Bentley H. Patrick

Joel L. DiLorenzo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Joel L., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joel L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ryan M. Hodinka is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Ryan M., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ryan M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on October 2, 1968. He attended college at the University of Alabama and graduated with a B.A. in business in 1990. Upon graduation, he entered the University of Alabama School of Law and obtained his J.D. Degree in 1993. While in law school, he served as the student representative to the Board of Trustees. He was admitted to practice law in the State of Alabama in 1993, and the State of Colorado in 1994. Since obtaining his law license in the State of Al...

Lea Richmond, IV is a shareholder in Carr Allison’s Birmingham (AL) office. His trial practice involves the defense of transportation liability litigation, products liability and health care litigation. In 2014, Lea received an exclusive honor when he was appointed by the Alabama Supreme Court to serve a three-year term on the Alabama Pattern Jury Instructions Committee – Civil. This committee is charged with drafting the language of the pattern jury instructions that are used acr...

William Curtis Gwathney III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Public Finance Law. William Curtis, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William Curtis is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jay Wright is a partner in the firm’s Banking and Financial Services and Litigation practice groups. Jay has earned his Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP) designation through the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), and is one of a small number of lawyers who have achieved this status. Jay’s practice focuses on financial services litigation and regulation, and he is actively involved in lawsuits and disputes across the country representing companies involved in a wide array of ...

CLARK R. HAMMOND is a partner with Wallace Jordan Ratliff & Brandt LLC. He is also a member of the Firm’s Litigation practice group. Mr. Hammond practices primarily in the area of bankruptcy, commercial and real estate loan defaults and workouts, construction law, workout of defaulted municipal and commercial bonds, creditor’s and debtor’s rights, securities litigation and general commercial litigation. Prior to 1989, Mr. Hammond’s work included the representation ...

Kris Cross is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where she is a member of the Litigation practice group. With over 20 years of general litigation experience at Dentons Sirote, formerly Sirote & Permutt, PC, Kris focuses on defending insurance companies in the area of life, disability, and ERISA litigation. Her work for insurers has included not only benefits litigation but also defensive litigation where insureds claim fraud in the marketing and sale of in...

Anne Knox Averitt has extensive experience in labor and employment matters and commercial litigation. She works in the Birmingham office and represents clients of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to family-owned businesses in a number of industries, including retail, automotive, natural resources, manufacturing, healthcare, non-profit, communications, construction, and financial services. She also handles cases before arbitrators, administrative law judges, and federal and state court ju...

Bradley J. Sklar is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where he serves as Co-Leader of Dentons Tax National Practice Group. In his practice, Brad focuses on complex tax, entity, and business planning transactions, including mergers and acquisitions; sales of businesses; sale and purchase structuring and funding of large real estate transactions; raising capital; and navigation of national, state, and local tax incentives and economic development initiatives. H...