Douglas J. Centeno

Douglas J. Centeno is a partner with Benton, Centeno & Morris, LLP in Birmingham, Alabama. His principal practice areas are business litigation, construction litigation, and employment litigation. Douglas has represented parties in disputes involving business relationships, building projects, contracts, and commercial obligations. His experience spans state and federal courts, with matters involving arbitration awards, shareholder conflicts, financing disputes, construction defects, and alleged business misconduct.

Douglas earned a B.A. from Florida State University in 1979 and a Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1982. At Cumberland, he served as Chief Justice of the Henry Upson Sims Moot Court Board and an associate editor of the Cumberland Law Review. He also received the C.C. Bo Torbert Brief Writing Award and belonged to the Order of the Barristers. His education supported intensive work in advocacy and legal writing.

Douglas has handled cases concerning contractors’ payment claims, construction delays, business fraud, shareholder rights, and contractual disputes. His representative matters include a $477,053 judgment for a subcontractor in a construction delay matter and a $756,351 arbitration award concerning breach of contract. His experience also includes appellate and federal bankruptcy-related litigation. He is admitted in Alabama and Florida and before several federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court.

Douglas J. Centeno holds an AV peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has appeared in Super Lawyers listings for litigation. He has participated in professional responsibility work through the Alabama State Bar and has lectured in continuing legal education programs. His broad commercial litigation experience helps clients assess disputed obligations, case strategy, and the potential outcomes of litigation or arbitration.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Benton, Centeno & Morris, LLP
• Co-Chair of State Committee on Rules of Professional Conduct, Alabama State Bar (1995-1998)
• Out of State Practice Committee, The Florida Bar
• Grievance Committee – Member, Group Chairman, Committee Chairman, Birmingham Bar Association
• Litigation Section Member and Forum on the Construction Industry, American Bar Association
• Big Brother and Member of Advisory Board, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Alabama (1984-1987)
• Board of Managers, Birmingham Downtown YMCA (1998-2004)
• Board Member and Past-President, Mountain Brook Sports Corporation (2003-Present)
• Member, American Subcontractors Association
• Member, American Judicature Society (1993-1998)
• Member, Canterbury United Methodist Church

Licensed State

• Alabama
• Florida

Education

• Cumberland School of Law of Samford University
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Florida State University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges