John C. Collins

Samuel E. Ledbetter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Samuel E., who practices law in Little Rock, Arkansas, has been recognized since 2001. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Samuel E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David D. Wilson is a partner in the firm’s litigation section, with 28 years of experience as a trial lawyer. He has tried over 70 state and federal trials in the Arkansas courts in areas of business/commercial litigation and personal injury matters including business torts, contract disputes, trademarks, trade secrets and product liability. David has tried numerous multi-million dollar cases involving retailer/vendor contract disputes. He represented retailer Dillard’s, Inc. in a...

David M. Fuqua is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Civil Rights Law and Mediation. David M., who practices law in Little Rock, Arkansas, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joseph G. Nichols is a partner in the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group. His practice includes a number of different areas including assisting large and small business and individuals with business, tax and real estate related matters. His work has included representing companies in connection with business sales, mergers, reorganizations, liquidations and tax deferred like kind exchanges. He has also assisted clients with the formation of new business entities and the ra...

James C. Baker focuses his practice on the areas of casualty insurance defense, commercial and construction litigation. He has first-chaired more than 120 jury trials to verdict and he has represented clients in more than 300 non-jury trials, arbitrations and mediations. J.C. speaks regularly on matters regarding trial practice and workers’ compensation, addressing self-insureds, the Arkansas Bar Association, insurance companies and trade and industry associations. Key Matters Represent...

Jeremiah D. Wood practices in the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group. His practice includes experience in the design, implementation, administration and termination of tax-qualified retirement plans (including traditional pension plans, cash balance plans, profit-sharing plans, 401(k) plans, and ESOPs), 403(b) plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans (including 457(b) and 457(f) plans and deferral compensation arrangements for executives) and healt...

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.

George Ernst is a Partner in our Little Rock office whose practice specializes in immigration, international business, and labor and employment matters. Also proficient in German, he has over a decade of experience representing multi-national corporations across various industries. His practice focuses on advising clients in highly complex matters relating to the employment of foreign nationals under the EB-5 program for international investors, EB-1 and EB-2 visas for employment-based immigr...

John Keeling Baker has extensive experience in successfully trying and appealing a variety of business tort, contract, real estate, taxation, and class action suits before state and federal trial courts, Arkansas appellate courts, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis, Missouri. He frequently works on behalf of clients on both sides of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). He routinely advises governmental clients on open meetings and public records compliance require...

Tom Baxter is the head of the Estate Planning, Trusts and Estates Practice Group, serves on the firm’s Management Committee and is a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Tom focuses his practice on tax planning for individuals and businesses, estate planning, the administration of trusts and estates, and probate matters. He also represents clients in state and local tax matters, tax controversies, and issues of general business and corporate taxation, including ma...