Lisha L. GrahamShareholder

Biography

Ms. Graham represents clients in various areas of civil defense litigation, with a primary focus on insurance defense. Through her practice, she has represented general contractors and subcontractors in various types of construction litigation and indemnity actions. She also represents both companies and individuals in a variety of commercial cases, including premises liability, breach of contract, negligence, and products liability.  In the products liability defense area, Ms. Graham has represented manufacturers, distributors, sellers, and installers against negligence and strict liability claims based upon alleged product defects which resulted in injuries or death. Additionally, Ms. Graham represents both plaintiffs and defendants in financial litigation, business torts, and fraud cases.

Ms. Graham graduated from Cumberland School of Law, where she was active on Cumberland’s Herbert W. Peterson National Trial Team and led the team to national and regional championships. She served on the American Journal of Trial Advocacy and as Director of Negotiations for the Cumberland Trial Board. In recognition of her advocacy skills, Ms Graham received both the Mike Papantonio Trial Advocacy Award and the Best Advocate Award.

Prior to law school, she received a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University, Senior Honors Scholar, in Bio-Medical Sciences with a minor in Music Education and Performance. While at Auburn, Ms. Graham served as SGA Senator for and president of the College of Science and Mathematics and president of the Honors College, co-founded the Sigma Alpha Iota music service fraternity, and received the Competitive Undergraduate Cancer Research Fellowship Award.

Ms. Graham was born in Tai’an, China. She is married to Henry Vance Graham II, and together they have identical twin boys, Vance and Liam, daughter Grey, and an English doodle named Cosmo. When she is not practicing law, Ms. Graham pursues her passion for music and plays in concerts and weddings across the state.

Affiliations

• American Bar Association
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Forum on Construction Law
• Alabama State Bar
  • Bar Commissioner, At-Large (2023-present)
  • Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama State Bar (2024-present)
  • Trust Accounting Task Force (2024-2025); Diversity and Inclusion in the Profession Committee (2020-2025); Co-Chair (2023-2024); Leadership Forum Selection & Program Committee (2023-2025);Cuba Task Force (2020-2022); Quality of Life, Health and Wellness Task Force (2020-2021); Section Coordination & Evaluation Task Force (2019-2020);Young Lawyers Section, Executive Committee (2013-2020); Women's Section
• Birmingham Bar Association
  • Grievance Committee (2021-present; Co-Chair (2023), Chair (2024)
  • Future Leaders Forum Committee (2016)
  • Young Lawyers Section
  • Women Lawyers Section, Mentor
• Alabama Pacific Asian Bar Association
  • Co-Founder
  • President (2012-2019)
• Legal Aid Society of Birmingham
  • Secretary/Treasurer (2024)
  • Personnel/Client Services Committee, Chair (2023)
  • Board of Trustees (2020-present)
• Chinese American Business Alliance of Birmingham
• YWCA Central Alabama
  • Junior Board (2012-2018)
  • Junior Board Secretary (2014-2015)
  • Junior Board Executive Committee (2014-2015)
  • Director of Table Captains for Kids Korner Luncheon (2013-2014)
• Cumberland School of Law
  • Mentor
  • Trial Board Judge
• First Light Homeless Shelter, Volunteer
• Children’s Art Guild

Admissions

• Alabama State Bar
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
• United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
• United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama

Communications

Publications

• American Journal of Trial Advocacy Volume 32:1 (Summer 2008), 215-219. Recent Development, Lisha X. Li. Contract Law-Winiarski v. Brown & Brown, Inc.: Who has the Burden of Proof that consents to a Contractual Jury Trial Waiver Is Knowing and Voluntary?
• Veterinary and Comparative Oncology 2006, 4, 3, 161-177. P. DeInnocentes, L. X. Li, R. L. Sanchez, and R. C. Bird. Expression and sequence of canine SIRT2 and p53 genes in canine mammary tumour cells – effects on downstream targets Wip1 and p21/Cip1.
• L. X. Li and R. C. Bird, Expression and Sequence of Specific Proliferation Control Genes in Canine Breast Cancer (University Honors Senior Thesis 2006).

Speaking Engagements

• “Transformational Leadership in Law Across Generations,” Alabama State Bar Annual Meeting, Sandestin FL, June 27, 2024.
• “Service Learning and Growth within the Alabama State Bar,” Leadership Forum Class 18 Session 3, Montgomery, March 8, 2024.
• “All About the Bar,” Leadership Forum Class 17 Session 3, Montgomery, March 8, 2023.
• “Contingent Payment Clauses,” ABA Forum on Construction Law Fall Meeting, Division 9, Memphis TN, September 29, 2022.
• "Business Development Tips for Young Lawyers,” Alabama State Bar Young Lawyers CLE, Orange Beach, May 14, 2022.
• "Diversity in Law Practice: Best Practices in Law Firms," Alabama State Bar Panel Discussion, Live Webinar, February 24, 2022.
• "Associate to Partner: Achieving 'Balance' in Your Practice and Personal Life," Alabama Defense Lawyers Association CLE, Live Webinar, September 21, 2021.
• "Associate to Partner: Marketing Yourself," Alabama Defense Lawyers Association's Young Lawyers' Section CLE, Birmingham, July 22, 2020.
• "Associate to Partner: What You Really Want to Know," Alabama Defense Lawyers Association's Young Lawyers' Section CLE, Birmingham, December 5, 2019.
• "Subrogation: Build Your Claim From Receipt of the Loss Notice," Alabama Defense Lawyers Association's "Alabama Property and Casualty Adjusters Association Seminar," Birmingham, July 17, 2019.
• "Pinstripes and Pearls," Birmingham Bar Association Women Lawyers Section, Cumberland School of Law, September 30, 2014.