R. Akira Watson

Keith Covington is a partner in the firm’s Birmingham, Alabama office where he practices labor and employment, immigration, and construction law. Keith counsels employers on a wide variety of topics, including labor relations, union avoidance, equal employment opportunity, OSHA compliance, disability accommodation, non-compete agreements, and issues relating to employee discipline and termination. His immigration practice includes worksite compliance and obtaining employer-based non-imm...

David is the Vice Chair of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP's Construction Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in construction where he represents contractors, subcontractors, engineers and owners in private and government contract matters. His cases involve disputes of over several hundred million dollars. David drafts and negotiates contracts for various construction and design participants. He is a licensed professional engineer and has served as a consultant on projects througho...

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...

Chris Grissom practices primarily in the areas of state and local tax planning, LLCs, federal and state tax disputes, and state and local tax and non-tax incentives. Through his tax controversy, planning and incentives work, he deals with a wide variety of industries, including pulp and paper, software technology, automotive, finance, telecommunications, and textile manufacturers. In his tax practice, Chris regularly counsels many of the Fortune 500 on Alabama tax matters. He also conducts mu...

Stacey T. Bradford is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Litigation - ERISA and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Stacey T. practices law in Birmingham, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized Stacey T. Bradford since 2018. 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 Stacey T. Bradford is held by other lawyers.

Beau Byrd has extensive experience representing developers, owners, and financial institutions in a wide variety of commercial real estate transactions, including NMTC, Senior Housing, Retail, Office, and Multi-Family. The experience Beau obtained being a law clerk to a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge and practicing as a bankruptcy attorney in the early years of his career gives him a unique advantage in dealing with commercial real estate during these challenging times. Beau is immediate past Presiden...

Jess Nix is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Jess practices law in Birmingham, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized Jess Nix since 2026. 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 Jess Nix is held by other lawyers.

Since 2003, Jon Patterson has represented clients nationwide in a variety of industries, including financial services, manufacturing, industrial equipment, mobile technology and retail services. Jon is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer who helps clients protect their business interests in disputes related to contracts, torts, premises liability, auto accidents, trade secrets and non-competes. Throughout his career, Jon has handled cases through all stages of the litigation process, in...

David L. Brown, Jr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Health Care, Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. David L. practices law in Birmingham, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized David L. Brown, Jr. since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region a...

Tom Dutton is one of the founding partners of the Pittman, Dutton, & Hellums firm. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama and attended college at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1973. He earned his J.D. Degree with honors (cum laude) in 1976 from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and was admitted to practice law in the State of Alabama in 1976 and the State of Mississippi in 1977. Tom is admitted to prac...