Balch & Bingham LLP

History & Founding

Balch & Bingham was founded in 1922 by William Logan Martin Jr. , who had served as Alabama’s Attorney General and was also the attorney for Alabama Power Company. His private practice in Birmingham initially joined with Judge Fritz Thompson and Perry Turner to form Martin, Thompson & Turner. The firm’s early focus was on supporting the legal needs of Alabama’s burgeoning power industry. Over decades, the partnership evolved and in 1985 adopted the name Balch & Bingham to honor partners Eason Balch and John Bingham.

Growth Through Mergers

The firm has grown substantially through strategic mergers. In 1983 it merged with Montgomery firm Smith, Bowman, Thagard, Crook & Culpeper, expanding into the state capital. In 2001 it merged with Eaton & Cottrell in Mississippi, and in 2003 with Meadows, Ichter and Bowers in Atlanta. In 2012 it acquired Birmingham‑based Presley Burton & Collier and Jacksonville‑based Stoneburner, Berry, Gocker, Purcell & Greenhut PA. Most recently, in January 2026, it acquired the assets of Duggins Wren Mann & Romero, an Austin energy‑focused firm, adding approximately 21 attorneys and strengthening its Texas energy and infrastructure capabilities.

Notable Engagements

The firm has been involved in several high‑profile matters. In the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal (2010–2011) , Balch was retained by Georgia’s governor to investigate widespread cheating; the firm’s report uncovered misconduct by over 178 administrators and teachers. In 2010 it assisted the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality in litigation against BP for environmental damages from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In 2015 it led an investigation into improper spending by DeKalb County, Georgia officials, uncovering significant misconduct.

Practice Areas & Services

Balch & Bingham’s primary practice groups include Energy (regulatory, transactional, and litigation support for utilities, independent power producers, and renewable energy developers), Environmental (compliance, permitting, remediation, and enforcement defense), Corporate & Commercial (M&A, finance, real estate, business formation), Litigation (complex commercial disputes, construction, IP, product liability, class actions), Intellectual Property (trademark, copyright, patent, trade secret, domain name disputes), Financial Services (banking regulation, lending, consumer finance), and Appellate, Construction, and others.

Special Program: Balch Business Boost

This community‑focused initiative provides free or low‑cost legal services to emerging and small disadvantaged businesses, helping them overcome legal barriers to growth.

Offices & Global Reach

The firm maintains ten offices: Birmingham (HQ), Montgomery, Jackson (MS), Gulfport (MS), Atlanta, Augusta (GA), Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Austin, and Washington, D.C. It serves clients across all 50 states and internationally.

Awards & Recognition

Chambers USA consistently ranks Balch & Bingham in its leading law firm guides. Best Lawyers in America recognizes over 130 of the firm’s attorneys annually. Benchmark Litigation names numerous Balch litigators to its “40 & Under” list. Forbes has named the firm one of America’s Top Trusted Corporate Law Firms.

Culture & Values

The firm expressly promotes creativity, camaraderie, community dedication, diversity, and trust. It invests in professional development, inclusion programs, and community service. Balch’s Chief Talent & Inclusion Officer leads strategic diversity initiatives.