Joseph E. "Jodie" Smith

Steven A. Burns is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law. Steven A., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Anne Knox Averitt has extensive experience in labor and employment matters and commercial litigation. She works in the Birmingham office and represents clients of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to family-owned businesses in a number of industries, including retail, automotive, natural resources, manufacturing, healthcare, non-profit, communications, construction, and financial services. She also handles cases before arbitrators, administrative law judges, and federal and state court ju...

Michael Thomason advises public and private clients, from start-ups to large corporations, in the areas of business formation, mergers and acquisitions, investment and financing transactions, securities compliance, and a variety of other transactions and corporate matters. Michael advises companies on a broad range of issues affecting their businesses, including clients in banking and financial services, healthcare and healthcare technology, manufacturing, retail, media and entertainment, pro...

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...

Steve Tucker is listed in Best Lawyers in America in the categories of Personal Injury Litigation and Railroad Law, and was recently named Best Lawyers’ 2014 Birmingham Railroad Law “Lawyer of the Year.” An Alabama native, he attended law school at the University of Kentucky College of Law, graduating in 1984. While attending law school, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Kentucky Law Journal. Mr. Tucker practices in both federal and state courts. His law practice is devote...

Michael J. Brandt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law. Michael J., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James has experience with both debtor and creditor representation in bankruptcy, out-of-court workouts and restructurings, and bankruptcy-related litigation. He also regularly represents commercial lenders and mortgage servicers in federal court commercial litigation. James has represented debtors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy in matters involving numerous complex issues under the bankruptcy code, including termination of employee and retiree benefits and going concern sales free and clear of clai...

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

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...

H. Lanier Brown II is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Management, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants. H. Lanier, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high estee...