William M. "Matt" Vines

Kelly D. Simpkins is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law. Kelly D., who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kelly D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

R. David Marchetti is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Trusts and Estates. R. David, who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which R. David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Aileen Thomas is a partner in the Tax Practice Group and a member of the firm’s board of directors. Aileen is a nationally recognized finance attorney with a focus on New Markets Tax Credit transactions, Historic Tax Credit transactions, tax exempt bond transactions and other sophisticated debt financing transactions. Aileen’s clients include national, regional and community banks, underwriting firms, investment funds, community development entities and community development finan...

Matt is a member of Butler Snow’s Health Law group and focuses his practice on healthcare compliance with federal and state law, the structuring of business transactions for healthcare providers, and the defense of healthcare clients in commercial litigation and governmental audits. Matt regularly provides counsel to institutional and individual providers to ensure contemplated business transactions are both profitable and compliant with applicable laws, including Stark Law and the Anti...

Alyson serves as Practice Group Leader for our Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Group. Frequently called upon to assemble teams and manage both coordinated proceedings and individual plaintiff cases, she represents pharmaceutical and medical device companies in product liability litigation across the country. “Alyson is a phenomenal case manager and a strong litigator.” Chambers USA, which ranked Alyson for nationwide Product Liability & Mass Torts (2025). The Leg...

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.

Walter J. Brand heads the Employment and Labor Practice Group at Watkins & Eager PLLC, where he has defended employment litigation for more than twenty years. Walter approaches his practice with the view that successful defense of employment claims begins long before a lawsuit is filed and requires three essential components: (1) fair, accurate and documented handling of personnel actions based on updated employer policies; (2) cogent explanation of employer action before administrative a...

Keishunna is a member of the Tort, Transportation and Specialized Litigation practice group and has more than 14 years of litigation experience. Her experience spans the breadth of defending commercial trucking and transportation companies resulting in the full range of complex personal injury, including catastrophic injury, brain injury, and wrongful death cases, to defending landowners in a wide variety of premises liability cases, running the gamut from simple slip and falls to negligent s...

Thomas is a member of the Finance, Real Estate and Restructuring Group. His practice is focused on mergers, acquisitions, bankruptcy and restructuring.

Bo represents publicly traded and privately held businesses in acquisitions, sales, mergers and capital raises. He is also experienced in business strategy and planning, including corporate formation, structuring and organization.