10 Southern Company legal leaders
Executive vice president and general counsel, deputy general counsel, vice president of corporate governance and associate general counsel are among the roles held by these ten Southern Company legal leaders, some of whom have since moved on. A reader can learn how legal leaders work at Southern Company from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Brad Grout
LinkedInExperience: Associate General Counsel · Southern Company Services, Inc.
Brad Grout has been Associate General Counsel at Southern Company Services, Inc. since September 2015, based in Atlanta, with a profile headline of Practice Group Leader - Technology, Business Development & Innovation at Southern Company. Brad Grout was a Partner at Hunton & Williams LLP (2003–2015) and an Associate at Powell Goldstein LLP (1999–2003).
Griff W.
LinkedInExperience: Associate General Counsel · Alabama Power Company
Griff W. has been Associate General Counsel at Alabama Power Company since August 2021, with a profile headline of Associate General Counsel - Energy & Utilities. Griff W. also lists Associate General Counsel (2017–2021), Managing Attorney (2014–2017), Senior Attorney (2012–2014) and Attorney (2007–2011) roles at Southern Company.
Jim Kerr
LinkedInExperience: Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer · Southern Company
Jim Kerr has been Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer at Southern Company since March 2014, based in Atlanta, and the profile lists the role at C-level in legal. Jim Kerr was a Partner and Co-Chair of the Energy Industry Team at McGuireWoods LLP (2008–2014), a Commissioner at the North Carolina Utilities Commission (2001–2008) and a board member of the Electric Power Research Institute (2011–2014).
Kristina Klein
LinkedInExperience: Associate General Counsel · Southern Company
Kristina Klein has been Associate General Counsel at Southern Company since August 2022, based in Atlanta. Kristina Klein also lists Senior Counsel at Southern Company (2018–2022), and was Corporate Counsel - Employment & Operations at IHG Hotels & Resorts (2014–2018) and a Labor & Employment Attorney at Troutman Sanders LLP (2006–2014).
Laura Hewett
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Corporate Governance & Corporate Secretary · Southern Company
Laura Hewett has been Vice President, Corporate Governance & Corporate Secretary at Southern Company since October 2024 and Associate General Counsel there since May 2015, based in Atlanta. Laura Hewett also lists Vice President, Corporate Governance at Southern Company since 2018, and was Counsel at King & Spalding (1998–2015) and an Associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (1995–1998).
Laura Mendelson
LinkedInExperience: Associate General Counsel · Southern Company
Laura Mendelson has been Associate General Counsel at Southern Company since October 2021, based in Atlanta, and the profile describes being practice group leader for the Southern Company Commercial & Contracting practice group. Laura Mendelson also lists Chief Counsel, Retail at Southern Company Gas (2020–2021) and Senior Counsel at Southern Company (2018–2020).
Matthew Madison
LinkedInExperience: Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Southern Power Company · Southern Company
Matthew Madison has been Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Southern Power Company at Southern Company since January 2022, based in Birmingham, Alabama. Matthew Madison also lists Associate General Counsel, Southern Power Company (2020–2022) and Senior Counsel, Southern Company & Southern Power Company (2017–2020) roles at Southern Company, and was an Associate at Troutman Sanders LLP (2010–2015).
Matthew McGrath
LinkedInExperience: Chief Counsel · Southern Company Gas
Matthew McGrath has been Chief Counsel at Southern Company Gas since June 2021, based in Atlanta, with a profile headline of Chief Counsel, Corporate at Southern Company Gas. Matthew McGrath also lists Senior Corporate Counsel at Southern Company Gas (2019–2021), and was Of Counsel (2018–2019) and an Associate (2011–2018) at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough.
Melissa Caen
LinkedInExperience: VP, Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary · Southern Company
Melissa Caen is VP, Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Southern Company, a current role the profile lists at vice president level in the legal department, and is based in Atlanta, Georgia. Melissa Caen also lists a role titled Associate, then Partner at Troutman Sanders LLP from 1996 to 2006.
Tom Bishop
LinkedInExperience: Senior VP Deputy General Counsel Southern Company · Southern Company
Tom Bishop was Senior VP Deputy General Counsel Southern Company at Southern Company from March 2022 to March 2023, and the profile describes managing and leading legal, governance and compliance functions. Tom Bishop also lists Senior VP, Chief Compliance Officer Southern Company Services & Deputy General Counsel at Southern Company (2016–2022) and Senior VP, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & Chief Compliance Officer at Georgia Power Company (2008–2015).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's practice area or the operating company they support to the decision you face. Weigh how long each person has held the role and how close their work sits to your question.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How did you organize legal support for the practice area or operating company you covered?
- 02What did you learn about balancing legal and regulatory risk with business priorities in your role?
- 03How did you decide which matters to handle in-house and which to send to outside counsel?
Reaching Southern Company legal leaders
How can I contact one of these Southern Company legal leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 4 companies, including Southern Company Services, Inc.; Alabama Power Company and Southern Company, based on profile data retrieved on October 17, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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