As the daughter, granddaughter, and sister of union members, Kim possesses a unique perspective on what it means to be a union-side labor and benefits lawyer, a role she has fulfilled for almost thirty years. Thanks to her family's union background, Kim was fortunate to receive the opportunity to attend law school, allowing her to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to represent and protect union members – both in the workplace and in matters pertaining to their health and financial security. Serving as a labor lawyer who has also represented Taft-Hartley pension, health, and welfare benefit plans, Kim believes that her working knowledge of both areas of the law has significantly enhanced her ability to advocate for all her clients. Throughout her extensive career, Kim has represented workers and benefit plans from various labor sectors, including building and construction, longshore, industrial, and government. Over the years, her practice has expanded from Alabama to throughout the Southeast, providing her with a diverse representation experience that has contributed to her "big picture" understanding and approach to representing her clients. Moreover, Kim not only has a deep appreciation for her union clients, but she also understands the importance of fostering cooperative relationships with their signatory contractors. Over time, she has found that nurturing these relationships is vital to providing better representation to her union clients. Given her personal family background and multi-decade practice as a union labor lawyer, Kim's clients have become her friends, with many of them being like family to her now. She feels truly honored to represent and protect her clients and friends every day.

Kim was admitted to practice law in Alabama in 1996 and Mississippi in 1997. She is also admitted to practice in the federal district courts in Alabama and Mississippi, the Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court. Kim also successfully represents clients before the National Labor Relations Board.

Kim graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, with Highest Honors, in 1992. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama in 1996.

Professional Associations and Academic Involvement:

• Kim has been actively involved in various legal associations and committees, including serving on the Alabama Young Lawyers Executive Committee of the Alabama State Bar and the Union Lawyer’s Alliance (formerly Lawyer’s Coordinating Committee) of the A.F.L.-C.I.O. She is also a member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

• Kim is a member of the following: Alabama State Bar, Labor and Employment and Solo and Small Practitioner Section, American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, Mississippi State Bar, and the Mobile Bar Association.

• She has also been invited to give numerous presentations at local and national conferences on topics unique to ERISA governed plans.

• Kim serves as President of the Morgan Thompson Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization supporting the International Baccalaureate program at Fairhope High School. She has been involved with this organization off and on for seven years.

• She is an adjunct instructor for paralegal studies at Calhoun Community College in Decatur, Alabama.

Awards:

• Kim has been recognized for her exceptional legal skills and contributions to the field. She has been selected by her peers for inclusion in Naifeh and Smith’s "Best Lawyers in America" in Labor and Employment and Employee Benefits since 2006. In 2022, she was honored as Lawyer of the Year by her peers in Mobile, Alabama, in this area of law. She was also selected as an Alabama Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2011 in the area of Employee Benefits.

Reported/Significant Cases:

• Kim's reported cases include In re: National Contract Poultry Growers’ Association (In re: Celia English et al. v. ConAgra, Inc. et al.), 771 So.2d 466 (Ala.2000) and Joe L. Reed et al. v. Board of Trustees for Alabama State University et al., 778 So. 2d 791 (Ala. 2000). Many of her cases are also included in the NLRB Outline of Law and Procedure in Representation Cases, including Advanced Masonry Associates, 2018 NLRB LEXIS 148; Austal USA, LLC, 357 NLRB No. 40 (2011) Austal USA, LLC, 349 NLRB 561 (2007); and, Taylor Wharton Division, 336 NLRB 157 (2001). As part of her service on the LCC Board of Directors, she was asked to proof and provide input to the ERISA argument in the A.F.L-C.IO’s amicus curie brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor.

• On behalf of her Taft-Hartley Health Plans, Kim pursued anti-trust class action cases against drug manufacturers that have settled resulting in substantial recoveries for overpayments on prescription drug claims by her clients, other third-party payors, as well as individual purchasers. Those cases include In re Buspar; Rosemarie Ryan-House et al. v. Glaxosmithkline et al, involving the prescription drug Augmentin; In re Relafen Antitrust Litigation; In re Flonase Antitrust Litigation; In re Metoprolol Succinate End-Payor Antitrust Litigation; and, In re Suboxone.

Fun facts about Kim:

• Kim was awarded a blue ribbon from the Greater Gulf Coast Fair for the Prettiest Pickled Rosemary Tomatoes (She enjoys gardening and cooking).

• She enjoys playing tennis and any activity on and around the beautiful Mobile Bay.

• Kim has three fur babies – two cats (Ernie and Ethel) and a dog (Pippa).