Richard E. Smith
Richard Smith, one of the founding partners of Christian & Small and a partner with its predecessor, Rives & Peterson, has been an integral member of the firm’s litigation group for his entire legal career. He served as the firm’s Managing Partner for five years. Richard’s practice focuses primarily on complex and corporate litigation for clients in the financial services, health care and construction industries, as well as corporate entities in other industries. His extensive litigation experience includes having tried over 170 jury trials to a verdict in over 30 Alabama counties and all three Alabama federal district courts. He obtained successful results for his clients in over 90% of those cases.
In recent years, Richard has arbitrated more than 30 cases before the American Arbitration Association, the National Association of Security Dealers, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and other arbitration panels. He has been appointed as an arbitrator, mediator, and receiver in several business litigation disputes. Because of Richard’s vast trial experience combined with his knowledge of the insurance industry, he is frequently retained as an expert to consult and testify in insurance cases dealing with bad faith and coverage disputes.
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2011-2016 in the area of commercial litigation; 2014-2016 in the areas of banking & finance litigation and construction litigation
- AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected as a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Faculty member of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association Bibb Allen Memorial Trial Academy, 2008-2015
- Selected for inclusion in Alabama Super Lawyers® since 2008 in areas including business litigation, health care and construction litigation
- Named to the 2012 Top Attorney list in the area of Civil Litigation by Birmingham Magazine
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
