Christian & Small has built a trusted reputation for handling complex litigation and business matters across Alabama, Mississippi, and the Southeast. Our firm and attorneys have a proven track record within the legal community, as demonstrated by their numerous rankings, listings, positions of leadership, and inclusion in elite organizations. These recognitions reflect our commitment to our clients and the legal community.
Memberships and Select Organizations
For 25 years, Christian & Small attorneys have been invited to join elite, invitation-only legal organizations with rigorous vetting processes that accept only those meeting highly specific criteria.
The International Academy of Trial Lawyers is a global fellowship of elite trial lawyers representing all sides of the trial bar:
- Prosecutors and defense lawyers in criminal cases
- Plaintiff and defense counsel in civil litigation (including business and personal injury cases)
- Public interest/public service trial lawyers
- International trial lawyers who practice at local and federal levels.
Founding Partner Richard Smith is a Fellow of IATL, following the tradition of his predecessors and mentors Bibb Allen, Tom Christian, and Clarence Small.
The American College of Coverage Counsel is the preeminent association of lawyers representing insurers and policyholders. Their mission is to advance the creative, ethical, and efficient resolution of insurance coverage and extracontractual disputes, to enhance the civility and quality of the practice of insurance law, to provide peer-reviewed scholarship, and to improve the relationships among the profession’s members. Partner Christina May Bolin is one of four lawyers in Alabama invited to be a Fellow and is the only female Fellow attorney in Alabama.
The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals is an association of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) professionals recognized for their hands-on experience in civil and commercial conflict resolution and commitment to ADR. Ken Simon, Of Counsel, has been a member of the Distinguished Neutrals since 2011.
Christian and Small attorneys are Fellows of the Alabama Law Foundation, the Birmingham Bar Foundation, and the American Bar Foundation, and members and leaders in such organizations as the International Association of Defense Counsel, American Bar Association, the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, WINDstorm Insurance Network, and DRI.
Rankings and Listings
Chambers USA
Chambers USA is the definitive guide for clients seeking top-tier legal representation. It is published annually and widely respected in the legal industry. Christian and Small practice areas and/or their attorneys have been recognized for 21 years, a notable recognition for a firm of our size.
“Chambers is not a popularity contest,” explains Sharon D. Stuart, a founding partner of Christian & Small. “It’s based on anonymous feedback from other lawyers and clients about your skills.” In addition to peer and client references, firms and attorneys submit a sample of their exemplary matters each year.
The firm’s Bankruptcy practice group has been ranked for seven years, and all four attorneys are currently ranked:
- Daniel Sparks, Band 1, has been ranked for 12 years.
- Bill Bensinger, Band 2, has been ranked for six years.
- Bradley Hightower, Band 4, has been ranked for two years.
- Thomas Humphries, Up and Coming, has been ranked for two years.
Chamber’s research team noted that Christian & Small’s Bankruptcy team is recognized for handling high-value cases, with expertise in Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 matters, preference adversary proceedings, and fraudulent transfers. Chambers also highlights the firm’s nationally significant work in the coal mining industry.
For 21 years, Chambers has recognized Christian & Small’s litigation excellence, noting the firm’s courtroom expertise across the Southeast, particularly in appellate matters, personal injury and product liability cases and deep sector knowledge in biotechnology, manufacturing, insurance and retail. A client praised Christian & Small’s commitment, stating, “They truly live up to their tagline of being ‘nonstop advocates.’”
Founding Partners Richard E. Smith and Sharon D. Stuart are both individually recognized. One client shared that “Richard is one of the most well-rounded, careful, and experienced trial attorneys I have ever worked with in my career.” To date, Richard has tried more than 175 jury trials to a verdict in over 30 Alabama counties and all three Alabama federal district courts.
One of Sharon’s clients added, “Sharon is well respected and active in the Bar. She is outstanding, and I enjoy working with her.” In addition to balancing a full caseload, Sharon is the immediate past president of the Birmingham Bar Association, serves on the Samford University Board of Trustees and is President and Claims Counsel for Attorneys Insurance Mutual of the South.
Best Lawyers in America®
Best Lawyers in America® is widely regarded as a highly coveted listing based entirely on peer review. This process aims to capture the collective opinion of leading attorneys regarding the professional capabilities of their peers within the same geographic area and legal specialty. The firm and its attorneys have received recognition since 2010, with numerous attorneys chosen for its “Lawyer of the Year” category. 
“Recognition is based on specific practice areas and competence in those practice areas. They ask questions about your ability, your standing in the legal community, and your ethical standing,” says Sharon.
Currently, there are 23 attorneys listed as 2025 Best Lawyers in America® and six attorneys listed as 2025 Ones to Watch. Dan Sparks was named Birmingham’s 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” in Mortgage Banking.
Benchmark Litigation
Benchmark Litigation rankings are unique in that Benchmark is the only publication that focuses exclusively on litigation and dispute resolution, conducting extensive research and in-depth analysis. Thirteen partners are recognized in the 2025 edition of Benchmark Litigation, and the firm received a recommended ranking for the state of Alabama.
Partners John Johnson, Richard E. Smith, Daniel D. Sparks, Sharon D. Stuart, Michael A. Vercher, and F. Todd Weston are recognized as 2025 Litigation Stars. New to the list this year are Bill D. Bensinger, Greer B. Mallette, Neal D. Moore, and Jim Pattillo. Recognized as 2025 Litigation Future Stars are Christina May Bolin and M. Jansen Voss. Additionally, Sharon D. Stuart is routinely listed among Benchmark’s Top 250 Women in Litigation.
A Continued Commitment to Excellence
As we reflect on 25 years of nonstop advocacy, our firm celebrates past achievements and looks forward to a promising future. Our long history of recognition and rankings further assures clients that Christian & Small attorneys possess a wide breadth of knowledge and a deep bench of talent.
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.