Denzel E. Okinedo

Denzel builds his client relationships on trust, believing that without it, you have nothing else. Denzel is an attorney in the Birmingham office where he serves as a member of the Economic Development team and practices in the firm’s Corporate & Tax Practice Group. Denzel’s practice includes negotiating and structuring economic development incentive packages, representing clients before various governmental bodies, drafting legislation, contract negotiations, mergers and acquisitions, business formations, and comprehensive general corporate counsel work. Denzel also has experience handling matters involving business/commercial litigation, consumer financial services ligation, political law, and election/campaign compliance.

Taking a collaborative approach to each matter, Denzel understands the importance of serving and leading a strong team. Moreover, Denzel’s diverse practice has afforded him valuable experiences, such as serving as counsel and policy strategist for a political campaign, providing support for the legal department of an international automotive manufacturer, and maintaining leadership roles in a number community initiatives. In 2022, Denzel was awarded the NextGen BHM: Law Award by the Birmingham Business Journal and was recognized as an up-and-coming leader in the Birmingham business community.

When he is not working, Denzel spends time discussing and studying politics, attending concerts, traveling, watching movies, and attempting to play golf.

Denzel is licensed in Alabama and he earned his J.D. from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. While obtaining his law degree, Denzel was elected as President of the Student Bar Association, served as a board member of the Black Law Students Association, was a Judge Abraham Caruthers Teaching Fellow, and clerked as a legal extern for the Honorable Abdul K. Kallon in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Additionally, Denzel was a member of Cumberland’s U.S. News top-ranked National Trial Team and the winner of the Judge James O. Haley Federal Trial Competition.

Prior to attending law school, Denzel earned his undergraduate degree from Birmingham-Southern College where he majored in political science with minors in religious studies and human rights & conflict studies. At Birmingham-Southern, Denzel was elected as President of the Student Government Association, was a Ronald & Donne C. Hess Fellow, and was the recipient of the David J. Vann Award in Political Science.

• Listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America®: Commercial Litigation since 2024; Corporate Law since 2024; Government Relations Practice since 2024
• Southern Business & Development's, "Economic Developers Under 50 to Watch" (2024)
• Birmingham Business Journal, NextGen: Top Law Award Recipient (2022)
• Birmingham-Southern College, Outstanding Rising Star Award (2022)
• Mid-South Super Lawyers "Rising Star," Business Litigation since 2021
• American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division Scholarship Award Recipient (2020)
• The Summit Cup Trial Competition, Most Outstanding Advocate Runner-Up (2018)
• Judge James O. Haley Federal Trial Competition Winner (2018)
• Russomanno Leadership Award Recipient (2018)
• Judge Abraham Caruthers Fellow (2017-2018)
• Magic City Bar Association, Outstanding Legal Scholarship Award Recipient (2017)

• Leadership Alabama, Alabama Leadership Initiative Class VI (2023-2024)

• Rotaract Club of Birmingham, Leadership Development Program Co-Chair (2023-2024)

• Prosper, Community Connectors Advisory Board (2023-Present)
• Birmingham Corps, Board of Directors (2023-Present)
• Birmingham Talks, Advisory Board Member (2023-Present)

• Birmingham-Southern College, Board of Trustees Member (2022-Present) and Young Alumni Council President (2022-Present)

• Gateway, Board of Directors (2022-Present)

• The Randolph School, Board of Trustees (2021-Present)
• City of Birmingham, Mayoral Transition Team Appointee (2021-2022)
• Phoenix Club of Birmingham, Member (2020-Present)
• Short the Squirrel: Literacy for Children, Founding Advisory Board Member (2020-2022)
• Glenn Iris Elementary Book Club (2018-2019)
• Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, Student Bar Association President (2018-2019)
• Samford University, Professional & Graduate Student Council (2017-2019)
• Birmingham-Southern College, Student Government Association President (2016-2016)

• Birmingham Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, President-Elect (2023-Present)
• Birmingham Bar Foundation, Board of Directors (2023-Present)
• Alabama State Bar, Young Lawyers Section Executive Committee (2021-Present), Treasurer (2024-2025), Chair of State-Wide Minority Pre-Law Conference (2022-Present), Elections, Ethics & Government Relations Law Section Member (2020-Present), and Helping Heroes in Healthcare Task Force (2019-2021)
• Magic City Bar Association, Young Lawyers Committee Chair (2021-2022) and Corresponding Secretary (2023-Present)
• Manufacture Alabama, Legal Committee (2023-Present)
• Economic Development Association of Alabama, Member (2022-Present)
• Birmingham Bar Association’s Future Leaders Forum, Class of 2021 (2021)
• American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division Scholar (2020)
• Judge James Edwin Horton American Inn of Court (2018-Present)

Legal Practice Assistant

Tracy L. Launsby
(205) 458-5222
tlaunsby@burr.com