Matthew Woodford

Thomas Humphries is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office and he is a member of Dentons’ Restructuring, Insolvency, and Bankruptcy practice group. Thomas represents creditors, bankruptcy trustees, and other commercial litigants in state and federal courts in Alabama and neighboring states. The scope of Thomas’ bankruptcy experience is extensive, covering most issues which regularly arise in Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 cases. Outside of bankru...

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...

Jason Walters is a litigation partner in the firm's insurance group and serves as national and regional counsel for several life and health insurance companies. His practice focuses on both individual and class action litigation, with particular emphasis in the area of fraudulent sales practices and the bad faith denial of benefits for life insurance, annuities, and long term care products. Jason also has extensive experience defending insurers in litigation filed by agents and independent ma...

Jack Selden, a partner in the White Collar Criminal Defense, Litigation and Health Care Groups, has practiced law for 30 years. Previously he served as both the United States Attorney and as an Assistant U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. While United States Attorney, he established the Affirmative Civil Enforcement (“ACE”) Unit of the United States Attorney’s office, responsible for investigating and prosecuting all fraud and qui tam actions under the Fals...

Elizabeth H. Hutchins is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where she is a member of the Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice group and has served on the Firm's board of directors. Her practice includes planning for the management and distribution of clients' estates to accomplish their goals and to minimize estate taxes using sophisticated estate planning tools and techniques. She counsels business owners regarding succession planning. In probate ...

Harry Ollinger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Harry, 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 Harry is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James A. Patton, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. James A., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Colin H. Luke is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Colin H., 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 Colin H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joseph Leavens is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Construction. Joseph, 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 Joseph is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ralph Yeilding is Chair of the firm's Trusts and Estates Practice Group. His primary areas of practice include estate and gift tax planning, estate and trust administration, IRS estate and gift tax audits and litigation, and state court probate and trust litigation. Ralph regularly advises individuals and fiduciaries on a broad range of estate, trust and probate matters, including rendering advice concerning estate and gift tax planning, and drafting wills, trusts, family LLC's, limited partn...