Edward L.D. Smith

Will Gamble practices in the area of construction, tort and commercial litigation. His commercial practice involves litigating and advising business clients on corporate disputes, officer and director fiduciary liability, shareholder claims, breach of contract, breach of warranty, deceptive trade practices, consumer protection, fraud, professional liability and bad faith claims. His practice also focuses on personal injury claims, including defense of products liability, premises liability, w...

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...

John Dukes is an experienced corporate transactional and real estate attorney specializing in the acquisition and selling of businesses, real estate transactions, leases and related real property matters, representation of lenders and borrowers in connection with commercial loans and related matters, the formation and organization of limited liability companies and corporations, and corporate guidance including employment related matters, corporate compliance, insurance, commercial contracts ...

Shirley Justice is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Mobile, Alabama office. She is a member of the Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice. Shirley counsels professionals, business owners and their businesses in contracts, entity structuring, individual, corporate, transactional and personal tax planning and also provides estate planning and wealth preservation advise and services for them and others, to minimize taxes and family and business disputes. She represents clients i...

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...

A fifth-generation attorney with 40 years of legal experience, Bill’s practice at Helmsing Leach is focused on civil litigation with an emphasis on appellate advocacy. He has handled numerous appeals in state and federal courts resulting in more than one hundred published decisions. Bill’s practice also includes environmental law and insurance litigation, and he has represented clients in a variety of civil disputes in product liability, construction litigation and more. In additi...

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 ...

An experienced trial lawyer, Win has represented clients in hundreds of cases during his 25-plus years of practice in Mobile. His active trial practice includes all types of complex litigation, but his focus is representing hospitals, physicians and long-term care facilities across Alabama in medical negligence lawsuits and other healthcare-related litigation. Win is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers. The Best Lawyers of ...

Sumpter M. McGowin II is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Corporate Law. Sumpter M. practices law in Mobile, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized Sumpter M. McGowin II since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Sumpter M. McGowin II is held by other lawy...

Karen practices civil litigation with a focus on the defense of medical malpractice claims. Karen also has extensive experience in appellate advocacy in state and federal appellate courts.