Stan Starnes

W. Stancil "Stan" Starnes (born September 3, 1949 in Birmingham) is an attorney and CEO of ProAssurance, a Birmingham-based medical malpractice insurer.

Starnes grew up in Forest Park and attended the University of Alabama and Samford University's Cumberland School of Law, where he graduated summa cum laude and was editor-in-chief of the Cumberland Law Review. After graduating he entered professional practice at his father's law firm. He and his father later co-founded the firm of Starnes & Starnes in 1975, where he practiced for the next 30 years.

In 2002, Starnes was the first "Lawyer in Residence" at Cumberland, giving lectures on his specialties of civil procedure and medical liability. As a partner in Starnes & Atchison, Starnes defended University of Alabama president Robert Witt when he was sued over his decision to fire football coach Mike Price.

In 2006, Starnes was approached by Jim Gorrie about taking an executive position in corporate planning with Brasfield & Gorrie, and he accepted it as a chance to "re-energize" in a different field. He was lured away eight months later by Derrill Crowe's request that he take over ProAssurance as chief executive.

Starnes is an active member of the Cathedral Church of the Advent and the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham.

References

• Goodman, Sherri C. (July 15, 2007) "Lawyer takes over as head of ProAssurance." Birmingham News.
• DeButts, Jimmy (April 26, 2007) "ProAssurance taps Starnes as new CEO." Birmingham Business Journal.