I. THE GROWTH OF HOME EQUITY LENDING Over the past few years, the U.S. consumer finance market has witnessed a striking resurgence in home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) — a form of revolving credit secured by a borrower's home. On average, homeowners now hold approximately $212,000 in tappable equity, with aggregate home equity nationwide estimated at $17.6 trillion. Additionally, according to Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), homeowners took out nearly $25 billion in consumer debt through HELOCs in the first quarter of 2025 — the highest first-quarter total since 2008. When combined with cash-out refinances, total equity withdrawals reached $45 billion during that quarter...
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Offices
Overview
Bradley is a national law firm with a reputation for skilled legal work, exceptional client service, and impeccable integrity. We provide business clients around the world with a full suite of legal services in dozens of industries and practice areas.
Founded in 1870 in Elyton, Alabama, before moving to Birmingham the following year, Bradley has retained the tradition of southern hospitality even as the law firm has grown into a global force. Our founding partners established the highest standards of value, ethics, and professional excellence in the practice of law - standards that have guided us through to the present day. Respect for our clients, colleagues, and communities and passion for our work are the driving forces behind everything we do. That kind of integrity means that clients can trust us to not only serve their needs, but ensure that the work is completed the right way.
Our 13 offices are located in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, giving us an extensive geographic base to represent clients on a regional, national, and international basis. We frequently serve as national coordinating counsel, regional counsel, and statewide counsel for clients in various industries.
Diversity and equality in the workforce are core values at Bradley, allowing us to leverage a wide range of perspectives to help us achieve the results that we expect and our clients demand. We are also committed to giving back to our communities with meaningful pro bono legal services and charitable contributions.
Although we are a large law firm with more than 650 lawyers, our clients still enjoy the personal attention, responsiveness, and deep relationships they would expect from a boutique firm. Our attorneys and staff combine legal experience and knowledge with a sophisticated understanding of industries to work side by side with clients and come up with practical, strategic solutions specifically tailored to their business operations. Bradley lawyers use their talents, judgment, work ethic, and experience to go above and beyond expectations to help our clients meet their goals.
Areas of Practice
Professionals
Partners
Melissa Gutierrez Alonso
Partner
James Blake Bailey
Partner
Jay Bender
Partner
Lauren Black
Partner
Brandon Bundren
Partner
Jared B. Caplan
Partner
David M. Cayce
Retired Partner
P. Cyrus Chin
Partner
James A. Collura
Partner
Ross A. Darville
Partner
Jeffrey Davis
Partner
Alexandra Dugan
Partner
Philip A. Dunlap
Partner
Ian P. Faria
Partner
Stephen M. Fernelius
Partner
Robert Ford
Partner
Mary Elizondo Frazier
Partner
Nathan V. Graham
Partner
Jon Paul Hoelscher
Partner
Leah M. Homan
Partner
Kindall C. James
Partner
Jarrod B. Martin
Partner
Amy Moss
Partner
Kristina Allen Reliford
Partner
Peter Scaff
Partner
Justin T. Scott
Partner
David B. Sheinbein
Partner
Frederic L. Smith
Partner
Sydney M. Warren
Partner
Michael Casey Williams
Partner
Sarah Q. Wirskye
PartnerAssociates
Raneen Abdelghani
Associate
Tim Almohamad
Associate
Gabriella E. Alonso
Associate
William M. Atallah
Associate
Andrew W. Bell
Associate
Ivan J. Boudreaux
Associate
Jessica Bozell
Associate
Abbie Brashier
Associate
John "Carter" Byrum
Associate
P. Rodrigo Martinez Cabello
Associate
Timothy R. Cook
Associate
Emiley E. Dillon
Associate
Miatta C. Echetebu
Associate
Lance P. Felicien
Associate
Joshua Geesling
Associate
Matthew Griffin
Associate
Paige Farrimond Hamilton
Associate
Asiya Khan
Associate
Kelsi A. Long
Associate
Jessie Manzewitsch
Associate
Ryan Marren
Associate
Julie B. McClintock
Associate
Helene Miranda
Associate
Reagan Hanna Noser
Associate
Eve L. Pferdehirt
Associate
Harrison T. Richter
Associate
Taylor Roberson
Associate
Jaylan B. Sanders
Associate
Zachary D. Sarver
Associate
Charles L. Sharman
Associate
Zane Thomas
Associate
Nathan C. Wagner
Associate
Catherine Welch
Associate
Mary Grace Whitten
AssociateOther
Dustin Appel
Senior Attorney
Celeste J. Greenig
Attorney
Steven C. Herrera
Senior Attorney
Joshua A. Lesser
Senior Attorney
Jazmine M. Nowlin
Attorney
Sinan Pismisoglu
Senior Attorney
Michael Riordan
Senior AttorneyArticles
The King Is Gone (So Are You)
Judge E. Grady Jolly owned a whiskey decanter that looked like Elvis, a reference to the tongue-in-cheek 1989 George Jones hit, “The King is Gone (So Are You).” He proudly displayed this kitschy object on a shelf in his home and delighted in explaining it to guests, many of whom didn’t know the song it referenced. His guests were probably surprised to receive a lesson on country music from this bespectacled federal judge, who owned a closetful of white bucks but no cowboy boots, and shelves of artifacts from his world travels but no other Elvis memorabilia...
Press releases
Robert Maddox Quoted in Bank Director on the Second Trump Administration's Increased Enforcement Focus
Bradley partner Robert Maddox was quoted in Bank Director emphasizing that banks should use the changing regulatory environment as an opportunity to reevaluate and strengthen their BSA/AML programs. “This is an opportunity to sit down and reassess your BSA/AML program overall,” Maddox said. Maddox stressed that leadership must be able to demonstrate the quality of the program. “Every bank will have an established program...
Bradley's Margaret Oertling Cupples Recognized with 2026 Outstanding Community Service Award by Capital Area Bar Association
Bradley proudly announces that partner Margaret Oertling Cupples has been recognized with the 2026 Outstanding Community Service Award by the Capital Area Bar Association (CABA). Ms. Cupples was presented with the award at the CABA’s annual Evening Honoring the Judiciary event held on May 12. The CABA Outstanding Community Service Award is given each year to an individual who has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to serving the local and legal community through pro bono efforts, volunteerism, and civic involvement. Ms...
Blogs
BuildSmart
Significant issues can arise during the three phases of the design and construction process. Effective planning, performance and completion are critical to the success of any construction project. So is informed counsel that addresses a variety of business issues, including mergers and...
Declassified
The Declassified blog offers commentary and insights on the latest class action suits, significant class action opinions, relevant changes to laws and rules, and important class action trends. Declassified covers topics ranging from significant Supreme Court and appellate court decisions regarding...
Financial Services Perspectives
Bradley's Financial Services Litigation and Compliance Team offers the full spectrum of legal services to banks, bank holding companies, mortgage servicers, home mortgage lenders, and other consumer finance companies.
It Pays to Be Covered
Bradley's It Pays to Be Covered Blog discusses insurance law developments and industry trends in property and casualty insurance, including the growing cyber insurance market, coverage for drones, and blockchain exposures. We also address practical risk management strategies of interest to risk...
Labor & Employment Insights
Our Labor and Employment team has extensive experience helping our clients resolve disputes both in and out of the courtroom. We are proud to work with a large and diverse group of local, regional, and national clients in a variety of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, mining, media,...
Online and On Point
A Resource for Privacy Developments and Cybersecurity Risks in an Era of Evolving Technology
Patent 213
Patent law, like most things in life, is subject to change. Changes to patent laws not only impact investment in your existing IP, but directly shape strategies to protect your freedom to operate. The Patent 213 blog provides up-to-date, insightful analysis of the evolution in the written...
The Law of Order
Bradley’s The Law of Order blog serves as a general parliamentary procedure resource, providing information about creation and revision of governing documents (constitutions, bylaws, or rules), application of Robert’s Rules of Order and other procedural authorities in a variety of contexts (such as...