Russell J. Rutherford

CLARK R. HAMMOND is a partner with Wallace Jordan Ratliff & Brandt LLC. He is also a member of the Firm’s Litigation practice group. Mr. Hammond practices primarily in the area of bankruptcy, commercial and real estate loan defaults and workouts, construction law, workout of defaulted municipal and commercial bonds, creditor’s and debtor’s rights, securities litigation and general commercial litigation. Prior to 1989, Mr. Hammond’s work included the representation ...

Wood Herren concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate transactions, federal, state and local taxation, exempt organizations, emerging businesses, health care organizations and industrial development. He is also regularly involved in transactions for the purchase, sale, lease and exchange of private aircraft. Wood advises clients on a broad range of corporate matters, including structuring, financing, and negotiation of business acquisitions and dispositions, entity conversions, join...

Carl Smyly was born and raised in Andalusia, Alabama. He received his undergraduate education at Birmingham-Southern College, where he was selected for membership in the Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa scholastic honorary societies and was valedictorian of his graduating class in 1979. He then earned his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Virginia School of Law in 1982. Mr. Smyly has been assigned the highest possible Peer Review Ratings for legal ability and ethical standards in...

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

Michael E. Turner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Labor and Employment and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Michael E., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geogra...

J. Rushton McClees is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where he is a co-chair of the Dentons Sirote Litigation practice group. For more than 35 years, Rushton has tried jury and bench trials in state and federal courts throughout Alabama; including securing a $20 million verdict representing plaintiffs in a class action breach of fiduciary duty case. He routinely prosecutes and defends claims for injunctive relief, including enforcement and defense of non-co...

Tom Ansley is a shareholder in Dentons’ Birmingham, Alabama office, where he is a member of the Real Estate and Corporate practice groups. He serves as corporate counsel to a diverse range of clients, including real estate developers and investors, commercial and project lenders, and healthcare providers, advising them on the intricacies of state and local laws and regulations, financial matters, industry concerns, and risk allocation. Ansley is involved in the financing, negotiation, e...

Mary F. Samuels is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Natural Resources Law. Mary F., 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 Mary F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Thomas G. DeLawrence is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law. Thomas G., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Personal relationships have always been the backbone of Sonny Ferguson’s law practice. He says parties respond to someone who will listen to their issues and provide them with a truthful evaluation of the facts. Once the parties engage the firm’s services, as a mediator or as a Private Judge, Sonny believes they deserve 100% of his attention to their issues and a timely resolution to their matter. Sonny joined Christian & Small after serving as a judge for 15 years in the Dome...