William W. Smith

David is an AV-rated attorney with a focus in commercial litigation and insurance coverage and defense. He has served as lead counsel and co-counsel in numerous jury trials in state, federal and military venues and has handled matters for clients in 60 of Alabama’s 67 counties.

Harold Kushner practices with the firm's Corporate and Securities Practice Group focusing his practice in the areas of tax and corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, securities, estate and trust planning and employer resources. He represents clients in diverse industries such as steel, manufacturing, retail, technology and software, distribution, franchising, publications, construction, real estate development and health care, with an emphasis on representation of closely held cor...

Heidi Abbott DiLorenzo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Heidi Abbott, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Heidi Abbott is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ed Sledge represents businesses, including private equity groups, product manufacturers and financial services institutions, in high-exposure civil disputes in a variety of industries. Ed’s national practice focuses on complex business and commercial litigation in courts across the country; he also routinely represents businesses in consumer finance disputes and in personal injury and wrongful death matters. With his strategic, problem-solving approach and ability to anticipate and see ...

Mr. Palmer is an experienced litigator specializing in both employment litigation and general civil litigation in state and federal courts. His interest in litigation began early in his legal career when as a law student at Vanderbilt University, Mr. Palmer won the Harlan Dodson Moot Court Competition and was appointed to the position of Associate Justice of Vanderbilt’s Moot Court Board. Mr. Palmer began his career in 1988 as an associate and later a partner in a large general practice...

Christopher P. (“Chris”) Couch advises banks and other financial institutions on regulatory and operational matters as well as on compliance with banking and lending laws, rules, and regulations. He counsels national, regional, and community banks with respect to deposit operations, payment systems, treasury management products, consumer regulatory regimes, and new services offerings, including electronic and mobile banking. Chris also represents financial institutions, finance co...

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...

Michael Waters is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He focuses on issues facing banks, financial institutions, and other financial-services entities. Mike has practiced corporate and securities law, primarily in the financial institutions area, for more than 30 years. He routinely represents banks, bank holding companies, and other financial entities in acquisitions, capital raising transactions, SEC and shareholder issues, new bank formations, and board fiduciary duty issues. He has...

Pamela Payne Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trade Secrets Law and Trademark Law. Pamela Payne, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Pamela Payne is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Robert Baugh is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where he serves as chair of the Dentons Sirote Litigation practice group. Robert has been engaged in the practice of law continuously since 1982. Robert represents clients in insurance, business, and product liability cases in both state and federal courts throughout the Southeast. He has obtained favorable results for Fortune 500 companies as well as privately held companies. In addition to his litigation pra...