R. Allen Smith, Jr.

Kathy K. Smith was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1996. She has represented local and national clients in all types of litigation, including mass torts, intellectual property, commercial, personal injury, insurance, products liability, medical malpractice, and environmental matters. She has defended manufacturers of lead paint, mobile homes, and heavy equipment. She has defended an employer involved in extensive PCB litigation and an insurance company sued in asbestos litigation. She has ...

Jim Neeld concentrates his practice in: Business and corporate matters Mergers and acquisitions Telecommunications Commercial transactions Corporate finance including early-stage venture financing structures and debt and equity offerings. He has extensive experience and counsels clients in the following: Sales and purchases of businesses Antitrust, distribution and marketing/advertising issues Shareholder and partnership disputes Vendor/customer relationships Executive employment arrangements...

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 ...

Mark Davis is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He focuses on real estate. Mark draws on his more than 35 years of experience to help clients coordinate real estate developments and orchestrate transactions, including acquisition, leasing, and financing matters, as well as zoning issues. His practice spans the development of shopping centers, office buildings, hotels, mixed-use facilities, hospital facilities, medical office buildings, and manufacturing facilities. He also represents...

Richard G. Norris II is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Richard G., who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Simon Bailey has represented clients in a variety of matters, including consumer protection cases, product liability cases, and commercial cases involving insurers, lenders, accountants, and other professionals. He has participated in litigation across the country at the trial and appellate stages. Simon also has an active pro bono practice and is a past recipient of the Jackson Young Lawyers Association’s Pro Bono Award. In addition to his law practice, Simon is involved in community a...

A business lawyer with a primary focus on middle market transactions, Jeff has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, finance and commercial transactions, corporate law, bank regulation, and legal opinions.

Parker serves as the Practice Group Leader of the Firm’s Regulatory and Government Relations Practice Group. Parker’s practice includes representing a variety of state and local governmental bodies or private parties needing regulatory approvals and/or economic development incentives before such bodies. As a result, Parker has a breadth of experience and knowledge in navigating regulatory, administrative economic development and litigation matters for both public and private clients.

Glenn Gates Taylor is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law, Litigation - Environmental, Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law and Water Law. Glenn Gates, who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 1989. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Glenn Gates is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Peyton Prospere has been engaged in the area of public law and finance for thirty-eight years. That experience includes the discharge of responsibilities at the highest levels in state government as State Treasurer, Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Ronnie Musgrove, and as General Counsel to the Mississippi Development Authority. As State Treasurer, Peyton supervised the issuance in 2003 of $363 million of State bonds representing the State incentive package for the Nissan manufacturing facilit...