Top best State Lawyers in ZIP 35203 | 180 available

My practice is a transactional practice encompassing public and privately-held companies, with services from formation to acqusition by a purchaser or liquidation.  Services include employment agreements, customer contracts, executive compensation planning, mergers and acquistitions and the like.   I also do a lot of individual work, including estate planning, asset protection planning, prenuptial agreements, trust planning, estate administration, trust administration, trust modification, probate litigation and representation before the IRS and Alabama Department of Revenue.   Services for non-profit corporations and trusts include formation and obtaining tax-exempt status from the IRS.

Martha Reeves Cook was born in Houston, Texas and raised in Selma, Alabama, where both her parents were born and raised. Martha began her career with the law as the Director of Human Resources with a large firm in downtown Birmingham. She then attended Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, the same law school her great grandfather graduated from 100 years earlier. She earned her Juris Doctorate in 1996 and was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in the same year.. Martha practiced business and consumer law, representing both plaintiffs and defendants, for 20 years, before opening Martha Reeves Cook, LLC in 2016. The firm has a large focus on mediation, but Martha continues to represent small business and non-profit clients.

La Brenda Norman is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. A product of the Birmingham Public Schools, Mrs. Norman is a graduate of A. H. Parker High School. From there, she matriculated to the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama Birmingham where she earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She later received the Juris Doctorate from Birmingham School of Law and is a licensed attorney in the State of Alabama.. Employed for many years as general manager of a local printing business, Mrs. Norman entered the legal profession as a legal assistant and from there went on to help form the Jefferson County Public Defenders Office in the Birmingham division of Jefferson County. As an attorney with the Public Defenders Office, Mrs. Norman successfully provided competent and compassionate legal service to the city’s most vulnerable.. Over the years, Mrs. Norman has been quite active in the community, serving in leadership roles of the PTAs of Glen Oaks Elementary, Forest Hills Middle and Fairfield High Preparatory Schools. In addition, she served as Athletic Booster and Band Booster parent.. She works with her church, Faith Chapel Christian Center on the Project Homeless Initiative. She has served as Service Coordinator and Sunday Team Lead in the Student Ministry and Administrator of the Women’s Ministry.. In the legal community, Mrs. Norman works regularly with the Birmingham Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program. As a member of the Alabama State Bar Association, she serves on the Diversity Committee and the Women’s Section. In addition, she is also a member of the Bessemer Bar Association, the Magic City Bar Association. Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers, Black Women Lawyers Association of Alabama and the Alabama Lawyers Association.. She is married to Cedric Dale Norman and they are parents of three children, all of whom are products of the Fairfield City School System. They are also grandparents to three adorable grandsons.

Joseph Somma is a Family Law attorney practicing for the last 16 years out of Birmingham Alabama. In addition to family law, Mr. Somma also provides help to clients with real estate & probate matters. Before entering the legal field Mr. Somma studied political science at the University of Mississippi and then attended Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law where he obtained his Juris Doctor.. Mr. Somma’s philosophy is to provide caring, compassionate, and knowledgeable services for clients, while truly listening to the needs of his clients. Joseph has the unique approach prefering to have a smaller number of clients who use him for all their legal needs and who feel comfortable and confident in his representation.. When he is not practicing law Mr. Somma enjoys woodworking, his dogs, home improvement, spending time with friends and enjoying classic car collecting and restoration.

I  concentrate my practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, business planning and general business and corporate matters. In addition, I have extensive experience in the areas of commercial lending and finance, equipment leasing, commercial real estate and technology law. While my practice has historically focused on representation of closely-held businesses and start-up companies, I have also been counsel to public companies and venture capitalists.. In some jurisdictions, this site may be considered to be advertising. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon written information contained on this site or other written information about my qualifications and experience. In accordance with Alabama State Bar requirements, no representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.. The opinions expressed here are my personal opinions, and do not constitute legal advice. Content published here is not reviewed or approved by Baker Donelson before it is posted, and does not necessarily represent the view and opinion of Baker Donelson. I am expressing personal opinions and not legal opinions on this site, and disclaim any and all legal responsibility and liability for the personal comments posted on this site.. I am licensed to practice law only in Alabama and Georgia.  The posts I make on this site are intended as general information only, are not provided as legal advice in connection with any specific case or matter, and do not create an attorney-client relationship.

I practice dispute resolution -- mediation and arbitration, and estate planning. I mediate appeals (appellate mediation), domestic relations (including pro se divorce mediation), large and complex cases, mass torts, labor and employment case, and securities, banking and financial services disputes.. I recently became a member of the Tennessee Bar and opened an office in Chattanooga; the address is 633 Chestnut Street, Suite 600, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37450.. I am a member of the Commercial, Consumer, and Large and Complex Case panels of Arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association and serve as an arbitrator and mediator for the Financial Regulatory Authority, Inc., (“FINRA,” the successor to the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and the regulatory arm of the New York Stock Exchange). In January 2020, the Court of Arbitration in Art in the The Hauge appointed me to its panel of mediators and arbitrators. I am also on the panel of arbitrators for the National Futures Association. I am an experienced arbitrator, with appointments to over one hundred arbitration panels, serving as chair in approximately half of those arbitration matters.. My estate planning practice includes drafting wills, powers of attorney, advance directives, revocable (living) trusts, irrevocable trusts, asset protection trusts, and gun trusts.

Greer Mallette understands that part of zealous representation is looking beyond the dispute at hand and focusing on the client’s broader business needs and goals. Some of the most valuable counsel he provides to Christian & Small clients is helping them pick and choose battles that are worth fighting in the context of their business goals.. Greer litigates disputes among business owners, including claims of shareholder oppression, squeeze-out and breach of fiduciary duties. He also works with banks, title companies and other property owners to resolve real estate problems, such as title and boundary disputes. Greer represents a number of vendors and subcontractors with respect to construction disputes and payment matters.. Greer frequently lectures on property litigation matters, lien and bond claims, and small business disputes.

Brett joined Badham & Buck, LLC in May 2008. Prior to Badham & Buck, Brett was an associate at a large Birmingham law firm. Brett has represented clients in state and federal courts throughout Alabama.. Brett focuses his practice on general commercial litigation, business disputes, class actions, lender liability cases, and arbitrations. Brett previously served on the Executive Committee of the Young Lawyers Section of the Alabama State Bar and on the Junior Board of the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation.. Brett graduated magna cum laude in 2005 from The University of Alabama School of Law where he served on the Managing Board of the Alabama Law Review. He also holds a bachelor of arts degree in history from Davidson, College of North Carolina.