Don McKenna
of CounselBrief Biography
Don McKenna has practiced law since 1995 and joined Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP as of counsel in 2022 after over 20 years as a partner at another litigation firm. He is nationally recognized for representing whistleblowers under the Federal False Claims Act, handling high-stakes fraud cases involving government contracts, Medicare/Medicaid fraud, defense systems, and more—recovering over $1.8 billion in verdicts and settlements. Notably, he was named “Whistleblower Lawyer of the Year” in 2009 by the Taxpayers Against Fraud Education Fund.
Don also works on personal injury, wrongful death, and product liability cases, including national hip implant litigation. Outside the courtroom, he is active in philanthropy, enjoys the outdoors with his wife Stephanie, and is involved in church and community service.
Educational Background
- Auburn University, B.S. Finance (1992)
- Cumberland School of Law, J.D. (1995)
Professional Associations
- Alabama Association for Justice
- American Association for Justice
- Taxpayers Against Fraud Education Fund
Courts Admitted
- Alabama State Courts (1995)
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
- United States Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
- Alabama Supreme Court
Awards
- Top 100 Trial Lawyera – The National Trial Lawyer
- Superb Avvo Rating
- 10.0 Justia Lawyer Rating
- False Claims Act Lawyer of the Year 2009
- Selected to Super Lawyers: 2013 – 2026
- AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
- Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” (2015)
- Best Lawyers in America® (2013-2021)
- B-Metro Top Flight Attorney (2019)
- Best of the Bar 2019 – Birmingham Business Journal
- Whistleblower Lawyer of the Year 2009
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Practice Areas Focus
- Whistleblower / False Claims Act litigation (fraud against the US government)
- Government contracting litigation, compliance, contracting, government relations, corporate policy
- Personal Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Product Liability