HGD is pleased to announce that it is beginning 2022 with three new partners. Mark Ekonen, Caroline Hollingsworth, and Brandy Robertson have been overwhelmingly endorsed for partnership.
Mark is an Alabama native who has lived all over the southeast. In 2007, Mark graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in History from North Carolina State University, where his senior thesis analyzed the consistent failure of Christianity to find a foothold in Japan, and compared Christianity’s failure in Japan with the success it was able to sustain in South Korea. Following his stint in North Carolina, Mark returned to Alabama where he graduated cum laude from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2010. During his time in law school, he was active on the Alabama Law Review as a Notes Editor.
Mark completed his formal education in 2011 when he earned his LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. His Master’s Thesis examined the United States corporate tax code and explored methods to simplify and reform it in order to make it easier to understand and comply with while, at the same time, increasing the amount of corporate tax revenues collected by the Treasury.
Caroline U. Hollingsworth grew up in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and knew early on that she wanted to be an attorney. Her desire came from watching her father, also an attorney, work hard and seek justice for individuals within the community. Caroline attended the University of Alabama for her undergraduate studies and acquired a degree in political science and history. She later obtained a scholarship to William Bowen School of Law in Little Rock, Arkansas. While in law school, Caroline wrote a booklet and led a seminar for counties within the state encouraging them to try programs such as “Pay for Stay” as a way to increase revenue within the prison system. She also was an officer in the Christian Legal Society, a member of the Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers, and a regular volunteer at city elementary schools.
Upon graduation from law school, Caroline and her husband, Jonathan, decided to return to their roots in Alabama. She passed the bar in 2011 and immediately began work at Heninger Garrison Davis. She works in the Mass Tort department helping clients who have been damaged from medical devices or harmful products. Caroline has been recognized as a Super Lawyers 2018 – 2022 Mid-South Rising Star, Birmingham Business Rising Star in Law 2018, and B-Metro Top Women Attorneys 2015-2021. She is also on the board for the Birmingham Bar Association.
Caroline and her husband have two daughters and two dogs. They attend Hunter Street Baptist Church and serve on their neighborhood’s planning committee. In her spare time, Caroline also volunteers with the Junior League of Birmingham and enjoys running, watching college football, and anything to do with food.
Brandy Robertson began her career in the legal field as a secretary having earned an associate degree from Gadsden State Community College in Paralegal Studies. Brandy worked as a paralegal for 14 years and attended classes at night to obtain her undergraduate and law degree.
Brandy received her B.A. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Criminal Justice and her J.D. from the Birmingham School of Law in 2006. While attending Birmingham School of Law, she was a member of the Sigma Delta Kappa Honors Society where she was elected to serve as secretary.
Brandy joined Heninger Garrison Davis in 2011, in the Mass Tort department helping clients who have been damaged from medical devices or harmful products. In 2017, Brandy followed her heart and made a move to the civil litigation department at Heninger Garrison Davis where she represents clients who have been wronged or injured. Brandy’s practice area includes personal injury, civil sexual abuse, wrongful death, nursing home abuse/negligence, and medical malpractice matters.
During her career as an attorney, Brandy has consistently been recognized for her legal skills and leadership abilities, including the following industry awards: Alabama Super Lawyers Rising Star 2014 – 2015; Mid-South Super Lawyer Rising Star 2016 – 2017; Best Lawyers in America 2019-2021; B-Metro’s Top Women Lawyers 2015 – 2021; B-Metro Top Lawyers – 2016-2021.
In other leadership roles, Brandy was selected to be a member of the Birmingham Bar Future Leaders Forum in 2015. She was a member of the Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum Class 13 for 2017. Brandy has been appointed to several task forces with the Alabama State Bar. She is also an active member of the Birmingham Bar Association and the Women Lawyers Section. She is currently the chair of the Recognitions Committee with the Women Lawyers Section.
Brandy is also passionate about serving those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. She has been an active member of the Regional Board of the Alabama Head Injury Foundation since 2016 and served as the Birmingham Regional Board president for 2018-2019. Brandy recently accepted an appointment to join the Alabama Head Injury Board of Directors for 2020-2021.
Brandy is also a member of the Springville Preservation Society Board of Trustees which focuses on the historic preservation of several buildings as well as the museum in Springville Alabama. Brandy is a board member for the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation where she serves on the Grants Committee and is the chair for the Fund Development Committee.
When Brandy is not working, she is busy with her husband, two daughters, and their two dogs. She enjoys gardening, teaching baton, and being outdoors.
HGD appreciates their commitment, respects their character, and looks forward to working alongside them in their new roles.
