G. Todd Butler
Partner
Todd solves problems.
His practice focuses on litigation and strategic counseling, with an emphasis on appellate, constitutional, and employment matters. He represents clients of all types, including Fortune 500 companies, mom-and-pop businesses, governmental entities, and individuals. For years, he has served as General Counsel for the Mississippi Municipal Service Company, the Mississippi Municipal Liability Plan, the Mississippi Municipal Workers’ Compensation Group, and numerous private-sector companies.
Appearing as counsel in more than 300 cases, Todd has helped clients obtain successful outcomes at every stage of litigation. He has tried cases to the bench, juries, and arbitrators; navigated favorable settlements; and presented oral argument 19 times in appellate courts throughout the United States. Todd is featured in the third edition of Winning On Appeal: Better Briefs and Oral Argument, a leading appellate practice treatise. In the United States Supreme Court’s 2025-2026 Term, he presented argument in Oliver v. City of Brandon, a Section 1983 case.
In addition to representing clients, courts have appointed Todd to serve as an arbitrator. Parties likewise have chosen him to arbitrate their private disputes. He has taught courses as an adjunct law professor and is the past Chairman of the Mississippi Bar’s Appellate Practice Section. He regularly trains employers on personnel compliance and prepares policy manuals.
Experience
U.S. Supreme Court
- Olivier v. City of Brandon, Case No. 24-993 (2025) (pending First Amendment case) (argued)
- Johnson v. City of Shelby, 574 U.S. 10 (2014) (pleading case) (non-argued)
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Walters v. City of Brandon, Case No. 25-60209 (5th Cir. 2026) (pending Title VII case) (argued)
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Singh v. City of Greenville, Case No. 24-60644 (5th Cir. Jan. 16, 2026) (obtained affirmance in equal protection case) (non-argued)
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Jew v. City of Lexington, Case No. 21-60610 (5th Cir. Dec. 30, 2025) (dismissed appeal for lack of jurisdiction in Fourth Amendment case) (argued)
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Majors v. City of Canton, Case No. 25-60148 (5th Cir. Dec. 29, 2025) (obtained reversal of district court’s discovery order) (non-argued)
- Odom Industries, Inc. v. Sipcam Agro Solutions, LLC, Case No. 24-60410 (5th Cir. June 4, 2025) (reversed denial of motion to compel arbitration) (non-argued)
- Fry v. City of Hernando, Case No. 24-60532 (5th Cir. May 13, 2025) (obtained affirmance in race discrimination case) (non-argued)
- Franks v. City of Oxford, Case No. 24-60295 (5th Cir. 2025) (obtained affirmance of summary judgment in Title VII employment case) (argued)
- Atkins v. Hopkins, Case No. 23-60381 (5th Cir. 2025) (obtained reversal in First Amendment retaliation case) (argued)
- Siders v. City of Brandon, Miss., 123 F.4th 293 (5th Cir. 2024) (successfully defended First Amendment challenge to municipal ordinance), en banc rehearing denial, 130 F.4th 188 (5th Cir. 2025) (argued)
- Olivier v. City of Brandon, Miss., No. 22-60566, (5th Cir. 2023) (obtained affirmance of First Amendment case dismissal on Heck grounds), en banc rehearing denial, 121 F.4th 511 (5th Cir. 2024) (argued)
- James v. Sunflower Cty., Miss., Case No. 24-60338 (5th Cir. 2024) (obtained affirmance of Section 1983 case dismissal) (non-argued)
- Rucker v. Marshall, 119 F.4th 395 (5th Cir. 2024) (obtained reversal of denial of qualified immunity in Fourth Amendment case) (argued)
- Hoyle v. City of Hernando, Case No. 23-60451 (5th Cir. 2024) (obtained affirmance of grant of qualified immunity in Fourth Amendment case) (argued)
- Walton v. City of Hernando, 82 F.4th 314 (5th Cir. 2023) (obtained reversal of denial of sovereign immunity on state law wrongful death claim) (argued)
- Berkley v. City of Oxford, Miss., Case No. 22-60418 (5th Cir. 2023) (obtained affirmance of tax sale challenge) (non-argued)
- Williams v. City of Greenwood, Case No. 22-60192 (5th Cir. 2023) (obtained affirmance of Section 1983 case dismissal) (non-argued)
- Williams v. Yazoo City, Miss., 41 F.4th 416 (5th Cir. 2022) (affirmed denial of qualified immunity in denial-of-medical case case) (argued)
- Goree v. City of Verona, Miss., No. 21-60911 (5th Cir. 2022) (obtained affirmance of Title VII employment case) (non-argued)
- Savory v. City of Greenwood, Miss., No. 22-60186 (5th Cir. 2022) (obtained affirmance of Section 1983 case dismissal) (non-argued)
- Loftin v. City of Prentiss, Miss., 33 F.4th 774 (5th Cir. 2022) (obtained affirmance of Section 1983 case dismissal and award of prevailing defendant attorney fee’s award) (non-argued)
- Stewart v. Myrik, Case No. 21-60734 (5th Cir. 2022) (settled case on appeal) (non-argued)
- Hawkins v. City of Lexington, Miss., No. 21-60838 (5th Cir. 2022) (obtained affirmance of Section 1983 case dismissal) (non-argued)
- Smith v. City of Beaumont, Miss., Case No. No. 21-60059 (5th Cir. 2021) (obtained affirmance of Section 1983 case dismissal) (non-argued)
- Friend v. McAdams, Case No. 20-60456 (5th Cir. 2021) (obtained affirmance of Title VII employment case) (non-argued)
- Carr v. Hoover, No. 18-60603 (5th Cir. 2020) (obtained affirmance of Section 1983 case dismissal) (non-argued)
- Simmons v. Fair, No. 20-60297 (5th Cir. 2020) (obtained affirmance of Section 1983 case dismissal) (non-argued)
- King v. Hood, No. 18-60601 (5th Cir. 2020) (obtained affirmance of Section 1983 case dismissal) (non-argued)
- Breland v. Dedeaux, No. 19-60202 (5th Cir. 2019) (obtained affirmance of Section 1983 case dismissal) (non-argued)
- Snider v. L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace, LLC, 946 F.3d 660 (5th Cir. 2019) (successfully obtain partial reversal of legal malpractice claim) (argued)
- Harville v. City of Houston, 945 F.3d 870 (5th Cir. 2019) (obtained affirmance in Title VII case) (argued)
- Wrecker Works, LLC v. City of Aberdeen, Miss., Case No. 17-60810 (5th Cir. 2018) (obtained affirmance of Section 1983 case dismissal) (non-argued)
- Gerhart v. Barnes, Case No. 17-60287 (5th Cir. 2018) (affirmed denial of qualified immunity in Section 1983 case) (non-argued)
- Smith v. Davenport, Case No. 17–60554 (5th Cir. 2018) (obtained dismissal for lack of jurisdiction) (non-argued)
- Pennypacker v. City of Pearl, Miss., Case No. 16-60688 (5th Cir. 2017) (obtained reversal of qualified immunity denial in First Amendment employment case) (argued)
- Kennedy v. Jefferson Cty. Hospital, Case No. 16-60805 (5th Cir. 2017) (obtained affirmance of dismissal of breach of contract case) (non-argued)
- Stockstill v. City of Picayune, Miss., Case No. 16–60103 (5th Cir. 2016) (obtained affirmance of denial of preliminary injunction in First Amendment case) (argued)
- DePriest v. Fisher, Case No. 15-60488 (5th Cir. 2016) (appeal dismissed as moot) (non-argued)
- Parker v. Leaf River Cellulose, No. 15–60034 (5th Cir. 2015) (affirmed dismissal of summary judgment in employment case of first impression), panel rehearing granted, No. 15–60034 (5th Cir. 2016) (reversed grant of summary judgment) (non-argued)
- Gibson v. Kilpatrick, Case No. 15–60583 (5th Cir. 2014) (obtained reversal of denial qualified immunity in First Amendment retaliation case), reversed and remanded by Supreme Court, (5th Cir. 2016) (same result on remand) (argued)
- Johnson v. City of Shelby, Miss., Case No. 12–60735 (5th Cir. 2014) (affirmed dismissal of employment case) (non-argued)
- Akers v. Hinds Cty. Community College, No. 11–60116 (5th Cir. 2012) (obtained reversal of jury verdict in employment case) (non-argued)
- Bell-Wilson v. Skinner, Case No. 11–60375 (5th Cir. 2012) (obtained affirmance of dismissal of employment case) (non-argued)
- Chandler v. Roncoli, Case No. 10–60918 (5th Cir. 2011) (obtained affirmance of dismissal of Section 1983 case) (non-argued)