Christian & Small is pleased to announce that the firm and seven partners have been recognized in the 2026 edition of Chambers USA. Partners Bill D. Bensinger, Bradley R. Hightower, Thomas B. Humphries, and Daniel D. Sparks are ranked in Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Bands 2, 3, 4, and 1, respectively). Partners Richard E. Smith and Sharon D. Stuart are ranked in Litigation: General Commercial (Bands 4 and 3, respectively). New to the ranking this year is Michael A. Vercher, ranked in Band 4 for Litigation – General Commercial. The firm is recognized for its General Commercial Litigation (Band 3) and Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Band 2) practice areas. This marks the 16th year that Christian & Small and its partners have received this recognition.
Managing Partner Greer B. Mallette shared, “For 26 years, we have strived for excellence in everything we do. Recognition by Chambers USA is a significant achievement in the legal industry, and we are honored to have the firm, three practice groups, and seven partners included this year. We remain committed to being nonstop advocates for our clients, our community, and each other.”
Law firms and individual lawyers are ranked in bands from 1 to 6, with 1 being the highest. The qualifications include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial insight, diligence, commitment, and other qualities valued by clients. A Recognized Practitioner is an individual on the Chambers research radar who is working toward inclusion in the printed version of the guide.
Chambers USA Guides have ranked the top law firms and lawyers for nearly 30 years, employing over 200 full-time researchers. Individual lawyers are evaluated based on their legal knowledge and experience. Law firm departments are assessed according to the qualities of their lawyers and their specific areas of expertise. Researchers conduct interviews with thousands of lawyers and their clients worldwide, and their thorough research identifies the world’s leading lawyers and law firms—those who excel based on the criteria most valued by clients.
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 Participating 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.