Lee L. Sheppard

Mary F. Samuels is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Natural Resources Law. Mary F., 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 Mary F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Peter D. LeJeune is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law. Peter D., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Carl Smyly was born and raised in Andalusia, Alabama. He received his undergraduate education at Birmingham-Southern College, where he was selected for membership in the Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa scholastic honorary societies and was valedictorian of his graduating class in 1979. He then earned his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Virginia School of Law in 1982. Mr. Smyly has been assigned the highest possible Peer Review Ratings for legal ability and ethical standards in...

Katie M. Kimbrell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Katie M., 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 Katie M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bill Athanas represents companies and individuals in government enforcement matters, focusing on federal grand jury investigations. He has almost 30 years of white-collar experience, roughly a third of which was spent as a federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C. and Birmingham. Bill has handled hundreds of complex criminal cases and represented clients in all facets of those matters – whether as subjects, targets or witnesses, or those who simply receive subpoenas for documents. In repre...

Personal relationships have always been the backbone of Sonny Ferguson’s law practice. He says parties respond to someone who will listen to their issues and provide them with a truthful evaluation of the facts. Once the parties engage the firm’s services, as a mediator or as a Private Judge, Sonny believes they deserve 100% of his attention to their issues and a timely resolution to their matter. Sonny joined Christian & Small after serving as a judge for 15 years in the Dome...

Aman Kahlon represents owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in his construction and government contracts practice. His litigation experience covers a wide variety of disputes, including substantial experience in power and energy matters. He advises clients on delay, interference, defective design and negligence claims. Aman also devotes a significant portion of his practice to contract review, drafting and negotiation; contract and claims administration; and lien and bond law issue...

Andy Noble represents clients in a wide range of civil litigation, including both individual suits and putative class actions. A substantial portion of his practice has focused on consumer finance and related consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices matters and litigation involving trusts. He has also represented clients in cases relating to state tax law and construction contracts, both domestic and international. Andy grew up in Birmingham and received his undergraduate degree from Yale...

One of the firm’s founders, Charles Carr has more than 35 years of litigation experience in state and federal courts in Alabama. Charles has litigated in many other states throughout the United States. He has served as national coordinating counsel on complex and catastrophic personal injury cases in 25 states within the United States for a major national insurance carrier. Currently, Charles serves as national trial counsel for Swift Transportation, one of the largest motor carriers in...