Biography

Howard Yeilding Downey practiced law in Birmingham, Alabama for twenty years before forming Downey Law, P.C. in 2010. He was born in Huntsville, Alabama in 1963.  He is one of three children of James Asbury Downey, III and Lu Yeilding, both originally of Birmingham, Alabama.  He was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama where his father worked as a career team leader in the glory days of NASA’s space program.  He attended Huntsville High School prior to attending the University of Alabama from which he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science with a minor in English in 1985, and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1989.  Following his graduation from law school, he served as a judicial clerk for the Thirty-Ninth (39th) Judicial Circuit prior to entering the private practice of law.

Howard is admitted to practice law in Alabama (1990), the United States District Court, Northern (1990), Middle (1990), and Southern (1990) Districts of Alabama and the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (1992).  He was awarded and maintains Martindale Hubbell’s “AV-Preeminent rating” which is the highest rating provided, and is based on reviews submitted anonymously by his peers in the legal profession. He also was recognized by Birmingham Magazine as the Top Attorney in the field of construction law.  He is a member of the Birmingham Bar Association, Alabama Association for Justice, and Alabama State Bar Association.  He has engaged in the private practice of law in Birmingham, Alabama since 1990, having successfully tried as the lead attorney a diverse range of cases in state and federal courts, including cases involving construction defects, construction site accidents, automobile and trucking accidents, insurance and bad faith claims, wrongful death actions, professional liability, premises liability, products liability, and business disputes.

Howard’s outside interests include motorcycling, home construction and renovation, all things related to lake and beach retreats, travel, and the southern passion for college sports.  His involvement in acquiring, renovating, leasing, and selling residential real property in the Birmingham, Alabama area has provided him with a wealth of experience and information which he applies to his representation of clients in the realm of construction defect claims and construction site accidents.

Practice Areas

Automobile liability (motor vehicle accidents)

Bad faith insurance claims

Business fraud

Civil trial practice

Commercial vehicle liability (trucking accidents)

Condominium associations (home owner associations)

Construction defect litigation

Construction site accidents

Construction injuries

Liquor liability (dram shop cases)

Motor vehicle accidents

Negligent security

Nursing home litigation

Personal injury

Premises liability

Products liability

Professional liability (including medical malpractice)

Termite and pest control claims

Trucking accidents

Uninsured/underinsured motorist liability

Wrongful death

Bar and Court Admissions

Alabama, 1990

All U.S. District Courts in Alabama (1990)

U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit (1992)

Education

Graduate:   University of Alabama School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 1989

Undergraduate:  University of Alabama, Bachelor of Arts in history and political science, 1985

Honors – Multiple Dean’s Lists recognition

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

Maintains Martindale Hubbell’s AV – Preeminent rating, the highest rating available through Martindale Hubbell’s peer review rating service.

Recognized by Birmingham Magazine, the top construction attorney in 2012, selected by peer recognition.

MISSION

Downey Law’s Mission is to solve your legal problems and enforce your legal rights in a cost effective and efficient manner.

MESSAGE TO CLIENTS

“You now are involved in a legal dispute and possibly have a case pending in Court.  The legal world has its own language and a set of rules and procedures which often are contrary to what seems to be rational, reasonable, or even self-evident.  Downey Law will serve as your interpreter, and your voice.  We will answer any question that you have, and will not provide false hope or promises simply to obtain your legal business.  You may rest assured that Downey Law does not intend to substitute its judgment for yours.  You will be fully informed regarding your legal options but, ultimately, final decisions regarding your claim or lawsuit only can and will be made by you.”

Howard Downey of Downey Law has represented businesses of all sizes and persons from all walks of life in the State of Alabama for over twenty-five (25) years.  Howard and the staff at Downey Law strive to solve the legal problems of the firm’s clients by enforcing their legal rights.  In many instances, results desired by the firm’s clients are obtained through nothing more than a carefully worded letter or telephone call, for little or no fee.  Downey Law also has been and remains involved in complex litigation involving numerous expert witnesses, tens of thousands of pages of documents, scores of depositions, site visits, inspections, legal analysis, and jury trials.  The practice of law, much like the practice of medicine, has become increasingly specialized over the years.  Downey Law is available to represent its clients effectively and zealously in many areas.  It also has an extensive network of firms with which it works in practice areas emphasized by those firms.  One of the most common mistakes made by lawyers is taking on the representation of a client in an area of the law with which the lawyer is not experienced or comfortable.  Downey Law will not undertake or agree to represent clients in an area of the law in which it is not experienced and competent.  It also will not charge potential clients a fee for meeting with them to discuss their legal problems, and will attempt to assist in getting potential clients to the correct attorney for their particular situation in the event that it is unable to professionally and competently address their legal matter.

OUR OFFICE

Downey Law conveniently is located at 2000 A SouthBridge Parkway, Suite 425, Birmingham, Alabama  35209 with ample parking and easy access.  Downey Law shares offices with the law firm Lloyd & Hogan, P.C., and often represents clients in conjunction with that firm so as to pool their collective resources which include generations of legal experience.  It has a vast network of attorneys, consultants, expert witnesses, medical care providers, construction professionals, and others to assist in the development and prosecution of its clients’ claims.