Overview
Emily Pendley is a partner in the firm’s General Commercial Litigation practice group, where she focuses her practice on complex business disputes.
Before joining Burr & Forman, Emily served as a law clerk to the Honorable Madeline H. Haikala of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Emily graduated summa cum laude from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where she was a member of the Jere F. White Jr. Fellows program – a fellowship offered to one incoming law student each academic year. Emily also served as an Associate Editor of the Cumberland Law Review, a Caruthers Fellow teaching assistant for legal research and writing, and a member of the National Moot Court Team.
Emily earned her undergraduate degree from Furman University, where she graduated cum laude. During her undergraduate career, Emily worked in the European Parliament and the United States Senate.
Emily founded the Laps for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which has raised more than $3 million to support cystic fibrosis care and research. Through these efforts, she helped open and fund numerous cystic fibrosis clinics in South America, expanding access to specialized treatment in underserved communities. In recognition of her work, Emily was named National Youth Philanthropist of the Year and has served as a keynote speaker at events hosted by the Alabama Governor’s School, the Birmingham Quarterback Club, and the Boomer Esiason Foundation. Emily also serves on the Board of Directors for First Light, a Birmingham nonprofit that provides shelter and services to women and children experiencing homelessness.
Experience
- Defended numerous banks against allegations of wire fraud and breach of the Uniform Commercial Code.
- Represented a number of companies against breach of indemnification and breach of contract claims.
- Obtained a $2.1 million judgment for breach of fiduciary duty against a certified financial planner.
- Obtained summary judgment for an international company on breach of contract claims and successfully obtained Alabama Supreme Court affirmance on the same grounds.
- Filed two amicus briefs in the Supreme Court of the United States Supreme Court.
Honors & Recognitions
- Listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America®: Commercial Litigation since 2022
- Mid-South Super Lawyers "Rising Star," Business Litigation since 2022
- Birmingham Business Journal, "NextGen: Emerging Leaders in Law" (2024)
- Jere. F. White Junior Fellow (2015-2018)
- Furman University Townes Scholar (2011-2015)
- National Youth Philanthropist of the Year, Association of Fundraising Professionals
- Alabama Youth Philanthropist of the Year, Alabama Association of Fundraising Professionals
Newsroom
News
Articles
Blog Posts
Professional & Community
Civic Activities
- Laps for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Founder (2003-Present)
- First Light Center for Homeless Women and Children, Governing Board Member (2026-present); Young Partner (2021-2025)
- Dream a Little Dream, Co-Founder (2009-Present)
Paralegal/Assistant
Legal Practice Assistant
Erika Benvenuto
(205) 458-5311
ebenvenuto@burr.com
