Best Lawyers Near You in Columbiana, Alabama
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Practice Areas
Melisa Zwilling is a shareholder with Carr Allison in the Birmingham (AL) office and serves as the chair of the firm’s Business Development Committee. Her practice focuses on Labor and Employment and Professional Liability. Having practiced law for more than 25 years, Melisa defends employers against claims alleging discrimination, harassment and retaliation in addition to alleged violations of leave laws, civil rights laws, wage and hour laws, OSHA standards and guidelines, claims alle...
Jeff is one of the founding partners of Marsh, Rickard & Bryan. At first, Jeff wanted to be an engineer. His father was an engineer and he saw the profession as challenging and rewarding. Then, he discovered an affinity for words and speaking, which led him to the law. “Both professions require critical thinking,” says Jeff. “That was and still is very important to me.” Jeff gives much credit to the advantages of growing up in small town Alabama where everybody too...
Counselor. Teacher. Lawyer. Dale Stone wears many hats when he assists clients in developing and implementing plans for the effective and efficient disposition of their assets. Dale has over thirty-four years of experience guiding clients through the personal and practical aspects of estate planning and estate administration as well as the legal, economic and tax issues involved. For owners of family businesses, Dale coordinates planning for the preservation and continuation of the business i...
J. Ben Ford is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. J. Ben, 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 J. Ben is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
John David Marsh is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. John David, 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 John David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Tom Oliver is a founding shareholder and currently serves as Carr Allison’s president. A trial attorney whose practice focuses on complex matters involving transportation and professional liability litigation, Tom has litigated cases in state and federal courts in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia. Tom is designated as regional and statewide counsel for numerous companies and their insurers. He developed the firm’s accident response GO TEAM and coordinates catas...
Co-founder and name partner of the southeast-based civil defense firm Carr Allison, Charles Carr has more than 40 years of litigation experience in state and federal courts throughout Alabama. During his career, Charles has litigated matters throughout the United States, including New York, Texas, Vermont, Arkansas, California, Florida, Mississippi and Illinois. He has served as national coordinating council on complex and catastrophic personal injury cases in some 25 states for a major natio...
Kay is a member of the firm's Corporate Practice and Estate Planning/Probate Practice groups. She is listed in Alabama Super Lawyers in the Estate Planning and Probate, Closely Held Business, and Tax Law categories of law, and she has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America(r) in the fields of Litigation - Trusts & Estates, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates (Copyright 2011 by Woodward/Wright, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). The author of numerous articles regarding tax, corporate ...
Mr. Samples was admitted to the Alabama Bar in 1976. Having established his career as a trial lawyer with another prominent firm, he came to Hare Wynn as a full partner in 1994. He is a native of Alexander City, Alabama. He is married to Colleen (a Master’s level R.N. and attorney), and they have been blessed with two children, Courtney and Connor. Shay worked his way through college and law school. He attended Alexander City Junior College where he was elected President of the Student ...
Chris Dorough, a shareholder at Carr Allison in the firm’s Birmingham (AL) office, is a trial attorney concentrating on the defense of workers’ compensation and other associated employment and tort claims. Chris counsels and advises clients on workers’ compensation matters and has successfully defended a broad range of clients, including national, regional and local retailers, insurance companies, self-insured employers, third-party administrators, group insurance funds and ...
Ralph D. Cook is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Securities, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Ralph D., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ralph D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Shaun A. DeCoudres is a shareholder in the firm’s Birmingham (AL) office. His practice concentrates on transportation and automotive liability, premises liability, construction litigation, insurance and environmental law. He has tried numerous cases, both jury and non-jury, and is the primary attorney who handles pest control litigation (bed bugs, termites, etc.) in the firm. Shaun earned his Bachelor of Arts in business, magna cum laude , from Auburn University (AL), his Master of Busi...
Dylan Marsh is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Dylan, 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 Dylan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Thomas S. Creel is a shareholder with Carr Allison and is based out of the Birmingham, Alabama office. A large portion of his practice consists of the defense of construction defect, professional liability and workers’ compensation claims. He provides litigation and consultation support on a wide range of issues within these practice areas and has successfully defended a broad spectrum of clients, including national, regional and local corporations, insurance companies, self-insured com...
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...