Elizabeth Shirley ("Beth") is a partner at Burr & Forman, and practices in its Commercial Litigation and Financial Services Sections. Beth has a diverse background in commercial litigation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad array of matters. She has represented clients at all phases of civil litigation, from preparation and strategies prior to the filing lawsuits, initial pleadings, complex discovery, motion practice, trials, appeal, and execution of judgments. Beth has experience in handling cases involving business fraud and breach of contract, consumer fraud and breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties, insurance coverage, trust and probate litigation, collections, personal injury, as well as other areas. She has also focused her practice on arbitration, including enforcing arbitration provisions and trying cases in the arbitral forum. She has represented finance companies, banks, automotive dealerships, accounting firms, entrepreneurs, and other corporate clients. She is admitted to practice in all Alabama and Mississippi federal and state courts, as well as the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Prior to entering private practice, Beth clerked for the Honorable U.W. Clemon of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Beth received her J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2000. While in law school, she was the Managing Editor of the Alabama Law Review. She is also a Member of the Order of the Coif and Order of the Barristers. Beth has had her work published in the Alabama Law Review and the ILSA Journal of International and Comparative Law. In addition, she was also recognized as a "Rising Star" by Alabama Super Lawyers in 2011 and 2012.
Beth graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.A. in English, as well as a Master's Degree in English. She taught Freshman English at Virginia Tech and the University of Alabama, where she attended the Ph.D. program for a year prior to entering law school.
Beth is a member of the American Bar Association's Section of Litigation where she is co-chair of the Technology for the Litigator Committee. She is also a member of TIPS where she is the editor of the Trial Techniques Committee's newsletter and the Chair-Elect of the ABA TIPS Trial Techniques General Committee. Additionally, Beth is a member of the Defense Research Institute, National Association of Dealer Counsel, Alabama State Bar, Mississippi State Bar, and the Birmingham Bar Association.
Memberships & Bar Associations
American Bar Association; Section of Litigation, Technology for the Litigator Committee, Co-chair;
Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) Trial Technique General Committee Chair
Newsletter, Editor
Alabama State Bar
Mississippi State Bar
Birmingham Bar Association