Butler Snow LLP > Gulfport, United States > Firm Profile

Butler Snow LLP
1300 25TH AVENUE, SUITE 204
GULFPORT, MS 39501
MISSISSIPPI
United States

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices Tier 2

Butler Snow LLP has an ‘excellent’ record acting for pharmaceutical and medical device companies utilizing a deep bench of subject matter experts and trial lawyers. Recognized for its collaborative approach, the team works particularly well with others in a “virtual law firm” setting, with lawyers in the team who are well-versed in handling work throughout the litigation life-cycle, from discovery through to settlement negotiation. Austin-based Kim Bueno is recognized as a ‘very dynamic trial specialist’, and has scored a raft of high-profile victories in federal and state courts through the country, including a number of recent wins in pelvic mesh trials. Located in the firm’s Mississippi headquarters, Christopher Morris is excellent at managing large-scale cases, where he has developed a particularly strong reputation for realizing efficiencies, including at the discovery phase. Also based in Mississippi, Paul Rosenblatt is ‘terrific with scientific experts’, and has extensive experience preparing, defending, and cross examining case specific and general causation experts. Team head Alyson Jones is also recommended and has considerable MDL experience.

Practice head(s):

Alyson Bustamante Jones

Other key lawyers:

Kim Bueno; Amy Pepke; Christopher Morris; Paul Rosenblatt; Caroline Walker

Testimonials

Kim Bueno is a very dynamic trial specialist.’

Paul Rosenblatt is a subject matter expert and terrific with scientific experts.’

 

Key clients

Johnson & Johnson

Ethicon, Inc.

AbbVie Inc.

Sunrise Medical (US) LLC

Genentech, Inc.

Hoffman-LaRoche, Inc.

Mississippi State Department of Health

DePuy Orthopaedics

Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc. (JJCI)

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.; Teva Women’s Health, LLC; and Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc.

Work highlights

  • National Counsel for Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson in every facet of litigation involving mesh products for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.
  • Obtained scores of victories in the J&J pelvic mesh litigation, impacting key aspects of product liability law on issues including experts, specific causation, statute of limitations and more.
  • National Counsel for AbbVie defending litigation involving use of the ZELTIQ/Allergan CoolSculpting® device. In this capacity, we work on all aspects of this complex litigation and have won all cases where plaintiffs have not settled.

Finance > Project finance Tier 4

Butler Snow LLP‘s deep bench of public finance advisors act on state and county soft and hard infrastructure builds. The group are a frequent port of call for many urban development authorities, public institutions, most notably hospital, schools and art centers, and energy developers for bond, borrower and corporate counsel. Added to this, the firm’s tax credits group is regular feature amongst practice matters, supporting clients on federal New Markets Tax Credits and state New Markets Tax Credits – amongst other tax issues. Thad Varner, Blake Sharpton, and Gregg Gumbert spearhead the team from Ridgeland, Macon, and Memphis respectively. In recent highlights, Thad has been active on port redevelopments, Blake on housing and medical builds, and Gregg on energy, manufacturing and logistics facilities. Also based in Ridgeland, Michael Russ and has been routinely instructed as bond counsel to the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, whereas John England and Anna Watson are well-reputed for their tax advice. Birmingham’s Caitlyn Burchfield, Ridgeland’s Jetson Hollingsworth, and Memphis’ Michael Bradshaw are also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Thad Varner; Blake Sharpton; Gregg Gumbert

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘The firm possesses a broad range of experience and works collaboratively. More important is that they work seamlessly with in-house counsel to create a coherent team to address the legal questions or transactions. The attorneys are quite knowledgeable even down to mid-year associates. They are quite responsive to requests.’

‘Mr. Bradshaw guided my employer through some interesting bond tax questions. More than just substantive knowledge, they actually took the time to learn about my employer, including the legal nuances of its creation and its internal politics, making my job much easier.’

 

Work highlights

  • Counsel to The Tennessee Energy Acquisition Corporation in connection with the issuance of $787,490,000 Gas Project Revenue Refunding Bonds, consisting of $768,035,000 Series 2023A-1, and $19,455,000 Series 2023A-2 (Taxable), issued to refinance prior debt and to finance the acquisition of an approximately 30-year supply of natural gas for sale to certain municipal utilities and joint action agencies
  • Served as bond counsel on three separate solar projects for Origis Energy with a combined par value in excess of $1,000,000,000.
  • Served as special New Markets Tax Credit and Historic Tax Credit counsel to the developer, Crosstown Arts, a nonprofit organization, in connection with the redevelopment of the Crosstown Sears Building in Memphis, Tennessee.

Firm overview: Some law firms promise client service. Butler Snow delivers on that promise. Surveys by respected national consultants consistently rank Butler Snow among the best nationwide in service – in anticipating needs, in a commitment to help, in providing value, in client satisfaction.

Butler Snow has emerged from being primarily a regional firm to one with national scope and has built a team of talented legal professionals who share a commitment to serve clients – from Fortune 100 companies to emerging-technology start-ups.

Butler Snow’s practice areas include the full range of business law and litigation services. The firm offers the depth to represent a broad spectrum of national and regional clients in a variety of legal areas, including:

  • Corporate/business services
  • Public finance, tax incentives and credit markets
  • Financial services
  • Bankruptcy and reorganization
  • Government, environmental, utilities and energy
  • Taxation
  • Product liability
  • Intellectual property
  • Commercial litigation
  • Appellate and written advocacy
  • Pharmaceutical, medical device and healthcare industry
  • Investigations
  • General litigation
  • Labor and employment
  • Real estate

The firm’s team approach utilizes resources across the firm to match legal experience with client needs. As a result, clients benefit from the firm’s strategic counsel, efficient execution and innovative solutions to complex challenges.

In an increasingly sophisticated business environment, clients need law firms that have the experience and depth to handle significant matters. Butler Snow’s attorneys offer diverse legal, business and governmental backgrounds, bringing vast experience and practical knowledge to each client they represent. Practice areas are focused on specific legal disciplines, and the firm also has teams that are equipped to address the needs of particular industries, including healthcare, banking and finance, gaming, environmental, manufacturing, governmental, and pharmaceutical and telecommunications.

The firm has represented clients in all 50 states and in the District of Columbia, as well as internationally in more than 30 countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Kuwait, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

Values

  • Pro bono: Butler Snow’s pro bono program is a firm-wide commitment to the public good. The firm performs pro bono legal services in litigation and non-litigation matters for individuals and non-profit organizations to directly benefit the communities where the firm’s attorneys live and work.
  • Women’s initiative: Butler Snow is dedicated to promoting and supporting the advancement of women. The Women’s Initiative is a key component of its diversity and inclusivity efforts. In a culture that’s focused solely on serving the client without concern for who’s going to get the credit – many of the traditional roadblocks that have stunted the advancement of women in the legal profession are replaced with an environment where women attorneys can thrive.
  • Butler Snow Foundation. Butler Snow’s commitment to supporting and investing in local communities stretches back to the firm’s founding in 1954. The commitment to actively participate in the betterment of communities is even outlined in the firm’s Partnership Principles. This commitment to communities has transcended into the founding of the Butler Snow Foundation, which was established in 1997 with funding from a client who was especially appreciative of the firm’s work on a major legal matter. The Foundation is a private foundation supported primarily by Butler Snow attorneys.

Inclusivity
Butler Snow believes inclusion is a key driver of innovation and creativity. The firm has long been committed to fostering, maintaining and celebrating an environment where creative solutions and new ideas are welcomed. Butler Snow believes its diverse workforce contributes to its competitive advantage. Firm culture is rooted in collaboration and partnership, and an inclusive environment is paramount to preserving that culture and delivering an elevated level of client service.

This dedication extends beyond the firm through active participation in and sponsorship of diverse organizations and events domestically and internationally. Butler Snow promotes outreach through professional associations, mentoring, recruiting, sponsorships and networking. The firm is also proud to be a Law Firm Affiliate of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. Butler Snow was one of only three law firms worldwide selected as an inaugural recipient of the prestigious AT&T Legal Department Diversity and Inclusion Award.

Butler Snow is also proud to have achieved Mansfield Rule Certified Plus in 2022 and 2023. The goal of the Mansfield Rule is to boost the representation of historically underrepresented lawyers in law firm leadership. The Mansfield Rule has become the standard by which law firms track and measure that they have affirmatively considered at least 30% women, lawyers from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, lawyers with disabilities and LGBTQ+ lawyers for top leadership roles, senior-level lateral hiring, promotions into the equity partnership and participation in client pitch meetings. The “Certification Plus” category that evaluates whether firms and legal departments have achieved diversity in leadership, not just considered it.

Department Name Email Telephone
Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Litigation Alyson Bustamante Jones (PGL)
Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Litigation Caroline Walker (Asst. PGL)
Commercial litigation Kevin Baltz (Asst. PGL)
Commercial litigation Edward L Stanton III (PGL)
Tort, Transportation & Specialized Litigation Arthur D Spratlin Jr (PGL)
Labor and employment Kara Shea (PGL)
Health Law Mark Garriga (PGL)
Health Law Ann Lundy (Asst. PGL)
Business services John J Healy III (PGL)
Regulatory and Government Melvin J Malone (PGL)
Public Finance, Tax Incentives, and Credit Markets Thad W Varner (PGL)
Public Finance, Tax Incentives, and Credit Markets Blake Sharpton (Asst. PGL)
Finance, Real Estate and Restructuring Gregg C. Gumbert (PGL)
Business Services George Crawford (Asst. PGL)
Products, Catastrophic & Industrial Litigation Righton J Lewis (PGL)
Number of Partners : 244
Number of Other Fee-Earners : 160
Other Staff : 343
Chairman : Christopher R. Maddux (601 985 4502, Chris.Maddux@butlersnow.com)