
Jim's Profile
Jim is a shareholder and member of the firm’s Estate, Trust and Business Planning Practice, Fiduciary Advisory Services Practice, and the Fiduciary, Trust and Estate Litigation Practice groups.
In his Fiduciary Litigation practice, Jim advises and represents both individuals and corporate fiduciaries in their capacity as trustees and executors, including pre-litigation, mediation, trial and appellate proceedings. Jim also represents beneficiaries of estates and trusts. In addition, Jim represents clients in proceedings related to financial abuse of the elderly, conservatorships, guardianships and other protective proceedings.
In his Probate practice, Jim assists, advises and represents executors, conservators and trustees in the administration of estates in the probate court and advises families in settling the estates of deceased family members.
In his Estate Planning practice, Jim’s primary focus is on helping clients to navigate the process of thinking about, designing and implementing estate planning strategies that fulfill their goals and maximize wealth transfer tax-savings opportunities.
Jim is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and his skills consistently earn him recognition in The Best Lawyers in America© in the areas of Trust and Estates and Litigation: Trusts and Estates. He received his J.D magna cum laude from Alabama in 1998 and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Mississippi in 1994.
Jim's Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America© for Trusts and Estates and Litigation:Trusts and Estates (2018 – Present)
Jim's Affiliations and Civic Involvement
Affiliations
- Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
- American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trusts Section
- Alabama State Bar Association
- Estate Planning Council of Birmingham
- Birmingham Bar Association
Jim's Publications
No Batteries Required: A Primer on Gifts to Minors, The Alabama Lawyer, March 2019, Volume 80, Number 2 by James P. Naftel, II and Jessica S. Grover
University of Alabama School of Law (1998, J.D., magna cum laude; Drane Lester Award, Outstanding Undergraduate in English; Order of the Coif; Alabama Law Review, Senior Editor; Moot Court Board)
University of Mississippi (1994, B.A., summa cum laude)