Former U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona Returns to Maynard Nexsen

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Bringing high-profile trial experience to the firm’s top-ranking litigation team

Maynard Nexsen PC is pleased to announce that Prim Escalona, a highly regarded trial lawyer with significant federal prosecutorial experience, has rejoined the firm as a Shareholder in its Complex & Commercial Litigation practice, based in the firm’s Birmingham office.

Ms. Escalona returns to Maynard Nexsen following her service as a U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, where she was entrusted with some of the government’s most consequential matters. Prior to her role as U.S. Attorney, she served as a high-ranking official in the Office of Legislative Affairs and the Office of Legal Policy.  She also served as Counselor to Attorney General William P. Barr. Ms. Escalona has overseen numerous high-profile federal prosecutions during her tenure as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. Her work spans public corruption, financial fraud, national security, and violent crime, including:

• Extortion of Beth Holloway: Escalona’s office led the prosecution of Joran van der Sloot for extorting the mother of Natalee Holloway. In 2023, he pleaded guilty and, as part of a deal, provided a confession regarding Natalee Holloway’s 2005 disappearance.
• Violation of U.S. Sanctions (Iran): An Alabama man was sentenced in 2025 to five years in prison for illegally exporting items to Iran and lying to federal officers about the nature of his business.
• Major Drug Trafficking Conspiracies:
• Indicted 19 defendants in a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy based in Jefferson County, AL.
• Successfully prosecuted a conspiracy involving six defendants for distributing over 1,000 grams of methamphetamine in east Alabama.
• Under Escalona’s leadership, federal prosecutors obtained a 36‑year prison sentence against a Birmingham man convicted of drug trafficking and possessing a machine gun in furtherance of that activity. The case involved fentanyl distribution and illegal firearm conversion devices.
• Violent Crime: 
• Escalona has been instrumental in implementing anti-crime initiative, Project Safe Neighborhoods, leading to federal indictments for possession of machine guns, felons in possession of firearms, and drug trafficking.
• She led the prosecution of two defendants convicted of murder and related offenses arising from a fatal robbery in the Talladega National Forest. One defendant received a life sentence, while the second was sentenced to decades in federal prison following her cooperation.
• Escalona’s office prosecuted a Lawrence County man who pleaded guilty to multiple child exploitation offenses involving the production, transportation, and possession of child sexual abuse material. The case resulted in a 300‑year federal prison sentence.
• She launched Operation Safe Families, a comprehensive initiative to combat domestic violence across the Northern District of Alabama. The program focuses on coordinated enforcement of federal firearm laws, collaboration with law enforcement, and engagement with community partners.

“Prim is an exceptional litigator with a valuable combination of trial experience, sound judgment, and deep credibility,” said Tom Butler, Chair of the firm’s Litigation Section. “Her return reflects both the strength of our platform and our commitment to building a litigation team that can guide clients through their most challenging disputes. We are thrilled to welcome her back.”

Ms. Escalona advises clients in sophisticated disputes across a broad range of industries, with a focus on complex civil litigation, class actions, government‑facing civil and regulatory matters, and internal and independent investigations. Drawing on her firsthand experience with the Department of Justice, she brings a practical and informed perspective to compliance‑related counseling, particularly in matters that may attract scrutiny from federal or state authorities.

Her practice includes guiding clients through government inquiries; managing parallel civil, criminal, and regulatory proceedings; and helping clients resolve matters efficiently and strategically before they escalate. She also collaborates with the firm’s litigation and corporate teams on outside investigations, risk assessments, and compliance matters, helping clients identify, assess, and mitigate potential exposure.

Ms. Escalona earned her Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif. She received her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Birmingham‑Southern College, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.