Accolades

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating
All partners with Christian & Small that are eligible to receive a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating have obtained an AV® rating, the highest possible score, based on a comprehensive survey of their peers. Peer Review Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Opinions are gathered via written questionnaires and personal interviews conducted by Martindale-Hubbell representatives and attest to a lawyer's legal ability and adherence to professional standards of ethics.

International Society of Primerus Law Firms
In 2004, Christian & Small was selected as a member of the International Society of Primerus Law Firms, a global network of top-rated law firms which have undergone an extensive screening process for membership selection. The firm is proud to have been the first of only two Alabama law firms selected for membership in Primerus. Within this elite organization is the Primerus Defense Institute (PDI), a collaborative endeavor engaging Primerus defense attorneys in an effort to lower business litigation costs and reduce exposure to liability. Duncan Manley, a partner with Christian & Small, co-founded and was elected as the Chair of the PDI. The PDI is a valuable resource for corporations seeking outside counsel.

Economic Development Partnership of Alabama
In 2006, Christian & Small was selected to join the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA). Established in 1991, the EDPA is a non-profit organization supported by leading businesses in Alabama dedicated to the state's long-term economic growth. EDPA's primary focus is on helping the state attract and retain industry, ensuring quality jobs for Alabamians. EDPA fills a critical role in the industrial recruitment process by marketing and promoting Alabama as a business location, and by providing research, information and proposals to companies and consultants.

International Academy of Trial Lawyers
Christian & Small has four partners that have been selected as Fellows of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL). Active Academy membership in IATL is limited to 500 Fellows from the United States. There are only 17 Fellows in Birmingham and only 27 in Alabama. Fellows are engaged in civil and criminal trial practice from both the plaintiff's and the defendant's side of the counsel table, representing the most exceptional attorneys in the world.

American College of Trial Lawyers
Among 38 Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers in Birmingham and 95 in Alabama, Christian & Small has four partners that have been chosen for this high honor. The American College of Trial Lawyers is composed of the best of the American and Canadian trial bar. Founded in 1950, the College is dedicated to maintaining and improving the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the profession.

American Bar Foundation
The firm has four partners that are Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. Established in 1952, the American Bar Foundation is the preeminent resource for lawyers, scholars and policy makers who seek insightful analyses of the theory and functioning of law, legal institutions and the legal profession.

American Board of Trial Advocates
Christian & Small has four members of the American Board of Trial Advocates. The primary purpose of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) is the preservation of the civil jury trial. Upon nomination, screening and election, ABOTA inducts attorneys who display skill, civility and integrity to help younger attorneys achieve a higher level of trial advocacy and to educate the public about the vital importance of the right to a trial by jury.

The Best Lawyers In America
The firm has fourteen partners who have been recently selected by their peers for the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Three of these attorneys have been honored in this review for over a decade. The Best Lawyers in America lists are compiled through an exhaustive peer review survey in which thousands of the top lawyers in the U.S. confidentially evaluate their professional peers.

The Birmingham Business Journal
Since its inception, Christian & Small has consistently been recognized in the Birmingham Business Journal for having several lawyers listed among the "Best of the Birmingham Bar." Christian & Small is among the top litigation firms in the Birmingham area, and in an October issue of the Birmingham Business Journal, the firm ranked among the top 10 litigation firms in Birmingham.

Bar Leadership
Seven attorneys with Christian & Small and its predecessor firm, Rives and Peterson, have served as President of the Birmingham Bar Association, and two have served as President of the Alabama State Bar. In addition, many of our attorneys are regularly elected and serve in various leadership positions with the American Bar Association, the Alabama State Bar and the Birmingham Bar Association. Partner Debbie Smith currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Birmingham Bar Association.

Chambers USA
Christian & Small has been recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers as one of the leading commercial litigation firms in Alabama. Partners Tom Christian and Jim Huckaby are ranked among the top litigators in the state. The firm continues to move up the ranking charts and is currently ranked in the third tier among litigation firms in Alabama. Chambers USA is an annual directory of America’s leading business lawyers.

 

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