Overview

A.J. is a Shareholder in Maynard Nexsen’s Litigation Section with a practice focused on white-collar criminal defense and general civil litigation. He represents companies and individuals in connection with criminal and regulatory investigations, as well as parallel civil and criminal proceedings. In addition, he often makes presentations on issues pertaining to white-collar criminal defense and other subjects.

A.J. served as the 2013-2014 President of the Alabama State Bar, a former Alabama State Bar Commissioner, and Vice President of the Alabama State Bar, a past Chair of the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section, and is currently a member of its White Collar Crime Committee. He was the 2007 President of the Birmingham Bar Association. A.J. is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the Alabama Law Foundation, and the Birmingham Bar Foundation. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, Howard University, Cumberland School of Law, and the FBI Academy. A.J. has also served as an Adjunct Professor at the Cumberland School of Law. He was formerly employed as an Assistant District Attorney, a Special Agent with the FBI, and an Assistant United States Attorney. A.J.'s talents are recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© and Super Lawyers, which also included him on the 2016 and 2017 lists of the "Top 50 Lawyers in Alabama."

AJ currently serves as a Director of the Board for Alabama Power Company, and is a member of Cumberland School of Law’s Advisory Board, is a Director of Cornerstone Schools of Alabama, and is Chair of the Grievance Committee for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. A.J. was a member of Leadership Alabama -- Class XVII, Leadership Birmingham’s Executive Committee, Birmingham Metropolitan YMCA Board, and he has previously served on the Boards for Advent Episcopal School, Homewood City Schools Foundation, the Chairman of the Downtown YMCA, American Red Cross, President of the Board of the Alabama Center for Law and Civic Education, and President of the Board for Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

A.J. is married to Cassandra Joseph, and they have three sons, Kevin, Justin, and Aaron. The Joseph's are members of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, where AJ has served as Senior Warden, Junior Warden, and Clerk.

Community & Professional

  • American Bar Association, Immediate Past-Chair, Criminal Justice Section; Executive Committee; White Collar Crime Committee; Former Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates; Criminal Justice Standards Committee
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Alabama State Bar: Past-President (2013-2014); Former Vice President and Executive Committee member; Former Bar Commissioner; Member of Criminal Justice Section
  • Cumberland School of Law, Lawyer in Residence (2007-2008); Adjunct Professor
  • National Trial Advocacy College, Virginia School of Law, Faculty Member (January 2007)
  • ABA TIPS National Trial Academy, Faculty Member (April 2008)
  • Birmingham Bar Association, President (2007); Criminal Justice Section; Volunteer Lawyers Program Board of Directors (2015)
  • Birmingham Inns of Court
  • Magic City Bar Association
  • Legal Aid Society, Former President
  • Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama, Board of Directors
  • Alabama Power Company, Board of Directors
  • The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute, Board of Directors
  • Alabama Episcopal Diocese, Former Vice Chancellor; Lawyer for Diocese
  • Advent Episcopal School Board, Former Board Member
  • Homewood City School Foundation, Former Board Member
  • Leadership Birmingham, Steering Committee (2000-2008); Former Member of Alumni Council; Member of Executive Committee (2008-Present)
  • Leadership Alabama, Class XVII
  • Birmingham Metropolitan YMCA, Board of Directors (2002-present); Downtown YMCA, Former Chairman
  • Alabama Center for Law and Civic Education, Board of Directors, Former President
  • Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Former Board Member, Former President
  • American Red Cross, Board Member

Recognitions

Recognition

  • Chambers USA, Litigation: White-Collar Crimes & Government Investigations, Alabama (2024)
  • Super Lawyers “Top 50 Lawyers in Alabama” (2018-2019)
  • The Best Lawyers in America© for Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar (2003-2020), Criminal Defense: White Collar (2003-present), Criminal Defense: General Practice (2021-present), Litigation: Health Care (2020-present), Litigation: Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) (2021-present), Bet-the-Company Litigation (2022-present), and Corporate Compliance Law (2021-present)
  • Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Corporate Compliance Law (2022), Criminal Defense: White Collar (2021)
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers for Criminal Defense: White Collar; "Top 50 Lawyer in Alabama" (2016-present)
  • Alabama Law Foundation Board of Trustees President (2017-2018)
  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Alabama Super Lawyers for Criminal Defense: White Collar (2008-2015); "Top 50 Lawyers in Alabama" (2011-2015)
  • Birmingham Business Journal's Best of Bar 2006 and 2007 - White Collar Crime
  • Named Top White Collar Defense and Antitrust Lawyer by Birmingham Magazine (2010-2011)
  • Birmingham Magazine Top Attorneys (2013-2014)
  • Inaugural Class of Fellows, Birmingham Bar Foundation
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Rating

Media

Admissions

  • State Bar: Alabama
  • U.S. District Court: Alabama (Northern, Middle, Southern)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals: Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
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