185 Phelps Lawyers Chosen for Best Lawyers in America, 20 Named "Lawyer of the Year," 26 Added to “Ones to Watch” List

NEW ORLEANS — Aug. 15, 2024 — The Best Lawyers in America 2025 recognized 185 Phelps attorneys in its latest annual rankings. Lawyers from 85 practice areas made the list, which included attorneys across 14 offices. Almost half of lawyers recognized in this year’s guide have been on the list for 10 years or more. Twenty Phelps attorneys were named "Lawyer of the Year," nearly doubling the lawyers honored since last year’s report. Twenty-six made the “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list, and 15 made the list for the first time this year.

The guide added 14 lawyers from Phelps’ Memphis and Austin offices this year, showcasing Phelps’ added strengths in the Tennessee and Texas markets and boosting the firm’s rankings across the financial, government relations, insurance, real estate and health care sectors. 

“Lawyer of the Year” Awards

The guide selected 20 Phelps attorneys as “Lawyer of the Year,” an award reserved for one attorney in each legal field and location. Phelps “Lawyer of the Year” recipients include:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• • Shelton Dennis Blunt - Litigation - Health Care, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
  • Susan W. Furr - Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Paul F. Guarisco - Energy Regulatory Law
  • H. Alston Johnson III - Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
  • W. Bradley Kline – Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
  • Patrick Ragan Richard - Banking and Finance Law

Birmingham, Alabama

• • Steve A. Tucker - Railroad Law
  • Michael E. Turner - Employment Law - Management

Houston, Texas

• • Frederick D. Junkin - Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law

Jackson, Mississippi

• • W. Thomas Siler, Jr. - Employment Law – Management

Memphis, Tennessee

• • John A. Bobango – Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
  • Homer B. Branan III – Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
  • Philip E. Mischke – Insurance Law

Mobile, Alabama

• • Thomas F. Garth - Tax Law

New Orleans, Louisiana

• • Lee R. Adler - Securitization and Structured Finance Law
  • Mark A. Fullmer - Venture Capital Law
  • Harry Rosenberg – Criminal Defense: General Practice
  • James A. Stuckey - Real Estate Law

Tampa, Florida

• • Brian Albritton – Antitrust Law
  • Jason A. Pill – Litigation – Labor and Employment

Best Lawyers Honorees

The 185 Phelps lawyers ranked by The Best Lawyers in America 2025 includes:

Austin, Texas

• • Kristina Weber Silcocks – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Government Relations Practice

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• • Jeffrey M. Barbin – Gaming Law
  • Jonathan C. Benda – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
  • Shelton Dennis Blunt – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Health Care, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Warner J. Delaune - Patent Law, Technology Law, Trademark Law
  • Virginia Y. Dodd – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Kelsey Funes – Litigation – Construction
  • Susan W. Furr - Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Karleen Green - Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Walt Green – Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Paul F. Guarisco – Energy Regulatory Law, Utilities Law
  • J. Alan Harrell - Litigation – Environmental
  • Trevor J. Haynes – Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law
  • Michael D. Hunt – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction
  • H. Alston Johnson III - Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
  • Thomas H. Kiggans – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Errol J. King, Jr. – Health Care Law, Insurance Law, Litigation – Health Care
  • W. Bradley Kline – Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Corporate Law
  • A. Paul LeBlanc, Jr. – Commercial Litigation
  • Steven J. Levine – Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Environmental, Railroad Law
  • Katherine Cicardo Mannino – Health Care Law
  • Richard E. Matheny – Tax Law
  • Drew Patty – Copyright Law, Patent Law, Trademark Law
  • Erik Piazza - Real Estate Law 
  • Patrick Ragan Richard – Banking and Finance Law, Franchise Law, Real Estate Law
  • Randy P. Roussel – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
  • John O. Shirley – Energy Law, Government Relations Practice
  • Gregory Thomas Stevens – Commercial Litigation
  • Jeffrey E. Tomlinson – Real Estate Law
  • Michael B. Victorian - Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment

Birmingham, Alabama

• • Gerald Burnett – Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law, Timber Law
  • Christopher P. Couch – Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Finance Law, Financial Services Regulation Law
  • Roy J. Crawford – Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Tax Law
  • Fred Daniels – Corporate Law, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • Carolyn L. Duncan – Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Law, Financial Services Regulation Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation
  • Sydney F. Frazier, Jr. – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Workers' Compensation Law – Employers
  • John M. Graham – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Railroad Law, Transportation Law
  • James F. Henry – Health Care Law
  • Diane Maughan – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate, Railroad Law
  • Crawford S. McGivaren, Jr. – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Antitrust, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Securities, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, Railroad Law
  • George L. Morris IV – Litigation – Health Care
  • Michael B. Odom – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate
  • Jennifer Powers – Banking and Finance Law
  • Carlton Smyly – Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
  • Thomas Sullivan – Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Insurance Law
  • Steve A. Tucker – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Railroad Law
  • Michael E. Turner – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
  • Herbert H. West, Jr. – Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas

• • Blake Bailey – Litigation – Antitrust
  • Paige C. Jones – Insurance Law
  • Kasi G. Schuelke – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance

Fort Worth, Texas

• • Mark Daniel – Commercial Litigation
  • Claudine G. Jackson – Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment

Gulfport, Mississippi

• • Scott T. Ellzey – Insurance Law
  • Lauren McCrory – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Heather Murphy – Insurance Law, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • James G. Wyly III – Mediation, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, Transportation Law

Houston, Texas

• • Peri H. Alkas – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Amy Cazes Greene – Litigation – Insurance
  • Patricia A. Hair – Commercial Litigation
  • Frederick D. Junkin – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
  • Lisa M. Kaufmann – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Brian A. Kilmer - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Marcus G. Matthews – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • George S. McCall – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
  • Ivan M. Rodriguez – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Insurance Law
  • Marcus R. Tucker - Admiralty and Maritime Law

Jackson, Mississippi

• • Suzanna Baker – Real Estate Law
  • Fred L. Banks, Jr. – Appellate Practice, Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Mediation
  • Ross F. Bass, Jr.- Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Banking and Finance
  • Todd Butler – Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Chad A. Davidson – Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • A.M. Edwards III – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • Mike Hurst – Criminal Defense: White Collar
  • LaToya C. Merritt – Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Nicholas F. Morisani – Labor Law – Union, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • James W. O’Mara - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • James L. Pettis – Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
  • Bridgforth R. Rutledge – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
  • W. Thomas Siler, Jr. - Employment Law - Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Calvin Wells - Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Finance Law, Corporate Law
  • Sarah Beth Wilson – Litigation – Bankruptcy

Memphis, Tennessee

• • Stephen L. Anderson – Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Law, Trusts and Estates
  • Richard D. Bennett – Construction Law, Employment Law – Individuals, Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Mark E. Beutelschies – Economic Development Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Real Estate Law
  • John A. Bobango – Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Tax Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Homer B. Branan III – Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
  • Jay A. Ebelhar - Employment Law – Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment, Litigation - Real Estate, Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
  • John M. Farris – Government Relations Practice
  • Anita I. Lotz - Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Financial Services Regulation Law, Real Estate Law
  • Robert A. McLean – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation - Real Estate, Litigation – Securities
  • Robert F. Miller – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and finance, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Trusts and Estates
  • Philip E. Mischke - Administrative / Regulatory Law, Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Marye Helen Owen - Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • Alexander W. Wellford, Jr. - Employment Law – Individuals, Litigation - Trusts and Estates

Mobile, Alabama

• • Britten L. Britt – Corporate Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • Todd L. Denison - Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • William J. Gamble, Jr. – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
  • Thomas F. Garth – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • Allen E. Graham – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation
  • Richard B. Johnson – Construction Law
  • Joseph J. Minus, Jr. – Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Individuals, Employment Law – Management, Municipal Law
  • William E. Shreve, Jr. – Appellate Practice, Insurance Law
  • A. Grady Williams IV – Admiralty and Maritime Law

New Orleans, Louisiana

• • Lee R. Adler – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law, Securitization and Structured Finance Law
  • Nan Alessandra – Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Mediation
  • Barbara L. Arras – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
  • Bart C. Bacigalupi – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
  • William R. Bishop – Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Kim M. Boyle – Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Michael M. Butterworth – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Christopher Bynog – Insurance Law
  • Craig L. Caesar – Antitrust Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Antitrust
  • Colin Cambre - Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Philip deV. Claverie, Jr. – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
  • Miles P. Clements – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Energy Law, Litigation – Environmental
  • Katharine R. Colletta – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Oil and Gas Law, Railroad Law
  • Brandon Davis – Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Richard N. Dicharry – Insurance Law
  • Mark C. Dodart – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Mark Fijman – Employment Law – Management
  • Mark A. Fullmer – Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation, Venture Capital Law
  • Pablo Gonzalez – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance, Reinsurance Law
  • Jeremy T. Grabill – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation
  • George B. Hall, Jr. – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Stephen P. Hall – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • David D. Haynes – Health Care Law
  • Ashley J. Heilprin – Litigation – First Amendment
  • Gary A. Hemphill - Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Nathan G. Huntwork – Energy Regulatory Law, Utilities Law
  • Katherine Karam – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Douglas M. Kleeman – Insurance Law
  • David M. Korn – Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Kevin J. LaVie – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Daniel Lund III – Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
  • Evans Martin McLeod - Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Pamela G. Michiels – Insurance Law
  • Allen C. Miller – Commercial Litigation
  • Kyle S. Moran – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Thomas Kent Morrison - Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Katie Myers – Insurance Law
  • Daniel T. Pancamo - Banking and Finance Law, Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice, Energy Regulatory Law, Utilities Law
  • David L. Patrón – Antitrust Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Oil and Gas Law
  • Christopher K. Ralston – Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation
  • Marshall M. Redmon – Insurance Law, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, Reinsurance Law
  • Stuart Richeson – Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
  • William J. Riviere – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Harry Rosenberg - Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Mary Ellen Roy - Advertising Law, Litigation - First Amendment, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Media Law
  • Jay Russell Sever – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Rebecca Sha – Commercial Litigation
  • Patrick M. Shelby – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • James A. Stuckey - Banking and Finance Law, Equipment Finance Law, Real Estate Law
  • Patrick A. Talley, Jr. - Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Oil and Gas Law, Railroad Law 
  • David J. Topping– Environmental Law
  • Michael S. Williams – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – Labor and Employment

Raleigh, North Carolina

• • Thomas M. Contois – Insurance Law
  • Jonathan E. Hall - Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
  • Robert Mills Kennedy, Jr. – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Patrick M. Meacham – Litigation – Health Care, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Kevin M. O’Brien – Insurance Law

Tampa, Florida

• • A. Brian Albritton - Antitrust Law, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White Collar, Litigation - Health Care, Qui Tam Law 
  • Karl J. Brandes - Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
  • Bret M. Feldman – Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
  • Robert H. Gidel, Jr. – Real Estate Law
  • Michael S. Hooker – Commercial Litigation
  • Raquel R. Jefferson – Commercial Litigation
  • Matthew L. Litsky – Insurance Law
  • Erin L. Malone – Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Dennis M. McClelland – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Labor Law – Union, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Michael A. McGriskin – Insurance Law
  • Patricia A. McLean – Insurance Law
  • Catriana N. Messina – Insurance Law
  • John D. Mullen - Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Rhett C. Parker – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • John E. Phillips – Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Jason A. Pill - Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Erin M. Raschke – Insurance Law
  • Reed L. Russell – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Seth M. Schimmel - Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation - Construction
  • William J. Tinsley – Construction Law, Litigation - Construction

Tupelo, Mississippi

• • Andrew V. Garner – Corporate Law
  • Mark N. Halbert - Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Jeffrey S. Moore – Health Care Law
  • Gregory D. Pirkle – Tax Law, Trusts and Estates

“Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” List

Twenty-six Phelps lawyers were recognized on the “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• • Christopher Vidrine – Health Care Law
  • Kevin Welsh - Commercial Litigation, Government Relations Practice, Insurance Law

Birmingham, Alabama

• • Kenneth W. Boyles - Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Ryan Wheeler – Tax Law

Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas

• • K. Blair Bennett - Real Estate Law

Fort Worth, Texas

• • Jennifer K. Clewis – Labor and Employment Law – Management
  • Alicia A. Murphy – Insurance Law

Gulfport, Mississippi

• • Drury S. Holland – Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Houston, Texas

• • Andy R. Nash – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law

Memphis, Tennessee

• • Tomas Duck – Corporate Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • Scott Evans – Corporate Law

Mobile, Alabama

• • Barrett Hails - Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
  • Breanne Stanley Zarzour - Commercial Litigation, Native American Law, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

New Orleans, Louisiana

• • Harrison Golden – Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Litigation
  • Jaime E. Hurley – Real Estate Law
  • Arthur R. Kraatz - Commercial Litigation
  • Casey Q. O’Flynn – Corporate Law, Real Estate Law
  • Thomas H. Peyton - Insurance Law
  • Ryan P. Telep – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Oil and Gas Law
  • Katherine L. Wyly – Insurance Law

Raleigh, North Carolina

• • Christy M. Maple – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law

Tampa, Florida

• • Jonathan E. Lewerenz - Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
  • Katherine Martinez – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
  • Sarah J. Smith - Insurance Law
  • Mallory H. Thomas - Insurance Law

Tupelo, Mississippi

• • Robert C. Bass – Real Estate Law

New Additions to the Rankings

Fifteen Phelps attorneys joined these rankings for the first time this year:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• • Trevor J. Haynes – Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law
  • Katherine Cicardo Mannino – Health Care Law
  • Jeffrey E. Tomlinson – Real Estate Law
  • Michael B. Victorian - Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment

Birmingham, Alabama

• • Jennifer Powers – Banking and Finance Law

Jackson, Mississippi

• • Mike Hurst – Criminal Defense: White Collar
  • Nicholas F. Morisani – Labor Law – Union, Litigation – Labor and Employment

New Orleans, Louisiana

• • Ashley J. Heilprin – Litigation – First Amendment
  • Jaime E. Hurley – Real Estate Law
  • Casey Q. O’Flynn – Corporate Law, Real Estate Law

Raleigh, North Carolina

• • Kevin M. O’Brien – Insurance Law

Tampa, Florida

• • Robert H. Gidel, Jr. – Real Estate Law
  • Michael A. McGriskin – Insurance Law
  • Catriana N. Messina – Insurance Law
  • Rhett C. Parker – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Since 1983, Best Lawyers has been hailed as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Each year, it ranks lawyers by practice areas and locations. The 2025 edition is based on more than 13 million evaluations of lawyers by their peers and recognizes more than 158,000 lawyers in 150 practice areas and 76 countries worldwide.