Hoover, AL

Shane Sears

Shane Sears is an experienced attorney with a broad range of practice areas including special education, personal injury, criminal defense, corporate defense, and civil/criminal litigation. He is an active volunteer in his community, particularly in organizations that support individuals with disabilities, and serves as a community board member for TREAC, an organization that improves veterans’ health and quality of life through research and education. He has 23 years of experience practicing law, and has represented more than 400 clients. He is one of Alabama’s highest rated attorneys based on his client reviews, and is consistently recognized as one of Birmingham’s best lawyers by publications such as the Birmingham Business Journal and Birmingham Metro Magazine. He has also been ranked as one of America’s ‘Top 100 Trial Lawyers’ by the National Trial Lawyers Association.

Edward A. Merrell

Attorney Edward A. Merrell has years of experience successfully defending numerous clients in criminal matters and litigating countless civil cases, making him a valuable asset to our clients. Mr. Merrell focuses his practice in three primary areas of the law: Civil Litigation of many areas of civil law including mediation and the litigation phases of Breach of Contract, torts, Divorce and Family Law and Homeowner Insurance denial claims. Criminal Law handling your common traffic tickets as well as many first-degree felonies. Appellate Practice which deals with filing of cases to the Civil Court of Appeals in Montgomery.

Jim Sears

Dr. James “Jim” Sears, a seasoned educator and advocate for individuals with disabilities and special needs, boasts a rich career history. Beginning as a special education teacher and public school principal, he went on to earn his masters and doctoral degrees in special education from the University of Florida. He has subsequently served as a professor at the University of Alabama, and as an adjunct professor at Spring Hill College and the University of South Alabama. After graduating from the University of Alabama School of Law, he has dedicated his practice to Special Education Law and Criminal Defense Law, representing children with disabilities and defendants with intellectual disabilities and/or mental illness. He has 35 years of experience practicing law after being licensed in 1988, and has represented more than 1,000 clients during his career.

Yara Garcia is the leader of Yara Garcia & Abogadas, a bilingual law firm in Birmingham, Alabama. She has a deep understanding of the emotional and financial impact of court proceedings and provides guidance and representation in family law, immigration, and personal injury cases. She is admitted to practice in the Northern District of Alabama and the Immigration Court and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

J. Burruss Riis, Jr.

Burruss Riis was born and raised in Mobile, AL. He loves living on the gulf coast, and spends his free time fishing and sailing on Mobile Bay. Burruss and his wife live in Midtown. Mr. Riis started his Legal career handling personal injury cases, and fought insurance companies relentlessly in court. He has practiced criminal prosecution and defense, as well as family law. In 2021, Mr. Riis began practicing Bankruptcy Law and Joined Brock and Stout in the summer of 2023. He handles personal bankruptcies from start to finish for clients throughout the Southern District of Alabama. Whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, he will do all he can to help clients in their time of need. What I like best about my job I love that I get the opportunity to help people and when they are going through financial struggles. It really brings me joy when I can take the overwhelming stress from a client, with a plan to resolve their debts.

Xenia Solano Rigby

Xenia Solano Rigby is an attorney at Abogados Centro Legal, focusing on personal injury, workers' compensation, and litigation. She aims to alleviate client stress by guiding them through legal complexities to focus on recovery. She has represented workers in various industries and gained experience in New York and the Dominican Republic. Born and raised in New York City, she became an attorney in the Dominican Republic after visiting her grandmother there. She holds a Law degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, an LL.M. from Mississippi College School of Law, and a Certificate in International Studies and Law from New York University.

E. Nathan Harris

E. Nathan Harris is the CEO and founder of Abogados Centro Legal. He is also the Treasurer of the Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ) for 2025-2026. Born to an Ecuadorian mother and American father, he grew up with a deep understanding of Latino culture and values. He graduated with a law degree from the University of Alabama and founded the firm in 2010 to protect and represent accident victims and those seeking immigration stability. He is a bilingual and bicultural attorney, committed to advocating for the Hispanic community in Alabama. He was recognized as a 'Super Abogado' and 'Rising Star' by Super Lawyers in 2019, received the Minority Business Award in 2024, and was an honoree for BBJ’s Best of the Bar in 2025. He has also been appointed to the Alabama Supreme Court's Access to Justice Commission.