Henry E. Chatham, Jr.

Ben serves as General Counsel representing the firm on a variety of issues, including ethics and risk management matters. Ben is also a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group where he focuses his practice on director and officer defense, trade secret litigation, contract litigation, intellectual property litigation, administrative law, and aviation law.

Malissa Wilson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Malissa, who practices law in Jackson, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Malissa is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ryan is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice group. He has represented major consumer products manufacturers, financial services companies and other corporate entities in contract, consumer protection, intellectual property and antitrust matters. He is also experienced in governmental litigation, commercial litigation, energy litigation and financial services litigation. Ryan is a registered lobbyist in the State of Mississippi, representing numerous technology and serv...

Derek Hall is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Derek, who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Derek is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Nick Morisani practices in the area of labor and employment and represents both private and public employers in defense of discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims. He also represents clients in defense of civil rights claims arising under the U.S. Constitution. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, Nick served as a law clerk to the Honorable Sul Ozerden, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi, and as a litigation associate at a large ...

Julie is an equity shareholder at Hagwood and Tipton. She holds a Master's Degree in Health Law (LL.M. Health Law). As an attorney whose primary focus is health care law, Ms. Mitchell's practice encompasses such matters as: stark, fraud and abuse, Medicare and Medicaid payment issues, corporate compliance, CON law, provider and physician contracts, healthcare corporate matters, hospital law, DMEPOS matters, licensure and certification, HIPAA, nursing home law and healthcare integration. Ms. M...

La'Verne practices within Butler Snow's Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Litigation group and serves as the Chair of the firm’s Inclusivity Committee. She is experienced in defending cases involving product liability, medical negligence, premises liability, bad faith insurance, employment disputes and legal malpractice. Chambers USA, which recognized La’Verne for Litigation: General Commercial – Mississippi in 2023 and 2024, states that “[s]he is very well...

Gary Jones is a shareholder in the Jackson office of the firm and has served as Chair of the Workers’ Compensation practice group since 2007. He has been involved in the Workers’ Compensation practice for over 30 years and has served as a mediator in such cases for over a decade. When asked about the practice of law, Gary says, “Wise counsel is what you get with Daniel Coker attorneys. Our job is to tell you what you need to hear, not necessarily what you want to hear. Dogma...

Whit Johnson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but grew up in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in a doctor’s household. Mr. Johnson has been licensed to practice in the State of Mississippi since 1979. He specializes in litigation, with the focus of his practice for the past 25 years being the defense of physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers from claims of medical negligence. Mr. Johnson is a frequent speaker to medical organizations, including the Mississippi State Medic...

Gilbert has represented clients in in all aspects of retirement and health and welfare benefit plans – design, administration, compliance, taxation, employee communications, fiduciary responsibility, defense of benefit claims, examinations, ruling applications, correction program filings and merger and acquisition transactions.