James E. Mitchell, Jr.

Overvew

Jonathan has been counseling and when needed defending employers, companies, individuals, insurance companies and self-insurer funds across a broad spectrum of claims and lawsuits throughout Alabama for almost 30 years.

His practice now principally focuses on defense of workers’ compensation claims & litigation and related matters involving local, regional, national and international self-insured companies, self-insurer funds, insurance companies, third-party administrators (TPA), and excess liability insurers.
Experienced in every business industry, Jonathan regularly represents clients in the fields of construction and materials; energy & utilities; mining; trucking, transportation & distribution; forestry; food service & production; automotive; medicine, health & rehabilitation; municipalities, manufacturing and higher education. Jonathan excels in unique workers’ compensation challenges and is frequently retained for guidance & assist with complex workers’ compensation claims involving willful misconduct, subrogation, Medicare Set Aside (WCMSA), utilization review (UR), and challenging medical circumstances. He also has negotiated legislatively and counseled clients on legislative matters involving Alabama’s Workers’ Compensation Act.

Jonathan has tried countless cases to both jury verdicts and bench judgments (non-jury) across Alabama. And, through dismissal or settlement, he has successfully resolved many, many more. Jonathan has also successfully prosecuted and defended many cases on appeal resulting in numerous reported appellate decisions.

Jonathan is an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell. He is active in many local, state and national organizations within the field of workers’ compensation and on-the-job injuries and claims. He currently serves as president of the Alabama Workers’ Compensation Defense Lawyers Association. He is a past two-year chair of the Workers’ Compensation Committee of Defense Research Institute (DRI), the preeminent international gathering of attorneys defending businesses and individuals in civil litigation. He also served as chair of the Workers’ Compensation section of the Alabama State Bar from 2012 to 2013. Jonathan has been selected as a Super Lawyer and as Best Lawyer - Lawyer of the Year in the field of workers’ compensation.

Personal

Born in Fairfield, Alabama (1970)
Married with two children, one son and one daughter
Volunteer - Boy Scouts of America
Izaak Walton League of America, Birmingham Chapter
President (2010-2011)
Lacey Spring Property Manager (2010-2025)
Vestavia Hills Methodist Church
Pastor Parish Relations Committee (2007 - 2010; Chair 2010)

Contact

jem@law-bam.com

Direct: (205) 732-7448

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Assistant: Stacey Maddox

sam@law-bam.com

Direct: (205) 732-7427

Education

J.D., Cumberland School of Law of Samford University (2003)

B.B.A., University of Kentucky, Finance (2000)

Admissions

Alabama State Bar

United States District Court (Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama)

Professional Memberships and affiliations

Shelby County Bar Association
DRI (formerly Defense Research Institute)

Commercial Litigation Committee Member
Construction Defect Committee Member
Construction Law Committee Member
Construction Worksite Injury Committee Member
Workers' Compensation Committee Member

Shelby County Bar Association
Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (ADLA)
Alabama Workers’ Compensation Organization (AWCO)
Associate Member Alabama Associated General Contractors (Alabama AGC)

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Jimmy is a founding member of Berryhill & Mitchell, PC. He has been representing and counseling businesses and individuals in Alabama since 2003. With over two decades of litigation experience, he has tried many jury and non-jury trials across a wide range of legal matters. His practice has spanned multiple areas, including workers’ compensation, personal injury, construction law, premises liability, dram shop liability, contract law, products liability, wrongful death, employment law, and appellate advocacy. His early years representing plaintiffs in civil litigation provide him with a comprehensive perspective, enabling him to assess cases strategically from both the plaintiff’s and defendant’s standpoint.

At Berryhill & Mitchell, PC, Jimmy primarily focuses on defending and advising businesses in workers’ compensation, construction, and general insurance defense matters. He also leads the firm’s appellate advocacy practice. Jimmy is also a trusted speaker, presenting on workers’ compensation claims handling, Alabama’s utilization review process, Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside Arrangements (WCMSA), and construction law for businesses, insurers, self-insured funds, third-party administrators, and industry professionals.

A technology enthusiast, Jimmy ensures that Berryhill & Mitchell stays ahead of the curve in legal tech, integrating cutting-edge tools into both office and courtroom practice. He has personally developed custom algorithms for the firm’s workers’ compensation calculators, which will soon be available on the firm’s website to assist claimants, attorneys, claims professionals, and businesses in evaluating workers' compensation cases more efficiently. By merging his legal knowledge with technological innovation, Jimmy is making these tools accessible to support more informed decision-making across the industry.

Personal

Born and raised in Abingdon, Virginia, Jimmy met his wife while they were both students at the University of Kentucky. She is now a first-grade public school teacher and they have two daughters.