The ongoing revitalization of downtown Norman is exciting to watch, and the professionals at the law firm of Aldridge Teasdale now have a front row seat to that energy and vibrancy.
Longtime colleagues Jake Aldridge and David Teasdale officially opened their firm on Jan. 1, 2021, and soon began renovations on one of downtown Norman’s older buildings, at 324 W. Main St., to serve as their new headquarters. The building was previously the Common Grounds outreach building, owned by the First Baptist Church of Norman.
“When we were looking for possible locations we had lots of options,” Aldridge said. “But for us there was some nostalgia, and it was very cool to take something that had lost a little bit of its luster and give it a fresh new look. Add to that seeing what has been done in downtown, with new restaurants opening all the time and new businesses taking hold, and it was a no-brainer for us. Our firm, along with my family’s foundation, the Tom S. and Marye Kate Aldridge Charitable and Educational Trust, have always been about giving back and trying to improve the community we call home. Together, we saw this as the perfect opportunity.”
Prior to their official partnership, Aldridge and Teasdale previously worked together at the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office and as personal injury lawyers. Both have been in the legal field for decades, and together with their team bring more than 50 years of legal expertise to the table when representing their clients.
As a firm, Aldridge Teasdale has recovered millions of dollars for its clients, and both Aldridge and Teasdale have been ranked as members of the top 100 lawyers in the country by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Together they are a dynamic duo, whose areas of expertise include: wrongful death, medical malpractice, semi/car/motorcycle accidents, workers’ compensation, animal attacks and slips and falls.
Before focusing on representing those injured as the result of other people’s negligence, Aldridge worked on the other side of the aisle, as an insurance defense attorney for State Farm, defending the billion-dollar company. He literally was “Jake from State Farm,” although he says he never wore khakis.
“It was there that I began to understand that the insurance companies were not there to help,” he said. “It was delay, deny or underpay—it really wasn’t about doing what’s right or helping those who have been hurt.”
After a few years seeing the games played by the insurance companies, he left to begin representing individuals who alone had no chance against the “machine,” noting that it was a natural extension of his role as a public defender, where he learned the joy of helping those who need it most.
In his time representing injured Oklahomans, Aldridge has also received special designations from the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Million Dollar Advocates Forum, for his recovery of Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar settlements for his clients.
Teasdale, meanwhile, has spent his entire career as a trial attorney focusing on personal injury, successfully arguing dozens of cases before the United States Court of Appeals and many other federal, state and local courts. He has been designated as a Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers, a rating service of outstanding attorneys from more than 70 practice areas, who are ranked by their peers. Only 2.5% of all practicing attorneys in the United States achieve that recognition.
Among many other honors, at the local level, the firm was recently voted “Best Law Firm in Norman” and Aldridge was selected as “Best Lawyer in Norman” in The Norman Transcript’s 2022 Reader’s Choice awards.
Both Aldridge and Teasdale said that success in pursuing any type of legal action depends upon hiring the right firm for the task.
When seeking a lawyer, it’s critical to find one with the right experience in the specific area you need, they said. “Whether it’s a semi/car wreck, a slip or fall, medical malpractice, criminal matter of family dispute, you want to have an expert in that particular field,” Aldridge said. “I explain it as you don’t go to a cardiologist to have your knee replaced, and you don’t go to an orthopedist for open heart surgery.”
The good news for the firm’s clients is that no one is ever charged unless that client receives a settlement. That means the firm makes a considerable financial investment in each case, with no guarantee of an eventual settlement.
“Most people are not greedy, just hurt, and they need someone to believe in them and assist them as they fight for their rights,” Aldridge said. “I’ve learned that I can’t always help people get better, but I can make sure they get justice.”
“The little guy more often than not is going to be steamrolled by the big insurance companies,” Aldridge said. “Our goal is to make sure the people who are responsible for your injuries are held to account, which usually means taking accountability and paying for the financial harms they have caused, whether that be medical bills, lost wages or pain and suffering. We take this very seriously.”
Anyone interested in contacting Aldridge Teasdale for a free consultation can contact their offices at 405.447.4878 (405-447-HURT) or at getATlaw.com.
Independently, and through its connection with the philanthropic Aldridge Foundation, the firm supports many charitable programs around the central Oklahoma community, including local schools, a summer beach camp for children with disabilities, and organizations like Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity.
Meanwhile, the firm’s team continues to enjoy being part of Norman’s historic district, with its many community events and nearby restaurants.
“Moving downtown has been the best work decision of my life,” Aldridge said. “We are very excited for the next six to 12 months, and as a firm we are running, and it feels good to be out there and taking it to the next level. We are determined to make a positive change in our community, and as we grow, we will continue giving back to the community they call home.”