Michael Whisonant Jr. Photo
  • Bio
  • Credentials

Michael W. Whisonant Jr.

Partner

Attorney Michael W. Whisonant is a partner at Jaffe, Hanle, Whisonant & Knight, P.C., in Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. Whisonant practices in the areas of criminal defense and administrative matters relating to professional licensure. Mr. Whisonant serves clients in the Birmingham, Alabama, metropolitan area and the surrounding counties. He handles matters involving drug crimes, DUI, juvenile crimes and white collar crimes. He has experience at the state and federal levels and with the trial and appellate process.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Whisonant has obtained successful verdicts in both complex misdemeanor and felony cases. He provides aggressive advocacy and the strongest possible representation to his clients, knowing that a criminal charge is often devastating. In addition, he has experience representing professionals including attorneys, dentists, doctors, judges and teachers before a variety of state administrative agencies.

Mr. Whisonant graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He earned his law degree from Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law in only 2.5 years and obtained his license to practice law in 2010.

Mr. Whisonant has been named a "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers for many years and was one of only 5 lawyers named a Rising Star in the mid-south (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee) for white collar. Mr. Whisonant has tried cases across the State of Alabama and is one of the few criminal defense attorneys to have his client acquitted in Federal Court. Mr. Whisonant also has acquittals in State Court cases ranging from Harassment to Murder.

Active in his legal community, Mr. Whisonant is a member of the Birmingham Bar Association, the Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the Greater Birmingham Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

    Awards
    • USCCA
    • Super Lawyers 2020
    Memberships

    • Birmingham Bar Association
    • Alabama Young Lawyer's Association
    • Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
      Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
    • The National Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
      The National Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
    • United States Concealed Carry Association (UCCA)
      United States Concealed Carry Association (UCCA)

    Employment

    • Jaffe, Hanle, Whisonant & Knight - Partner
    • District Attorney’s Office 15th Judicial Circuit - Extern
    • Dean & Barrett - Summer Law Clerk
    • U.S. Federal Courthouse: Birmingham, AL - Extern

    Education

    • Faulkner University, Jones School of Law, Montgomery, Alabama
      • J.D. - December 2009
    • Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
      • B.S. - May 2007
      • Honors: Dean's List
      • Major: Business Administration

    Bar Admissions

    • Alabama, 2010
    • U.S. District Court Middle District of Alabama, 2010
    • U.S. District Court Northern District of Alabama, 2010
    • U.S. District Court Southern District of Alabama, 2010
    • Supreme Court of Alabama, 2010
    • United States Tax Court, 2019
    • Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, 2020

    Honors & Awards

    • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, 2021
    • Super Lawyers- Rising Star, 2019-2020
    • Top Lawyers in Alabama

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