Best Lawyers in Mississippi, United States

JoJo Adams is a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group. He focuses his practice on discrimination, harassment, and other employment-related litigation. JoJo has extensive experience in employee and supervisor training related to workplace conduct issues and litigating wage-and-hour collective actions. He also has experience in unfair labor practice litigation against unions and in collective bargaining negotiations. JoJo also provides daily employment advice to clients in public...

Clifford B. Ammons, Jr. was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2008. His practice is dedicated to the areas of workers' compensation, tort and general litigation and appellate advocacy. During law school, Clifford was a member of the Law Review and Moot Court Board and served as an intern for the Honorable T. Kenneth Griffis, Mississippi Court of Appeals. He received Am Jur awards for Workers' Compensation, Wills and Estates, and Law Office Management.

Clifford B. Ammons, named one of The Best Lawyers in America ® in Workers' Compensation Law, was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1978. His experience spans from workers' compensation, medical malpractice defense and nursing home defense to education. His cases of note include Fresenius Medical Care and Continental Cas. Co. v. Woolfolk ex rel. Woolfolk , 920 So. 2d 1024 (Miss. App. 2005); Davis v. Pioneer, Inc. , 834 So. 2d 739 (Miss. App. 2003); and Bates v. Countrybrook Living ...

David Ayers was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1983 and is admitted to all state and federal courts in Mississippi and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He also has handled cases in a number of other states under pro hac vice privileges. David's experience includes commercial litigation, premises litigation and general personal injury litigation, with an emphasis on automotive, heavy equipment, industrial equipment and recreational product litigation. His cases of ...

Simon Bailey has represented clients in a variety of matters, including consumer protection cases, product liability cases, and commercial cases involving insurers, lenders, accountants, and other professionals. He has participated in litigation across the country at the trial and appellate stages. Simon also has an active pro bono practice and is a past recipient of the Jackson Young Lawyers Association’s Pro Bono Award. In addition to his law practice, Simon is involved in community a...

Jenny Tyler Baker is a shareholder in Carr Allison’s Gulfport (MS) office. She is admitted to practice in Mississippi and the United States District Court of the Southern District of Mississippi. Jenny focuses her practice on defending the matters involving workers’ compensation, general litigation, premises liability, professional liability and labor and employment. Jenny graduated cum laude from Mississippi State with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology. She then went on to earn her...

Suzie Baker practices in the area of business, with a focus on commercial finance, commercial real estate, mergers and acquisitions, general business, and corporate and securities matters. She represents real estate developers in purchases, sales, financing, and development transactions. Ms. Baker's commercial finance practice includes complex loans for businesses, including fixed asset loans, bond issues, securitized loans, revolving credit facilities and equipment lease financing. She handl...

Joseph G. Baladi was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 2000 and the Mississippi Bar in 2001. Since joining Watkins & Eager, Joe's experience has included numerous pharmaceutical litigations, medical malpractice bench and jury trials, and product liability trials. Joe's involved in several professional organizations and serves as co-chair of Watkins & Eager's Mass Tort and Repetitive Exposure practice group. Joe regularly speaks and presents on the subjects of science at trial, Daubert i...

Jeff Barber is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. Jeff regularly represents clients in bankruptcy proceedings and assists them in restructurings. He has served as an adjunct professor of Debtor-Creditor Law at the Mississippi College School of Law and has completed the American Bankruptcy Institute and St. John’s University School of Law Bankruptcy Mediation Training. He also lectures frequently on bankruptcy and creditors' ...

Lewis W. Bell was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1987. His experience spans from general product liability, general personal injury litigation, and premises litigation to commercial and franchise litigation. His cases of note include Rials v. Philip Morris, USA Inc., et al. 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12420, February 21, 2007; Rawls v. Friedman's Inc., 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21333, June 27, 2003; Everett v. Friedman's Inc., 2005 U.S. Dist LEXIS 23345, August 12, 2005; Allen v. Tyson Foods, Inc.,...

Michael Bentley is a partner in the Jackson, Mississippi office, where he concentrates his practice on appellate and commercial litigation. In addition to his responsibilities at the firm, Michael was elected Chair of the Mississippi Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section (2013-2014) and currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Bar Association of the Federal Fifth Circuit. Prior to joining the firm, Michael clerked for Judge Leslie H. Southwick at the Fifth Circuit Court...

After graduating from the Ole Miss Law School in May 1976, Bob spent one year (1976-1977) as a law clerk to the Chief Judge for the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Upon completion of his clerkship, he immediately entered the practice of law focusing his practice in Litigation. For 42 years he has been actively engaged in a general trial practice in all Mississippi courts, state and federal. He is a former President of the Mississippi Defense Lawyers and an active member of the F...

In his nearly 20 years of practice, Jeffrey Blackwood has handled a variety of commercial litigation matters. He is actively representing broker-dealers and registered investment advisors in matters before FINRA, as well as the Mississippi Secretary of State Securities Division. Jeffrey recently obtained a victory on behalf of a trust in litigation involving investment LLCs in Delaware. In addition, he routinely speaks and writes on topics related to securities regulatory and enforcement matt...

Kelly Blackwood is a member of the firm’s Environmental Practice Group and the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. Her practice involves regulatory and litigation work with a wide range of experience in environmental permitting and enforcement matters. Kelly has a strong working relationship with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and works regularly with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Kelly has represented clients before Mississippi state courts, the Mis...

Doris has over 26 years of litigation experience across the Gulf South and leads Galloway’s employment law practice team. Employment law is her center of excellence, supported by a background in insurance coverage, professional liability, construction defect, workers’ compensation, premises liability, and general casualty. A former Assistant District Attorney in New Orleans, she litigates in state and federal courts in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Texas, as well as before ...

Elizabeth Boone advises clients on business transactions and compliance matters domestically and internationally, including contract negotiation, establishment and maintenance of legal entities, establishment of terms and conditions for the sale of goods, privacy compliance matters, employment matters and real estate transactions. She also has assisted with private entity mergers, acquisitions and divestitures in various industries with purchase prices in varying ranges, including a deal valu...

Walter represents a variety of individual and corporate clients in large, complex commercial litigation, arbitration, and personal injury litigation. Walter's primary area of expertise lies in the litigation of disputes in the federal and state courts of Mississippi, where he regularly tries cases to verdict. Specialties: Commercial litigation; catastrophic personal injury litigation; insurance coverage and defense.

Neville Boschert is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on antitrust, business tort, trade secret, non-compete, insurance, and products liability disputes. Neville has more than 30 years of experience practicing law, including a two-year clerkship with US District Judge William C. Keady, Chief Judge of the US District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. He has been active in the American Bar Association and the International Association of Defense Counsel, and h...

Trey Bourn has a broad practice focused on helping clients from pre-litigation through trial. His experience includes defending products manufacturers in litigation pending in various state and federal venues across the country in cases involving heavy construction equipment, agricultural products, aviation products, pet food, gas pipelines, recreational vehicles, watercraft, medical devices, automobiles, home appliances, and children’s toys. He also counsels manufacturers on risk manag...

AV PREEMINENT RATED - As a former insurance defense trial attorney, he knows the strengths–and weaknesses–of the companies and employers he faces. With over 30 years of experience, Mr. Bowden is a highly qualified personal injury lawyer who knows how to help accident victims receive the full financial compensation they deserve. His team is focused, dedicated, and sensitive to each client’s needs. Mr. Bowden has been practicing law since 1988 in a wide range of litigation fie...

Walter J. Brand heads the Employment and Labor Practice Group at Watkins & Eager PLLC, where he has defended employment litigation for more than twenty years. Walter approaches his practice with the view that successful defense of employment claims begins long before a lawsuit is filed and requires three essential components: (1) fair, accurate and documented handling of personnel actions based on updated employer policies; (2) cogent explanation of employer action before administrative a...

Susan F. E. Bruhnke resolves clients’ legal issues efficiently and effectively, focusing on cost-effective solutions and high-quality representation delivered with integrity and respect. Her practice centers on workers’ compensation defense in Mississippi, Alabama, and under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, along with insurance defense litigation. Licensed in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas, she is also active in several professional legal assoc...

Neill Bryant was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2010. His practice areas include real estate transactions, zoning and land use, commercial lending and finance, and corporate law. Neill works extensively with commercial and residential developers in the acquisition, development, and sale of commercial real estate, subdivisions, construction projects, and agricultural and recreational land. He has experience representing borrowers in HUD/FHA loan programs and New Market Tax Credit projects ...

C. Phillip Buffington, Jr. advises financial institutions throughout the United States on federal and state banking laws and regulations. For more than 30 years, he has served as a trusted advisor to community, regional and national financial institutions, helping them to assess and analyze regulatory and litigation risks. Phil advises on a full range of issues, including corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, expansion and divestitures, de novo formations and charter conversions, ba...

Nathan Burrow is a Director in Galloway’s Mobile office, focusing on complex personal injury and wrongful death litigation, construction defect claims, and workers’ compensation matters across Alabama and Mississippi. He represents commercial trucking operators, premises owners, maritime and industrial clients, medical professionals, and construction professionals in professional liability, product liability, and insurance defense matters. Nathan has successfully defended cases th...

Todd Butler represents clients in matters involving employment, civil rights and appellate issues. He is general counsel to the Mississippi Municipal Liability Plan, the Mississippi Municipal Workers’ Compensation Group, and the Mississippi Municipal Service Company. Todd has successfully represented municipalities, law enforcement officers and companies, serving as counsel in nearly 100 reported decisions and having presented oral arguments in both federal and state courts throughout t...

Trey Byars has successfully tried cases to verdict ranging from simple automobile accidents to complex products liability and insurance disputes. In recognition of his trial skills, Trey has achieved membership by invitation to such prestigious organizations as the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys. In addition to his litigation practice, Trey is actively involved in several legal organizations that focus on competence and professionalism in the ...

Roy is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers who has been lead counsel in over 100 jury trials. His listings for many years in The Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business reflect the high regard in which he is held by peers and clients alike. With more than 38 years experience he has litigated a variety of civil suits at both the trial and appellate levels, including antitrust claims, commercial lease disputes, contract breaches, busi...

Trey Clark practices in the area of labor and employment, representing both private and public employers in defense of Section 1983 civil rights claims, Title VII and other discrimination suits, and wage and hour matters under the Fair Labor Standards Act. As part of his practice, Mr. Clark also defends claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Equal Pay Act.

Rod Clement’s practice is concentrated in commercial real estate and secured transactions. He regularly represents developers of shopping centers industrial facilities and office developments and borrowers, lenders and title insurers in secured financings. He also has extensive experience with retail, health care, industrial office leases and commercial properties. Projects he has worked on recently include financing renovation of historic facilities, purchasing of telecommunications sy...

After graduating from the University of Virginia Law School in 1975, Mr. Cocke moved to Clarksdale, MS to begin practicing in a general litigation firm. In 1982, Mr. Cocke and Mr. Merkel left that firm and established Merkel & Cocke, P.A., and since that time the emphasis of Mr. Cocke's practice has progressed more and more toward medical malpractice. At the present time his practice is exclusively devoted to handling medical negligence cases for the plaintiff, either as a result of direc...

Travis Conner joined Biggs, Ingram & Solop in 2008 after working as a petroleum landman representing various oil and gas companies. Using this prior experience, he concentrates his practice in oil and gas title opinions, development agreements relating to energy exploration, as well as real estate and litigation matters.

RICKY J. COX currently serves as the Managing Partner of the Gulfport office of Balch & Bingham LLP and is a member of the firm’s Energy; Corporate & Securities; and Real Estate, Lending and Commercial practice groups. Mr. Cox enjoys a diverse practice and regularly represents clients in a wide variety of utility and commercial matters, including energy and utility litigation; energy regulation and transactions; water and sewer utility regulation, transactions, and litigation; b...

Todd G. Crawford has handled a broad scope of complex litigation, ranging from toxic exposures to marine disasters to catastrophic oilfield blowouts. Todd remains busy splitting his time between the firm’s Houston office and New Orleans office, while still managing the Gulfport office allowing him to easily represent his clients all along the Gulf Coast region. Todd's practice includes general maritime law matters, including arrests and attachments, cargo claims, limitation of liability...

Bill Creel was born in Biloxi, Mississippi and has been licensed to practice in the State of Mississippi since 1990. Bill has litigated matters in state and federal courts. Bill has a varied litigation practice involving, among other things, personal injury defense, premises liability and insurance coverage matters. Bill and his wife are proud parents of three boys. The Creels attend Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church.

Jim Crongeyer is a Managing Member of Watkins & Eager and has served in this capacity since 2008. He began the practice of law in Florida in 1995 after graduating cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He is admitted to practice in Mississippi (1997), Alabama (1996) and Florida (1995), and has actively practiced in all three states. Jim has significant litigation and trial experience in the general product liability litigation, mass tort, complex litigation and constr...

R. Pepper Crutcher, Jr., General Counsel to the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, has served employers and allied trade and professional groups for over thirty years. The leader of his firm's Affordable Care Act practice - see www.acareview.com - Mr. Crutcher has helped develop ACA compliance software, has negotiated ACA compliance terms of union contracts, and regularly speaks and writes about employer, broker, provider and insurer ACA compliance. His litigation docket normally includes...

Margaret Oertling Cupples writes briefs and motions, and manages other lawyers who write them, in civil appeals and commercial litigation. As litigators and their clients know, a vanishingly small percentage of cases actually get to trial; for the rest, a great brief is the way to win. As national legal writing counsel in major litigation for 3M Company, Margaret’s individual contributions and her strong collaboration with colleagues have brought significant value to 3M for two decades....

Steve Cupp is a partner in the Gulfport office. He has experience across a range of industries, including manufacturing, financial services, construction, and retail. He has devoted his practice to representing management interests in various areas of labor and employment law, including traditional labor litigation before the National Labor Relations Board, handling Department of Labor wage and hour audits, and litigation of Fair Labor Standards Act cases. Steve is certified as a Senior Profe...

Jason concentrates his litigation and appellate practice in the areas of civil rights liability and defense; county and municipal liability; lender and surety liability; general business liability; and insurance defense. He has obtained over 300 favorable judgments on behalf of clients and has successfully defended over 50 civil cases at trial and/or on appeal. According to Westlaw records of the reported dispositive motions that he has filed since 2015, 70% were granted in whole or in part. ...