Tim Jones

Robert Walthall is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He counsels clients on a broad range of federal tax and related matters. Robert provides tax-planning advice to individuals and businesses, represents clients in administrative and judicial tax controversies at the state and federal levels, including the US Tax Court and other federal and Alabama courts, and represents clients in civil and criminal tax defense. He also counsels clients with respect to organizing and tax planning fo...

Cheryl Howell Oswalt is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Tuscaloosa, Alabama office, where she is a member of the Litigation practice group. Cheryl’s practice focuses on representing individuals and businesses in a wide range of business and commercial litigation matters, including financial services litigation, insurance-related litigation and minority shareholder issues. She has years of experience in representing financial institutions and members of the mortgage banking indus...

Jennifer Fox Swain is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Jennifer Fox, 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 Jennifer Fox is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Anne has over 25 years experience partnering with clients to efficiently manage employment matters, whether that entails walking through an employee disciplinary issue, training supervisors on FMLA, early settlement of an EEOC charge or a jury trial. She has worked with clients throughout the Southeast to develop handbooks, administer FMLA and USERRA leave, oversee reductions in force, negotiate employment agreements (including non-competes), and all aspects of employee training. Anne has han...

Adam K. Israel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Adam K., 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 Adam K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Gant is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate, and tax law. John represents acquiring and target companies and their owners in planning, structuring, and executing business transactions. This includes asset and stock acquisitions, mergers, venture capital investments, and joint ventures. He advises clients with initial legal planning and analysis, developing appropriate structures, negotiating letters of intent, conducting due dilige...

Jay Wright is a partner in the firm’s Banking and Financial Services and Litigation practice groups. Jay has earned his Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP) designation through the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), and is one of a small number of lawyers who have achieved this status. Jay’s practice focuses on financial services litigation and regulation, and he is actively involved in lawsuits and disputes across the country representing companies involved in a wide array of ...

Paul Sykes represents businesses and individuals in a wide variety of intellectual property and technology-related legal matters. As a member of both the Intellectual Property and Competitive Practices and the Litigation Practice Groups, Paul counsels clients in the acquisition, licensing and protection of intellectual property rights, and he litigates those rights in the state and federal courts. Paul has been peer-selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyer's in America and Alabama Super Lawy...

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...

Keith Andress, office managing shareholder in the Birmingham office, concentrates his practice in civil litigation, primarily in the areas of business, construction and real estate. He has extensive experience representing financial institutions, title insurers and others involved in loan security and improvements to real property. He has devoted a significant amount of his practice to defending mortgage lenders and servicers against lender liability charges, allegations of mortgage fraud, an...