Gary B. Houston

Ben Sanders is Counsel to the firm where he is a member of the Business & Corporate Services Group. His practice focuses on management buyouts using ESOPs and executive compensation for public and privately held businesses which includes clients in the healthcare and long-term care industry. He has extensive experience in designing and implementing ESOP transactions, executive compensation programs and mergers and acquisitions. Ben spends his time in both the Louisville and Nashville offi...

Bob Connolly is based in the Louisville office where he previously served as Chair of the firm. He currently serves as General Counsel to the firm. He has been with the firm since 1980 and is a member of the firm's Business Litigation Section and the Torts & Insurance Practice Service Group. Bob has tried more than 80 cases to jury verdicts in several states. He has also argued before every appellate court in the federal and state courts of Kentucky. His practice includes defending comple...

Ashley Owens Hopkins is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Ashley Owens, who practices law in Lexington, Kentucky, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ashley Owens is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Shannon Antle Hamilton chairs the Firm’s Employment Law Service Group, and is a seasoned litigator and counselor on complex employment law issues. Shannon has significant lead counsel experience in employment litigation and has tried numerous cases in both federal and state court to jury verdict. Shannon’s trial experience includes defending companies in workers’ compensation retaliation claims, Family and Medical Leave Act claims, cases brought under Title VII and the Kentu...

Kyle M. Virgin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Construction, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants. Kyle M., who practices law in Lexington, Kentucky, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kyle M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Christopher A. Deabler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law. Christopher A., who practices law in Covington, Kentucky, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

K. Kelly White Bryant is a Member of the firm located in the Louisville office where she is Chair of the Health Care Service Group. Kelly’s practice is devoted to health law, focusing on regulatory matters, transactional matters and certificate of need matters. Kelly’s certificate of need experience includes preparation and submission of applications, representation in CON hearings and CON decision appeals for a broad range of provider types, including: ambulance, home health, hos...

Melanie J. Kilpatrick is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Employment Law - Management, Energy Regulatory Law, Litigation - Labor and Employment and Mining Law. Melanie J., who practices law in Lexington, Kentucky, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Melanie J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice a...

Mr. Hixson regularly practices and appears in courtrooms across Kentucky. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, coal supply litigation, product liability, and professional liability. Mr. Hixson also has significant experience in motor carrier litigation, and has litigated a wide array of complex and catastrophic injury cases in state and federal jurisdictions. Mr. Hixson's commercial practice involves representing businesses in cases with claims ranging from breach of contract, promi...