Barbara J. Wells
Shareholder
150 South Perry Street (36104)
P. O. Box 2069 (36102-2069)
Montgomery, AL
Education:
J.D., cum laude, University of Michigan Law School, 1993
A.B., with distinction, University of Michigan, 1989
Bar Admissions:
Alabama, 1995
Illinois, 1994
Admitted to Practice
Supreme Court of Alabama
Supreme Court of Illinois
U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Alabama
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Judicial Clerkship
U.S. District Court Judge W. Harold Albritton, III (Aug. 1994 - Aug. 1995)
U.S. District Court Judge Mark E. Fuller (Dec. 2002 - Oct. 2011)
Honors and Awards
Carl Gussin Memorial Prize (Outstanding Clinical Student)
Campbell Moot Court Competition Quarter and Semi-Finalist
Best Oralist Award
The Best Lawyers in America - Labor & Employment Litigation; Individuals Employment Law
Best Lawyers - Montgomery Labor & Employment Litigation Lawyer of the Year, 2016
Best Lawyers - Woman Lawyer of the Year, 2016
Best Lawyers - Montgomery Labor & Employment Litigation Lawyer of the Year, 2017
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating Award
Boy Scouts of America District Award of Merit
- Handles lead-counsel responsibility for large or complex cases from pretrial through appeal
- Repeatedly obtains favorable rulings on key motions
- Draws upon years of experience attained at the side of local federal judges to help clients formulate strategies for successful resolution of litigation
- Uses oral advocacy to effectively obtain desired result
- Advises clients
- Drafts or revises personnel policies and employee handbooks
- Conducts investigations
Recent Trials:
Mercer v. ALDOT, obtained defense verdict after a four-day jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the N.D. Ala (2019)
Perry v. Alabama ABC Board, obtained defense verdict after a four-day jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the M.D. Ala (2017)
Representative Cases:
Abrams, et al. v. Stroud, et al., (M.D. Ala.) – Securities Fraud
Bailey v. DAS North America, (M.D. Ala.) – Employment
Boyd v. Alabama Dep’t of Transportation, (N.D. Ala.) – Employment
Brown v. Alabama Dep’t of Transportation, (N.D. Ala.) – Employment
Capizzi v. Rheem Manufacturing Co., (M.D. Ala.) – Employment
Crum, et al. v. State of Alabama, (M.D. Ala.) – Employment class action
Duncan v. State of Alabama, (M.D. Ala. & 11th Cir.) – Employment
Foster, et al. v. Davis, et al., (M.D. Ala.) – Personal Injury/Removal
Grant v. Office of the Attorney General, et al., (M.D. Ala.) – Employment
Green v. Alabama Board of Medical Examiners, et al., (M.D. Ala.) – Constitutional Litigation
Green v. Graham, (M.D. Ala. & 11th Cir.) – Constitutional Litigation
Green v. Mobis Alabama, LLC et al., (M.D. Ala.) – Employment
Hollon v. DAS North America, (M.D. Ala.) – Employment
IMO US Development LLC v. Triple C Development Inc., (N.D. Ala.) – Business Litigation
Iverson v. City of Montgomery, (M.D. Ala.) – Constitutional Litigation
Leach v. Guardian Credit Union, (M.D. Ala.) – Employment
McDade v. Alabama Dep’t of Transportation, (M.D. Ala.) – Employment
Mercer v. Alabama Dep’t of Transportation (N.D. Ala.) – Employment
McKitt v. Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Bd., (M.D. Ala. & 11th Cir.) – Employment
Parks v. Alabama Dep’t of Transportation, (N.D. Ala.) – Employment
Perry, et al. Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Bd., (M.D. Ala. & 11th Cir.) – Employment
Powell v. Doane, (M.D. Ala.) – Constitutional Litigation
Memberships, Affiliations, and Activities
American Inns of Court, Hugh Maddox Chapter, Master Bencher
Women In Training, Board President
Montgomery Education Foundation, Board Member
Boy Scouts of America, Merit Badge Instructor, Troop Advancement Chair, Leaser for Explorer Post
2014 and 2015 Ecunchatee District Friends of Scouting Campaign Chair
Leadership Montgomery Legacy Program, Graduate, Class XXXII
St. John's Episcopal Church - Member
Q & A
How are you involved in your community?
I am the Board Presidents and volunteer for Women In Training. I also serve as a Board Member and volunteer for the Montgomery Education Foundation. I am a long-time volunteer for the Tukabatchee Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
What previous experiences influence your practice?
I tried cases in a clinic as a law student and caught the trial lawyer bug pretty hard from those early formative experiences. I also prize my clerkships for two U.S. District Court Judges for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama as having been very significant influences on my practice.
Why did you choose to work at Capell & Howard?
When I knew I was moving to Montgomery, I asked a trusted mentor who happened to be a U.S. District Court Judge to recommend a high-quality law firm that he thought might be a good fit for my interests, and he recommended Capell & Howard.
