C. Gibson Vance

Although born in Troy, Ala., Gibson Vance grew up in Fort Valley, Ga.

Gibson was eager to contribute and started working at age 12, on a peach farm, where he worked in the peach sheds. At age 15, he worked at Dairy Queen. Gibson still jokes that he learned his "people skills" at these early jobs - by battling the gnats and mosquitoes in the peach fields and dealing with customers at the DQ!

He worked to pay his way through undergraduate school at Troy State University, working two or three part-time jobs at any given time, supplemented by student loans and a Pell grant. He graduated in 1987. For as long as he could remember, he knew he wanted to pursue a career as a lawyer, and he began attending night classes at Faulkner University's Thomas Goode Jones School of Law in Montgomery. One of the reasons he chose Jones was that it allowed him to work as a law clerk for a local law firm during the day, and attend classes at night.

In his third year of law school, Gibson obtained a special license that would allow him to try cases, and began his active law practice even before graduation. In fact, Gibson tried three jury trials while still in law school.

During his years at Jones, Gibson was elected President of the Student Bar Association and received the Advocacy Award as the outstanding graduate of his class. After graduating from Jones School of Law, he helped form the Jones School of Law Future Trial Lawyers Association.

Gibson practices in the firm's Personal Injury and Consumer Fraud sections, concentrating in actions against those who negligently or intentionally harm others. His clients include individuals and small businesses. Before joining Beasley Allen, Gibson was a partner in the Montgomery based firm of Hawthorne, Hawthorne and Vance.

Gibson has been active in the Montgomery County Bar Association. He served as President of its Young Lawyer's section, and was a member of the Board of Directors for several years, and served as President of the organization in 2005. He also has served as President of the Montgomery Trial Lawyers Association and as President of the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation.

Gibson also served as President of the Alabama Association for Justice. The Alabama Association for Justice presented him with the ALAJ Spirit Sword / President's Award, which was established in 2009. Each outgoing president of ALAJ will recognize a member who during his or her years as an officer and particularly as president provided special spirit to him/her. However, Gibson was selected by the organization as the first recipient, because he "embodies the spirit of a trial lawyer and our association."

Gibson also is heavily involved in the American Association for Justice, and is Past President of the organization. As president, he was one of six national officers representing AAJ's 60,000 members. He has served on several key committees in AAJ including the National Finance Committee, Public Affairs Committee, Budget Committee and Membership Oversight Committee.

As an officer for AAJ, Gibson traveled the country speaking on behalf of the organization. Gibson spoke to the Kentucky Trial Lawyers Association, the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, the Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Consumer Attorneys of California, the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, the Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and several others.  He was also a featured speaker at the "First Annual Judicial Symposium on Civil Justice Issues," an event sponsored by the Brookings Institute and held at Georgetown University.

Gibson was presented the Joe Tonahill Award by AAJ's New Lawyers Division for his outstanding service to the civil justice system.

Gibson was appointed to the Alabama Judicial Compensation Committee by the Lt. Governor. This four-year appointment allows Gibson to serve on a five-person commission responsible for recommending to the Alabama Legislature the amount of compensation judges shall receive. Additionally, Gibson was chosen to serve on the Alabama Democratic Advisory Committee to recommend appointments to the Obama Administration.

In December 2010, Gibson was named one of two Beasley Allen Litigators of the Year. He also was selected for the Best Lawyers in America list for 2012.

In February 2012, Gibson was named to Troy University’s Board of Trustees by Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley. Vance was selected by Gov. Bentley and approved by the Alabama Senate. Trustees are appointed to 12-year terms. He also serves as a Troy University Foundation Board Member.

Gibson has participated in dozens of jury trials in his legal career, many of which have resulted in large verdicts for his client.  In 2005, Gibson received a $2.9 million verdict in a securities fraud case in Henry County, Alabama.

Gibson also is the regular host of Beasley Allen Report, a weekly program that airs on WSFA-TV 12 at 11 p.m. on Sunday nights. Gibson and his guest attorneys address a variety of legal issues each week. The emphasis of Beasley Allen Report is to provide information regarding day-to-day legal issues. The Beasley Allen Report viewing area includes 27 counties in Alabama.

Gibson is married to Kate Vance and they have two children, Carter and Andrew. They attend St. James United Methodist Church.