Ralph Knowles's Email & Phone

RALPH KNOWLES Ralph Knowles has been with Doffermyre Shields Canfield & Knowles, LLC since 1991. Prior to joining the firm, he was a long time partner with Drake, Knowles & Pierce in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Earlier in his career, Mr. Knowles served as Associate Director of the National Prison Project of the American Civil Liberties Union in Washington, D.C. and was staff attorney with the Selma Inter-Religious Project. Mr. Knowles graduated in 1969 from the University of Alabama Law School. Finishing fourth in his class, he was awarded membership in the Order of the Coif and the Farrah Law Society and served as an editor of the Law Review. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama where he was elected president of the student body. During his legal career, Mr. Knowles has represented plaintiffs in a number of cases which resulted in landmark constitutional decisions on behalf of prisoners, mental health patients, and others. He has also been counsel in major political litigation. Mr. Knowles is currently active in all areas of the firm's practice, but concentrates in cases involving products liability, toxic torts and consumer class actions. He serves as the co-chairman of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in the breast implant litigation. Mr. Knowles has authored a number of professional articles and is frequently asked to speak on subjects involving complex civil litigation. In 1982, a United States District Court Judge included the following statement about Mr. Knowles in a published opinion that lauded his "experience and consummate ability as a trial advocate": "A general conclusion regarding his excellent ability and integrity is not sufficient. I must point out that during the entire time I have been connected with the profession of law as student, practitioner and judge I have never observed a lawyer who was more talented or accomplished in the art of cross-examination. Mr. Knowles undertook the cross-examination of most of the defendant's expert witnesses with devastating effect." Mr. Knowles is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is a member of the American Law Institure, and a Past President of the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association. He has received the highest awards of the Civil Liberties Union of Alabama and the Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers' Association. Previously, he was appointed by the Alabama Supreme Court to its Committee on the Promulgation of Rules of Evidence and was Chair of the Alabama State Bar Association Task Force on Judicial Election, Selection and Evaluation. Mr. Knowles currently serves on the Board of Directors of Legal Momentum (previously known as the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund). He also has served on the national Board of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union He is a Master of the Bleckley Inn of Courts and a member in good standing of the Alabama and Georgia bars. RELATED NEWS October 31, 2010 Ralph Knowles named Atlanta Mass Tort Litigator of the Year October, 2010 Four firm lawyers listed in 2011 Edition of Best Lawyers in America June, 2010 Firm and lawyers listed in 2010 edition of Chambers USA's Guide to America's Leading Lawyers for Business February 22, 2010 Ralph Knowles honored by ADL Lifetime Achievement Award October, 2009 Ralph Knowles named as one of country's top lawyers October, 2009 Firm and four lawyers recognized as top litigators February 21, 2008 Firm lawyers named as 2008 "Georgia SuperLawyers" February, 2008 Firm named in Benchmark guide to America's leading litigation lawyers September 10, 2007 Supreme Court hears argument in death penalty case July 12, 2007 Firm receives award from Georgia ACORN July, 2007 Firm listed by Chambers and Partners as one of "America's Leading Law Firms for Business" in its 2007 guide April 30, 2007 Settlement reached in doctors' national class action against Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans April 27, 2007 Bob Shields and Leslie Bryan speak to Georgia Trial Lawyers Association April 13, 2007 Gallagher settlement preliminarily approved in brokerage litigation February 16, 2007 Court approves Zurich settlement in brokerage litigation December 20, 2006 Ralph Knowles and Ken Canfield featured for work in Supreme Court election February, 2006 Ralph Knowles named a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers February, 2006 Settlement with Humana approved in Managed Care Litigation October, 2005 Jacksonville, Florida City Council approves $75 million settlement August, 2005 Ralph Knowles serves as co-counsel at the trial of James Randal Rogers