Mr. Hale is a native of Tennessee, where he graduated in the top ten from the 1975 class of The Baylor School in Chattanooga. He graduated from Vanderbilt University (B.A. '79) with a double major in English and Psychology, and the Cumberland School of Law (J.D. '83) in Birmingham. He was one of three graduating seniors honored with the Dean's Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Contribution to the Law School, and was a member of The American Journal of Trail Advocacy, The International law Society, and The Fellowship of Christian Law Students. He also wrote weekly humor articles of parody for the school paper "Non-Compos Mentis."
Mr. Hale obtained his Alabama Trial License in 1982, was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 1983 and the Alabama Bar in 1984. He is also admitted to practice before all state, district and appellate courts in Alabama and Tennessee, the Fourth, Ninth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court. He began his practice with an established Birmingham firm with specific emphasis on complex litigation, working directly with the firm's senior partner. He gained a wide base of experience in complex litigation involving product liability, personal injury, wrongful death, commercial and financial fraud, accounting malpractice, and lender liability disputes.
In 1987, Mr. Hale was engaged by, a major bank holding company as litigation coordinator, legal counsel, and assistant secretary to the Board of Directors, to manage its nationwide litigation focusing on the defense and management of lender liability lawsuits across the country.
In 1991, Mr. Hale returned to private practice with heavy emphasis on complex litigation involving municipal liability claims, claims against law enforcement agencies and police, excessive force, wrongful arrest and claims of US Constitutional rights violations, architect and engineer malpractice, professional malpractice claims, complex financial fraud matters, personal injury, and wrongful death. Mr. Hale also enjoys a concentration in issues related to hunting law. He has held the premier rating of “AV-Preeminent” from Martindale-Hubbell for more than 25 years, and is a frequent lecturer on litigation ethics, business ethics, qualified immunity and police policy.
He is an active member of the Birmingham, Alabama, Tennessee and American Bar Associations, the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, the Defense Research Institute, the MCJEA and the Alabama Municipal Attorneys Association. Mr. Hale has been inducted into “Super Lawyers” of Alabama, and is a member of The United States Supreme Court Historical Society.
Mr. Hale is a certified Alabama Appellate Court Mediator. He was a Board Director of the Birmingham YMCA for 14 years and received the YMCA’s highest award “The Order of the Red Triangle”. In 2015, Mr. Hale was elected President of The Homewood Police Foundation, a 501c3 charitable organization designed to foster trust, communication and cooperation between the public and local law enforcement. In January 2022, Mr. Hale was elected President of the Vestavia Hills Police Foundation, also a similar 501 C3 charitable Foundation. In March 2022, Mr. Hale was selected into the exclusive list of the “Top 50 Attorneys" in America.In 2017, Mr. Hale was elected as a Board Director for Crime Stoppers, a nationwide 501(c) 3 charitable organization. Crime Stoppers is an integral partner with all state and federal law enforcement agencies in Jefferson and surrounding counties, and has paid out tens of thousands of dollars for tips that have led to the apprehension of criminals and resolved numerous criminal investigations.
In 2017, Mr. Hale was featured in Fortune, Money and Bloomberg articles highlighting his dedication to the defense of hundreds of State and Federal law enforcement claims throughout Alabama. He has been married to Jennie McLeod Hale for 42 years and they are the parents of three adult children. They are active in their church where Jennie is the Administrative Assistant to the Senior and Associate Pastors. Additionally, Mr. Hale has been published in various national outdoors publications, and authored the autobiography of John “Hog” Hannah, named by Sports Illustrated in 1981 as “The Best Offensive Lineman of All Time.” Titled “Offensive Conduct: My Life on the Line” the faith-based work focuses on the triumphs and struggles of a former Alabama All-American football player under legendary Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, who went on to Pro Football Hall of Fame induction after 12 seasons with the New England Patriots, and is still considered by many sports writers as possibly the greatest large athlete of all time.