Phillip W. Williams, Jr.

Attorney

Phil Williams is the managing member of Williams, Driskill, Huffstutler & King, LLC, a law firm based in Gadsden, AL. His legal experience covers all levels including appellate, and he is admitted to practice in the State and Federal Courts in Alabama. His primary focus in the practice of law is largely in the areas of civil litigation, corporate, municipal, and governmental general counsel, as well as a thriving real estate practice. Prior to opening his own firm Phil served as the Chief Operations Officer and General Counsel for TaxBreak, which also had its corporate offices in Gadsden, Alabama. TaxBreak was one of only a handful of Alabama based Inc-500 companies and had clients in all 50 States. He has been ranked as “AV-Preeminent” as a peer-evaluated Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell.

Phil is also the Director of Policy Strategy & General Counsel for the Alabama Policy Institute (API). API is an Alabama based conservative think tank and policy advocacy organization whose focus is on matters of law that affect all Alabamians. API has advocated for conservative principles of limited government, free markets, and strong families for over thirty years and is recognized nationally as a leading voice in the realm of public policy.

Prior to practicing law Phil was in full time ministry for seven years with the international youth outreach organization YoungLife. With YoungLife Phil served as an Area Director which involved direct ministry and counseling with teens, recruiting and training volunteers, public speaking, public relations, fund raising and close work with the members of the YoungLife Committee.

In addition to his day-to-day employment Phil recently served two terms as the State Senator for the Tenth District of Alabama. During his tenure in the Senate Phil served as the Chairman for the Alabama Senate Committee on Fiscal Responsibility & Economic Development, and the Vice Chair for the Committee on Judiciary. He also served as the Vice Chair for the Committee on Finance and Taxation (General Fund), and as a sitting member of the Committees for Rules, Government Affairs, Veterans and Military Affairs, and the Joint Committee on Transportation.

Aside from his civilian experience Phil also comes from a family with a long military tradition. He is an Airborne Ranger and retired in July 2017 after 30 years of service with the rank of Colonel (USAR). Phil served two combat tours in the Global War on Terror, one each in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as one tour in the Pentagon on the Army Staff’s Special Operations Division. His service was at all levels with time spent as a Long Range Surveillance Platoon Leader, twice a Company Commander, and various staff positions at Battalion, Group, and Army Staff levels. His last troop leading position was as the Battalion Commander for the 1-167^th Infantry – the legendary “4^th Alabama”. His final duty assignment was as a reserve instructor for the Joint Special Operations University, US Special Operations Command.

Each of his experiences has involved considerable management, high level coordination, detailed briefings to senior Officers, Government Officials, and Executives, as well as planning and team building in a variety of environments.

Phil’s education includes a BS from the University of South Alabama and a Juris Doctorate from the Birmingham School of Law. He is also a graduate of the US Army’s Combined Arms and Services Staff School and the US Army Command and General Staff College. He is also a certified higher education instructor as a result of coursework through the Joint Special Operations University.

Among his associations and awards are the following: Phil is a member in good standing of the Alabama Bar Association (Alabar); He has been ranked as “AV-Preeminent” as a peer-evaluated Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell; a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW); the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA); The National Infantry Association; The Order of St. Maurice; Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International; and the Etowah County Patriots Hall of Honor. In addition he was licensed and ordained to ministry by the Southern Baptist Association. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal, both the Afghan and Iraq Campaign Medals with 3 campaign stars, The Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutist Wings, the Pathfinder Badge, German Parachutist Wings and the Combat Action Badge.

Phil and his family have lived in Etowah County, Alabama for over twenty-six years. He has been married for 33 years to his wife Charlene – they have two children, Josh and Caitlin – Josh graduated from Auburn University and serves as a Captain (Armor) in the US Army with his wife Anna, and Caitlin is Governmental Affairs Specialist in Huntsville, Alabama with a Masters from Auburn University.

Phil is very community minded and active in a number of groups and organizations in the Gadsden/Etowah County area, and is often called on for public speaking at events and gatherings. He has also served or currently sits on several Boards and Committees:

• Men’s Coordinator – Church of the Highlands (Gadsden Campus)
• Past Chairman – Etowah County Republican Party
• Past Chairman – YoungLife Ministries – Gadsden
• Member – Executive Committee of the Alabama Republican Party
• Past Board Member – Board of Mercy’s Hope (ministry to Ukrainian Orphans)
• Past Board member – Salvation Army – Gadsden, AL
• Past Board member – Gadsden/Etowah Patriots Association
• Past Vice Chair for Membership – Etowah County Republican Party
• Past Board member – Kiwanis Club of Gadsden
• Past Board member – Westbrook Christian School

Tameria Driskill

Attorney

Tameria Driskill joined Williams, Driskill, Huffstutler and King in March 2020. Tammy holds degrees in Political Science and Russian language from the University of Alabama, as well as her law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. A seasoned attorney for more than 36 years, Tammy practices primarily in the area of Bankruptcy and holds a membership with the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.

Tammy, a member in good standing with the Alabama State Bar, served as a past member of the Bar’s Pro Bono and Public Service Committee and held a position as Past Chair of the State Bar Law Day Committee.

A long-time active member of the Kiwanis Club of Gadsden, Tammy is the current President of the Kiwanis Club of Gadsden Foundation, Inc. and serves as Kiwanis Advisor for Builders Clubs, KKids Builders, and Key Clubs in numerous Etowah County schools. Tammy previously served two terms as President of the Kiwanis Club of Gadsden and established and served five years as District Administrator for the Alabama Kiwanis District’s Key Leader program. She was also past Governor of the Alabama District of Kiwanis International for 2011-2012, and is the Secretary/Treasurer for the Alabama District of Kiwanis and Secretary of the Alabama Kiwanis Foundation.

In addition to her service as a dedicated Kiwanian, Tammy has volunteered her time with many other community organizations with service as a Board member for ARC Marshall County, Girl Scouts of North and North-Central Alabama, and Junior Achievement of Etowah County.

Tammy has also dedicated her time as Past Chair for Board of Directors of the Episcopal Day School, and was a former adjunct professor at Jacksonville State University, teaching finance and tax courses.

In her spare time, Tammy is an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter in Gadsden, where she is a former member of the Vestry and regularly serves as a Eucharistic minister. She is also a graduate of and mentor for Education for Ministry, a four-year theological education program through the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Tammy is also past chapter President of The Order of the Daughters of the King.

Jonathan Huffstutler

Attorney

Jonathan Huffstutler was born in Gadsden, Alabama and attended elementary school at the Episcopal Day School. From there, he attended Disque Middle School and graduated high school from Gadsden High School. Eventually, he attended college at and graduated from UAB (the University of Alabama-Birmingham) with a Bachelor’s degree as well as a Master’s degree in English Literature. He placed second at UAB’s 2004 Graduate Research Day and was a finalist for the English Department’s 2004 Graduate Student of the Year. While working to complete his Master’s degree, Jonathan met Susan, and the two were married in May of 2005. Shortly thereafter, Jonathan and Susan moved to Knoxville, Tennessee in order to allow Jonathan to pursue a Ph.D. in Literature at the University of Tennessee. Prior to completion of his Ph.D. studies, Jonathan chose to attend law school at Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Florida.

Jonathan has practiced law in Gadsden since September of 2011. He is a member of the Alabama State Bar and the Etowah County Bar Association and is admitted to practice before all Alabama state courts as well as the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Prior to joining Williams, Driskill, Huffstutler & King in March 2020,  Jonathan was a former partner at Buttram & Huffstutler, LLC, a general practice firm where Jonathan focused on criminal defense. He then became an associate at Brunson, McGill & Robinson, Attorneys, P.A., a Gadsden law firm focused on insurance defense. Jonathan was named partner in 2015 at Brunson, Robinson & Huffstutler, Attorneys, P.A. In 2019, Jonathan became managing partner of Brunson & Huffstutler, Attorneys, P.C. Jonathan also served as the managing attorney for the firm’s Real Estate division, oversaw real estate closings, served as the firm’s title agent, and handled foreclosures for clients.

Jonathan and Susan are active members of their Church, the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Rainbow City, where Jonathan served on Vestry from 2015-2017. Jonathan served as Resurrection’s Junior Warden and then as Senior Warden while on Vestry and continues to help run Resurrection’s food ministry, Rainbow Rice and Beans, a monthly ministry that provides food, clothing, and toiletries to those in need. He also participates regularly in the Resurrection Men’s Group, which focuses on developing additional ministries within and outside of the parish.

In his spare time, Jonathan is an avid reader and also enjoys music and movies. He and Susan are owned by two cats and enjoy occasional weekend trips to Mentone, AL, Helen, GA, and Muddy Pond, TN where they try to escape cell phone signals.

David King

Attorney

David Graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2009 with a major in political science and minor in history. Additionally, David interned with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services in Murfreesboro, Tennessee while completing college and assist both in and out of court with the Department’s attorneys in preparing for and litigating cases.

After graduating college, David attended Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham. While in law school David took a practical approach to his education, completing multiple courses in trial skills and advocacy, in order to better prepare for litigation matters that may occur during his career. David was a semifinalist in his first ever trial competition as a first-year student at Cumberland. David was also on the Dean’s List in Fall of 2009 and 2010. David was the Director for the Law School’s client counseling competition from 2011 to 2012. In addition to practical skills courses, David took a variety of courses in all areas of Law to give a broad range of knowledge in future practice.

Also, while in Law school, David met his wife Courtney, a lifelong North Alabama native. The two got married in May of 2011.

David graduated law school in December of 2011, and took the bar in February the following year. David was admitted to practice in the State of Alabama in April of 2012, and has also been licensed to practice in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama since January of 2013.

David moved to the Etowah County area and joined Williams, Driskill, Huffstutler, & King, LLC in November of 2012. Since then, a primary focus of David’s work has been in Juvenile Matters, and issues before the State and Federal Appellate Courts.

In 2018, David was appointed a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Alabama, and begin representing the Etowah County Department of Human Resources in the litigation process. Through that process David represents the Department of Human Resources through every part of the litigation process, primarily working in Child Protective Service Cases in the District Juvenile Court of Etowah County, and Adult Protective Service Cases in the Etowah County Probate Court. David also frequently speaks at training sessions for new foster parents.

David is an active member of the Etowah County Republican Party, both serving on the Executive Committee, and as the acting Secretary for the County Party.

David is licensed to practice in all Alabama State Courts and the United States Supreme Court.

In his spare time, David enjoys spending time with his family as well as traveling to national parks and historic places. He and his wife Courtney have two children, and are also active in their local church, where David serves as a deacon.