Michael L. Bell

There’s a lot that goes into it, but to really succeed in this profession, I’ve come to believe these three qualities are 90% of it: courage, humanity, and humility. Courage. You must be unafraid. Following a particularly nasty trial, my wife summed up my job: “They are schoolyard bullies. They’ve already bullied your client once, and now they want to use the trial to do it again. But you walk up, stand next to them, put your hand on their shoulder, steel yourself, and...

Steven Brickman is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office. He is a member of the Real Estate practice group. Steven is a trusted advisor, helping clients navigate all aspects of the commercial real estate development process, from land acquisition and financing to leasing and planning. His additional areas of experience include the acquisition and sale of businesses and representing clients in general business matters, as well as health law corporate compliance.

Chris Dorough, a shareholder at Carr Allison in the firm’s Birmingham, AL office, is a trial attorney specializing in the defense of workers’ compensation and other associated employment and tort claims. Chris counsels and advises clients on workers’ compensation matters and has successfully defended a broad range of clients, including national, regional and local retailers, insurance companies, self-insured employers, third-party administrators, group insurance funds and sm...

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...

David K. Bowsher is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Corporate Law, Government Contracts, Government Relations Practice and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. David K., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high estee...

Stewart Cox handles a wide range of complex litigation matters for business clients from different industry sectors. Stewart has tried cases before state and federal court juries involving mortgage fees, commercial leases, product manufacturing, bank deposits, software licensing, a railway accident and industrial equipment. Throughout his career, Stewart has handled hundreds of cases for numerous financial institutions involving deposit accounts, consumer finance contracts, commercial loans, ...

Having already established a reputation as a trial lawyer with another firm, Scott Powell came to Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton as a full partner in 1986. Since that time, his diverse practice has taken him throughout the states of Alabama, Arkansas, and Missouri as well as Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, Georgia, and Louisiana. Among the types of cases he has handled include litigation under the False Claims Act for qui tam plaintiffs, class action litigation involving complex legal issues, commer...

Amanda Cutshall Goozée is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Amanda Cutshall, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amanda Cutshall is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sean W. Shirley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Sean W., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sean W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kenneth D. Sansom is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Environmental, Litigation - Labor and Employment and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Kenneth D., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kenneth D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic...