Wendy Allison Reese

Ms. Reese began her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida and completed her Bachelor's of Science in Political Science at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida.  Ms. Reese completed enough hours in statistics to also graduate with a minor in statistics.  While at the University of Central Florida, Ms. Reese served on the President's Leadership Council and was both the Student Government Judicial Advisor and the Attorney General.  

Ms. Reese graduated in the top of her class from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama in 1999.  While at Cumberland, Ms. Reese served as the Senior Associate Editor of the American Journal of Trial Advocacy and had several articles published during her tenure with the American Journal of Trial Advocacy. Her articles can be found at the following citations:

Reese, Wendy A., Professional Responsibility - Switching Sides: Analyzing Lux v. Commonwealth - Does the Presence of a Criminal Defendant's Former Counsel in a Prosecutor's Office Require Disqualification of the Entire Office, 21 Am. J. Trial Advoc. 431 (1997-1998).  Ms. Reese’s article, Professional Responsibility - Switching Sides: Analyzing Lux v. Commonwealth - Does the Presence of a Criminal Defendant's Former Counsel in a Prosecutor's Office Require Disqualification of the Entire Office? has been cited by the South Dakota Supreme Court.

Reese, Wendy A., Tort Law - Actual Exposure or Possible Exposure: The AIDS Phobia Debate - Are Courts Opening the Litigation Floodgates or Illustrating Judicial Proscription?, 22 Am. J. Trial Advoc. 495 (1998-1999).  Ms. Reese’s article Actual Exposure or Possible Exposure: The AIDS Phobia Debate - Are Courts Opening the Litigation Floodgates or Illustrating Judicial Proscription? has been taught at Duke University School of Law in a course entitled AIDS and the Law.  Further, Ms. Reese’s article was cited by the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in Shumosky v. Lutheran Welfare Services of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Inc., 784 A.2d 196 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2001), reversing and remanding the lower courts decision and holding that Shumosky could assert a “fear of AIDS” claim where she was able to establish actual exposure to HIV.  Ms. Reese’s article was also cited by the Mississippi Supreme Court in South Central Regional Medical Center v. Pickering, 749 So. 2d 95 (Miss. 1999), affirming the decision of the trial court denying South Central Regional Medical Center’s motion for summary judgment and, further, holding that where a defendant allowed or caused evidence to be destroyed, there is a rebuttable presumption in favor of the plaintiff that she had been actually exposed to the disease.  

It was during her time with the American Journal of Trial Advocacy that Ms. Reese developed her love of legal writing and the intricacies associated with legal writing and correct citation.  Ms. Reese was also on the National Moot Court Team and the National Trial Team at Cumberland.  

Upon graduation from Cumberland, Ms. Reese passed and was admitted to the Alabama State bar on September 30, 1999.  Ms. Reese formed the partnership Bailey, Wollitz & Reese, LLC which she remained a founding partner of until 2002 when she decided to form her own law firm.  Bailey, Wollitz & Reese, LLC handled federal civil rights cases, criminal cases, family law matters, juvenile court matters and civil and criminal appeals. In 2002, Ms. Reese formed the sole-proprietorship, Wendy Allison Reese, Attorney at Law.  From 2002-2008, Ms. Reese operated as Wendy Allison Reese, Attorney at Law focusing on family law matters, juvenile court matters, and federal and state criminal and civil appeals.  In August of 2008, Ms. Reese formed her current business entity, The Law Offices of Wendy Allison Reese, LLC (“WAR Law”).  Ms. Reese's practice areas remain family law matters including divorce, divorce modification, child custody, juvenile court matters, such as juvenile delinquency and DHR matters as well as federal and state criminal and civil appeals.  

Ms. Reese has spoken before the Alabama Senate Judiciary committee several times in regard to Alabama's system of indigent defense.  In 2010, Ms. Reese was appointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee Sub-Committee on Indigent Defense by the Honorable Sue Bell Cobb, Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and still serves on that committee today.  Ms. Reese is a founding member of the Jefferson County Association of Family Court Attorneys (JCAFCA) and has served that organization as Vice President.  Ms. Reese is currently on the By-Laws Revision Committee for JCAFCA.   Ms. Reese has been recently appointed to the 2014 Birmingham Bar Association Scholarship Committee which reviews law school scholarship

applications for the recommendation of two Birmingham Bar Association scholarships.  Additionally, she is a member of the Family Law Section of the Alabama State Bar Association and the Women Lawyers Section of the Birmingham Bar Association.  Ms. Reese is also an active member in the Birmingham Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program.  Ms. Reese also volunteers her legal services through Birmingham AIDS Outreach.  In June 2014, Ms. Reese will be attending a 40 hour Divorce and Family Law Mediation Continuing Legal Education seminar in Huntsville, Alabama.

Ms. Reese is a member of the Cathedral Church of the Advent located in Birmingham, Alabama.  Ms. Reese currently serves as the Alpha Delta Pi Collegiate Province Director for the Beta I Province.  She oversees and assists three chapters of collegiate women at Troy University, Epsilon Kappa Chapter, the University of Montevallo, Zeta Delta Chapter and the University of North Alabama, Zeta Eta Chapter.  Prior to serving as Beta I Collegiate Province Director, Ms. Reese served as the Chapter Advisor for the Zeta Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority at the University of Montevallo for three years and as the Standards Advisor for Zeta Delta for four years.  Ms. Reese believes that it is one of her callings to inspire young women to pursue higher education and become strong, ethical leaders.  Ms. Reese is also an active supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities.