Carol Ann Smith

As a lawyer in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, Crystal’s practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions and real estate finance. Crystal represents borrowers and local, regional, and national financial institutions in lending transactions; purchasers and sellers in real estate acquisition transactions; and borrowers in loan transactions. In addition, Crystal advises landlords and tenants in lease negotiations. Crystal also practices in the area of public fina...

Personal relationships have always been the backbone of Sonny Ferguson’s law practice. He says parties respond to someone who will listen to their issues and provide them with a truthful evaluation of the facts. Once the parties engage the firm’s services, as a mediator or as a Private Judge, Sonny believes they deserve 100% of his attention to their issues and a timely resolution to their matter. Sonny joined Christian & Small after serving as a judge for 15 years in the Dome...

Alex B. Leath is a partner in the firm’s Economic Development Practice Group and the Tax Practice Group. Since 1990, Alex has been involved in a significant number of the major economic development projects in the Southeast. As a result, he is one of the most trusted economic development attorneys in the region. Leading companies regularly seek him out for counsel on their relocation and site-selection matters, knowing his broad experience will serve them well. Alex has extensive experi...

William T. Paulk is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Banking and Finance. William T., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matthew Hinshaw focuses on economic development incentive package structuring and negotiation. Matthew also represents a variety of clients in general corporate and tax matters and assists nonprofit entities with tax and governance issues. He helps clients form new companies, negotiate tax incentive packages, close deals, draft legislation, manage and grow operations, and manage their relationships with local and state government officials. Matthew was privileged to represent clients on two o...

Joseph H. Driver is a shareholder in Carr Allison’s Birmingham, Alabama office. Joe heads up the firm’s Appellate Litigation group. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama. In addition to his appellate practice, Joe handles cases involving general liability, premises liability, products liability, workers’ compensation, retali...

Mr. Canada is a seasoned trial attorney with significant experience in handling both small and large complex matters. He has tried numerous cases to Judges and Juries in both State and Federal courts in Louisiana and Mississippi. He has also mediated and arbitrated cases in Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Mr. Canada understands both sides of litigation, as he began his legal career representing injured plaintiffs, handling environmental and toxic tort, maritime and product’s ...

Tanya Shunnara is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office. She is a member of the Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice group and is one of the youngest shareholders to be named to Dentons Sirote’s board of directors. Tanya focuses her practice on counseling families, family offices, business owners, executives and individuals on all aspects of estate and gift planning, estate and trust administration, wealth transfer issues, charitable planned givi...

Paul Sykes represents businesses and individuals in a wide variety of intellectual property and technology-related legal matters. As a member of both the Intellectual Property and Competitive Practices and the Litigation Practice Groups, Paul counsels clients in the acquisition, licensing and protection of intellectual property rights, and he litigates those rights in the state and federal courts. Paul has been peer-selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyer's in America and Alabama Super Lawy...

Dana Thrasher specializes in ERISA, regularly advising employers, trustees and service providers concerning qualified retirement plans, non-qualified plans, fringe benefits, welfare benefits and executive compensation issues. She has developed significant expertise in the ERISA/employee benefits practice area, representing a large and diverse client base. She regularly advises clients regarding planning and evaluating benefit programs, establishing and administering employee benefit plans, mo...