Ryan J. Smith

Joseph G. Nichols is a partner in the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group. His practice includes a number of different areas including assisting large and small business and individuals with business, tax and real estate related matters. His work has included representing companies in connection with business sales, mergers, reorganizations, liquidations and tax deferred like kind exchanges. He has also assisted clients with the formation of new business entities and the ra...

Michael McCarty Harrison is a partner in the firm’s litigation practice group. She focuses her practice on insurance defense and coverage, products liability, medical malpractice, personal injury defense, transportation litigation, fire/arson investigation and defense and appellate advocacy. Prior to joining the firm, Harrison spent 20 years developing a strong litigation practice in Little Rock and has been recognized for her work by Mid-South Super Lawyers . She is a member of the Def...

Timothy Ezell practices primarily in the area of healthcare law, representing hospitals, physician groups and other medical service providers in various corporate and compliance matters. His experience covers matters relating to HIPAA, Stark, fraud and abuse, anti-kickback, EMTALA, Medicare reimbursement, compliance, joint ventures, provider sales and acquisitions, medical staff bylaws and credentialing issues.

Professional Experience Justin Allen practiced law as a litigator for almost eight years at Wright Lindsey Jennings before joining the Arkansas Attorney General’s office as Chief Deputy Attorney General. As Chief Deputy, Allen gained considerable experience in government relations matters. In that position, Allen was responsible for all legal departments within the office and handled legal issues faced by the State, including constitutional issues, consumer protection, environmental, an...

Brian Pipkin provides legal counsel and regulatory guidance to insurance companies, insurance agencies and producers, health plans, managed care companies, and other insurance and health care related entities, on a national basis. He has extensive appellate experience in cases before the federal courts of appeals, state supreme and intermediate appellate courts, and federal and state administrative agencies.

Zach Steadman represents insurance carriers and health care providers in regulatory matters pertaining to federal and state regulation. He also provides regulatory counsel on issues of information management and security compliance and advises clients on security policies and procedures, record retention policies, HIPAA compliance and planning for and responding to data breaches.

Alexandra Ifrah is a partner in the Employee Benefits Practice Group of Friday, Eldredge & Clark and serves on the firm’s Management Committee. Since joining the firm in 1999, Alexandra has concentrated her practice on the representation of employers from a myriad of industries in complex employee benefits, taxation and executive compensation matters. Alexandra has extensive experience in the design, implementation, compliance and administration of tax-qualified retirement plans (in...

John Davis represents employers in the areas of labor and employment law and workers’ compensation defense. He spends a considerable amount of his time advising clients in connection with a variety of employment-related matters, including terminations, severance agreements, wage and hour issues, union avoidance, union negotiations, arbitrations, personnel policies and compliance with federal, state and local employment laws. In addition, Davis frequently appears before the Arkansas Work...

Stuart Jackson has been practicing in the employment law field for over thirty years and focuses his practice on advising employers on compliance with civil rights/employment laws and developing personnel policies and employment agreements. Jackson recently has focused his time on assisting employers on medical marijuana issues and on defending employers in wage and hour class and collective action litigation. Jackson defends employers in federal and state court litigation and appeals, includ...

Derrick Smith is an experienced strategic advisor and advocate assisting national and regional clients in insurance regulatory law, compliance, investigative, and legislative matters. He represents insurance clients in their interactions with state insurance departments throughout the United States providing counsel on insurance law and regulatory compliance. He has substantial experience representing regulated businesses and entities in all aspects of government relations including legislati...