Ralph has been active in leadership roles with his local United Methodist Church and has also spent a good portion of his civic energies promoting the sport of lacrosse by serving various leadership roles with the Greater Birmingham Youth Lacrosse Association, by promoting the development of an inner city youth lacrosse program, and by coaching and refereeing the sport.
Listed in Best Lawyers in America® Trusts and Estates, 1995-2024 "Lawyer of the Year," Birmingham, Trusts and Estates, 2016 Listed in Chambers USA High Net Worth Guide 2018, 2022-2023, Private Wealth Law Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers, Estate & Probate, 2016-2017 Listed in Alabama Super Lawyers, Estate Planning & Probate, 2009–2015 American College of Trust and Estate, Fellow Drafting of various trusts and estate documents Drafting many simple and complex wills and trusts, revocable trusts, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, grantor retained unitrusts, qualified personal residence trusts, and numerous other tax-driven instruments. Probate Court Litigation Probate Court litigation in over 40 contested matters involving wills, trusts, conservatorships, and probate matters Family limited partnerships and limited liability companies The preparation of family limited partnerships and limited liability companies, using the laws of the State of Alabama, Georgia, Delaware, South Dakota, and Alaska. Formation of family limited partnerships and LLCs The preparation of family limited partnerships and limited liability companies, using the laws of the State of Alabama, Georgia, Delaware, South Dakota, and Alaska. IRS audits and Tax Court litigation matters Numerous IRS audits and Tax Court litigation matters involving estates ranging from $1 million to $200 million. Pre-marital agreements The preparation of numerous pre-marital agreements. Preparation of estate and gift tax returns Preparation of numerous estate and gift tax returns involving transfers ranging from $1 million to in excess of $200 million Preparation of IRS private letter ruling requests Preparation of numerous private letter ruling requests to the Internal Revenue Service involving various gift, estate and generation-skipping tax issues. Preparation of tax-oriented wills, trusts and business entities Representation of families on a routine basis in preparation of appropriate tax-oriented Wills, Trusts, and family business entities. Representation of Executors Representation of Executors in handling the administration of estates and dealing with the IRS in estate and gift tax audits and litigation.
