Merrida P. "Buddy" Coxwell, Jr.

Paul H. Stephenson, III was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1977. He is also admitted to practice before all state and federal district courts in Mississippi, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. His practice has focused on business, commercial and financial disputes at the trial and appellate levels involving a wide array of subject matters. Paul's experience includes complex class actions, oil and gas controversie...

Christopher Solop leads the firm’s Construction Litigation and Government Contracts sections. Chris has extensive experience representing clients in all areas of construction and government contracts, including pre- and post award protests, equitable adjustment and claim preparation, and litigation. Chris’s practice also includes arbitration and mediation of complex construction claims. Chris's experience in construction law and litigation spans more than thirty (30) years. Repres...

Blake Fulton is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He concentrates in the areas of incentivized public and private project finance, state and local government law, and economic development incentives. Blake develops and negotiates incentivized project finance transactions throughout the Gulf South and nationally. His experience includes a variety of tax credit finance matters, having handled numerous deals in connection with new markets and historic tax credits, as well as certified c...

Samantha is a member of the firm’s Tax Group and focuses her practice on estate and trust planning, international tax and trust planning, estate administration, and taxation law.

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 ...

Chris is an experienced business attorney who focuses on bankruptcies, business reorganizations and distressed transactions.

Jason Fortenberry regularly represents and advises businesses in a variety of matters ranging from consumer finance litigation and products liability actions to personal and commercial real estate litigation, tax sale disputes, receiverships, foreclosures and other debt collection matters, as well as limited employment concerns. Jason practices extensively in both state and federal court, as well as various arbitration forums, and has obtained favorable results for a broad range of clients in...

Jamie G. Houston, III, was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1976. He has been admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, and the United States Tax Court. His experience includes practice in corporate and business law, tax and estate planning and administration. Jamie is a Certified Public Accountant (Retired).

Sam is a member of Butler Snow’s Commercial Litigation group. He brings experience in a broad range of construction law, business litigation and appellate matters. Sam regularly advises clients on front-end issues, such as contract drafting and licensing requirements; litigates and arbitrates a variety of construction, commercial, and premises liability disputes; and handles all levels of appeals from administrative agencies to state Supreme Courts and the Fifth and Sixth Circuit Courts...

La'Verne practices within Butler Snow's Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Litigation group and serves as the Chair of the firm’s Inclusivity Committee. She is experienced in defending cases involving product liability, medical negligence, premises liability, bad faith insurance, employment disputes and legal malpractice. Chambers USA, which recognized La’Verne for Litigation: General Commercial – Mississippi in 2023 and 2024, states that “[s]he is very well...