Todd Campbell Named Birmingham Business Journal 2016 Rising Star of Law
Below is Todd's full interview wit the Birmingham Business Journal, also available to subscribers here:
Areas of practice: Business torts, corporate and derivative litigation, shareholder disputes, contract litigation, securities litigation, trusts and estate litigation, employment litigation
Law school: Cumberland School of Law
Why did you decide to be a lawyer? I wanted to be an advocate for those who are not being treated fairly and to try to help them achieve a solution to the problems that they face.
What has been your greatest accomplishment so far in your legal career? Successfully trying an election contest in Alabama state court to conclusion and obtaining a dismissal on behalf of my client.
Did you have a fictional attorney who has been your inspiration? Rudy Baylor, “The Rainmaker”
What’s your favorite legal TV show or movie? “The Rainmaker”
What’s the biggest misconception people have about lawyers from TV shows/movies? That all real attorneys spend as much time in the courtroom as attorneys do on TV or in the movies.
What’s your philosophy on serving clients? To be responsive and to try to move each case forward to achieve a successful result for my client as quickly as possible.
What’s your favorite thing about being an attorney? Taking on my client’s cause and standing up for their rights.
What’s on top of your career bucket list? At the end of my legal career, to be well-respected by my peers, the bar and my clients.
What’s on top of your personal bucket list? To visit and watch a game at all major league baseball stadiums.
What three qualities are the most critical for a great career in the legal field? Being able to multi-task, having confidence in yourself, and having a willingness to over prepare.
What is the strangest request you’ve had from a client? Sorry, but I am going to have to claim that information as privileged.
If you could change one part of the legal process, what would it be and why? I would shorten the amount of time after a civil action is filed to the date that trial is commenced. Too often today civil actions can take 2-3 years from the date of the filing of the initial complaint until the trial is actually commenced.
What’s the hot topic in your practice area? Litigation related to trusts and estates including litigation involving beneficiaries of a trust/estate or involving a trustee/personal representative of an trust/estate.
What’s your least favorite thing about being an attorney? Entering time.
If you could make any change to improve metro Birmingham, what would it be? I hope that the substantial amount of development that we are currently seeing occur in downtown Birmingham continues.