Cecily L. Kaffer

Jay Minus practices in the areas of municipal law, commercial litigation and labor and employment. His practice focuses on all aspects of employment law in the defense of union issues, Title VII ADEA, ADA, FLSA, FMLA, OSHA and civil rights claims. Mr. Minus also specializes in personal injury claims involving wrongful death, products liability, industrial accidents, and fraud. As general counsel for two cities, he handles all aspects relating to city operations including public meetings, muni...

With more than 20 years of experience as a litigator, Russell focuses on complex civil litigation with an emphasis on personal injury, product liability and medical malpractice defense. His practice encompasses a broad scope and includes defending product manufacturers, professional malpractice defense, construction related litigation, extra-contractual and bad faith insurance defense, and complex commercial litigation. Most of the cases Russell handles are catastrophic injury or wrongful dea...

Clay Lanham is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He focuses on real estate development and finance. Clay regularly represents private equity funds in the negotiation and documentation of loans secured by real estate and other assets as well as the purchase and sale of loans, real estate, and other assets. Clay also represents developers and investors in the purchase and sale of properties and throughout the entire development process, from the formation of development entities, initi...

Steve Nicholas is part of an elite group of Alabama litigators known for their skill in handling Bet-the-Company cases. A big picture thinker, his work revolves around complex litigation claims including business disputes, class actions, mass torts and major construction disputes. Among his many noteworthy cases is representing thousands of business owners who filed lawsuits and claims in connection with the BP oil spill , an event that is deemed to be the worst environmental disaster in the ...

Ron Snider is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group, where he focuses his practice on bank regulatory law and corporate law. From 1973 to 1979, Ron was with the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, first in the Office of the General Counsel, and then as assistant secretary. He also served as assistant secretary of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation from 1976 to 1979. In addition to his active involvement in a number of professional associations, Ron is a member, and past chairman, of the...

Sarah Cross Ryan is a shareholder in Carr Allison’s Mobile (AL) office. Her practice concentrates on a wide variety of litigation matters in which she defends companies and individuals in professional liability, complex litigation, construction, workers’ compensation and general litigation claims. Sarah is admitted to practice in Alabama, the US District Court for the Middle and Southern District Courts of Alabama and the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. She is also a...

Sumpter M. McGowin II is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Corporate Law. Sumpter M., who practices law in Mobile, Alabama, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sumpter M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tara W. Lockett is a shareholder in the firm’s Mobile (AL) office. Her practice areas include the defense of workers’ compensation claims, retaliation cases, employment claims and premises liability (retail practice). She represents several insurance companies and self-insureds in employment matters in Alabama. Tara earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Alabama and her JD from the University of Alabama School of Law. Tara is a speaker on workers’ co...

John C.S. Pierce is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Mobile, Alabama office, where he is a member of the Litigation practice group. John represents clients in all areas of insurance, business, and product liability litigation. He counsels business owners in the areas of construction, transportation, professional liability, products liability, business disputes, insurance matters, and corporate guidance.

William Shreve practices in the areas of appellate advocacy, insurance coverage, and civil litigation. He has handled more than 100 appeals and petitions for extraordinary writ in the Alabama Supreme Court, Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, and United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He has represented insurers and insureds in numerous coverage matters, preparing coverage opinions, prosecuting declaratory-judgment actions, defending breach-of-contract/bad-faith cases, and inter...