Tempe Smith

William A. Ratliff is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Mediation. William A. practices law in Birmingham, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized William A. Ratliff since 2011. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which William A. Ratliff is held by other lawyers.

Steven F. Casey is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He maintains a diverse practice not only representing clients in court, but also in counseling clients in avoiding and managing litigation risks. Steve has extensive experience in the energy, pharmaceutical, chemical, banking, and aviation industries. He has litigated toxic tort, product liability, securities fraud, banking, ERISA, insurance, and contract cases. With more than 70 trials under his belt, Steve’s experience has...

Chris has defended a wide variety of mass torts and products ranging from pharmaceuticals and medical devices, to consumer, commercial and industrial products and manufacturing systems. He has been consistently recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Mid-South Super Lawyers .

JEFF STARLING is the Chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group. His practice is devoted to the representation of employers in the following areas: Employment Litigation - Federal and State court litigation of individual, multi-plaintiff and class action claims of employment discrimination, wage and hour violations and wrongful discharge. Labor Relations - Strategic advice and legal representation in union organizing campaigns and elections, collective bargaining, strikes and p...

Diane Maughan is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Real Estate and Railroad Law. Diane practices law in Birmingham, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized Diane Maughan since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Diane Maughan is held by other lawyers.

Bill Athanas represents companies and individuals in government enforcement matters, focusing on federal grand jury investigations. He has almost 30 years of white-collar experience, roughly a third of which was spent as a federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C. and Birmingham. Bill has handled hundreds of complex criminal cases and represented clients in all facets of those matters – whether as subjects, targets or witnesses, or those who simply receive subpoenas for documents. In repre...

Carolyne counsels public and private clients on a range of transactional matters, including commercial real estate, real estate-based financing, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues and other corporate matters. She advises and represents buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants and developers on acquisitions, development and leasing transactions across the country. In law school, Carolyne participated in Alabama Law’s Federal Externship Program in Washington, D.C., where she served as...

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...

D. Ty Brown is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. D. Ty practices law in Birmingham, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized D. Ty Brown since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which D. Ty Brown is ...

Keith Covington is a partner in the firm’s Birmingham, Alabama office where he practices labor and employment, immigration, and construction law. Keith counsels employers on a wide variety of topics, including labor relations, union avoidance, equal employment opportunity, OSHA compliance, disability accommodation, non-compete agreements, and issues relating to employee discipline and termination. His immigration practice includes worksite compliance and obtaining employer-based non-imm...