Kirby's Profile
One of the firm’s founding Shareholders, Kirby is a member of Maynard Cooper’s Estate, Trust & Business Planning practice group. He is also a former member of the firm’s Executive Committee.
Kirby has practiced in the area of wills, estates and trusts for over 30 years. He regularly represents individuals in the estate planning process, as well as individual and corporate fiduciaries in the area of estate and trust administration. His estate planning practice is geared toward assisting clients with the stewardship of their wealth and includes sophisticated will and trust drafting; income, estate and gift tax planning; charitable planning; insurance and employee benefit planning; and a variety of wealth transfer techniques. Kirby’s estate administration practice is designed to help clients fulfill their testamentary and tax objectives, while strengthening family relationships. He regularly advises individual and corporate fiduciaries and has been a principal outside counsel for the Personal Trust Department of Regions Bank and other institutional trustees.
Kirby’s skills and talents have earned him numerous accolades, the most recent of which is the prestigious Band 1 ranking by Chambers and Partners in the area of “Private Wealth Law.” He has served as the firm’s Hiring Attorney since its inception and has had a hand in hiring almost all of the firm’s lawyers.
Kirby's Awards
- Chambers and Partners HNW Guide: The World’s Leading High-Net Worth Advisors, Band 1 Leading Individual for “Private Wealth Law” (2017-present)
- The Best Lawyers in America© for Trusts and Estates (1986-present)
- Mid-South Super Lawyers for Estate & Probate (2016-present)
- Alabama Super Lawyers, Estate Planning & Probate, Trust & Estate Litigation, Tax (2008-2015)
- Birmingham Business Journal’s Best of Bar, Estate Planning (2005-2007)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Rating
Additional Honors & Awards
- “Sports Hall of Fame,” Birmingham-Southern College (2014)
- “Outstanding Professional Advisor Award,” Association of Professional Fundraisers (2011)
- “Distinguished Alumnus Award,” Birmingham-Southern College (2008)
- “L. Burton Barnes Public Service Award,” Birmingham Bar Association (2005)
- “Goodfellows Public Service Award,” Birmingham News (2003)
Kirby's Affiliations and Civic Involvement
Affiliations
- American College of Trust & Estate Counsel
- Estate Planning Council of Birmingham, former Director
- Alabama Bar Examiner in Wills, Estates & Trusts
- National Association of Estate Planners
- Alabama Law Institute
- Alabama Law Foundation
- American Bar Association
- Alabama Bar Association
- Birmingham Bar Association
Civic Involvement
- Church of the Highlands, Elder
- Cornerstone Schools of Alabama, Board of Directors
- Prison Fellowship, Bible Study Teacher
- Big Oak Ranch, Advisory Board of Directors
- Birmingham-Southern College, Chairman, Pre-Law Advisory Committee
- Vanderbilt University School of Law, Alumni Board of Directors
- Leadership Birmingham
Vanderbilt University Law School (1971, J.D., Order of the Coif; Case & Note Editor; Vanderbilt Law Review; Vanderbilt Law Review Most Outstanding Editor Award)
Birmingham-Southern College (1968, B.A.)
Seybourn H. Lynne
U.S. District Court for N.D. of Alabama (1971-72)
