Spencer Newman

Mr. Crawford is the leader of the Firm’s corporate practice and emphasizes mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, federal and state tax planning and litigation, and representation of health-care providers. He has been trial and appellate counsel in numerous federal and state tax cases, including O’Neal v. United States, 258 F.3d 1265 (11 Cir. 2001), Alabama Department of Revenue v. Sonat, Inc., 752 So.2d 1211 (Ala. 1999), and Lloyd Noland Foundation, Inc. v. City of Fairf...

Charles Moore regularly represents financial institutions in a variety of matters. He has substantial experience in commercial finance, including mortgage warehouse lending, real estate finance, and bank holding company lending. Charles also commonly handles Change in Bank Control Act matters, Bank Holding Company Act matters, formation and capital raising activities of banks and bank holding companies, and other bank regulatory matters. Charles represents a number of Alabama-based community ...

Ralph D. Cook is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Securities, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Ralph D., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ralph D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Howard Neiswender is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where he is a member of the Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice group and leads the Dentons Sirote Family Business team. Howard provides comprehensive wealth planning for individuals and business owners. His representative work includes the use of innovative tax-planning strategies and working with business owners to coordinate their business and personal planning. Howard also works with Unit...

Tim Davis is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where he is a member of the Real Estate practice group. Tim represents several local and regional banks, as well as other financial institutions in commercial transactions. He advises a number of area businesses in real estate, finance, and general corporate matters. Tim also serves as bond counsel and disclosure counsel on behalf of several local and state governmental entities in taxable and tax-exempt financin...

Ralph Smith is special counsel in the Corporate Practice Group. He handles general corporate and business matters, international transactions, healthcare, higher education, and NCAA compliance. Prior to joining Jones Walker, Ralph spent 25 years in private law practice in Washington, DC, and Birmingham before joining the University of Alabama System in 2004 as general counsel and member of the Chancellor's Senior Policy staff. Ralph also served the university as a distinguished lecturer of la...

Emily Ruzic advises leading natural gas pipeline companies and other infrastructure clients on issues involving location, land acquisition, construction, and operations. Currently, she is advising on multiple large-scale pipeline projects in the Southeast, including serving as the lead outside lawyer on several significant projects for one of the country’s largest energy companies. Emily also regularly litigates land and operational issues, including disputes over survey access, eminent...

Katie M. Kimbrell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Katie M., 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 Katie M. 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. ...

John H. Cooper is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where he is a member of the Corporate practice group. As the previous managing partner of Dentons Sirote (formerly Sirote & Permutt, PC) (1999–2005; 2006–2015), John’s practice spans corporate, securities and tax law, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital, securities, business and succession planning, corporate finance, corporate tax, directors...