Harlan I. Prater IV

Jess Nix is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Jess, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jess is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Vaughn McWilliams specializes in general business and corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, and real estate and commercial finance. He represents lenders and developers in a variety of commercial real estate transactions, including senior housing, medical office, self-storage, multi-family, and tax credit financing. Vaughn also represents clients on the purchase and sale and financing of of closely-held businesses, including professional practices. Prior to moving to Birmingha...

Scott is a member of the firm’s Trusts and Estates and Tax Practice Groups. Part of Scott’s practice focuses on estate planning strategies designed to minimize estate and other taxes, as well as ensure that assets left under a decedent’s will or trust for family members can be effectively and efficiently managed. In addition, Scott has significant experience in advising clients with respect to the administration of trusts and estates, and handling trust and estate litigation...

Christopher P. (“Chris”) Couch advises banks and other financial institutions on regulatory and operational matters as well as on compliance with banking and lending laws, rules, and regulations. He counsels national, regional, and community banks with respect to deposit operations, payment systems, treasury management products, consumer regulatory regimes, and new services offerings, including electronic and mobile banking. Chris also represents financial institutions, finance co...

Elizabeth H. Hutchins is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where she is a member of the Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice group and serves on the Firm's board of directors. Her practice includes planning for the management and distribution of clients' estates to accomplish their goals and to minimize estate taxes using sophisticated estate planning tools and techniques. She counsels business owners regarding succession planning. In probate admi...

Shane Clanton serves as counsel in the firm’s Banking and Financial Services Practice Group. Prior to joining Bradley, Shane served as senior deputy general counsel for PNC, general counsel for BBVA USA and chief legal officer for BBVA’s U.S. operations. In those roles, he provided legal advice to counsel in all areas of the company, including regulatory and corporate governance matters, significant complex and class action litigation, and government enforcement-related issues, as...

Wendell's practice focuses on representing financial institutions in government enforcement actions, regulatory compliance matters, internal audits, and real property controversies. Wendell’s litigation experience is broad, having represented clients in a wide variety of matters but with a particular focus in financial services, consumer finance, real property and construction litigation. In addition to litigation, his practice includes performing internal risk assessments and regulator...

Kay is a member of the firm's Corporate Practice and Estate Planning/Probate Practice groups. She is listed in Alabama Super Lawyers in the Estate Planning and Probate, Closely Held Business, and Tax Law categories of law, and she has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America(r) in the fields of Litigation - Trusts & Estates, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates (Copyright 2011 by Woodward/Wright, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). The author of numerous articles regarding tax, corporate ...

David is an AV-rated attorney with a focus in commercial litigation and insurance coverage and defense. He has served as lead counsel and co-counsel in numerous jury trials in state, federal and military venues and has handled matters for clients in 60 of Alabama’s 67 counties.

Matthew Hinshaw focuses on economic development incentive package structuring and negotiation. Matthew also represents a variety of clients in general corporate and tax matters and assists nonprofit entities with tax and governance issues. He helps clients form new companies, negotiate tax incentive packages, close deals, draft legislation, manage and grow operations, and manage their relationships with local and state government officials. Matthew was privileged to represent clients on two o...