William W. Smith

James H. Hancock Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Water Law. James H., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lynlee Wells Palmer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Lynlee Wells, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lynlee Wells is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. McKee began his law practice in his hometown of Florence, Alabama. He then served as the central staff attorney for the Alabama Supreme Court for several years. While living in Montgomery, he also served as a professor of law at the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law of Faulkner University. Mr. McKee moved to Birmingham in 1986 to take a full-time teaching position at the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University, where he later served as the assistant dean. In 1989, he joined the Hare...

George L. Morris IV is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Health Care. George L., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which George L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

There’s a lot that goes into it, but to really succeed in this profession, I’ve come to believe these three qualities are 90% of it: courage, humanity, and humility. Courage. You must be unafraid. Following a particularly nasty trial, my wife summed up my job: “They are schoolyard bullies. They’ve already bullied your client once, and now they want to use the trial to do it again. But you walk up, stand next to them, put your hand on their shoulder, steel yourself, and...

Sarah S. Johnston is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Sarah S., 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 Sarah S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

CLARK R. HAMMOND is a partner with Wallace Jordan Ratliff & Brandt LLC. He is also a member of the Firm’s Litigation practice group. Mr. Hammond practices primarily in the area of bankruptcy, commercial and real estate loan defaults and workouts, construction law, workout of defaulted municipal and commercial bonds, creditor’s and debtor’s rights, securities litigation and general commercial litigation. Prior to 1989, Mr. Hammond’s work included the representation ...

Preston Neel is a shareholder of Dentons Sirote in Alabama. He is a member of the Corporate practice group and advises clients across multiple industries in the areas of business and tax law, including mergers and acquisitions, tax planning, and general corporate representation. He also has extensive experience providing financial services litigation and regulatory compliance assistance to banks and nonbanks offering mortgage, unsecured small dollar, and business purpose loan products and bro...

Thomas Humphries is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office and he is a member of Dentons’ Restructuring, Insolvency, and Bankruptcy practice group. Thomas represents creditors, bankruptcy trustees, and other commercial litigants in state and federal courts in Alabama and neighboring states. The scope of Thomas’ bankruptcy experience is extensive, covering most issues which regularly arise in Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 cases. Outside of bankru...

Glenn E. Estess, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Nonprofit / Charities Law and Tax Law. Glenn E., 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 Glenn E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.