William Marion "Marion" Smith

Clifford B. Ammons, named one of The Best Lawyers in America ® in Workers' Compensation Law, was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1978. His experience spans from workers' compensation, medical malpractice defense and nursing home defense to education. His cases of note include Fresenius Medical Care and Continental Cas. Co. v. Woolfolk ex rel. Woolfolk , 920 So. 2d 1024 (Miss. App. 2005); Davis v. Pioneer, Inc. , 834 So. 2d 739 (Miss. App. 2003); and Bates v. Countrybrook Living ...

Chris Pace is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He advises on project finance and economic development law, state and local government law, economic development incentives, and gaming law. Chris’ clients include county and municipal governmental bodies as well as new and expanding business concerns, examples of which include a large steel company investing more than $1 billion in a new facility, and a regional beverage supplier investing millions of dollars to expand its existi...

William Gage is “a great trial lawyer who is very good at managing complex litigations in multiple districts. That is his specialty.” (Chambers USA Editorial, 2024, where William is ranked nationally for Product Liability & Mass Torts). He is “renowned for acting as lead counsel for major pharmaceutical companies in large MDLs, drawing particular praise for his achievements in pelvic mesh litigation.” (Chambers USA Editorial, 2023) William is “vastly experien...

Walter G. Watkins, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Environmental, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Walter G., who practices law in Jackson, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Walter G. is held by other top lawyers in the same ...

Thomas E. Williams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Product Liability Litigation - Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants. Thomas E., who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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.

La'Verne practices within Butler Snow's Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Litigation group and serves as the Chair of the firm’s Inclusivity Committee. She is experienced in defending cases involving product liability, medical negligence, premises liability, bad faith insurance, employment disputes and legal malpractice. Chambers USA, which recognized La’Verne for Litigation: General Commercial – Mississippi in 2023 and 2024, states that “[s]he is very well...

Elizabeth has served as Bond Counsel for various cities, counties and school districts throughout the State of Mississippi. Her practice is focused on public finance and government relations.

Amanda serves as Team Leader for the White Collar, Compliance and Government Investigations Group and focuses her practice on government investigations and complex civil litigation. She has served as Lead Chair in over 30 jury trials. Her experience includes regularly conducting internal investigations for companies and medical institutions and providing advice on reporting obligations and representation throughout all phases of government investigations and accompanying litigation.

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 ...