Dawson Municipal Lawyers

Born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida. Earned the Eagle Scout rank in 1985. Graduated from Florida State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature with minors in Military Science and Religion. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army in May of 1991. Graduated from Cumberland School of Law, Birmingham, Alabama in 1994. Licensed to practice law in Georgia and Florida in 1994. Entered active duty in the United States Army in October of 1994 as an Army JAGC (Judge Advocate General’s Corps) officer. Graduated from Airborne Basic...

I have been practicing law in Alabama for 20+ years. My practice is based on litigation of Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Alimony and Criminal cases. I handle cases in Municipal Courts, state Circuit courts, and federal court. I have represented individuals and businesses throughout the state of Alabama and the Southeast in Federal court. To date, I have successfully tried more than 10 federal jury trials, including two excessive force actions under 42 U.S.C. 1983 and one case under the Eight Amendment for cruel and unusual punishment. I was selected by the Federal Court...

PHONE:(205) 939-1010 FAX:(205) 939-1012

Carmen was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2020, and her practice includes family law, criminal law, business formation, and contract review.

She received her J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law, where she served as a student ambassador and acted as the American Bar Association Representative for the university. She also earned a Certificate in Public Interest Law, focusing her coursework on criminal, domestic and juvenile law classes.

Prior to law school, Carmen graduated summa cum laude from Auburn University in 2017 with a B.S. in Apparel Merchandising and a minor in Business.

Richard was born and raised in Madison, MS. He graduated high school from Madison Central and then attended the University of Southern Mississippi where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science. Richard then moved to Birmingham where he attended and earned his law degree from the Birmingham School of Law. Richard is married to the former Christina Zapf of Brisbane, Australia. He has two children, Trey and Della. He attends church regularly in Montevallo, AL. In his free time, Richard enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.

I am from Knoxville, TN and moved to Birmingham to attend Cumberland School of Law, Samford University. I began clerking with Massey, Stotser & Nichols, P.C. during law school and began practicing law upon graduation in 2004.

Mr. Alley graduated with honors from the University of Alabama, with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. He went on to attend and graduated from the University Of Alabama School Of Law. While still in law school, Mr. Alley clerked at the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney's Office, where he successfully tried several felony jury trials as a law student. Based on his outstanding performance for the office while in law school, Mr. Alley was asked to join the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney's Office as a prosecutor. As a Deputy District Attorney, he tried dozens of cases before juries in Circuit Court...

CHRIST (“Chris”) N. COUMANIS is a founding member of the law firm of Coumanis & York, P.C, which maintains a general litigation practice in South Alabama. Mr. Coumanis founded the Firm with David P. York, former U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Alabama. Mr. Coumanis was born in Mobile, Alabama and has practiced in the Mobile-Baldwin County area since he began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Mobile County in 1988. Mr. Coumanis specializes in the practice areas of Federal, State & Municipal Criminal Defense including White Collar Defense, Healthcare & Whistleblower Actions, Complex Civil...