Joseph Henry "Hank" Bates III

Baxter D. Drennon is a Partner in our office in Little Rock, Arkansas, and he has more than a decade of legal experience. His practice is a testament to a career built on safeguarding clients’ rights across the complex landscape of products liability, commercial transactions, and banking and finance law. Baxter also successfully defends doctors, nurses, and other medical providers as he helps them navigate through difficult medical malpractice cases. Baxter has built a reputation for hi...

Joseph B. Hurst, Jr. is the head of the firm's Employee Benefits Practice Group. His focus is on the design, implementation and administration of tax-qualified retirement plans (including defined benefit pension plans, profit sharing plans, 401(k) plans and ESOPs), nonqualified deferred compensation plans, and welfare benefit plans for financial institutions, regular business organizations, professional corporations and governmental and non-profit organizations.He assists plan sponsors and fi...

Derrick Smith is an experienced strategic advisor and advocate assisting national and regional clients in insurance regulatory law, compliance, investigative, and legislative matters. He represents insurance clients in their interactions with state insurance departments throughout the United States providing counsel on insurance law and regulatory compliance. He has substantial experience representing regulated businesses and entities in all aspects of government relations including legislati...

Gary D. Marts, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Litigation - Bankruptcy, Litigation - Insurance and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Gary D., who practices law in Little Rock, Arkansas, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gary D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Melissa Bandy advises businesses and individuals on commercial transaction matters including lending, real estate, corporate governance, entity formation and general business. She also represents restaurants, retailers and hotels in securing liquor permits from the Alcohol Beverage Control Division.

Mary Carole Young is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Mary Carole, who practices law in Little Rock, Arkansas, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mary Carole is held by other top lawyers in the same ge...

Eric Gribble is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Eric, 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 Eric is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stuart Jackson has been practicing in the employment law field for over thirty years and focuses his practice on advising employers on compliance with civil rights/employment laws and developing personnel policies and employment agreements. Jackson recently has focused his time on assisting employers on medical marijuana issues and on defending employers in wage and hour class and collective action litigation. Jackson defends employers in federal and state court litigation and appeals, includ...

Jerry Sallings has been engaged in active trial practice for over 25 years. During that time he has tried approximately 200 jury trials to conclusion dealing with a variety of complex issues. His practice centers on litigation, including nursing home defense, transportation defense, medical malpractice, product liability and tort. Sallings’ more recent experience includes: Lead trial counsel for national nursing home chains and insurers defending multiple lawsuits. Lead trial counsel fo...

Laura H. Smith is a partner in the firm and a member of the Medical Malpractice Practice Group and her particular emphasis is on defending catastrophic injury cases. Laura’s clients benefit from her experience in defending these cases as lead counsel in more than 80 jury trials for more than 30 years. Because of her track record, she is often called upon to serve as regional counsel in major litigation.