R. Chris Hutson

Thad Barnes is an experienced trial attorney with approximately 40 bench and jury trials to his credit. Mr. Barnes' practice is focused on intellectual property litigation, complex commercial litigation, and health care litigation. Mr. Barnes has extensive experience in patent litigation, trade secret cases, product liability matters and works extensively with flavor and fragrance manufacturers. He is listed in Benchmark Litigation as a Litigation Star in the Intellectual Property practice ar...

Ben Sanders is Counsel to the firm where he is a member of the Business & Corporate Services Group. His practice focuses on management buyouts using ESOPs and executive compensation for public and privately held businesses which includes clients in the healthcare and long-term care industry. He has extensive experience in designing and implementing ESOP transactions, executive compensation programs and mergers and acquisitions. Ben spends his time in both the Louisville and Nashville offi...

Ray Haley is a partner in the Louisville Office. He has practiced labor and employment law for more than 30 years. Ray represents employers in a variety of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, transportation and rehabilitative services. His representation of clients involves defense of all forms of civil rights and wrongful discharge claims in state and federal courts, labor litigation before state and federal agencies and courts, as well as arbitration of labor disputes. Ray regu...

Brian M. Vines is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Brian M. practices law in Lexington, Kentucky Best Lawyers has recognized Brian M. Vines 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...

Anthony Raluy is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Litigation - Bankruptcy and Litigation - Insurance. Anthony practices law in Louisville, Kentucky Best Lawyers has recognized Anthony Raluy since 2023. 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 Anthony Raluy is held by other lawyers.

John M. Williams is a native of Harlan County, Kentucky, and a partner in Williams, Kilpatrick & True, PLLC, in Lexington, Kentucky. John graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelors of Business Administration in 1984 and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky in 1987. He is AV© Rated by Martindale Hubbell and is a Kentucky Super Lawyer™ as rated by Thompson Reuters. He represents numerous mineral operators in safety matters before the Federal M...

Mike Risley is Co-Chair of the firm’s Appellate Advocacy Group and former Chair of the Louisville office’s Litigation Service Group. A seasoned litigator, Mike frequently appears before both state and federal appellate courts. He also has deep experience in disputes involving insurance bad faith and coverage, ERISA, and commercial and employment-related matters. Mike currently is serving the firm as Louisville Office Executive Member and is a former member of the firm’s Mana...

Richard Wehrle is a Member of the firm and is based in the Lexington office. His practice focuses on trusts and estate administration, estate planning and charitable giving, charitable and non-profit organizations, estate and gift taxes, probate, and fiduciary law. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. More Than Stites & Harbison Prior to joining Stites & Harbison, Richard was a partner at Bowles Rice LLP in Lexington, Kentucky, handling trusts and estate planning for eight years....

Morgan Ward is a member of the firm's Business Litigation Service Group. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, regulatory litigation (including the laws and regulations pertaining to real estate professionals and the banking industry), constitutional law, real estate litigation, commercial lease litigation, condemnation and eminent domain, trust and estates litigations, title insurance defense litigation, insurance coverage litigation for both insureds and insurers, bad faith litigat...

Ashley Ward has practiced in the Lexington office's Torts and Insurance Service Group since 1986 and is a co-leader of that group. He has tried more than 20 jury trials to verdict. He focuses on product liability, personal injury, medical malpractice, telecommunications and contractual disputes. Ashley also has considerable experience litigating will contests and other fiduciary disputes. More Than Stites & Harbison Upon graduation from law school, Ashley served as a law clerk for United ...