Karen E. Howell

Lewis W. Bell was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1987. His experience spans from general product liability, general personal injury litigation, and premises litigation to commercial and franchise litigation. His cases of note include Rials v. Philip Morris, USA Inc., et al. 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12420, February 21, 2007; Rawls v. Friedman's Inc., 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21333, June 27, 2003; Everett v. Friedman's Inc., 2005 U.S. Dist LEXIS 23345, August 12, 2005; Allen v. Tyson Foods, Inc.,...

R. David Marchetti is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Trusts and Estates. R. David, who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which R. David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Edwin S. Gault, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Environmental, Litigation - Insurance, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Edwin S., who practices law in Jackson, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Edwin S....

Meade concentrates his practice on product liability, pharmaceutical, toxic tort, and transportation litigation. He is AV®-Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® , and recognized in Best Lawyers in America® and Who’s Who Legal in Product Liability and Super Lawyers® in Class Action/Mass Tort. Meade represents clients in litigation throughout the United States. He is the Immediate Past President of the Mississippi Bar Association, the Chair-Elect of th...

In his nearly 20 years of practice, Jeffrey Blackwood has handled a variety of commercial litigation matters. He is actively representing broker-dealers and registered investment advisors in matters before FINRA, as well as the Mississippi Secretary of State Securities Division. Jeffrey recently obtained a victory on behalf of a trust in litigation involving investment LLCs in Delaware. In addition, he routinely speaks and writes on topics related to securities regulatory and enforcement matt...

Steve has extensive experience as lead counsel in major litigation, not only in Mississippi, but throughout the Southeast. He has tried well over 200 cases to conclusion and has tried cases in 59 of Mississippi’s 82 counties and in 17 different states. Steve is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and is included in Best Lawyers in America , in Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation, Products Liability and Bet-the-Company Litiga...

Benjamin Bryant is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Benjamin, who practices law in Jackson, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kathryn Hester is special counsel in the Litigation Practice Group. She focuses her practice on commercial disputes in state and federal courts and before Mississippi state agencies. Kathryn advises and represents clients in litigation, healthcare administrative proceedings, estate challenges, zoning, and gaming law. She has served as adjunct professor at Mississippi College School of Law, where she taught a course in pre-trial practice. She is also a regular lecturer and writer on gaming and...

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 ...

William Gage is “a great trial lawyer who is very good at managing complex litigations in multiple districts. That is his specialty.” (Chambers USA Editorial, 2024, where William is ranked nationally for Product Liability & Mass Torts). He is “renowned for acting as lead counsel for major pharmaceutical companies in large MDLs, drawing particular praise for his achievements in pelvic mesh litigation.” (Chambers USA Editorial, 2023) William is “vastly experien...