Mobile, Alabama Law Firm and Mobile, Alabama Attorney

The 11 people arrested Monday as part of a state government corruption investigation all have retained attorneys to defend them against the charges, which range from conspiracy to federal bribery to wire fraud. The number of charges against each defendant varies.

The backgrounds and experience of their attorneys also vary. Two are former United States attorneys, one is a former assistant attorney general, one represented Rosa Parks, and five list white collar crime among their specialties.

Below is a overview of each defendant's attorney(s):

Defendant: Ronnie Gilley
Attorneys: Doug Jones; Tom Butler
Jones works with the firm Haskell Slaughter Young & Rediker, LLC, in Birmingham. He served as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama from 1997 until 2001 before entering private practice. He is listed in the publication "Best Lawyers in America" for the specialty of white collar criminal defense. As a prosecutor, he also coordinated the federal and state task force that led to the indictment of notorious fugitive Eric Robert Rudolph, who pleaded guilty to four terrorist bombings.
Butler joined the firm Haskell Slaughter Young & Rediker, LLC, in Birmingham this year. His specialties are listed as securities, derivative and class action litigation, insurance law and tort litigation as well as general civil litigation.

Defendant: Milton McGregor
Attorneys: Joe Espy; Fred Gray
Espy was born in Dothan. He now works for the firm Melton, Espy & Williams, P.C. in Montgomery. Listed in the publication "The Best Lawyers in America" in the areas of "Bet-the-Company" litigation; commercial litigation; personal injuries litigation; and family law.
Gray is a veteran civil rights attorney. Represented Rosa Parks, who refused to give her seat to a white bus rider in 1954, the genesis of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. He has been involved in numerous high-profile civil rights cases since then, including various school and college integration cases. In 2002, he was the first black president of the Alabama Bar Association

Defendant: Harri Anne Smith
Attorneys: Donald Briskman and Joshua Briskman
Donald Briskman works with the firm Briskman and Binion, P.C. in Mobile. His primary specialty is listed as personal injury, but also represents clients in the area of criminal defense. Served as campaign chairman for former U.S. Senator Howell Heflin and current U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby.
Joshua Briskman joined Briskman and Binion, P.C. in 2008. His areas of specialty focus primarily on criminal, personal injury and domestic litigation. He served as co-counsel in the case of United States v. Don Siegelman.

Defendant: Jarrod Massey
Attorney: Brett Michael Bloomston
Bloomston works for Bloomston and Basgier in Birmingham. Recognized as one of the top 100 lawyers in Alabama by American Trial Lawyers Magazine. Specializes in the area of criminal defense on the state and federal levels.

Defendant: Jay Walker
Attorney: James Robert Sturdivant
Works for the firm Sirote and Permutt, P.C. in Birmingham. Specializes in criminal and white collar matters. Served as a former federal prosecutor.

Defendant: Larry Means
Attorney: Stephen (Steve) Wesley Shaw
Works with the firm Redden, Mills and Clark, LLP in Birmingham. He specializes in several areas including criminal law and white collar criminal defense. He has addressed the Alabama Bar Association on an issue titled "Demonstrative Evidence and Defending Against the Presumption."

Defendant: James (Jim) Preuitt
Attorney: Ronald Wayne Wise
Employed in sole practice in Montgomery. Specializes in criminal defense. Was formerly an assistant US Attorney in the Southern District of Alabama.

Defendant: Quinton T. Ross
Attorney: Henry Lewis Gillis
Employed with the firm Thomas, Means, Gillis and Seay, P.C. Represented former Healthsouth CEO Richard Scrushy in criminal proceedings in Birmingham. Specializes in white collar criminal defense and government law.

Defendant: Thomas E. Coker
Attorney: Joel Evan Dillard
Dillard works for the firm Baxley, Dillard, Dauphin, McKnight and Barclift of Birmingham. Served as assistant attorney general for Alabama in 1979. Has represented numerous state administrative boards and commissions in federal and state trials and subsequent appellate proceedings.

Defendant: Robert Geddie, Jr.
Attorney: Anthony Aaron Joseph
Joseph works with the firm Maynard, Cooper and Gayle, P.C. His primary focus is white collar criminal defense and civil litigation. He has made numerous speeches and presentations related to white collar criminal defense.

Defendant: Joseph R. Crosby
Attorney: Thomas Zartele Goggans
Works in sole practice in Montgomery.