Jay Smith provides general counsel to small and mid-sized businesses in Birmingham and throughout Alabama. He assists his clients by reviewing and drafting contracts, handling contract disputes, navigating licensing and regulation issues, answering employment questions, and counseling on a variety of other matters that frequently arise in business ownership. Jay has experience in all phases of business formation and organization, expansion and relocation, land use and zoning. He handles due diligence and the sale of business and real properties. Jay’s background in litigation allows him to provide clients with unique insight that helps keep issues from becoming problems. He represents business owners and individuals in prosecuting and defending civil claims related to closely held businesses. These claims often consist of business torts, contract disputes, shareholder disputes, employment claims, estate litigation, and other business-related matters. Many of Jay’s clients have enjoyed the benefits of federal, state, and local development incentives. Through his professional and civic efforts, he has developed relationships within city and state governments that give him a unique understanding of local laws and regulations. This experience allows him to effectively negotiate and manage issues that arise between businesses and government. A growing portion of Jay’s practice is in the food and beverage industry. He has extensive involvement with Alabama’s craft breweries and distilleries in all aspects of their formation, operation, growth, and sale. In fact, Jay has consulted industry guilds on policy and legislation affecting the alcohol industry. He represents several of the leading restaurants and bars in Birmingham’s dynamic culinary scene. Grocery stores, hotels, convenience stores, and all other types of alcohol licensees count on Jay for all phases of Alabama ABC involvement—like complex licensing applications, audits, violations, commission hearings, and appeals.