James F. "Jay" Watkins

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...

Jim has been representing businesses and individuals in disputes, litigation, trials and appeals in state and federal courts for over forty years. He handles a wide variety of civil cases ranging from matters involving claims for personal injury to those involving claims made under the False Claims Act. His expertise includes business litigation, statutory and regulatory litigation brought by individuals and the United States, extra-contractual claims brought against insurance companies and d...

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...

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...

Brie Zarzour's practice is concentrated in civil litigation, including product and professional liability, insurance coverage, trucking and construction law. She represents businesses and insurers in significant commercial and tort litigation. She also regularly works with regional and community-based financial institutions on litigation matters involving banking law. In addition, Brie works with personal representatives and trustees in the administration of estates and trusts. She has both d...

Britten Britt practices primarily in the areas of probate and estate planning, business and tax planning, and trusts and estates. She also handles corporate transactions, family limited partnerships, limited liability companies, corporate tax matters, charitable foundations and assists in the preparation of fiduciary estate tax returns.

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 ...

Celia J. Collins is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Celia J., who practices law in Mobile, Alabama, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Celia J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tom Garth practices in the areas of taxation, corporate and estate tax, estate planning, qualified retirement plan, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, foreign tax planning, securities, and health care. He has practiced before Probate Courts, State Courts, U. S. District Courts, and Tax Courts. Mr. Garth regularly represents clients in the formation of family limited partnerships, LLCs, grantor retained annuity trusts, grantor trusts and other leveraged estate planning opportunities. In addi...

Ron Snider is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group, where he focuses his practice on bank regulatory law and corporate law. From 1973 to 1979, Ron was with the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, first in the Office of the General Counsel, and then as assistant secretary. He also served as assistant secretary of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation from 1976 to 1979. In addition to his active involvement in a number of professional associations, Ron is a member, and past chairman, of the...