Glenda Cochran

Pamela Payne Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trade Secrets Law and Trademark Law. Pamela Payne, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Pamela Payne is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Beau Byrd has extensive experience representing developers, owners, and financial institutions in a wide variety of commercial real estate transactions, including NMTC, Senior Housing, Retail, Office, and Multi-Family. The experience Beau obtained being a law clerk to a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge and practicing as a bankruptcy attorney in the early years of his career gives him a unique advantage in dealing with commercial real estate during these challenging times. Beau is immediate past Presiden...

Ralph D. Cook is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Securities, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Ralph D., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ralph D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Thomas G. Amason III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Thomas G., 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 Thomas G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Richard Smith, one of the founding partners of Christian & Small and a partner with its predecessor, Rives & Peterson, has been an integral member of the firm’s litigation group for his entire legal career. He served as the firm’s Managing Partner for five years. Richard’s practice focuses primarily on complex and corporate litigation for clients in the financial services, health care and construction industries, as well as corporate entities in other industries. His...

Leon Ashford has been a trial lawyer for 42 years. Throughout the course of his career, Mr. Ashford has a proven record of consistently obtaining multimillion dollar jury verdicts and settlements for his clients, their families and their small businesses. Though he has always focused his practice on complex litigation involving catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful death, he has recently been called upon to represent family-owned and closely held businesses in litigation which threatene...

John W. Johnson II is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance. John W., 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 John W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

K.C. Hairston is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law and Municipal Law. K.C., 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 K.C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David Pugh is a partner in the firm's Construction and Procurement Practice Group. He is also a member of the firm's Litigation and Intellectual Property Practice Groups. David has represented owners, general contractors, subcontractors, engineers, architects, insurance companies and sureties throughout the United States. He has advised clients at every stage of a construction project: conception, planning, performance and closeout. He has drafted and negotiated contracts for several large sc...

Ginny Cochran Rutledge is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law and Real Estate Law. Ginny Cochran, who practices law in Homewood, Alabama, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ginny Cochran is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.