More than 200 Phelps Lawyers Recognized in 2026 Edition of Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers Honorees

The 200 Phelps lawyers ranked by The Best Lawyers in America 2026 include:

Austin, Texas

• Fletcher H. Brown – Administrative/Regulatory Law, Health Care Law
• David Garcia – Corporate Law, Health Care Law
• Frederick D. Junkin – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
• 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
• Brad Boudreaux – Litigation - Construction
• 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, Real Estate 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, Railroad Law
• Katherine Cicardo Mannino – Health Care Law
• Richard E. Matheny – Tax Law
• Ryan Q. Moon – 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
• Kevin Welsh – Insurance Law

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, FinTech Practice
• 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, Litigation – Health Care
• 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
• 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
• C. Matthew Terrell – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law

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
• Kyle S. Moran – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance, 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
• Lisa M. Kaufmann – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Railroad Law, Transportation 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
• Clinton Wolbert – Litigation – Insurance

Jackson, Mississippi

• Suzanna Baker – Real Estate Law
• Todd Butler – Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• H. David Clark III – 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
• Candace Gregory – Commercial Litigation
• Mike Hurst – Criminal Defense: White Collar
• LaToya C. Merritt – Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Nicholas F. Morisani  – Labor Law – Union, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• 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 – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 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
• 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

Mobile, Alabama

• Britten L. Britt – Corporate Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
• Katharine R. Colletta – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Oil and Gas Law, Railroad Law
• 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
• Jonathan R. Maples – Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Sumpter M. McGowin II – Corporate 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, Litigation – Insurance
• Breanne Stanley Zarzour – Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Nashville, Tennessee

• John M. Farris – Government Relations Practice

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, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), 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
• 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, Corporate 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
• Harrison Golden – Banking and Finance Law 
• Pablo Gonzalez – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance, Reinsurance Law
• Jeremy T. Grabill – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation
• Stephen P. Hall – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
• David D. Haynes – Health Care Law
• Ashley J. Heilprin – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – First Amendment
• Michael F. Held – Admiralty and Maritime Law
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

Pensacola, Florida

• J. Nixon Daniel III – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

• Thomas F. Gonzalez – Aviation Law, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Steven R. Griffin – Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law, Utilities Law
• David L. McGee – Criminal Defense: White Collar
• Russell F. Van Sickle – Employment Law – Management, Energy Regulatory Law, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Charles T. Wiggins – Criminal Defense: General Practice, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• John R. Zoesch III – Commercial Litigation

Raleigh, North Carolina

• Sarah Covey Blount – Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
• 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
• Sean Murphy – Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
• 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, Privacy and Data Security Law
• 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
• Mallory H. Thomas – Insurance Law
• 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

Twelve Phelps lawyers were recognized on the “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• Nena Eddy – Energy Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Christopher Vidrine – Health Care Law

Birmingham, Alabama

• Margarita E. Arellano – Commercial Litigation
• Taylor Johnson – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Amanda Nelson – Banking and Finance Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Real Estate Law

Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas

• Blair Bennett – Real Estate Law

Jackson, Mississippi

• Mallory Bland – Appellate Practice, Civil Rights Law, Litigation – Labor and Employment

New Orleans, Louisiana

• Michael J. Catalano – Transportation Law
• Melissa Redmon – Insurance Law
• Carlos Saravia – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Ryan P. Telep– Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Oil and Gas Law
• Claire Zeringue – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, 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 2026 edition is based on more than 13 million evaluations of lawyers by their peers and recognizes more than 166,568 lawyers in 150 practice areas and 76 countries worldwide.