James "Jim" Lavery

Michael places paramount importance on understanding a client’s business and developing tailored solutions that work for each individual client. He aims to build a trusted partnership with his clients to help navigate the difficult and ever-changing issues employers face daily. While he has had numerous victories as an attorney, Michael takes the most pride in helping his clients avoid litigation through a common sense and cost-effective approach. Through serving as interim in-house emp...

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.

Tom has appeared in state and federal courts across the country, and has tried antitrust, business, construction, civil rights, insurance, mineral rights, negligence, product liability, land use, real property, tax, and wrongful termination cases to verdict or final judgment. He has significant arbitration experience as well as first chair trial experience in both state and federal court, and has been recognized by Alabama Super Lawyers , Benchmark Litigation , Best Lawyers in America, and Bi...

Ginger Gray regularly represents clients in a wide variety of commercial real estate transactions, including lending, acquisition, disposition, development and leasing matters. Her practice includes the representation of national and regional banks, and clients involved in the development of various facilities. In addition to maintaining a general real estate practice, Ginger has devoted a substantial portion of her practice to representing banks and financial institutions in connection with ...

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...

Sharon Stuart devotes her practice to civil trial work and arbitration. She focuses on complex commercial and insurance litigation, and she handles a variety of product liability cases including pharmaceutical and medical device products liability litigation as national, regional or local counsel. Her trial experience includes a wide range of business tort claims, contract disputes, commercial and insurance fraud and bad faith suits, and wrongful death cases. She has defended dozens of class ...

Eric T. Ray is a Partner of the firm and is a member of the Creditors Rights & Bankruptcy and Litigation practice groups. Eric's practice regularly includes the representation of utilities, financial institutions, lenders and other creditors in chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, adversary proceedings and other types of commercial litigation throughout the country. Mr. Ray is experienced in all facets of creditor representation and routinely represents creditors with respect to adequate assuranc...

Mr. Frazier is a member of the Birmingham and American Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar (Secretary-Treasurer, 1981-1982, Vice Chairman, 1982-1983, Chairman, 1983-1984, Employment Law Section); and Alabama Bar Institute (Member, Continuing Legal Education, Employment Law Committee and Faculty, 1988 to present). He has been listed in all seven editions of Super Lawyers magazine (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014). Martindale Hubbell, a peer review rating system, has given him an &l...

Since 2003, Jon Patterson has represented clients nationwide in a variety of industries, including financial services, manufacturing, industrial equipment, mobile technology and retail services. Jon is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer who helps clients protect their business interests in disputes related to contracts, torts, premises liability, auto accidents, trade secrets and non-competes. Throughout his career, Jon has handled cases through all stages of the litigation process, in...

Susan Doughton’s practice of law focuses on health care law, including representing hospitals and physician groups. In 2010, she was named Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year for health care law in Birmingham (Copyright 2011 by Woodward/Wright, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). Susan graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1974, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She graduated from Vanderbilt Law School in 1977 and served on the Vanderbilt Law Review. Her professional and civic affil...