Drew is a Birmingham, Alabama native. He is experienced in defending complex lawsuits in state and federal court involving professional malpractice, catastrophic construction defect, wrongful death, personal injury, property damage, products liability, insurance coverage, and insurance defense.  He was selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in the fields of construction litigation and professional malpractice defense.  In addition to litigation, he serves as General Counsel for a venture capital firm operating in New York and San Francisco.  He has also launched and owned other private businesses.  He has a beautiful wife, two kids, and a bad golf game.

Experience

Thrive Growth Partners, LLC, Birmingham, Alabama  July 2021 – Present

    • General Counsel
    • General Counsel for healthcare consulting and venture capital firm with operations in Nashville, San Fransico and New York City serving health systems, institutional investors, and early-stage technology firms.
    • Advise company regarding legal issues impacting current and prospective
    • Analyze and draft contract language and deal

Smith, Spires, Peddy, Hamilton & Coleman, P.C., Birmingham, Alabama      July 2018 – July 2021

  • Litigation Attorney
  • Served as lead trial counsel representing clients in business disputes and claims involving accounting malpractice, transportation liability, product liability, insurance company bad faith, construction defect, professional malpractice, wrongful death, serious personal injury, product liability, and property damage.
  • Represented clients in appeals to the Alabama Supreme Court and United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
  • Represented corporate clients in business negotiations and
  • Represented businesses in mediation and arbitration
  • Advised insurance companies regarding coverage matters, contractual obligations, policy language, and claims handling procedures.

Spain & Gillon, LLC, Birmingham, Alabama April 2014 – July 2018

  • Litigation Attorney
  • Practice areas: Construction Litigation, Insurance Defense, Insurance Coverage, Professional Liability, Products Liability, Premises Liability.
  • Served as trial counsel responsible for cases involving construction defect, professional malpractice, serious personal injury, and property damage.
  • Represented contractors and subcontractors in arbitration disputes under the American Arbitration Association National Construction Dispute Resolution guidelines and Construction Industry Arbitration Rules.
  • Negotiated settlements on behalf of contractors at mediations involving intertwining claims of construction defect, contractual liability disputes, and coverage issues amongst parties and
  • Performed pre-project contractual review and negotiation for contractor and design professional
  • Advised insurers and wrote opinions regarding coverage for construction professionals, contractors, and specialty subcontractors.

Cobbs Allen, Birmingham, Alabama June 2011 – April 2014

  • Corporate Risk Consultant & Counsel
  • Designed and implemented complex corporate insurance and risk management programs for clients
  • Represented clients in contract negotiations with insurance carriers to obtain favorable policy
  • Managed in-house risk management consulting team to lower clients’ cost of
  • Developed new client relationships and relationships with insurers and others to achieve clients’
  • strategic goals.
  • Represented clients in insurance coverage disputes and

Laney & Foster, P.C., Birmingham, Alabama | Destin, Florida May 2006 – June 2011

  • Attorney (2008-2011); Law Clerk (Summers ’06 & ’07)
  • Represented architects and engineers in state and federal court in Alabama and Northwest
  • Provided pre-claim advise and defense services for design professionals to avoid
  • Performed contract review and negotiation for design professionals including pre-design
  • Served as trial counsel responsible for managing litigation in cost-effective and timely
  • Wrote numerous motions, trial and appellate court briefs on various procedural and substantive law issues impacting design professionals and took lead in arguing same in court.
  • Handled all aspects of litigation related to design professional malpractice cases at trial and appellate
  • Routinely lectured at seminars for design professionals and construction

Presentations & Publications

  • Presenter—Insurer’s Duty to Defend, PLRB Western Regional Adjusters Conference (Dallas, TX)
  • Presenter—Duty to Defend, PLRB Eastern Regional Adjusters Conference (Atlanta, GA)
  • Presenter— Liability for Failure to Settle, CLE Alabama Tort Law Update (Birmingham, AL)
  • Contributing Author & Editor, M. Best Insurance Law Digest (Alabama)

 Association & Community Involvement

  • Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Alabama) in Professional Malpractice
  • Included in America’s Top Attorneys
  • CLE Alabama, Alabama Tort Law Committee
  • Member, Birmingham Bar Association
  • Member, American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry
  • Member, Alabama Defense Lawyers’ Association
  • Member, Florida Defense Lawyers’ Association
  • Member, Professional Liability Underwriters Society
  • Member, Claims & Litigation Management Alliance
  • Member, Property & Liability Resources Bureau
  • Magic Moments of Alabama—Junior Board of Directors 2012 to 2016
  • Sonrise Ministries—Uganda, East Africa