Amber is a partner at Starnes Davis Florie. Her practice is devoted to civil litigation including professional liability defense, construction and surety litigation, and appellate advocacy. She also advises clients regarding regulatory compliance in the healthcare fields.
Professional Recognition
•fellow of the Birmingham Bar Foundation
•Listed in Best Lawyers in America for Insurance Litigation
•Rising Star for the state of Alabama by Mid-South Super Lawyers magazine
•AV Preeminent rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
•Listed in Birmingham’s B-Metro Magazine’s “Top Women Lawyers”
•Listed in Birmingham’s B-Metro Magazine’s 2018 “Top Lawyers” List
Highlights
•Successfully defended an appeal, where the Alabama Supreme Court affirmed without opinion the trial court’s order compelling arbitration of the plaintiff’s wrongful death and medical malpractice claims against a long-term health facility, rejecting arguments that the arbitration agreement was unenforceable due to lack of mutuality of obligation and other grounds.
•Obtained a favorable ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court, affirming summary judgment on behalf of their client - a timber company.
•Obtained defense verdict in federal court trial in favor of national retailer in a premises liability case.
•Obtained a favorable ruling from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirming the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of national retailer in a premises liability case.
•Obtained a favorable ruling from the Alabama Court of Civil appeals affirming a trial court’s defense verdict on behalf of their client, a multi-state corporation from a suit arising out of a former employee’s claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
•Obtained a favorable opinion from the Supreme Court of Alabama reversing and remanding a trial court’s denial of a client’s request to compel arbitration of claims filed against his business in Baldwin County, Alabama.
•Obtained dismissal on behalf of municipal employees of personal injury and property damage claims based on construction of school
•Obtained a defense judgment, which was affirmed on appeal, on behalf of a municipality following federal trial of Clean Water Act and state common law claims involving allegations of stormwater damage by an adjacent property owner
•Represented coal mining operators in administrative and state court actions involving appeals of permits issued by the state environmental and surface mining agencies
•Represented a client in a CERCLA contribution and cost recovery action pertaining to the Alabama Wood Treating Corporation site in Mobile, Alabama
•Represented chemical waste generator in litigation involving personal injury claims arising from explosion of chemical waste
•Obtained summary judgment for civil engineering firm on all claims asserted by developer and homeowners who alleged professional malpractice and negligence in design of mass grading plans for subdivision.
•Jordan Gerheim and Amber Whillock obtained a favorable ruling from the Alabama Court of Civil appeals affirming a trial court’s defense verdict on behalf of their client, a multi-state corporation. The suit arose out of a former employee’s claim for workers’ compensation benefits. The claimant employee alleged he was permanently and totally disabled as a result of injuries to his arms, shoulders, neck and back suffered on the job. The case was tried by Jordan Gerheim. On appeal of the trial court, defended by Gerheim and Whillock, the Court of Civil Appeals agreed with the trial court’s reasoning and affirmed with no opinion. The Alabama Supreme Court later denied Plaintiff’s petition for writ of certiorari, also without opinion.
Presentations and Publications
•“When the Job Isn’t Done: The Surety’s Bond Exposure After Project Completion,” presented and published at the Southern Surety and Fidelity Claims Conference, April 19, 2018 (Clearwater, FL).
•“Environmental Law and Accountants’ Liability,” presented and published at the 29th Annual Governmental Accounting and Auditing Forum hosted by Alabama Society of Certified Public Accounts and the Association of Government Accountants and Governmental Financial Officers Association of Alabama, December 1, 2016 (Birmingham, AL).
•“Efficiency Guarantees under Surety Bond” and “Impact of Principal’s Bankruptcy,” presented at the 2016 Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, April 21, 2016 (Charleston, SC).
•“Alabama Lien Law,” seminar for the National Association of Credit Management, September 10, 2015 (Birmingham, AL)
•“Environmental Law: What Every Accountant Should Know,” seminar for the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants, August 31, 2015 (Huntsville, AL) and August 13, 2015 (Mobile, AL)
•“Sources of Recovery and Liens,” a publication presented at two seminars hosted by the National Business Institute, October 22, 2014 (Huntsville, AL) and October 23, 2014 (Birmingham, AL)
•“EPCRA Tier II Requirements: A Guide for Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reporting,” The EnLaw, Volume 19, No. 1 (Winter 2013)
News & Insights
•Starnes Davis Florie Obtains Multiple Appellate VictoriesStarnes Davis Florie Secures Appellate Win with Granted Petition for Writ of Mandamus
•35 Starnes Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2026
•33 Starnes Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2025
•Starnes Davis Florie Achieves Multiple Appellate Victories
•SDF Sponsors the 2024 UA School of Law BLSA Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet & Congratulates Alfred Perkins on the Gail K. Johnson Award
•Eleven Attorneys Selected for Mid-South Super Lawyers 2023
•16 Starnes Attorneys Listed in the 2022 Edition of Mid-South Super Lawyers
•Starnes Attorneys Butler, Whillock & Hines Obtain Favorable Ruling From Alabama Supreme Court
•TWENTY-TWO ATTORNEYS NAMED TO THE 2021 EDITION OF MID-SOUTH SUPER LAWYERS
•Biden-Harris Administration Issues Emergency Regulation Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Care Workers
•OSHA Issues Vaccine Mandate: Common Questions on OSHA’s Large Employer Vaccine Mandate
•Update on Vaccine Mandates
•PRESIDENT BIDEN’S COVID-19 ACTION PLAN: WHAT PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WORKFORCE VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS
•American Rescue Plan Extends and Modifies FFCRA’s Tax Credit Provisions
•State Mask Order Extended; CDC Issues Recommendations for People Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - What Does It All Mean for Alabama’s Workplaces?
•YES, YOU CAN REQUIRE YOUR EMPLOYEES TO GET THE VACCINE, BUT SHOULD YOU?
•Twenty-Six Attorneys Named to the 2020 Edition of Mid-South Super Lawyers
•CDC Expands Definition of “Close Contact”
•SDF Attorneys Perkins and Whillock Obtain Defense Verdict for Fortune 500 Company
Fun Facts
• Amber enjoys trail running and recently completed her first 100 mile ultramarathon.
• She is a mom to two boys - Graham and Everett.
