Joseph E. "Jody" Varner III

After graduating from the Ole Miss Law School in May 1976, Bob spent one year (1976-1977) as a law clerk to the Chief Judge for the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Upon completion of his clerkship, he immediately entered the practice of law focusing his practice in Litigation. For 42 years he has been actively engaged in a general trial practice in all Mississippi courts, state and federal. He is a former President of the Mississippi Defense Lawyers and an active member of the F...

Stan Ingram has been a practicing attorney for over 40 years, concentrating his practice in the areas of Oil and Gas Law, Exploration and Regulatory Matters, Licensure and Certification Law, Health Law, Chancery Practice and Real Estate Matters. The unique co-specialties of Oil & Gas and Licensure and Certification Law did not happen by chance. Before going to law school, Stan served as an investigator for the Mississippi Medical Board. After law school graduation, Stan accepted a positio...

Craig Landrum is a partner in the Banking & Financial Services Industry Team. Craig focuses his practice on bank regulatory law, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions law, and securities law. Craig has extensive experience representing banks in a broad range of issues, including more than 100 merger and branch acquisition or sale transactions, as well as representing insurance companies and agencies with regard to corporate and regulatory matters, including the licensing of bank subsidi...

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.

Robert B. Ireland, III, was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2002 and is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Mississippi and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Robert has handled and assisted with all aspects of litigated matters, through trial and appeal, in both state and federal courts and also in arbitration proceedings. He has also appeared before municipal and county authorities on numerous zoning related matters. Robert has extensive lit...

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.

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.

Amanda serves as Team Leader for the White Collar, Compliance and Government Investigations Group and focuses her practice on government investigations and complex civil litigation. She has served as Lead Chair in over 30 jury trials. Her experience includes regularly conducting internal investigations for companies and medical institutions and providing advice on reporting obligations and representation throughout all phases of government investigations and accompanying litigation.

Ann Corso Taylor is a partner in the firm. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience, she handles matters encompassing every aspect of real estate law. Ann advises clients on matters involving acquisitions, sales, leasing, and financing. In recent years, she has been heavily involved in negotiating leases with national and local tenants for the developer of a new shopping center development. She also has been involved in the purchasing and selling of numerous apartment complexes across the ...

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 ...