Alec M. Taylor leverages a strong record of success in complex commercial litigation and construction litigation. His extensive background in fidelity and surety law allows him to skillfully litigate or arbitrate even the most complex matters, working to resolve disputes and seek favorable outcomes for clients.
With a broad litigation background, including complex commercial litigation and construction litigation, Alec M. Taylor is highly skilled in resolving disputes, always with the aim of achieving our clients’ maximum financial advantage. Alec primarily focuses his practice on the representation of sureties in all aspects of the claims process, including advising sureties on performance bond claims with complex, multi-project contractor defaults prior to litigation, handling of payment and performance bond claims during litigation, and the institution of indemnity actions against defaulting principals and indemnitors to assist in the recovery of losses and expenses incurred by the surety due to its issuance of the bonds in question. Alec also has extensive experience representing sureties in connection with claims made on Financial Institution Bonds, Public Official Bonds, and Conservatorship/Guardianship Bonds.
A partner in the Jackson office and licensed in both Mississippi and Alabama, Alec has successfully litigated cases in state and federal courts, including bankruptcy courts, and in arbitrations across the Southern United States. Alec coaches his two boys’ sports teams in his free time, enjoys playing tennis, and spends as much time as he can with his family outdoors.
Education
Bar Admissions
Areas of Practice
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
- American Bar Association, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section and Fidelity and Surety Law Committee
- Mississippi State Bar Association
- Jackson Young Lawyers Association
- National Bond Claims Association
- Mission First Executive Board
Related Knowledge
News
- "Mississippi Amends Code for Residential Roof Contractors; What Changes Do You Need to Know?" Adams and Reese Construction Law Alert, May 15, 2024
- "A313 Bond: What Is It and Why Do We Care?" published in Surety Claims Institute Newsletter, January 2022
- "Preliminary Injunctions: An Underutilized Tool for the Surety," published in Surety Claims Institute Newsletter, January 2021
- "House Bill No. 869," July 1, 2019 (the new law is codified at Section 85-7-432 of the Mississippi Code), Contributing Author
- "The Requirement of Actual Prejudice in the 2010 Edition of the A312 Performance Bond and its Effect on the Surety," published in Fidelity & Surety Law Committee Newsletter, Winter 2017
- "The Surety's Rights Post Completion: Can a Principal be Defaulted on a Completed Project?," published in Fidelity & Surety Law Committee Newsletter, Winter 2013
- "Defalcation While Acting in a Fiduciary Capacity: A Surety's Ability to Classify a Debt as Nondischargeable Under Section 523 of the Bankruptcy Code," published in Surety and Fidelity Claims Newsletter, October 2010
- "50 State Survey," published in American Bar Association Construction Forum, Division 10, 2009
- Construction Contract Damages, Spring Meeting of the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee of the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association (2019)
- A Primer on the Surety’s Rights Against its Principal’s CGL Carrier, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference (2019)
- Injunctive Relief Available to the Surety, National Bond Claims Association (2018)
- Commercial Bond Survey – Common Commercial Bonds, Strategies for Managing and Methods for Minimizing Risk, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference (2018)
- Injunctive Relief Available to the Surety – How to Maximize Recovery and Minimize Loss, Philadelphia Insurance Company (2018)
- Working with your Counterparts: How Involvement with the Bond Underwriter and/or Agent can Help or Hurt the Claims Process, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference (2017)
- Common Issues Arising Out of Competitive Bid Statutes, Mid-Winter Meeting of the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee of the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association (2017)
- Fraud: When Agent or Account Gives False Information, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference (2016)
- Ethical Considerations When Representing Sureties: A Discussion of Legal and Ethical Conflicts of Interest Arising in the Representation of Sureties in Litigation or Transactions Involving Other Sureties or Insurers, National Bond Claims Association (2015)
- Hanover v. Atlantis Drywall & Framing, et al: Are Indemnity Claims Subject to Arbitration?, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference (2015)
- Surety Law in Mississippi: Handling Payment Bond Claims, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America (2014)
- Counter Indemnity in the United States, Fidelity & Deposit Company of Maryland (2013)
- Handling Payment Bond Claims in Mississippi, The Gray Insurance Company (2012)
- The Impact of Stern v. Marshall on Fidelity and Surety Litigation, Annual Meeting of the Surety and Fidelity Claims Institute (2012)
- In Re Thomas: A Surety's Oasis in the Desert of Bankruptcy, Gulfcoast Fidelity & Surety Institute (2010)