Richard E. Smith

Richard E. Smith


Christian & Small LLP

Recognized since 2009

Birmingham, Alabama

Practice Areas

Arbitration

Bet-the-Company Litigation

Commercial Litigation

Litigation - Banking and Finance

Litigation - Construction

Litigation - Health Care

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Litigation - Construction
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Richard Smith, one of the founding partners of Christian & Small and a partner with its predecessor, Rives & Peterson, has been an integral member of the firm’s litigation group for his entire legal career. He served as the firm’s Managing Partner for five years. Richard’s practice focuses primarily on complex and corporate litigation for clients in the financial services, health care and construction industries, as well as corporate entities in other industries. His extensive litigation experience includes having tried over 170 jury trials to a verdict in over 30 Alabama counties and all three Alabama federal district courts. He obtained successful results for his clients in over 90% of those cases.

In recent years, Richard has arbitrated more than 30 cases before the American Arbitration Association, the National Association of Security Dealers, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and other arbitration panels. He has been appointed as an arbitrator, mediator, and receiver in several business litigation disputes. Because of Richard’s vast trial experience combined with his knowledge of the insurance industry, he is frequently retained as an expert to consult and testify in insurance cases dealing with bad faith and coverage disputes.

Contact & Links
Location
  • Financial Center, Suite 1800
    505 North 20th Street
    Birmingham, AL 35203
Languages
  • English
Education
  • Samford University, BS, graduated 1981
Bar Admissions
  • Alabama, 1985
Affiliations
  • Alabama Defense Lawyer’s Association - Member
  • Alabama State Bar - Member
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • American Bar Foundation - Fellow
  • Birmingham Bar Association - Member
  • Defense Research Institute - Member
  • International Association of Defense Counsel - Member
  • Samford University - Member, Board of Overseers

Christian & Small LLP
Headquarters: Birmingham, Alabama

23 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

6 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

Best Law Firms Badge Visit Website View Firm Profile

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Litigation - Construction
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Construction, Birmingham (2019)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 for work in:
  • Arbitration
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Construction
  • Litigation - Health Care
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Special Focus:
  • Commercial Litigation
  • COVID-19
Awards:
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2011-2016 in the area of commercial litigation; 2014-2016 in the areas of banking & finance litigation and construction litigation
  • AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
  • Selected as a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • Faculty member of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association Bibb Allen Memorial Trial Academy, 2008-2015
  • Selected for inclusion in Alabama Super Lawyers® since 2008 in areas including business litigation, health care and construction litigation
  • Named to the 2012 Top Attorney list in the area of Civil Litigation by Birmingham Magazine
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Construction Law
  • Health Care Law
  • Privacy and Data Security Law
  • Qui Tam Law

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Publications

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