Madison Nye

Stuart has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions, with a non-exclusive emphasis on private equity transactions. He also devotes a substantial amount of time to assisting investment managers and family offices with regulatory matters. Stuart also represents numerous private equity portfolio companies and family-owned businesses with respect to general corporate matters.

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...

Mr. Canada is a seasoned trial attorney with significant experience in handling both small and large complex matters. He has tried numerous cases to Judges and Juries in both State and Federal courts in Louisiana and Mississippi. He has also mediated and arbitrated cases in Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Mr. Canada understands both sides of litigation, as he began his legal career representing injured plaintiffs, handling environmental and toxic tort, maritime and product’s ...

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...

Ellis Brazeal is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and co-leader of the firm’s aerospace and aviation team. Ellis has more than 30 years of experience in commercial litigation, including all levels of state, federal, and bankruptcy courts. He represents and advises financial institutions and other entities regarding corporate restructuring, and handles construction, surety, and government contract litigation. He is recognized for his work by legal publications, and he regularly...

Chris Williams is an attorney with Kazmarek Mowrey Cloud Laseter LLP in Birmingham, Alabama, where he advises clients on Energy Law, Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental, and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants . For more than 22 years, he has represented heavily regulated industries in environmental litigation, regulatory compliance, risk management, permitting, and transactional matters. His clients include pipeline and natural resource companies, manufacturers, landf...

Joel Kuehnert's primary areas of practice include complex environmental litigation, enforcement actions and citizen suits, franchising, licensing, appeals, and patents. He has represented clients in many different industries ranging from those with global operations to the small, local business. Joel has a technical background in civil and environmental engineering and is a registered member of the patent bar of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. His intellectual property experien...

Julia Bernstein’s practice focuses on all aspects of the representation of lenders and borrowers in secured and unsecured transactions, finance transactions involving commercial real estate, corporate finance transactions and multi-state transactions. Julia frequently issues legal opinions in connection with multi-state projects and as local counsel for transactions originated outside of Alabama secured by real property located within the state.

Rudy is a partner in the firm’s Litigation and Intellectual Property Practice Groups. In his litigation practice, Rudy handles matters at both trial and appellate levels. At the trial level, he has first-chaired jury trials in both federal and state courts. Rudy has also briefed and presented oral arguments in both state and federal appellate courts.

Trey Dowdey is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Trey practices law in Birmingham, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized Trey Dowdey since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Trey Dowdey is held by other lawyers.