Derek W. Simpson

Mr. Canupp is a shareholder in the firm and an adjunct professor of employment law at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Mr. Canupp’s practice focuses on complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on litigation in federal court, both at the trial and appellate levels. Among other areas of practice, Mr. Canupp frequently is engaged on issues of constitutional law; voting rights, civil rights, and police liability claims; and employment litigation. A former federal law clerk, he has...

When William Messervy and his brothers would go camping with their father, he’d always make sure they left the campsite in better condition than they’d found it. At the time, the task was nothing more than an annoyance to William. He later realized, though, that his father had been teaching them a life lesson. That lesson is one that William works to incorporate into his daily life. During the seven years that he has been a practicing attorney, William has always gone the extra mi...

Scott Burnett Smith is a partner in the firm’s Huntsville office. His practice covers class actions, complex litigation, and appeals. Scott has been involved in dozens of nationwide class actions in state and federal courts, and he has handled over 30 class action appeals. He is also regularly involved as the appellate lawyer embedded with a trial team in complex civil litigation. In that role, he has succeeded in having several multi-million dollar injury verdicts (including punitive d...

Mr. Baggette advises clients about the formation, acquisition, and sale of businesses and regularly assists clients in the creation of corporations and limited liability companies. He also represents banks and real estate developers in the financing, acquisition, and sale of commercial properties and condominium developments. Mr. Baggette also has experience in state and local tax abatements and incentives for industrial projects. His clients include defense contractors, real estate developer...

Mr. Smith's practice focuses on formation, financing and ongoing representation of emerging and established businesses, with an emphasis on government contracting, healthcare and technology companies. Mr. Smith also counsels clients regarding mergers and acquisitions, tax issues, equity and debt financing, executive compensation, joint ventures, strategic alliances, estate planning, healthcare and other related issues.

John Howard’s practice is focused on commercial real estate and development, but he has substantial experience with a wide range of corporate legal matters, including M&A, commercial leasing, environmental issues, condemnations, securities, risk management, commercial litigation, workers’ compensation, labor and employment law, franchise law, insurance issues, intellectual property, employee benefit plans, entity selection and formation, syndicated and mezzanine lending, and t...

Aiello earned his political science degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Alabama in 1998, followed by a law degree, cum laude, in 2001. Early in his career, he discovered a passion for legal writing and appellate work while practicing at Fees & Burgess and Leo & Brooks. He joined the Morris firm in 2004, focusing on plaintiff’s personal injury cases and serving as the office’s lead brief writer and appellate attorney. Notably, he co-counseled a case resulting in...

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

Benjamin Little is a shareholder in the Shoals office of Dentons Sirote. Benjamin's practice covers a wide range of substantive areas, but he primarily focuses on business law and related matters. He handles both litigation and non-litigation matters and frequently represents clients in state and federal courts, as well as before the GAO. Benjamin frequently advises clients regarding the governance and operation of businesses, helping them to avoid and manage disputes. Benjamin has wide-rangi...

Stephen Hall's practice is centered in the area of intellectual property and technology matters. Stephen has an active trial practice litigating patent infringement, trademark infringement, copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and technology issues in state and federal courts. He also works closely with established and emerging technology companies in preparing and negotiating various software and technology contracts, license agreements, and advising and managing open sourc...