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May Dozier

May Dozier is an attorney who focuses her practice on civil and commercial litigation, representing individuals, families, and businesses in a wide range of matters, including construction disputes, collections, wrongful death, personal injury, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, estate and probate litigation, property law, and transactional matters. She also has experience handling issues involving family law and complex civil actions.

May has experience across all stages of litigation, including mediation, motion practice, depositions, and trial. With a background in complex dispute resolution, she is dedicated to protecting her clients’ interests through strategic advocacy and practical problem-solving.

Her practice frequently involves matters that intersect financial, property, and probate issues, where she applies a thorough, detail-oriented, and balanced approach to achieve favorable outcomes in both state and federal courts."

-J.D., Mississippi College School of Law

Dera Barlow

Dera is an associate who focuses her practice on complex civil litigation and insurance.

Before joining the firm, Dera worked for a national law firm, managing defense cases that included developing strategies, drafting legal documents, handling discovery, taking depositions, conducting motion practice, and negotiating settlements. Dera has also worked at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and the New York City Law Department.

She has experience in business and commercial litigation, products liability, personal injury, energy disputes, construction defect, mass torts, and appeals. Additionally, Dera has advised insurance industry personnel on potential exposure and case developments. Dera has also represented clients in various civil matters, including personal injury/wrongful death, oil and gas, and mass tort litigation.

Dera earned her J.D. in 2015 from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where she was awarded the Jacob Burns Medal for outstanding contribution to the school. She was a student coach for Cardozo's Law's Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition Team. In 2010, Dera graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in government and philosophy.

Reginald McDaniel

Founded in 2002, Reginald D. McDaniel, Attorney at Law, LLC prides itself on providing quality legal services to those in need. The firm strongly believes that individuals and families who have been seriously injured or killed by the negligence of others deserve someone who will fight for their rights to recover damages.

Attorney Background

Prior to entering private practice, Attorney McDaniel worked in federal government, television and print media, public relations, and sports information. He brings a unique perspective to solving complex legal issues with over 25 years of federal management, administrative, and executive experience combined with 23 years of legal experience.

Recognition & Awards

Named to Birmingham's Top Lawyers (2014), Top 100 National Trial Lawyers, and National Black Lawyers Top 100 Association annually since 2015.

Practice Areas

Attorney McDaniel’s firm specializes in Employment & Discrimination Law, Business & Governmental Relations, Serious Medical Malpractice/Personal Injury, and Entertainment Law. He also practices complex civil litigation, representing plaintiffs and businesses nationwide in cases involving catastrophic injury, catastrophic birth injury, wrongful death, and negligence litigation.

Approach to Clients

Attorney McDaniel selectively takes cases, preparing them diligently with an unwavering focus on client needs and best interests. While the firm prioritizes serious cases, it also assists clients with smaller personal injury claims.

Community & Mentorship

Committed to underserved communities in the Wiregrass area of Southeast Alabama, Attorney McDaniel takes pride in his talented team of attorneys and experts and is actively involved in mentoring and grooming new lawyers.

Types of Cases Handled

Attorney McDaniel has successfully represented clients in matters including, but not limited to, catastrophic injury, employment discrimination, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and neglect, wrongful death, 18-wheeler litigation, auto accidents, insurance fraud and bad faith, defective products, and social security disability.

Shawn Stuckey

Shawn D. Stuckey, Attorney at Law

Shawn Stuckey is a "Top Rated Entertainment & Sports Attorney" in California ranked in the top 5% of California lawyers according to the highly respected lawyer rating service - Super Lawyers. Shawn is a retired football player (NFL: New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Bucs), (NFL Europe: Amsterdam Admirals, and (XFL: Los Angeles Xtreme). Shawn is also an experienced complex litigation and worker’s compensation attorney, and a former NFL agent. As a complex litigation and sports workers compensation attorney, Shawn has been counsel of record in over 88 United States federal court cases and decisions and over 100 workers compensation trials and decisions. These decisions have significantly benefited current and former professional athletes. Shawn has worked on some of the most complex antitrust, sports law, and insurance coverage cases in the country including, inter alia:

​EDUCATION

The University of St. Thomas School of Law (Minneapolis, MN), High Distinction:

The Citadel College of Business, Former M.B.A. Candidate

Troy University, B.S.B.A. Marketing and Business, High Distinction

Vanderbilt University, Cognitive Studies

BAR AND COURT ADMISSIONS

State Court: Minnesota

State Court: California

Federal Court: Minnesota

Awards

Shawn was selected to “Best Attorneys of America,” (an honor limited to only 100 attorneys in each state); “National Black Lawyers 40 Under 40”, a Super Lawyers Rising Star in Minnesota (an honor only given to the top 2.5% of attorneys in the state), and was a featured speaker at the 2017 American Bar Association (ABA) Litigation Section’s Annual Conference on a panel program entitled “Litigating the Concussion Crisis”. ​

In 2020, 2021, & 2022, Shawn was selected as a Top 100 National Black Lawyer. 

Shawn, an award-winning author, published two law review articles while in law school attending the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis (one with UCLA Law School and one with UST Law School). Additionally, in law school, Shawn held the positions of Circulation Editor for the Midwest BLSA Law Journal and Associate Editor for the University of St. Thomas School of Law Law Review; received three Dean’s Awards (highest grade in a course), and was selected to the dean’s list.

Shawn was UST’s Amnesty International’s 2008 Human Rights Award recipient given by the UST-Law Chapter of Amnesty International and was selected as the 2008 winner of the University of St. Thomas Scholarly Engagement and Societal Reform Award.

Shawn was asked to give testimony at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland regarding the United States’ treaty compliance obligations.

ATHLETE REPRESENTATION

In addition to legal services, Shawn was a certified NFL Agent/NFLPA Contract Advisor. 

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

SPORTS LAW REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS OF NOTE:

O’Bannon v. NCAA (N.D. Cal. Fed. Ct.) (Sports Illustrated: “Most important trial in sports history”; called by SB Nation: “The biggest trial in the history of college sports”) Represented former NCAA basketball and football players in a case seeking to obtain licensing revenues to which they were entitled in a class action against the NCAA. This case had been heralded by some to be the landmark case that will change whether college football players are compensated.

NCAA Athletic Grant-In-Aid Cap Antitrust Litigation (N.D. Cal. Fed. Ct.) (antitrust attack on the NCAA’s scholarship amounts to give every athlete “full scholarship” athlete an actual full scholarship that covers the costs of all costs of college – including all meals, books, etc. instead of what currently exists – which is a “grant-in-aid” scholarship that is capped and does not cover certain critical costs for athletes)

Dryer v. NFL – (Minn. Fed. Ct.) Represented former NFL players – including Jim Brown – in a suit arising out of the misappropriation of NFL players publicity rights. Suit resulted in a $50 million dollar settlement and the creation of a licensing agency for retired NFL players. 

Eller et al., v. NFL (Minn. Fed. Ct.) (Consolidated as Brady et. al, v. National Football League) (represented retired NFL players against the NFL during the 2011 NFL Lockout)

Eller et al., (Minn. Fed. Ct.) (represented 26 NFL Hall of Famers and other notable players)

Walker v. NCAA (Minn. Fed. Ct.) (concussions/medical monitoring/CTE case on behalf of all former NCAA players)

Floyd v. NCAA (Minn. Fed. Ct.) (antitrust attack on the NCAA’s scholarship amounts)

Walker v. NCAA (D. Tenn.) (concussions/medical monitoring/CTE case on behalf of all former NCAA players)

Murphy v. NHL (former National Hockey League players in a medical monitoring/concussion case against the NHL)

SAMPLE WORKERS COMPENSATION MATTERS OF NOTE:

Smith v. Los Angeles Lakers - (Shawn D. Stuckey)

CA Court of Appeals denying writ and finding for former professional athlete that applicant is entitled to the higher rates in effect when claim was filed; payments begin accruing at the end of career; and life pension payments must be increased every year for the remainder of the applicant's life.​

Webster v. Montreal Expos, et al. – (Shawn D. Stuckey) 

Jurisdiction found where professional athlete employed by minor league professional baseball team based in California - even though Major League employer based outside of California.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS:

2008 National Black Pre-law Admissions Conference, keynote speaker

CLE PRESENTATIONS:

“Litigating the Concussion Crisis“ Presentation at the American Bar Association (ABA) Litigation Section’s Annual Conference, May 3, 2017, presenter

“Sports Concussion Litigation: Bringing or Defending Claims Against Professional, Collegiate or Youth Leagues“ Strafford Publications, December 6, 2017

“Labor and Employment Law in the NCAA: A New Chapter?” West LegalEdcenter, CLE Webcast, June 3, 2014, organizer/presenter

“Could Concussion Liability Reshape Youth Sports?” Santa Clara University Institute of Sports Law and Ethics Symposium, September 12, 2013, panelist

Legal and Ethical Ramifications of Concussions in Sports, Santa Clara University Institute of Sports Law and Ethics Symposium, September 8, 2011, presenter

Racial Bias: How Much Do Implicit Views Impact the Legal Profession?, West LegalEdcenter Webcast, April 21, 2011, presenter

LAW REVIEW ARTICLES:

“Decreasing the Accessibility to Criminal History Records to Diminish the Devastating Impacts of Collateral Effects on African Americans in Minnesota,” UCLA Latino/a - Chicano/a Law Journal (CCLL), Vol. 27 (2008), author

“Collateral Effects of Arrests in Minnesota,” U. St. Thomas L.J., Vol. 5, No. 1 (2008), author

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AND OTHER SCHOLARLY ARTICLES:

“What O’Bannon Means For NCAA’s Next Round Of Litigation” Competition Law360, September 3, 2014, co-author

“NCAA’s Latest Legal Nightmare May Be Most Important” Competition Law360, July 11, 2014, co-author

“Novel Approach to Opposing Class Certification Rejected,” Competition Law360, March 7, 2013, co-author

“Why Millions of African American Men Will Not Vote for Obama,” St. Thomas Lawyer (Vol. 2 Summer 2008), author

“Collateral Effects of Arrests for African Americans,” American Bar Association (ABA) Minority Trial Lawyer, 2007, author

“Collateral Effects of Arrests –What the Public Needs to Know,” Challenger, July 2007, author

“Use of Promotions with the African-American Market Segment: A Research Agenda,” From Art to Technology: Opportunities in Marketing Research and Education, Jerry W. Wilson, Editor. Proceedings of the Atlantic Marketing Association, 463 – 466 (2002); co-authored with Dr. Gordon G. Mosley

PRESENTATIONS, SPEECHES:

US’ Non-Compliance with a Specified Treaty, 2008 United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, speaker

2007 National Black Pre-law Admissions Conference, featured presenter

Collateral Effects and Their Impact on People of Color in Minnesota, 2007 Minnesota Women Lawyers, speaker

Human Rights Treaties and Laws, 2006 Minnesota State Human Rights Day, speaker

Class Action Principles and Procedure, NFL Independent Retired Players Summit, Las Vegas, NV, May 30, 2009, presenter

INTERVIEWS, QUOTED ARTICLES, ETC.

Interviewed by Elizabeth Hasselbeck on Fox News’ morning show Fox & Friends, May 19, 2014. Appearance was featured on 2 television programs and 23 websites/blogs.

Super Lawyers Minnesota ANNUAL LIST, 2013, quoted

“Prominent former college players support O’Bannon case” USA Today, April 5, 2014, quoted

“John Hannah, Eric Dickerson, Thurman Thomas among supporters of changing NCAA system” AL.com, April 3, 2014, quoted

“How should the NFL deal with increased legalization of marijuana?,” Sports Illustrated, January 23, 2014, quoted

“Raw Deal,” Sports on Earth, January 10, 2014, quoted

“Linebacker turned Lawyer,” Legal Bisnow, August 31, 2011, profiled

PROFESSIONALS AFFILIATIONS:

PRO BONO ACTIVITIES:

Shawn is extremely dedicated to pro bono work – amassing over 400 hours of public service between his second and third years of law school.

NOTEWORTHY:

Minnesota Women Lawyer’s Equal Justice Award, recipient

2007 Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers’ Academic Achievement Scholarship, recipient

NEWS:

Shawn Stuckey Quoted on Harvard Law School Website Regarding the Concussion Crisis in Professional Sports

Stuckey Named to Advisory Committee of the University of St. Thomas Center for Academics and Sports

Stuckey Quoted in Super Lawyers Minnesota ANNUAL LIST, 2013.

Stuckey Represents Former NFL Players in Class Action

Stuckey Selected to Represent University of St. Thomas School of Law

Shawn Stuckey Testifies at United Nations and Receives Multiple Awards

PRACTICE AREAS

Tracey Salmon-Smith

Tracey Salmon-Smith, a trusted adviser and pragmatic problem solver, assists clients with commercial and business disputes, employment litigation, securities law and internal investigations. As a former assistant United States attorney (AUSA) who also spent several years as in-house counsel for a global financial services firm, Tracey knows firsthand the pressures and challenges her clients face. Tracey is known for her composure under pressure and her commitment to achieving results.

Financial Services

Tracey represents brokerage firms and individual registered representatives in customer and employment arbitrations, litigation and regulatory matters. She offers her clients depth of experience defending claims brought in Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitrations, including allegations of sales practice violations such as fraud, breach of contract, misrepresentation, selling away, unsuitability and churning. Tracey also defends clients in product-related litigation stemming from variable annuities, alternative investment products, mutual funds and preferred securities.

Regulatory Counsel

Tracey works with clients from initial contact to resolution to successfully manage regulatory inquiries, examinations and investigations by state and federal regulatory agencies and self-regulatory organizations. She also advises clients on current litigation and regulatory trends and issues, as well as e-discovery and information management.

As an employment litigator, Tracey defends corporate clients against claims related to age, race and gender discrimination; workplace sexual harassment; whistleblower complaints; unpaid wages; and wrongful discharge. She handles these complaints in court and in arbitration, including before the FINRA Dispute Resolution Division. Tracey also handles internal investigations and high-stakes class and collective action matters.

Speaking Engagements

Highly respected throughout the legal community, Tracey is much in demand as a speaker before organizations such as the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), Practicing Law Institute (PLI), American Bar Association (ABA), National Bar Association (NBA), New York City Bar Association, New Jersey State Bar Association, The Knowledge Group and Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC).

In addition to her experience in private law firm practice, Tracey had the advantage of serving for seven years as in-house counsel for UBS Financial Services Inc., and seven years as an AUSA for the Eastern District of New York. During her time as an AUSA, Tracey held the positions of Acting Chief of Environmental Litigation and Chief of Bankruptcy.

Representative Experience

Successfully obtained a jury defense verdict for a multinational information technology company in the Southern District of New York in a matter involving claims of hostile work environment, race discrimination and retaliation.

Successfully represented a financial services firm in an arbitration matter involving claims of unsuitability, failure to supervise, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud related to investments in IPO purchases of closed-end funds, preferred stock and reverse convertible notes.

Obtained expungement for financial adviser and branch manager.

Represented a financial institution in a pregnancy discrimination matter in the Southern District of New York.

Represented a major retailer in an FLSA collective action in the Eastern District of New York.

Obtained summary judgement for a mass media corporation in an age and disability discrimination lawsuit in the Southern District of New York.

Successfully represented a gaming company in a gender discrimination suit, which was favorably settled after a jury trial in the Southern District of New York.

Successfully obtained expungement of arbitration matters from the CRDs of all four members of a broker team in a matter involving allegations of unsuitable recommendations.

Defended a financial securities firm in arbitration matters involving structured products.

Successfully defended a broker-dealer in a FINRA arbitration in which the claimant alleged unsuitability and failure to follow instruction, and subsequently obtained expungement for both respondent financial advisors.

Successfully defended a broker-dealer in a FINRA arbitration where the claimant alleged unsuitable recommendations for a variable annuity and improper switching of mutual funds.

Successfully represented a financial services firm in regulatory investigations.

Personal Interests

Tracey enjoys traveling, reading, cooking and mentoring young people.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Court Admissions

Education