Louis F. Mendez

Louis Mendez is a principal in the firm’s Financial Institutions and Insurance practice groups. He represents companies in all stages of disputes with their customers. From pre-litigation dispute resolution to effective management of discovery and motion practice to final resolution by settlement or trial, Louis works to ensure the most favorable outcome for his clients.

He has experience in a broad range of litigation matters, including defense of securities arbitration and class action matters, defense of insurers in contestable life insurance claims and interpleader matters, and a wide range of other commercial disputes. Louis is also an active participant in the firm’s pro bono efforts, representing a client in asylum proceedings and a client in her efforts to obtain a guardianship for her son. Outside of the firm, Louis serves on the Board of Governors for the Hispanic National Bar Association and is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama (¡HICA!).

In law school, Louis interned with a law firm in Mexico City and served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Adalberto Jordan of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Louis also participated in the Juvenile Justice Clinic, in which he represented juveniles in all stages of delinquency proceedings before the District of Columbia Superior Court.

Awards & Accolades

• Birmingham Business Journal's 2026 Top 40 under 40 Honoree
• Included on the list of The Daily Report’s Southeastern Legal Awards "On the Rise", 2023
• Included on list of the Best Lawyers in America®, "Ones to Watch", 2021-2025
• Recognized on the list of Birmingham Business Journal’s "Leaders in Diversity," 2022
• Recognized on the list of Birmingham Business Journal's "NextGen: Law," 2021
• Recognized on the Mid-South Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" List, 2020-2021

No aspect of this or any advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. A description of the award methodologies can be found here.

Languages

• Spanish

Experience

Representative Experience

• Dismissal of pro se FINRA arbitration claim against Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (FINRA No. 25-00021)
• Defense of sports agency in AAA commercial arbitration and related federal court litigation against professional golfer involving contractual dispute over sponsorship commissions. (Case No. 7:24-cv-537, N.D. Ala.)
• Dismissal of fraud, suppression, and conspiracy claims against brokerage firm based on litigation privilege. (Brown v. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC, No. 3:24-cv-119-RAH-CWB [WO], 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134137 (M.D. Ala. July 30, 2024))
• Early resolution of claim for violation of bankruptcy automatic stay. (Case No. 8:23-ap-80123, Bankr. N.D. Ala.)
• Affirmance of summary judgment in favor of life insurer on claims for breach of contract and extracontractual bad faith. (Fric v. Allstate Life Ins. Co., No. 23-40244, 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 9976 (5th Cir. Apr. 24, 2024)
• Summary judgment on claim for interpleader relief and counterclaim for breach of contract in Florida state court. (Case No. 23-2021-CA-00030-CAAM, Cir. Ct. Gulf Cnty., Fla.)
• Affirmance of judgment in favor of life insurer following bench trial on claim for rescission of life insurance policy based on insured’s misrepresentation of smoking history. (Guzman v. Allstate Assur. Co., No. 23-10267, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 27449 (5th Cir. Oct. 16, 2023))
• Summary judgment in favor of regional bank on claim for breach of promissory note and personal guaranty, and successful post-judgment collection efforts. (South State Bank, N.A. v. Teal, No. 1:21-cv-00789-ACA, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92962 (N.D. Ala. May 24, 2022))
• Defense of national beverage manufacturer in claim by regional distributor alleging breach of contract and violations of Alabama liquid laws. (Case No. 1:20-cv-331, S.D. Ala.)
• Compelled claims against brokerage firm and individual financial advisor to arbitration and subsequent dismissal based on failure to prosecute. (Hager v. Willis, No. 20-00248-KD-B, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 117924 (S.D. Ala. June 24, 2021))
• Dismissal of claims for breach of fiduciary duty against brokerage firm and subsequent early resolution. (Case No. 3:20-cv-15-RAH-WC, M.D. Ala.)
• Summary judgment in favor of life insurer on claim for rescission of life insurance policy based on insured’s misrepresentation of health history and drug use. (Kemp v. Allstate Assur. Co., No. 1:19-CV-374, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 67461 (M.D.N.C. Mar. 11, 2020))

News & Alerts

Speaking Engagements & Events

Articles & Publications

Multimedia

Professional Affiliations

• Region VII Governor, Hispanic National Bar Association
• Member, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association
• Member, Birmingham Bar Association

Civic Involvement

• Board of Directors, Mid-Alabama Chapter, American Red Cross
• Board of Directors, The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (¡HICA!)

Get To Know Louis

Louis comes from a family of accomplished lawyers and judges, and is motivated by his desire to uphold the family tradition.

Outside of the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife Jori and their children Tucker and Alina, and traveling to visit his family in Miami and Atlanta.