Dave is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. In 2016 and again in 2021, Dave was awarded the distinction of Appellate Lawyer of the Year in Alabama after peer review by Best Lawyers . Colleagues have commented, “Dave is the premier appellate lawyer in Alabama.” “He has more experience and success than any lawyer in the state.” “Dave Wirtes [and Bruce McKee] are two of Alabama’s best appellate lawyers.”
Dave is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts serving Alabama and Mississippi, the Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Dave helps his colleagues through service in numerous professional organizations. He is a member of the Alabama and Mississippi State Bar Associations, has served on the Ethics Committee, and Long-Range Planning Committee and presently serves as an editor of The Alabama Lawyer
Dave is a long-time member of the Alabama Supreme Court’s Standing Committee on the Rules of Appellate Procedure, and presently serves on the Court’s special task force concerning privacy issues in litigation.
Dave is a member of the Mobile County Bar Association and has served on many of its committees, including as Chairman, Ethics Committee; Chairman, Bench, and Bar Conference Committee; Co-chairman, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee; and Member, Grievance Committee.
Dave is a Sustaining Member of the Alabama Association for Justice and has served as a Member of its Board of Governors and Executive Committee (1990-present); Member and/or Chairman of its Amicus Curiae Committee (1990-present); and Co-editor of the Alabama Association for Justice Journal (1996-present).
Dave is also actively involved with the American Association for Justice where he previously served as Alabama’s Representative and as a Member of the Board of Governors. He continues his service as a Member of its Amicus Curiae Committee (1999-present).
Dave was nominated by colleagues for appointment as a Fellow of Litigation Counsel of America and is now a Senior Fellow. He was a founder of The American Institute of Appellate Practice ("AIAP") , serving as its Executive Director (2015-16), and is one of just fourteen persons certified nationwide by AIAP as an Appellate Specialist.
Dave is a Sustaining Fellow of the Pound Civil Justice Institute , has served as one of its Trustees since 2016 and is currently serving as Secretary. Dave is also a Sustaining Member and the former Alabama representative for Public Justice .
Dave also helps his colleagues by frequently sharing his knowledge and experiences through speaking at continuing legal education seminars. He has spoken across the country on such topics as Defeating Unlawful Discrimination in Jury Selection, Appellate Practice, Perfecting the Appeal, HIPAA and Ex parte Contacts, Recent Updates on the Law, Electronic Discovery, Arbitration, and Immunity.
Dave is recognized by his peers for his service and successes through various organizations. He is listed in Benchmark Appellate as a “Litigation Star, and is listed as a top appellate lawyer in Best Lawyers in America . He is also listed in Super Lawyers Lawdragon 500 as one of the country’s leading plaintiff consumer lawyers.
Outside the courtroom, Dave enjoys photography and restoring antique automobiles.
Recognition & Awards Certified as an Appellate Specialist by The American Institute of Appellate Practice Benchmark Plaintiff named him a "Litigation Star" in its national rankings of Appellate AttorneysListed in Best Lawyers in America®, (2011-Present) Named "Lawyer of the Year - Appellate Practice" in Alabama by Best Lawyers in America® (2016, 2021) Listed in Super Lawyers magazine as one of the top plaintiff attorneys in Alabama / Mid-South Region, (2012-Present) Listed in Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers (2020 – present) AV® Preeminent™ 5.0/5.0 Peer RatingFrequently invited to present at continuing legal education seminars and has spoken on topics such as:
Defeating Unlawful Discrimination in Jury Selection Appellate Practice Perfecting the Appeal HIPAA and Ex parte Contacts Recent Updates on the Law Electronic Discovery Arbitration Immunity Personal Jurisdiction Video Clip The University of Alabama Law Review Virtual Symposium, March 5, 2021Ten Years of the Supreme Court’s Personal Jurisdiction Revival
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