Riley Murphy

Elizabeth Neal Pitman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Elizabeth Neal, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elizabeth Neal is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Drew Haskins IV is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Drew, who practices law in Homewood, Alabama, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Drew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Graham Gerhardt represents financial institutions in civil litigation throughout the country. He regularly assists clients in both the forward mortgage and reverse mortgage industries. Graham frequently litigates in federal court where he defends lenders and loan servicers accused of violating federal statutes, most commonly TILA, RESPA, the FDCPA, the FCRA, and the TCPA. He also represents clients in state court, defending against claims such as wrongful foreclosure, fraud and deceptive trad...

Zachary D. Trotter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Health Care Law. Zachary D., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Zachary D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Richard J. Riley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Richard J., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Nicole joined the Birmingham office of Watkins & Eager after practicing law in Alabama courts for more than twenty years with the law firm of Harris & Harris, LLP. Nicole’s practice has centered around commercial litigation matters while representing client interests through all phases of litigation including alternative dispute resolution, jury trials and appellate review. Nicole represents a variety of business entities from small entrepreneurial companies to large corporation...

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...

Ralph Yeilding is Chair of the firm's Trusts and Estates Practice Group. His primary areas of practice include estate and gift tax planning, estate and trust administration, IRS estate and gift tax audits and litigation, and state court probate and trust litigation. Ralph regularly advises individuals and fiduciaries on a broad range of estate, trust and probate matters, including rendering advice concerning estate and gift tax planning, and drafting wills, trusts, family LLC's, limited partn...

M. STANFORD BLANTON serves on the Firm’s Executive Committee and is a member of the Energy Practice Group. His practice is focused on the representation of the owners, operators and purchasers of electric generating facilities, with special emphasis on nuclear development, regulation and policy. Blanton represents the owner and operator of the first new nuclear reactors ordered in the United States in thirty years on matters ranging from the formation and implementation of contracts for...

R. Michael Murphy is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where he serves as the chair of the Dentons Sirote Corporate practice group. Mike’s work focuses primarily on financial services, mergers, acquisitions, private equity and venture capital, regulatory, compliance and risk management. He has experience advising businesses in connection with a broad range of corporate matters, including corporate structure, formation and reorganization, contract negoti...