David D. Dowd III

T. Scott Kelly, a shareholder in the Birmingham office of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, & Stewart, provides practical solutions for federal contractors and subcontractors across the United States to comply with the ever-changing affirmative action obligations imposed by doing business with the federal government. He advocates on behalf of his clients in compliance evaluations and administrative enforcement actions trigged by the United States Department of Labor's Office of Federal Cont...

Ryan’s practice focuses on matters involving intellectual property and technology. He handles patent and trademark prosecution before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and represents clients in proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Ryan also assists clients in disputes involving patents and other intellectual property in federal and state courts. His technical experience covers a wide range of areas, and includes compu...

Melinda Mathews is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office. She serves as the co-chair of the Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice group. Melinda helps clients navigate complex trust and estate matters to manage and preserve their wealth. She focuses on business and succession planning, estate planning for individuals and families, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, as well as probates and trusts. Melinda also taught estate planning as an adjunct...

Zac Madonia is a litigator who primarily practices in the areas of class action defense and complex commercial litigation. He represents corporate clients from a diverse range of industries – including mortgage and consumer lending, pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution, and healthcare – facing class and mass actions in federal and state courts across the country. Zac's practice spans the substantive spectrum. For example, Zac recently obtained dismissal with prejudice of ...

Katherine N. Barr is Counsel in Dentons' Birmingham, Alabama office. She is a member of the Trusts, Estates & Wealth Preservation practice group and leads the Dentons Sirote Special Needs Planning team. As a lawyer in the Trusts, Estates & Wealth Preservation practice group, Katherine advises clients in planning their estates to accomplish their goals for asset distribution to beneficiaries while minimizing their estate and income tax liabilities. Katherine handles all aspects of esta...

David Stewart is the chair of the firm's Governmental Affairs Practice Group. He is also a member of the Economic Development Practice Group. While based in the firm's Birmingham office, he regularly represents clients before the executive and legislative branches in Washington, D.C. and Montgomery, Alabama. He also advises clients on federal and state campaign finance and ethics laws. Following David’s graduation from Washington and Lee, he worked in Washington, DC for Senator Jeff Ses...

Lance J. Wilkerson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Lance J., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lance J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Monica W. Sargent is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Monica W., 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 Monica W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Trisha Osuch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Trisha, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Trisha is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Carl Smyly was born and raised in Andalusia, Alabama. He received his undergraduate education at Birmingham-Southern College, where he was selected for membership in the Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa scholastic honorary societies and was valedictorian of his graduating class in 1979. He then earned his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Virginia School of Law in 1982. Mr. Smyly has been assigned the highest possible Peer Review Ratings for legal ability and ethical standards in...