William S. Painter

Gina Jacobs is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. She focuses on business planning and commercial transactions, commercial finance, and mergers and acquisitions. Over the course of a law career that spans more than 30 years, Gina has advised privately held businesses with their business planning, contracting, finance, and acquisition and divestiture needs. Her knowledge of contract and commercial law and finance makes her an asset to her clients as they grow and expand their businesse...

Mark focuses his practice on complex and mass tort litigation, with an emphasis on defending pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in federal and state courts across the country. He also has experience in a range of chemical exposure, product liability and commercial cases, and he is experienced in defending consumer protection cases brought by the Mississippi Attorney General against product manufacturers. He has been recognized by BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America® and ...

William F. Ray was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1986. His experience spans from commercial litigation, complex litigation and banking, securities and financial services to life, health and disability insurance and ERISA and employee benefit claims. His cases of note include Raines v. Bottrell Ins. Agency, Inc., 992 So.2d 642, 2008 WL 1869290, 2008 Miss. App. LEXIS 274; 27 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1350 (Miss. App. 2008); Estate of Bratton v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., 215 F.3d 516, 2000 U.S....

Todd Butler represents clients in matters involving employment, civil rights and appellate issues. He is general counsel to the Mississippi Municipal Liability Plan, the Mississippi Municipal Workers’ Compensation Group, and the Mississippi Municipal Service Company. Todd has successfully represented municipalities, law enforcement officers and companies, serving as counsel in nearly 100 reported decisions and having presented oral arguments in both federal and state courts throughout t...

Caroline K. Ivanov is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Caroline K. practices law in Jackson, Mississippi Best Lawyers has recognized Caroline K. Ivanov 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 professional regard in which Caroline ...

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 ...

R. James (Jimmy) Young was named to The Top 50 Mississippi attorneys 2010 and 2012 lists, having received one of the highest point totals in the Mid-South Super Lawyers nomination, research and blue ribbon review process. He was identified as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in Mississippi in the Leaders in Law 2011 by the Mississippi Business Journal. As a Best Lawyer in America for the past fifteen years, Jimmy was also named by his peers as the Best Lawyers in America 2013 Jackson, MS Trusts &...

Jay practices within the Products, Catastrophic and Industrial Litigation Group. He focuses his practice on product liability litigation, toxic tort litigation, environmental litigation, catastrophic events and major claims, incident response and evidence preservation, OSHA and general litigation defense.

Ben focuses his practice on Corporate/LLC Law, Securities Law, Mergers and Acquisitions and Business Planning and Operations. He has served multiple tenures on the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Business Law Reform Committees for LLCs, Corporations and Securities Laws.

Jim Pettis is a member of the Firm’s Trust, Estates & Personal Planning Service Team. He concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, probate, Elder Law, ERISA and employee benefits, state and federal taxation, business law including contracts, general corporate merger, reorganizations and acquisitions.