Jennifer Powell Decker

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...

Andrew W. Tunnell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Andrew W., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrew W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Melisa Zwilling is a shareholder with Carr Allison and is a resident in its Birmingham (AL) office. Her practice focuses on labor and employment, insurance defense and Medicare compliance. Melisa has published countless articles and spoken at numerous conferences and seminars across the United States. For her outstanding legal work, she earned an AV Preeminent ® rating from the national lawyer ranking service Martindale Hubbell ® and has been selected as one of The Best Lawyers in Ame...

Richard Smith, one of the founding partners of Christian & Small and a partner with its predecessor, Rives & Peterson, has been an integral member of the firm’s litigation group for his entire legal career. He served as the firm’s Managing Partner for five years. Richard’s practice focuses primarily on complex and corporate litigation for clients in the financial services, health care and construction industries, as well as corporate entities in other industries. His...

Andrew Saag is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Andrew, 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 Andrew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Richard J. Riley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Richard J., 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 Richard J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lane Finch is an analytical and creative problem solver with 37 years' experience advising insurance carriers on a broad range of claims and coverage disputes and litigating coverage and bad faith claims. He handles a broad spectrum of insurance-related litigation, such as claims for construction defects, products liability, professional liability, property claims, catastrophic injury, death, and bad faith claims involving millions and even hundreds of millions of dollars. Leveraging his vast...

Sarah S. Johnston is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Sarah S., 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 Sarah S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sean W. Shirley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Sean W., 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 Sean W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Crawford is the leader of the Firm’s corporate practice and emphasizes mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, federal and state tax planning and litigation, and representation of health-care providers. He has been trial and appellate counsel in numerous federal and state tax cases, including O’Neal v. United States, 258 F.3d 1265 (11 Cir. 2001), Alabama Department of Revenue v. Sonat, Inc., 752 So.2d 1211 (Ala. 1999), and Lloyd Noland Foundation, Inc. v. City of Fairf...