R. Akira Watson

Pamela Payne Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trade Secrets Law and Trademark Law. Pamela Payne, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Pamela Payne is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

A native of the LaGrange, Illinois , Brad graduated from Lyons Township High School and then received his Bachelors of Science degree from the University of North Alabama where he double majored in Business Management and Political Science. While there he was elected and served as president of the Student Government Association during both his junior and senior years.He thereafter attended Cumberland School of Law at Samford University where he was awarded a Juris Doctorate degree. Prior to c...

Kelly G. Gwathney is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Kelly G., 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 Kelly G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

One of the firm’s founders, Charles Carr has more than 35 years of litigation experience in state and federal courts in Alabama. Charles has litigated in many other states throughout the United States. He has served as national coordinating counsel on complex and catastrophic personal injury cases in 25 states within the United States for a major national insurance carrier. Currently, Charles serves as national trial counsel for Swift Transportation, one of the largest motor carriers in...

Justin is a partner in our litigation group. Justin seeks to apply a client's business objectives to the efficient management of legal matters. Justin proactively partners with clients to seek effective, practical and cost-effective resolutions to matters entrusted to him. As a product liability lawyer, Justin manages and tries cases across the country including in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Tennessee, Oklahoma, South Carolina a...

Mr. Pape’s practice is almost solely focused on guiding boards of education through complex governance, policy, civil rights, special education, and employment issues; and, when those issues result in litigation, he defends boards of education. A large part of his practice consists of assisting boards of education navigate complex, modern constitutional and equity matters. Mr. Pape has extensive expertise in the area of modern school desegregation. Between current and past matters, he h...

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...

Cheryl Howell Oswalt is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Tuscaloosa, Alabama office, where she is a member of the Litigation practice group. Cheryl’s practice focuses on representing individuals and businesses in a wide range of business and commercial litigation matters, including financial services litigation, insurance-related litigation and minority shareholder issues. She has years of experience in representing financial institutions and members of the mortgage banking indus...

Rodney E. Nolen is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where he is a member of the Litigation practice group. For more than 30 years, Rodney has focused on creditors' rights and collections. He represents manufacturers, suppliers, and commercial lenders in recovering collateral and securing the repayment of defaulted loans in state and federal court. His clients include banks, commercial finance companies, construction material providers, electrical suppliers, ...