Will A. Smith

Rudy is a partner in the firm’s Litigation and Intellectual Property Practice Groups. In his litigation practice, Rudy handles matters at both trial and appellate levels. At the trial level, he has first-chaired jury trials in both federal and state courts. Rudy has also briefed and presented oral arguments in both state and federal appellate courts.

As a member of the firm’s Finance and Real Estate Group, Brad focuses his practice on commercial real estate, corporate law, intellectual property law, and wills and estates.

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...

Dawn has broad experience representing both lenders and borrowers in commercial lending transactions, with a particular emphasis on transactions involving commercial real estate. She also represents public companies, privately held entities and individuals in all types of commercial real estate transactions, including the buying, selling, leasing and developing of commercial real estate nationwide. Dawn represents a number of financial institutions on syndicated and non-syndicated constructio...

Since 1993, Mr. Warren has represented employers in the employment and labor law field, with an emphasis on litigation prevention counseling and employment litigation defense. Mr. Warren has served as lead counsel in numerous bench and jury trials at the state and federal level and on state and federal appeals. He became a founding member of Ogletree Deakins’ Birmingham office in 1997. Mr. Warren’s litigation prevention counseling includes areas such as training employees and supe...

Dana Thrasher specializes in ERISA, regularly advising employers, trustees and service providers concerning qualified retirement plans, non-qualified plans, fringe benefits, welfare benefits and executive compensation issues. She has developed significant expertise in the ERISA/employee benefits practice area, representing a large and diverse client base. She regularly advises clients regarding planning and evaluating benefit programs, establishing and administering employee benefit plans, mo...

Jonathan P. Hoffmann is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Jonathan P., 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 Jonathan P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David Marsh, a founding partner of Marsh, Rickard & Bryan, is widely recognized as one of the premier trial attorneys in the country. He has been awarded many honors, accolades, and recognition for his work both in the legal profession and the community. But he is genuinely embarrassed by the praise. “This is about justice for our clients. It’s not about me,” says David. “Our clients are victims of circumstances beyond their control. They need help and have often r...

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...

J. Foster Clark is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Public Finance Law. J. Foster, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2005. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which J. Foster is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.