James L. "Jim" Sanders III

As a lawyer in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, Crystal’s practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions and real estate finance. Crystal represents borrowers and local, regional, and national financial institutions in lending transactions; purchasers and sellers in real estate acquisition transactions; and borrowers in loan transactions. In addition, Crystal advises landlords and tenants in lease negotiations. Crystal also practices in the area of public fina...

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...

Samuel D. Friedman is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where he is a member of the Real Estate and Banking and Finance practice groups. Sam’s practice primarily focuses on commercial real estate and commercial lending. Sam helps clients buy, sell, develop, lease, and finance commercial property in his commercial real estate practice, including large apartment complexes, senior living communities, hotels, office buildings, and shopping centers. In Sam&r...

Trey Hill concentrates his practice primarily in the area of economic development where he assists business clients in negotiating incentive packages. Trey regularly deals with a wide variety of industries, including automotive, manufacturing, metal, energy, and finance, among others. While Trey’s practice is focused primarily in Alabama, he routinely represents clients all over the Southeast and other regions of the United States. Trey also actively represents cities, counties, and ind...

Thomas G. DeLawrence is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law. Thomas G., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2019. 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.

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...

Graham Gerhardt represents financial institutions in civil litigation throughout the country. He regularly assists clients in both the forward mortgage and reverse mortgage industries. Graham frequently litigates in federal court where he defends lenders and loan servicers accused of violating federal statutes, most commonly TILA, RESPA, the FDCPA, the FCRA, and the TCPA. He also represents clients in state court, defending against claims such as wrongful foreclosure, fraud and deceptive trad...

Preston Neel is a shareholder of Dentons Sirote in Alabama. He is a member of the Corporate practice group and advises clients across multiple industries in the areas of business and tax law, including mergers and acquisitions, tax planning, and general corporate representation. He also has extensive experience providing financial services litigation and regulatory compliance assistance to banks and nonbanks offering mortgage, unsecured small dollar, and business purpose loan products and bro...

Howard Neiswender is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where he is a member of the Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice group and leads the Dentons Sirote Family Business team. Howard provides comprehensive wealth planning for individuals and business owners. His representative work includes the use of innovative tax-planning strategies and working with business owners to coordinate their business and personal planning. Howard also works with Unit...

Ralph Smith is special counsel in the Corporate Practice Group. He handles general corporate and business matters, international transactions, healthcare, higher education, and NCAA compliance. Prior to joining Jones Walker, Ralph spent 25 years in private law practice in Washington, DC, and Birmingham before joining the University of Alabama System in 2004 as general counsel and member of the Chancellor's Senior Policy staff. Ralph also served the university as a distinguished lecturer of la...