Joseph E. "Jody" Varner III

John T. Rouse represents corporate clients in private civil litigation in state and federal courts throughout the Southeast. He focuses a substantial portion of his practice handling complex civil litigation filed against financial institutions, domestic and foreign product manufacturers, automotive finance and insurance companies, and national insurance companies. John has extensive experience handling matters for banks, mortgage lenders, and mortgage servicers surrounding federal and state ...

Jim Pettis is a member of the Firm’s Trust, Estates & Personal Planning Service Team. He concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, probate, Elder Law, ERISA and employee benefits, state and federal taxation, business law including contracts, general corporate merger, reorganizations and acquisitions.

Adam counsels and defends employers, including manufacturers, health care facilities, food processing plants, energy utilities, and trucking companies. He helps his clients work through challenging management issues and provides options that allow them to accomplish their goals while minimizing exposure. He also defends them against charges filed with the EEOC and Department of Labor, regularly conducts internal investigations, drafts employment agreements, enforces restrictive covenants, and...

Mitch McGuffey is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Mitch practices law in Jackson, Mississippi Best Lawyers has recognized Mitch McGuffey since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Mitch McGuffe...

David Ayers was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1983 and is admitted to all state and federal courts in Mississippi and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He also has handled cases in a number of other states under pro hac vice privileges. David's experience includes commercial litigation, premises litigation and general personal injury litigation, with an emphasis on automotive, heavy equipment, industrial equipment and recreational product litigation. His cases of ...

Lisa Williams McKay was born in Columbus, Mississippi, but has lived in Jackson, Mississippi since graduating from law school in 1993. She has litigated matters in state and federal court with particular emphasis on the defense of doctors, hospitals and nursing homes. Mrs. McKay is married to Kevin McKay and they have two daughters. The McKays are active members of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.

Over 43 years’ experience representing banks and financial institutions in a wide variety of business and regulatory matters including compliance, regulatory enforcement actions, bank products and services, bank formation, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial and real estate finance transactions.

Chad Hammons is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on creditors’ rights and bankruptcy law, shopping center litigation, agribusiness litigation, and general commercial litigation. Board certified in creditors’ rights law, Chad regularly represents lenders, landlords, and suppliers in state and federal courts in Mississippi in litigation arising out of the debtor/creditor relationship, including commercial and consumer collections, possessory actions, commercial...

Jim F. Spencer, Jr., was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1987. His practice is primarily related to bankruptcy and creditors' rights, to commercial litigation and construction. Jim is a member of the Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference, the American Bankruptcy Institute and is listed among The Best Lawyers in America®.

Stephanie M. Rippee is admitted to the Mississippi and Tennessee Bars. For more than 20 years she has sought to creatively and efficiently resolve legal matters for clients. Her practice focuses on commercial litigation and product liability litigation. She is a recognized public speaker and author and has been selected by Mid-South Super Lawyers as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in Mississippi.