The History of Samford & Denson, LLP
Samford & Denson, LLP was founded in 1912 by Judge N.D. Denson, a former member of the Supreme Court of Alabama. Judge Denson resigned from the Supreme Court in 1909 to resume the private practice of law as well as to become general counsel for West Point Manufacturing Company. In 1912, he and his son, John V. Denson, formed the partnership.
In 1914, N.D. Denson, Jr. began practice with the firm, which then became N.D. Denson & Sons. The firm became Denson & Denson when Judge N.D. Denson resumed, by appointment, the position of Circuit Judge of the 5th Judicial Circuit of Alabama.
In 1940, John V. Denson passed away and in 1949, Yetta G. Samford, Jr., the grandson of Judge Denson, joined the practice with his uncle N.D. Denson, Jr. In 1954 the name of the firm was changed to Denson & Samford.
In 1959, C.C. Torbert, Jr. joined the firm, which became known as Samford & Torbert. In 1960, John V. Denson, II, the son of N.D. Denson, Jr. joined the firm, becoming the third generation Denson to practice with the firm. In 1966 the name of the firm became Samford, Torbert & Denson.
In 1967, William F. Horsley joined the firm, and Robert H. Pettey joined the firm in 1973. In 1978, C.C. Torbert, Jr. was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama, and the firm then became known as Samford, Denson, Horsley & Pettey.
In 1988, John V. Denson, II became only the second attorney from Lee County to ever be inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, a prestigious national recognition.
In 2001, Josh Jackson joined the firm, and in 2008, Jennifer M. Chambliss joined the firm.
John V. Denson, II was elected Circuit Judge of Lee County, Alabama in 2004, and the firm then changed its name to Samford & Denson, LLP, the name by which the firm had commonly been known for many years.
In 2010, John V. Denson, II retired as Circuit Judge and rejoined the firm. Christopher J. Hughes, then a member of the firm, was elected to fill that same position, and took office as Circuit Judge of Lee County in 2010. Also in 2010, Andrew D. Stanley joined the firm.
Kevin Bufford joined the firm in 2017, and in 2021, Samford & Denson welcomed Blake Oliver and Carter Weeks to the firm.
Throughout the 110 plus years of its existence, many lawyers have trained and practiced at the firm. Samford & Denson, LLP is now comprised of John Denson, Bob Pettey, Josh Jackson, Jennifer Chambliss, Andrew Stanley, Blake Oliver, Carter Weeks, Kevin Bufford, Hayden Hillyer and C. Clay Torbert, III.
Samford & Denson has always emphasized excellent advocacy and client representation, ethical conduct, diligence and quality work along with recognition of civic responsibility. The firm has produced two members of the Supreme Court of Alabama, three circuit judges, a State Senator and two members of the Alabama House of Representatives. Two State Bar Commissioners, five presidents of the Lee County Bar Association, and four Chairmen of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce have come from the firm. Firm members have also served as university trustees at the University of Alabama, Auburn University and the University of Mobile. Firm members are regularly involved in other civic, business, church and community related areas of service.
