- Criminal DefenseDean Robert J. Farley Award for highest academic average in graduating class, Mississippi Law Journal, Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity, American Jurisprudence Awards: Criminal Law, Torts I, Torts II, Evidence, Legal Profession, Local Government Law
- Corporate Law
- Business DisputesOutstanding Student Awards: Criminal Procedure I, Lawyers as Entrepreneurs, Children in the Legal System, and Elder Law; Negotiation Board; Pro Bono Initiative; Elder Law Clinic; Child Advocacy Clinic; Business Law Network; Public Interest Law Foundation; Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity; Law Association for Women
- Business TransactionsDavid Houston joined the firm in 2013. For the previous 30 years, he served as the United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi. In addition, he presided over cases in the Southern District of Mississippi, the Middle District of Louisiana, as well as, the Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas. He conducted trials in numerous consumer and complex business cases, authoring hundreds of published opinions. Prior to assuming the bench, he was a partner for 11 years in the Aberdeen, Mississippi, law firm of Houston, Chamberlain and Houston. He served as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C., Tampa, Florida, and New York City. His practice is focused on commercial transactions, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and creditors’ rights. Due to his experience in the area of alternative dispute resolution, he is available to conduct mediation and arbitration proceedings.
- Intellectual PropertyAnd has significant experience in the financing, establishment and development of new business enterprises, especially in the manufacturing sector, and with their ongoing operations. In addition to business and public finance contracts, he regularly assists clients with environmental matters, intellectual property issues, antitrust and trade questions and regulatory affairs. Mr. Tims also frequently handles or assists with litigation involving these business areas, and he has substantial experience involving the automotive industry, the building products industry, green-tech manufacturing and public utilities.
- Antitrust
- Workers Compensation
- Employment LitigationBerk Huskison practices in the litigation section of the firm focusing on the areas of labor and employment litigation defense and civil rights. Mr. Huskison has assisted public and private employers in labor and employment law matters, and defended city and county governments in all types of civil rights litigation.
- Premises LiabilityChris represents governmental entities, corporate entities, and insurance companies and their insureds in litigated matters and also advises those entities how to avoid litigation. His practice focuses on the defense of premises liability, governmental liability, motor vehicle, and other tort and commercial claims in Mississippi and Alabama. Chris has tried numerous cases to successful jury verdicts in both states. Chris also serves as general counsel for the City of Starkville, Mississippi and as corporate counsel to various businesses and individuals. Before becoming a lawyer, Chris was a sportscaster for six years at WCBI-TV (CBS) in Columbus, Mississippi.
- Construction LitigationSandy Sams practices primarily in litigation. His current practice includes the defense of professional liability claims, including claims against attorneys, accountants, healtcare providers and other professionals as well as the defense of product liability claims. He is also active in the areas of business and commercial ligation, and construction litigation.
- Real Estate TransactionsMike Ferris concentrates his practice in commercial real estate transactions. He has represented sellers, buyers and lenders in every aspect of a real estate transaction. He has extensive experience in the issuance of title insurance, as the firm is an agent for Chicago Title Insurance Company and First American Title Insurance Company. Mr. Ferris also has extensive experience in probate matters and in the representation of governmental entities.
- Eminent DomainRobert Quimby practices in the litigation section of the firm. His practice includes general litigation, business/commercial litigation, general business and corporate representation, personal injury litigation, and representation related to land use, zoning, and eminent domain. Mr. Quimby has represented numerous governmental entities, businesses, and individuals on a wide range of civil matters.
- Land Use and Zoning
- Landlord-Tenant DisputesA number of our attorneys have received alternative dispute resolution training approved by the Mississippi Bar and are listed on the approved lists of mediators for the state bar association and the federal courts in Mississippi. These attorneys have served on the Committee for Court Annexed Rules for Mediation and conduct mediations throughout the state in civil cases involving business relations, insurance and personal injury claims and landlord-tenant issues. Our ADR team participates in lectures, meetings and conferences to educate both lawyers and laypersons about the benefits of ADR.
- Personal InjuryScott R. Hendrix practices primarily in the area of commercial law and litigation, with an emphasis in representation of banks and other financial institutions, utilities and related software and service providers and manufacturing entities. Mr. Hendrix also has defended matters related to employment law, intellectual property, professional liability, personal injury and insurance defense.
- Medical MalpracticeCase Note, “Medical Malpractice – Jury Instructions – ‘Mere Error of Judgment’ Language is No Longer Appropriate in Medical Malpractice Jury Instructions,” 65 Mississippi Law Journal 171 (1995)
- Disability DiscriminationWe have significant experience defending public entities, officials and employees in Civil Rights litigation. We regularly defend public employers with respect to First Amendment claims and defend law enforcement departments and personnel regarding alleged misconduct, including search and seizure violations, wrongful arrest and mistreatment of prisoners. We also represent public entities in Voting Rights litigation, in eminent domain, zoning and trespass matters, in general liability litigation involving negligence and personal injury claims, and against claims of age, religion, race, gender and disability discrimination.
- Estate PlanningGuy Mitchell, III has served as city attorney for the City of Tupelo since 1974. Mr. Mitchell’s areas of practice include corporate and finance, municipal, county and governmental entities as well as estate planning and probate practice. Mr. Mitchell has throughout his career had an extensive practice in the areas of business and commercial litigation and public entity litigation.
- WillsDennis Voge practices in the areas of business and commercial litigation, insurance, real estate, wills and estate planning and workers’ compensation for both insurance carriers and self-insured employers and is a certified workers’ compensation mediator.
- ProbatePractice areas associated with the Columbus office include but are not limited to commercial litigation, construction law, corporate law, creditors’ rights and bankruptcy, general litigation, governmental entity defense, insurance defense, labor and employment, mediation and arbitration, medical malpractice, probate law, products liability, real property law, utilities law and workers’ compensation.
- BankruptcyFaculty Member and Lecturer: Federal Judicial Center; American Bankruptcy Institute; Memphis Bar Association; Tennessee Bar Association; West Texas Bankruptcy Conference; Bankruptcy Bar Association of South Florida; Alabama Bar Association; Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute; and Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference
- ForeclosureWe provide a broad range of services to banks, insurance companies and mortgage bankers, as well as national, regional and local finance companies and credit reporting agencies, in such areas as loan documentation, structuring of secured transactions, trusts and trust services, regulatory compliance and bonds and other securities. The firm also represents these institutions with matters involving litigation, labor and employment, collection, foreclosure, tax, pension and profit-sharing plans and real estate.
- Tax LawTaylor Sandroni focuses his practice on the representation of businesses, financial institutions and families. Mr. Sandroni is frequently involved with the planning and implementation of business transactions including acquisitions, financing and contract drafting and negotiation. Mr. Sandroni also works closely with families and individuals in the areas of tax planning, estate planning and administration, trusts, elder law and business succession planning.