We are thrilled to celebrate one of our own this week. On Wednesday, attorney Anabel Braziel was sworn in to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, in a ceremony presided over by Judge Manasco. It's a proud and well-earned milestone in a legal career that began right here at HGD.
Anabel Braziel with HGD colleagues Tim Davis, Caroline Hollingsworth, and Lee Gresham following her swearing-in.
A Journey That Started at HGD
Anabel's path to this moment has a special full-circle quality. She first joined HGD as a law clerk, getting an early, hands-on look at the practice of law before she ever held a law license. That experience shaped her path forward — and after becoming a licensed attorney, she returned to the firm, where she has continued to grow and reach one milestone after another.
Being sworn in to a federal district court is no small achievement. It reflects not only the legal knowledge and skill required to practice at that level, but also the dedication it takes to get there. For Anabel, this moment represents years of hard work, mentorship, and a clear sense of purpose.
A Foundation Built Long Before Her First Day at HGD
Anabel's path to the federal bench started well before she ever set foot in an HGD office. She graduated from Agnes Scott College with a double major in neuroscience and English — a combination that shows in how she works a case, equal parts methodical and curious about the story underneath the facts. While there, she served as class secretary and treasurer of Mortar Board, and spent time on neuroscience research projects that had nothing to do with the law and everything to do with the person she was becoming.
Law school brought her to Cumberland School of Law, where she earned two CALI Excellence for the Future Awards for posting the highest grade in her class — a distinction that stands out in a room full of people who all wanted to be there for a reason. She also served on the Honor Court and as secretary of Cumberland's Public Interest and Community Service Organization, the kind of roles that rarely make headlines but say a lot about where someone's priorities sit.
That sense of service hasn't stopped at the courthouse doors, or at the Birmingham city limits. Anabel is a member of First United Methodist Church and serves as a Site Steward in the Tennessee Valley Authority's Thousand Eyes Program, helping preserve Native American heritage sites across the region. She's also active with the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, two organizations built around historic preservation and education.
Ask her what she loves most about practicing law, and she'll tell you it's the variety — a new issue to work through every day, paired with the knowledge that the work behind it makes a real difference in someone's life. Outside the office, she's just as likely to be found antiquing, reading, out on the golf course, or walking her Scottish Terrier, Agnes Rose.
A Celebration Surrounded by Support
Milestones like this are rarely reached alone, and Anabel made sure to celebrate hers with the people who helped get her there. She was joined in the courtroom by several members of the HGD team, including Tim Davis, Caroline Hollingsworth, and Lee Gresham, along with Tamara Boman. Also there to celebrate were Taryn James, Eric Scheffer, Gianna Mandich, and Anabel's parents.
Meeting Judge Manasco was a highlight of the day — and getting to share my journey, and my dream of becoming an attorney, with the friends, family, and mentors who supported me along the way made it a truly wonderful milestone to celebrate.
Congratulations to Anabel Braziel on this exciting achievement! We're proud to have her as part of the HGD team and can't wait to see the continued impact she'll make in the courtroom and beyond.
