Peter Goatley

Leon Ashford has been a trial lawyer for 42 years. Throughout the course of his career, Mr. Ashford has a proven record of consistently obtaining multimillion dollar jury verdicts and settlements for his clients, their families and their small businesses. Though he has always focused his practice on complex litigation involving catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful death, he has recently been called upon to represent family-owned and closely held businesses in litigation which threatene...

Brandon Falls is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Real Estate. Brandon practices law in Birmingham, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized Brandon Falls since 2021. 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 Brandon Falls is held by other lawyers.

Robert Walthall is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He counsels clients on a broad range of federal tax and related matters. Robert provides tax-planning advice to individuals and businesses, represents clients in administrative and judicial tax controversies at the state and federal levels, including the US Tax Court and other federal and Alabama courts, and represents clients in civil and criminal tax defense. He also counsels clients with respect to organizing and tax planning fo...

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...

Mike Brown is the head of the Real Estate Litigation Team at the firm. Mike is a member of the firm’s Environmental and Toxic Tort Practice Group and the General Litigation Practice Group. Mike’s emphasis in both practice groups is on real property and land use matters. Because of this emphasis in his practice, Mike also works very closely with the Real Estate Group. For the past several years, Mike has served as an adjunct Professor at the University of Alabama School of Law wher...

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...

Charles A. Burkhart is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Construction Law and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Charles A. practices law in Birmingham, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized Charles A. Burkhart since 2013. 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 Charles A. Burkhart is held by other lawyers.

Aaron B. Thomas assists companies and individuals in a wide variety of business and transactional related matters, including but not limited to the areas of real estate development, business planning, financing, contract negotiation, real estate closings, and leases. He has extensive experience in several different types of commercial properties, including retail centers, offices, hotels, industrial sites, residential and mixed-use developments, and other projects. A large portion of Aaron&rs...

Brandon Hughey is a partner in the Tax Practice Group. While he has advised clients in many aspects of federal and state taxation, Brandon’s practice currently focuses on partnership taxation and the representation of lenders and investors in connection with affordable housing transactions using tax credits under Section 42 and 47 of the Internal Revenue Code and housing and historic state tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, tax-exempt loans, MTEBs, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debt, HOME loan...

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 ...