Mark L. Gaines

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...

Russell Q. Allison is a founding shareholder of Carr Allison and a resident in the Birmingham (AL) office. He advises and represents clients in a broad range of businesses with an emphasis on clients in the insurance industry. Russ is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Alabama and before the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Russ sits on the board of the EC Defense Network, which he co-founded in 2016 and served a two-year term as president. He also serves on ...

Jay H. Clark is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Jay H., 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 Jay H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James Webb’s primary areas of practice include the representation of lenders, borrowers, developers and companies in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions throughout the United States, including lending, leasing, development, acquisitions and dispositions. In his lending practice, James represents both lenders and borrowers on acquisition, construction and permanent financing, with an emphasis on real estate secured financing. While he has experience in the representation o...

Nancy Ball practices in the areas of trusts and estates, including estate planning and estate administration, taxation, real estate and corporate law. Nancy is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Birmingham, Inc. and the Alabama Planned Giving Council, and serves as the secretary of the Probate Section of the Birmingham Bar Association. She is also a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). Nancy is the author of Navigating Estate Planning Before, During and ...

Melinda Mathews is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office. She serves as the co-chair of the Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice group. Melinda helps clients navigate complex trust and estate matters to manage and preserve their wealth. She focuses on business and succession planning, estate planning for individuals and families, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, as well as probates and trusts. Melinda also taught estate planning as an adjunct...

Robert Baugh is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where he serves as chair of the Dentons Sirote Litigation practice group. Robert has been engaged in the practice of law continuously since 1982. Robert represents clients in insurance, business, and product liability cases in both state and federal courts throughout the Southeast. He has obtained favorable results for Fortune 500 companies as well as privately held companies. In addition to his litigation pra...

Eric T. Ray is a Partner of the firm and is a member of the Creditors Rights & Bankruptcy and Litigation practice groups. Eric's practice regularly includes the representation of utilities, financial institutions, lenders and other creditors in chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, adversary proceedings and other types of commercial litigation throughout the country. Mr. Ray is experienced in all facets of creditor representation and routinely represents creditors with respect to adequate assuranc...

Shannon L. Miller is a Shareholder in the Birmingham, Alabama office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Ms. Miller is experienced in all aspects of employment litigation, including multi-plaintiff and class action claims. She also regularly provides counsel, planning and defense to clients on affirmative action compliance and audits. Following law school, Ms. Miller served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable James H. Hancock, United States District Judge, Northern District of Alabama. Ms. Miller is a r...

Lee Birchall’s practice focuses on public finance in Alabama, where he serves as bond counsel to cities, counties, utilities, school boards, and various other types of governmental entities that issue tax-exempt and taxable securities. He also represents cities and counties in negotiations with private developers for economic development transactions. In addition to representing public bodies, Lee has experience serving as counsel to underwriters, trustee banks and commercial banks in t...