Butler Snow LLP

Attorney

Represented publicly traded company in federal district court in Chicago, defeating TRO attempting to stop client's $7.5 billion transaction selling assets in 20 states. Successfully tried breach of contract case related to the inspection, rejection, acceptance, and cooking of industrial quantities of poultry, resulting in a jury verdict for client. Successfully arbitrated breach of contract; validated event of default under pledge agreement; accelerated payment of related promissory note; defeated each of opposing party's counterclaims; and secured award of attorneys' fees and cost of arbitration for client. Defended community-wide, groundwater contamination cases related to two different sites.  Each site generated dozens of plaintiffs and multiple lawsuits, including litigation brought by the Attorney General on behalf of the State. Experienced mediator and arbitrator. Served as national coordinating counsel for target benzene defendant, supervising local counsel, developing trial strategy and leading trial team. Secured dismissal of competitor's claim of theft of trade secrets, and subsequently obtained $147 million settlement for clients' counter-claim against that competitor. Exposed conspiracy between two former mid-level managers during evidentiary hearing before Mississippi federal judge to take 90 employees to client’s competitor and use client’s confidential information from bi-annual bid to its largest customer.  In evidentiary hearing in parallel lawsuit in Louisiana federal court, exposed same facts resulting in consolidation with first-filed Mississippi action.  Thereafter, resolved on very favorable terms. Successfully represented law firm client in its internal investigation of former partner’s embezzlement and parallel actions under fidelity bond; Bar complaint; civil litigation; and criminal subpoena. Compelled arbitration of lawsuit filed in federal district court by former president of $100 million subsidiary of a publicly traded company.  After the close of discovery involving production of thousands of documents and multiple depositions, obtained summary judgment on all of plaintiff's remaining claims and thereafter defeated plaintiff's motion to vacate the arbitration award before the district court (2012 WL 718876) and his subsequent appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (514 Fed. Appx. 430; 2013 WL 632245). Successfully contested, appealed and reduced OSHA citations for two willful, general duty clause violations stemming from pipeline explosion causing fatalities and serious bodily injuries to two "other than serious" citations. Dismissed wrongful death claim for nuisance value for juvenile killed in collision on ATV with tractor trailer, after intervening in estate action, removing administrator who filed suit, and negotiating dismissal and release with successor administrator for cost of her expenses. Successfully defended national wireless telephone company, its subsidiary, and former officers of subsidiary for claims related to the subsidiary's initial public offering in one trial, two arbitrations and an appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court (Sullivan v. Mounger, 882 So. 2d 129). Successfully tried lawsuit by former partner relating to dissolution of an accounting firm, including appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court (Koury v. Ready, 911 So. 2d 441). Prosecuted successful claim by minority shareholders for value of stock in corporate transaction, and, on appeal, persuaded the Mississippi Supreme Court to affirm the trial court's verdict (Richton Bank & Trust Co., 798 So. 2d. 1268). Defended international law firm for advice to company's board of directors relating to a corporate merger and achieved an advantageous settlement for client. Favorably resolved litigation against the former directors and majority shareholders of international, closely held telecom company in adversary proceeding brought by bankruptcy Trustee. Former auditor, KPMG

University of Mississippi, J.D., magna cum laude, 1995 Business Manager, Mississippi Law Journal Phi Delta Phi Mississippi State University, B.P.A., Professional Accountancy, magna cum laude, 1990