Michael D. Simmons

Chase is a native Mississippian with over 30 years of litigation and courtroom experience. He focuses his practice on commercial litigation, bank and lender liability litigation, professional liability claims, intellectual property litigation, environmental and toxic tort claims, personal injury defense, insurance, wills and estates, and financial products litigation. Chase also manages a large construction practice representing owners, contractors, and subcontractors in all aspects of constr...

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...

Michael has served as bond counsel for private conduit financings, single family mortgage revenue bonds, and cities and counties throughout the State of Mississippi. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® for his work in public finance law.

John has been recognized by Chambers USA for his work in environmental law and by Super Lawyers as a "Mid-South Rising Star".

JoJo Adams is a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group. He focuses his practice on discrimination, harassment, and other employment-related litigation. JoJo has extensive experience in employee and supervisor training related to workplace conduct issues and litigating wage-and-hour collective actions. He also has experience in unfair labor practice litigation against unions and in collective bargaining negotiations. JoJo also provides daily employment advice to clients in public...

Jeff Barber is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. Jeff regularly represents clients in bankruptcy proceedings and assists them in restructurings. He has served as an adjunct professor of Debtor-Creditor Law at the Mississippi College School of Law and has completed the American Bankruptcy Institute and St. John’s University School of Law Bankruptcy Mediation Training. He also lectures frequently on bankruptcy and creditors' ...

Kap has represented buyers and sellers in business acquisitions in a wide variety of industries, including technology, manufacturing, healthcare, energy, hospitality, foodservice, retail, insurance, and aerospace. He is also experienced in private business strategy and planning, including corporate formation, structuring and organization.

William Lucien Smith, Jr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Government Relations Practice. William Lucien practices law in Jackson, Mississippi Best Lawyers has recognized William Lucien Smith, Jr. since 2025. 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 William Lucien Smith, Jr. is held by other lawyers.

Kristina Johnson is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. She provides sophisticated counsel in complex and what are often cross-jurisdictional bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, workouts, receiverships, commercial litigation, and collection matters. Described as "an expert bankruptcy litigator" in Chambers USA 2020, Kristina has represented secured and unsecured creditors, buyers of assets in bankruptcy sales, contract parties, trustees, and unsecured creditors' committees and deb...

Ryan is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice group. He has represented major consumer products manufacturers, financial services companies and other corporate entities in contract, consumer protection, intellectual property and antitrust matters. He is also experienced in governmental litigation, commercial litigation, energy litigation and financial services litigation. Ryan is a registered lobbyist in the State of Mississippi, representing numerous technology and serv...