James Crosswhite

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.

Andrew Shaver routinely represents financial institutions, secured and unsecured creditors and other interested parties in bankruptcy cases, commercial litigation and extra-judicial proceedings. His experience includes fraudulent transfer and preference actions, lender liability claims, contested bankruptcy matters, non-dischargeability actions, stay violation litigation and state law collection and enforcement actions. Andrew also has experience representing secured lenders and court-appoint...

Michael Waters is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He focuses on issues facing banks, financial institutions, and other financial-services entities. Mike has practiced corporate and securities law, primarily in the financial institutions area, for more than 30 years. He routinely represents banks, bank holding companies, and other financial entities in acquisitions, capital raising transactions, SEC and shareholder issues, new bank formations, and board fiduciary duty issues. He has...

Steve Ball is a shareholder with Carr Allison residing in the firm’s Birmingham, Alabama office. Steve represents local and national clients in their business litigation and corporate matters arising both in Alabama and other states. His diversified practice includes the representation of his clients, both as plaintiffs or defendants, in their litigation and transactional needs. Steve has litigated numerous contractually based claims for his clients and also has extensive experience in ...

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...

Lee Birchall’s practice focuses on public finance in Alabama, where he serves as bond counsel to cities, counties, utilities, school boards, and various other types of governmental entities that issue tax-exempt and taxable securities. He also represents cities and counties in negotiations with private developers for economic development transactions. In addition to representing public bodies, Lee has experience serving as counsel to underwriters, trustee banks and commercial banks in t...

Kelly G. Gwathney is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Kelly G., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kelly G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mary F. Samuels is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Natural Resources Law. Mary F., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mary F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Frank H. Long Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Public Finance Law. Frank H., 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 Frank H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Having already established a reputation as a trial lawyer with another firm, Scott Powell came to Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton as a full partner in 1986. Since that time, his diverse practice has taken him throughout the states of Alabama, Arkansas, and Missouri as well as Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, Georgia, and Louisiana. Among the types of cases he has handled include litigation under the False Claims Act for qui tam plaintiffs, class action litigation involving complex legal issues, commer...