Joe D. Stevens

Whit Rayner is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and co-leader of the intellectual property team. He focuses on copyright and trademark registration and protection, software licensing, and intellectual property litigation and prosecution. Whit provides counsel and advice to notable large domestic and international clients, including outdoor lifestyle brands, technology companies, and financial institutions. He also represents clients in commercial litigation and contract disputes. Wh...

Lott is a member of Butler Snow’s Commercial Litigation group.

Margaret Oertling Cupples writes briefs and motions, and manages other lawyers who write them, in civil appeals and commercial litigation. As litigators and their clients know, a vanishingly small percentage of cases actually get to trial; for the rest, a great brief is the way to win. As national legal writing counsel in major litigation for 3M Company, Margaret’s individual contributions and her strong collaboration with colleagues have brought significant value to 3M for two decades....

Chase is a native Mississippian with over 30 years of litigation and courtroom experience. He focuses his practice on commercial litigation, bank and lender liability litigation, professional liability claims, intellectual property litigation, environmental and toxic tort claims, personal injury defense, insurance, wills and estates, and financial products litigation. Chase also manages a large construction practice representing owners, contractors, and subcontractors in all aspects of constr...

Willard Benton Gregg is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Willard Benton, who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Willard Benton is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael has served as bond counsel for private conduit financings, single family mortgage revenue bonds, and cities and counties throughout the State of Mississippi. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® for his work in public finance law.

Kari is a trial attorney and has defended some of the world’s largest manufacturers in courtrooms across the country. She recently served as lead and co-lead trial counsel for Monsanto in Roundup cases in California and Missouri. In 2022, she served as lead trial counsel for Johnson & Johnson in Arizona and Arkansas, winning defense verdicts in both pelvic mesh product liability trials. Between those two trial wins, she served as trial counsel in Mississippi in a balloon implant pro...

Sue Hicks Fairbank is a member of our Public Finance, Tax Incentives & Credit Markets Practice Group. She focuses her practice on Public Finance and Government Relations.

Barney's practice focuses on commercial litigation and governmental litigation. He is Vice Chair of the Committee on Character and Fitness of the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions and is a member of the Standing Committee on Local Civil Rules for the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi.

John H. Rice is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law. John H., who practices law in Gulfport, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.