Few issues in the law are as emotionally charged as those in the domestic arena. First and foremost, they often involve the health, safety, and welfare of children. Domestic cases can also have many other aspects requiring specialized counsel, from the division or valuation of family businesses to domestic abuse. While we focus on protecting and preserving you and your family’s future, we have the knowledge, skill, and experience to handle all of the tangential issues that may accompany your domestic case. We handle everything from highly contested, high asset divorces to the simplest, uncontested, little-to-no asset divorce. We also handle other family law issues, including adoptions, termination of parental rights, post-judgment issues and modifications, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, child relocation and parental moves, and the like. We take on complex domestic issues that extend beyond the trial court, such as a recent custody and paternity case we successfully handled from the initial filing to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals through affirmance by the Alabama Supreme Court.
Many law firms continue to focus on billable hours. We believe that model has become outdated and stagnant for many individuals and cases, and often encourages inefficiency and micro-billing. Most of our personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, employment litigation, and similar cases are handled on contingency arrangements such that there is never a fee paid unless we successfully collect on your claim. In other cases, we consider alternative fee arrangements, such as blended fees (a reduced hourly fee in connection with a contingency stake in the litigation), flat fees, monthly retainer agreements, caps on total fees and expenses, and any other reasonable arrangement within our ethical constraints that are fair to all involved. Regardless of the fee arrangement, we strive to ensure that there is never a surprise in our billing by maintaining great communication and transparency in fees and expenses.
Clay grew up on a family farm in Greenville, Alabama, the seventh generation to do so. Being the middle of three boys, advocating, negotiating, and striving for sensible resolutions became second nature. It is the family farm that instilled the focus, determination, and work ethic that drives his practice of law today. Clay’s approach to his practice has led to many awards and accolades. Clay was awarded the AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating for professional excellence in legal knowledge, analytical capabilities, judgment, communication skills, and ethical standards. He is also a charter member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, organizations with membership limited to those who have served as lead counsel in cases that led to a jury verdict, arbitration award, or confirmed settlement in excess of a million dollars and those in excess of two million dollars, respectively. Clay is also a member of America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators. This organization restricts membership to those who, among other things, have litigated matters as lead counsel with at least $2,000,000.00 in damages at stake, or with the fate of a business worth at least $2,000,000.00 at stake. Less than one-half percent (0.5%) of active attorneys in the United States receive this honor. Most recently, the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys named Clay on its 10 Best List for High Verdict/Settlement Winners.
Medical Malpractice
Our litigation work is a varied as our client base. Among other areas, we handle cases involving general insurance defense, insurance coverage, personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home and long-term care abuse, product liability, employment, environmental, healthcare, commercial disputes, and business litigation.