Forrest S. Latta

Forrest Latta is a highly experienced litigator in the trial and appellate courts of Burr & Forman’s southeastern region. He is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group and chairs the firm’s Appellate Practice Section.

Mr. Latta’s case history includes major wins and favorable settlements in complex business and insurance disputes involving consumer fraud, failed businesses, insurance coverage disputes, bad faith, product liability, and print/broadcast media claims. He also is known for his skill in handling major appeals, having participated in some 300 appellate cases including the landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases on punitive damages.

Mr. Latta is very active in the Alabama State Bar and is immediate Past-President of the Mobile Bar Association, one of the nation’s 10 oldest. He also sits on the Alabama Board of Bar Examiners, the Alabama Rules of Evidence committee, and is a Fellow in the Alabama and American Bar Foundations.

Within the community, Mr. Latta serves on the Board of Trustees of Troy University, a public-owned university system. He also serves on the Board of Advisors of Cumberland School of Law (Samford University) and is active in the American Camellia Society (a plant society) and several other non-profits.

He was an honors graduate of Troy University in 1980. His law degree is from Samford University, Cumberland School of Law, in 1983. Prior to law, he worked as a radio disc jockey and newscaster in several cities, garnering two Associated Press awards for news coverage.

Peer ratings: Martindale Hubbell (A-V), Chambers USA: Appellate (Band Two), Super Lawyers (Business Litigation), and Best Lawyers in America (Insurance Law & Appellate Practice).

Significant case experience: Business litigation; insurance bad faith; insurance coverage disputes; excess & reinsurance; unfair claim practices; product liability; broadcast and print media libel and defamation; ERISA litigation; dealer/franchise termination; fair housing; false advertising; unfair competition; shareholder oppression; class actions; defamation; Robinson-Patman Act; price fixing; Sherman Act; securities fraud and broker-dealer claims; Directors & Officers Liability; Errors & Omissions; Agribusiness; appeals in state and federal courts.

• Named, Chambers USA, Litigation: Appellate (2022-2023)
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®️, Appellate Practice since 2009, Insurance Law since 2008, Commercial Litigation since 2021
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®️, "Lawyer of the Year," Appellate Practice, Mobile, AL (2014), Insurance Law, Mobile, AL (2022), 
• Mid-South Super Lawyers, Insurance Coverage since 2016
• Alabama Super Lawyers, Business Litigation (2008-2015)
• Defense Research Institute, Duffield Smith Award for Best Defense Publication (2001)

• Troy University, Board of Trustees
• Samford University Cumberland School of Law, Board of Advisors
• Baptist Foundation of Alabama, Board of Trustees
• American Camellia Society, Board of Directors
• The Nature Conservancy, Board of Directors

• Mobile Bar Association, Vice President
• Alabama State Bar, Alabama Board of Bar Examiners

• The Court's Standing Committee for the Alabama Rules of Evidence (2020-2026)

• American Bar Association
• Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
• Association of Life Insurance Counsel
• Product Liability Advisory Council
• Defense Research Institute
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)

Paralegal

Patti Grove
(251) 345-8210
pgrove@burr.com

Legal Practice Assistant

Tammy Howell
(251) 345-8234
thowell@burr.com