We’re excited to celebrate our 25th anniversary throughout 2025. For decades, Christian & Small has helped our clients face their toughest challenges and win legal victories. And we’ve done it while staying rooted in our founding values of innovation, generosity and integrity.
Today, we’re proud to continue to help clients navigate a complex legal landscape. As we look ahead to a bright future, we’re looking back at how our story began.
A Powerful Legacy
In July of 2000, Tom Christian and Clarence Small, former partners at the Rives & Peterson law firm, saw an opportunity to use their legal expertise to create a new practice in downtown Birmingham that embraced innovative ways to serve clients.
Partner Duncan Y. Manley describes Small, who passed in 2018, as a brilliant lawyer widely respected for his experience and friendships within the legal community.
“His broad range of trial experience, his genuine friendship with other members of the bar, his patience, and his ability to quickly and thoroughly grasp the most important points of any legal issue or dispute are qualities that his law partners and colleagues will always remember about Clarence.”
In a tribute to Christian, who passed in 2019, Partner Sharon D. Stuart shared that he was a wonderful mentor who treated young associates as partners.
“Tom could see beyond his years. Whether he knew it or not, his loyalty, gift-giving spirit and generosity was not lost on us. Those traits established a culture – a legacy – that will live long after he’s departed us.”
These values of mentorship and generosity continue to live on at Christian & Small today. We value career longevity with many attorneys having been with us for years. We also give our young associates significant responsibilities and hands-on experience early in their careers to guide their professional development.
Though they are no longer with us, our founders’ spirit of innovation and commitment to client service remains at the heart of everything we do. Their legacy isn’t just in our name – it’s in how we approach each case, how we treat each client and how we serve our community.
Local Heart with a National Reach
Whether you’re a large company or a small start-up, our team brings the same level of strategic thinking to your legal challenges. Our attorneys have a broad range of trial experience and will work to understand your business inside and out.
While our main hub is in the heart of Birmingham, Alabama, we serve the Southeast region with locations in metro-Jackson, Mississippi and the Alabama Gulf Coast.
In addition, we have experienced lawyers licensed in the following jurisdictions:
- Alabama
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- New York
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
A Personal, Client-Centered Approach
What hasn’t changed in 25 years? No matter what tough or complicated legal challenge you’re facing, you can trust us to be the right partner to guide you every step of the way.
Every case is unique, and so is our approach to case litigation. We tailor our strategies to each client’s needs, forming personal relationships and providing the most value. Whether your case ends in settlement or goes to trial, we’ll prepare for it thoroughly, all while carefully managing your costs.
Above all, integrity is our promise to each client we serve.
“The number one thing is that you’re going to do what you say,” says Managing Partner Greer B. Mallette. “You’re going to be honest with your client, you’re going to be honest with the other lawyers and you’re going to be honest with the judge.”
We look forward to celebrating 25 years of nonstop advocacy for our clients and community throughout 2025. Stay tuned for more reflections, stories and insights.
Summary of all 25th Anniversary Blogs
- Christian & Small Celebrates 25 Years of Recognition in the Legal Community
- From Negotiations to Closing: Christian & Small’s Comprehensive Transactional Services
- Navigating A Complex Legal Landscape for 25 Years: Bankruptcy and Restructuring
- Mentoring the Next Generation of Attorneys for 25 Years
- 25 Years Navigating Growth and Change in the Construction Industry
- Commercial Transportation Practice Group – 25 Years Advocating for the Commercial Transportation Industry
- 25 Years of Class Action and Toxic Tort Representation
- Nonstop Advocates for Our Community – Fifteen Years Partnering with Teach for America Alabama
About Christian & Small
Christian & Small LLP represents a diverse clientele throughout Alabama, the Southeast, and the nation with clients ranging from individuals and closely held businesses to Fortune 500 corporations. By matching highly experienced lawyers with specific client needs, Christian & Small develops innovative, effective, and efficient solutions for clients. With offices in Birmingham, metro-Jackson, Mississippi, and the Alabama Gulf Coast, Christian & Small focuses on the areas of litigation and business, is a member of the International Society of Primerus Law Firms, and is a Mansfield Rule™ Certified Plus Law Firm. Our corporate social responsibility program is focused on education, and diversity is one of Christian & Small’s core values.
No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.