Erik Peterson

Brad Boone has more than 34 years of experience focusing on income tax law of corporations, partnerships and individuals on the federal, state and local levels. He represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service and the Kentucky Department of Revenue. He also handles complex business transactions including acquisitions, dispositions, restructurings, contracts and agreements. His practice also includes representing various tax exempt organizations. The types of businesses that Mr. Boone...

Jay Prather’s work as a trial lawyer at Garmer & Prather has earned him the recognition of his peers, including being named Best Lawyers® 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” in Plaintiffs’ Product Liability Litigation – Lexington . He continues a family tradition of Kentucky legal service and brings a disciplined, trial-focused approach to representing individuals and workers harmed by negligence, unsafe products, or wage-and-hour violations. Jay has distinguished ...

Brady Dunnigan is based in the firm’s Lexington office, where his practice focuses primarily on commercial real estate and finance. He represents developers of hotels, entertainment venues, office buildings, mixed-use projects and industrial facilities, as well as lenders who finance them. His practice also includes general business law, assisting clients in structuring, documentation and financing of acquisitions, dispositions and other business transactions, and he serves as outside g...

Mr. Beck, a transactional lawyer, has represented both domestic and foreign clients in the purchase, sale or syndication of bloodstock valued at more than $700 million. Mr. Beck also regularly provides corporate and financing legal counsel to equine industry participants, including banks, horse farms, trainers, and organizers of multiple ownership arrangements for racing and breeding syndicates. In addition to his transaction practice, Mr. Beck is a mediator and arbitrator concentrating on tr...

Stephen Ruschell is a member of the firm's Real Estate Service Group. His practice focuses on condemnation, real property, mergers & acquisitions, general business law, zoning and land development. Mr. Ruschell additionally represents companies in the areas of general corporate law, commercial lending and bond issues. More Than Stites & Harbison Steve is a former chairman of the Fayette County Bar Foundation which he helped found in 2006. He was honored in June 2008 with the Justice J...

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Matthew Minner attended the University of Kentucky on full academic and R.O.T.C. scholarships and graduated Phi Beta Kappa, with departmental honors and with highest distinction. In 1996, he graduated from the Vanderbilt University School of Law where he received the Weldon White Scholarship and was elected by his peers as an Officer and their Representative to the Vanderbilt Bar Association among other honors and achievements. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Minn...

Ashley Ward has practiced in the Lexington office's Torts and Insurance Service Group since 1986 and is a co-leader of that group. He has tried more than 20 jury trials to verdict. He focuses on product liability, personal injury, medical malpractice, telecommunications and contractual disputes. Ashley also has considerable experience litigating will contests and other fiduciary disputes. More Than Stites & Harbison Upon graduation from law school, Ashley served as a law clerk for United ...

Richard M. Guarnieri was born in Chicago, Illinois as the second oldest of nine brothers and sisters, three of which have become lawyers as well. When Richard was still a child, his family moved to Frankfort, Kentucky where he was raised and attended Good Shepherd Catholic School and then Franklin County Public Schools until his graduation from Franklin County High School. Throughout his life, he has attended church with his family at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Frankfort, Kentucky. In h...

Kyle M. Virgin is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Litigation - Construction, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants. Kyle M. practices law in Lexington, Kentucky Best Lawyers has recognized Kyle M. Virgin since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Kyle M. Virgin is hel...

Brian is a member of the Litigation Department. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, toxic tort litigation, product liability litigation, and fiduciary litigation.