Spencer Newman

Harry Ollinger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Harry, 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 Harry is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ryan Daugherty is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office. Ryan’s practice is exclusively focused on developing solutions for clients who are involved in real estate issues and disputes. As chair of the firm’s landlord’s rights practice, Ryan represents multi-family, single-family, and commercial landlords and property managers throughout Alabama on recovering possession, collecting outstanding rent, and providing outside general counsel services. ...

Joseph Leavens is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Construction. Joseph, 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 Joseph is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Emily Tidmore is an appellate lawyer and commercial litigator who has represented clients in complex commercial litigation throughout the country, including in the United States Supreme Court. Her litigation experience includes commercial and labor-and-employment class actions, business torts, intellectual property disputes, transportation regulation, Chapter 9 (municipal) bankruptcy, and punitive damages and federal preemption issues. Emily was named as the 2018 “Lawyer of the Year&rdq...

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...

David Hymer is an accomplished trial lawyer who has 40 years of experience trying and arbitrating high-stakes disputes for a variety of corporate and individual clients across many disciplines. That broad-based trial experience gives him a unique perspective, enabling him to team with his clients to develop strategies that will guide them through complex and challenging disputes while staying focused on achieving his clients’ objectives. David’s practice concentrates on complex bu...

Ashley L. Neese is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Ashley L., 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 Ashley L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

H. Lanier Brown II is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Management, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants. H. Lanier, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high estee...

For more than 25 years, Jay D. St. Clair has represented clients in employment and labor law matters, including: Discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims Labor management relations Wage and hour regulations Occupational safety and health He has specific knowledge of claims arising under the following statutes: Title VII The Americans with Disabilities Act The Family and Medical Leave Act The Fair Labor Standards Act The Occupational Safety and Health Act The National Labor Relations ...