William M. "Bill" Lear, Jr.

Philip Coleman Lawson was born in Pineville, Bell County, Kentucky, the son of two lawyers. He attended high school at The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Thereafter, he attended Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. While at Centre, he was a member of the Varsity Baseball and Golf Teams while being an active member of his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. After a summer internship, at the Washington, D.C. office of former United States Representative, A.B. (“Ben”) Chand...

Michael S. Hargis is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Trademark Law. Michael S. practices law in Lexington, Kentucky Best Lawyers has recognized Michael S. Hargis since 2026. 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 Michael S. Hargis is held by other lawyers.

J. Guthrie True was born in Shelbyville, Kentucky, and was raised on the family farms in Franklin and Shelby Counties. He graduated from Franklin County High School in 1977. Guthrie is a summa cum laude graduate of Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky, where he received his Bachelor of Science in business and economics in 1981. He was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and served as his chapter’s president. Guthrie has maintained his connection to his alma mater serving on the G...

Mandy Wilson Decker is a Patent Attorney and member of the Intellectual Property & Technology Service Group. Her practice focuses on intellectual property protection strategy, including counseling clients on infringement, validity and patentability, transfer of intellectual property, patent drafting, and patent prosecution. Contributing to her practice is a scientific background in chemistry and experience with academic and commercial research in the areas of biochemistry, biotechnology, ...

Ashley Owens Hopkins is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Ashley Owens practices law in Lexington, Kentucky Best Lawyers has recognized Ashley Owens Hopkins since 2021. 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 Ashley Owens Hopkins is held by other lawyers.

Melanie J. Kilpatrick is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Employment Law - Management, Energy Regulatory Law, Litigation - Labor and Employment and Mining Law. Melanie J. practices law in Lexington, Kentucky Best Lawyers has recognized Melanie J. Kilpatrick since 2020. 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 professio...

Warren D. Schickli is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Copyright Law. Warren D. practices law in Lexington, Kentucky Best Lawyers has recognized Warren D. Schickli since 2021. 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 Warren D. Schickli is held by other lawyers.

Elizabeth A. Deener is a partner with Landrum & Shouse LLP. Her main practice area is Insurance Defense.

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...

Chrisandrea (Chrissie) Turner of our Lexington office is a bankruptcy and creditors’ rights litigator focusing on corporate bankruptcy and restructuring and adversary proceeding defense. Ms. Turner regularly represents lenders, trade creditors, lessors and lessees, sureties, and large creditors in Chapter 11 matters and complex bankruptcies around the country. Her litigation practice includes receiverships, preferential and fraudulent transfer defense in bankruptcies, nondischarge of de...