Buzz English’s extensive legal career has centered around business litigation. He has successfully defended large corporations from class-action lawsuits brought by shareholders or by consumers by asking detailed questions, thoroughly researching the topics brought forward in the suit and legal strategy that advances the cause of the client. He has extensive experience in federal court and has successfully argued before the Kentucky Supreme Court in precedent-setting cases.
He believes in the power of preparation. “When I represent someone in a case, I want the other side to know that we’re going to prepare the case the way it needs to be prepared for it to go to trial,” Buzz says. “If it doesn’t settle, we are willing to go to trial and ready to go to trial. And if we do go to trial, we’ll be prepared.”
Buzz has represented both international and domestic manufacturers in products liability litigation involving farm machinery, automobiles, industrial equipment and household products. He has represented both contractors and owners in court and in arbitration proceedings involving construction disputes, and has represented businesses, individuals and insurance companies in coverage and bad faith litigation. He has also handled appeals in both federal and state court and is a life member of the Judicial Conference for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Like his father, Charles E. English Sr., Buzz served as President of the Kentucky Bar Association to further the profession of law. “It is so important to our profession that we as lawyers give back some of what we’ve been given,” Buzz says. “Attorneys have an exclusive license to practice law. We have been delegated by the Kentucky Supreme Court to administrate this system of investigating and deciding and reviewing cases where there are allegations of violations of professional conduct. We want to protect the public. If someone is not acting according to the rules and standards of the profession, then they need to not practice law.”
Beyond his extensive involvement in the Kentucky Bar Association, Buzz contributes to the profession on the national level. He recently completed a term on the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary as the Sixth Circuit Representative. This committee is charged with evaluating all proposed federal judicial nominees to Article III positions across the United States. The committee members are charged with conducting a confidential investigation of the proposed nominee’s integrity, professional competence, and judicial temperament. He has also served on the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee for Bar Activities and is currently serving in the ABA House of Delegates.
Buzz values the input he gets from the other partners in the firm. “One of the things that is so good about our firm is we talk about our cases among ourselves,” Buzz says. “To be able to get feedback from people like Mike Owsley or Whayne Priest is invaluable. Even if they aren’t handling the case, they can give good insight.”
Outside of his interests in the law, Buzz is involved in many community activities. He’s been involved in United Way activities, serving as president of the local board recently. He’s also been involved in economic development activities. “Businesses have a life cycle, and unless your community is constantly trying to get out there and attract new business, you’re relying on the old businesses, and they may not be here in the future,” Buzz says. “You have to get out there and attract new businesses just to maintain the same number of jobs in your community.”
