Partner at Drew Eckl & Farnham, Hall McKinley, has built a successful career on serving general counsel, in-house legal departments, claims departments, and risk managers in litigating matters in state and federal courts, while also shaping his personal and professional leadership skills through a number of board and committee positions.
Over the course of his 40-year career, McKinley has been an active member of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (GDLA), where he worked his way up from graduating from the GDLA Trial Academy, to serving on the Board of Directors, and eventually serving as secretary, president-elect, and then president for the 2018-2019 term. After serving in every officer position within GDLA, McKinley’s involvement and dedication to the organization has earned him a seat on the Executive Committee until June 2022.
Through the GDLA Trial Academy, young attorneys experience rigorous coaching to gain hands-on experience in deposition training and ethics sessions, and are provided access to resources for professional development, including opportunities to meet and network with more seasoned attorneys and judges. McKinley’s understanding of the program and first-hand leadership experiences have enabled him to mentor young leaders coming up through GDLA, as well as within Drew Eckl & Farnham, who aim to grow their practices and leadership abilities on their journeys from associate to partner.
In addition to his extensive leadership experience with GDLA, McKinley is involved with the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), through which he served on the Leadership Council from 2012 to 2015, and was appointed to seven different committees – including serving as the chair for the Continuing Legal Education Board Standing Committee.
In 2018, McKinley was honored with the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Andrew C. Hecker Memorial Award, which was created in 1996 to pay tribute to the one lawyer out of thousands of members across the country whose outstanding lifetime achievements in the legal field and the community emulate Hecker’s remarkable career. The award is earned on the basis of having constantly demonstrated the qualities of leadership, outreach, enthusiasm, professionalism and pride in TIPS.
McKinley continues to embody each of these characteristics, serving as a leader and role model for young associates just setting out in their careers and long-time peers, alike.
For more information on Drew Eckl & Farnham’s leaders, visit https://www.deflaw.com/leadership