Attorney Profile
Photo of Cole Portis

J. Cole Portis

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Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C. Personal Injury Section Head

Sloan Downes

Section Administrator Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C. Section Administrator for Cole Portis

About Cole Portis

Cole, an AV rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell and a "Super Lawyer," serves as Section Head of our Product Liability / Personal Injury section. He represents mothers and fathers who lost their daughters, spouses who lost their life-long mates, and severely injured children who are unable to care for themselves for the rest of their lives.

Unreasonably dangerous and defective products caused these unnecessary deaths and injuries. Instead of placing profits above safety, Cole's hope is that manufacturers of consumer products will safely engineer and manufacture products so that innocent victims won't be hurt or killed. In order to encourage the safe engineering and manufacture of consumer products, Cole will continue to prosecute companies that manufacture defective automobiles, aircraft, ATVs, farm equipment, logging equipment, textile machines and other consumer products. Cole and his staff have successfully handled over 60 cases that were tried or resolved for more than one million dollars. More importantly, Cole and his staff are blessed to be able to counsel and care for their clients.

Cole believes it is important to use the gifts God has given him in the community. Thus, as an attorney, he has used his gifts to participate in legal organizations. He is past president of the Montgomery County Bar Association (2002), past president of the Alabama Young Lawyers Association (2000-2001), President of the Montgomery County Trial Lawyers Association (1999), and past President of the Auburn University Bar Association (1999). He is also an active member of the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice. Currently, Cole is a Bar Commissioner representing the 15th judicial circuit. He has also been selected as an Alabama Super Lawyer for consecutive years.

Cole has been an active member of Morningview Baptist Church for 38 years. He previously served as chairman of the Deacons. He currently serves as a lay elder. In addition, he teaches the Adult 1 Sunday School class and sings in the choir. Cole served as President of the Jimmy Hitchcock Award, a prestigious award honoring Christian student athletes in Montgomery. He previously served on the board of directors for Trinity Presbyterian School and the Alabama Head Injury Foundation, a dedicated group established to raise money for those who suffer traumatic brain injuries. Currently, he serves on the board of directors for Character at Heart, an organization that implements character education in our schools, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Cole's mother is originally from Laurel, Mississippi. His father was raised in Lowndes County, Alabama. Cole is married to the former Joy Mikell of Millbrook, and they have four daughters and three sons. Cole and his wife are strong advocates for adoption.  They have adopted four of their seven children - an eight year old boy originally from China, eleven and four year old girls originally from Ethiopia, and a one year old boy diagnosed with downs syndrome.

More important than his legal accomplishments, church involvement, community involvement or even his family, Cole recognizes that apart from Christ, he is absolutely nothing.

Mr. Portis’s Admissions

  • Alabama and U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama (1990)

Mr. Portis’s Education

  • University of Alabama (J.D., 1990)
  • Auburn University (B.A., 1986)

Mr. Portis’s Member

  • Montgomery County Bar Association (President, 2002)
  • American Bar Association
  • Alabama State Bar (Alabama Young Lawyers President, 2000-2001)
  • Montgomery County Trial Lawyers Association (President, 1998-1999)
  • American Association for Justice
  • Alabama Trial Lawyers Association (Board of Governors and Executive Committee)
  • Montgomery County Young Lawyers (President, 1993)
  • Auburn University Bar Association (President, 1999)
  • Christian Legal Society
  • Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
  • Board of Bar Commissioners