Haley Smith

Allan Gates practices in the areas of environmental law and litigation. He is counsel to private parties, public interest groups, and trade associations in environmental regulatory matters and appears regularly before state agencies, including the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment and the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission. Allan also serves as defense counsel in hazardous waste and Superfund actions before state agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ...

Joseph B. Hurst, Jr. is the head of the firm's Employee Benefits Practice Group. His focus is on the design, implementation and administration of tax-qualified retirement plans (including defined benefit pension plans, profit sharing plans, 401(k) plans and ESOPs), nonqualified deferred compensation plans, and welfare benefit plans for financial institutions, regular business organizations, professional corporations and governmental and non-profit organizations.He assists plan sponsors and fi...

Mary Carole Young is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Mary Carole, who practices law in Little Rock, Arkansas, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mary Carole is held by other top lawyers in the same ge...

Timothy Ezell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Timothy, who practices law in Little Rock, Arkansas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Timothy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

H. Wayne Young is a partner with the firm and a member of the Labor and Employment Law Practice Group. He was named the 2017 Russell Gunter Legislative Advocacy Award Recipient by the Arkansas SHRM. The award recognizes outstanding contributions of time and effort in local, state or federal legislative advocacy on behalf of the Human Resources profession. He is a member of CAHRA and was awarded the association’s Legislative Advocacy Award for 2018. He has also been named in The Best Law...

Aaron Heffington is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Aaron, who practices law in Little Rock, Arkansas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Aaron is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jerry Sallings has been engaged in active trial practice for over 25 years. During that time he has tried approximately 200 jury trials to conclusion dealing with a variety of complex issues. His practice centers on litigation, including nursing home defense, transportation defense, medical malpractice, product liability and tort. Sallings’ more recent experience includes: Lead trial counsel for national nursing home chains and insurers defending multiple lawsuits. Lead trial counsel fo...

Christopher Heller works primarily in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Law and Education Law. The majority of his practice consists of trial and appellate work. He primarily represents businesses and public entities in class actions and other cases involving natural resources, insurance, trade secrets, employment, civil rights, education, contracts and other issues. Chris is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation, La...

Cal Rose is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Tax Law. Cal, who practices law in Rogers, Arkansas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Cal is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Abbie Decker Rucker is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Abbie, who practices law in Little Rock, Arkansas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Abbie is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.