(Memphis, TN / May 19, 2015) Eighty-one attorneys from Baker Donelson have been ranked as leading practitioners in the recently released 2015 edition of Chambers USA, a highly regarded directory of America's leading lawyers for business. Of these attorneys, 24 attorneys were included in Band 1, the top tier in Chambers USA; one attorney was ranked as a "Star Individual," a ranking given to attorneys with exceptional recommendations in their field; and two attorneys also achieved a national ranking.
Chambers also recognized 24 of the Firm's practice areas as leading statewide practices, with nine being ranked in Band 1. The Firm's health care practice was also ranked as a leading practice in the country.
Considered a cornerstone directory whose listings are given much weight among business leaders selecting legal counsel, Chambers USA ranks law firm practice areas and individual attorneys based on research conducted by the directory's team of researchers, including in-depth interviews with clients and attorneys.
Attorney Rankings
Star Individuals
Band 1
Banking and Finance (Marine Finance): Edward H. "Hank" Arnold III (Louisiana) and James H. Roussel (Louisiana)
Banking and Finance (Regulatory): Steven J. Eisen (Tennessee)
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: Jan M. Hayden (Louisiana) and Timothy M. Lupinacci (Alabama)
Bankruptcy Litigation: E. Franklin Childress Jr. (Tennessee)
Construction Litigation: Edward P. Meyerson (Alabama)
Corporate/Commercial: William S. Painter (Mississippi)
Corporate/Commercial (Gaming and Licensing): Dan M. McDaniel Jr. (Mississippi)
Gaming and Licensing: Paul West (Louisiana)
General Commercial Litigation: Leo Bearman Jr. (Tennessee), Roy C. Cheatwood (Louisiana), Walker W. "Bill" Jones III (Mississippi) and W. Scott Welch (Mississippi)
Health Care: Richard G. Cowart (Tennessee) and Donna Fraiche (Louisiana)
Medical Malpractice Defense Litigation: Jill M. Steinberg (Tennessee) and Buckner Wellford (Tennessee)
Real Estate: Kenneth P. "Pete" Ezell Jr. (Tennessee), Denise Killebrew (Alabama) and Robert C. Liddon Jr. (Tennessee)
Band 2
Antitrust: Hal K. Litchford (Florida)
Banking and Finance: Steven J. Eisen (Tennessee) and Jackie Prester (Tennessee)
Banking and Finance (Regulatory): Jackie Prester
Construction: Linda A. Klein (Georgia)
Corporate/Commercial (Municipal Finance): Sue Fairbank (Mississippi)
Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions: Matthew S. Heiter (Tennessee) and William N. Norton (Louisiana)
Environment: Gary C. Shockley (Tennessee) and Robert M. Steele (Tennessee)
Gaming and Licensing: Paul S. West (Nationwide)
General Commercial Litigation: John S. Hicks (Tennessee), William N. Reed (Mississippi) and Gary C. Shockley (Tennessee)
Health Care: Ashby Q. Burks (Tennessee), Philip S. McSween (Tennessee), Dickie Patterson (Louisiana) and Ivan Wood (Texas)
Labor and Employment: Phyllis G. Cancienne (Louisiana), Brooks Eason (Mississippi), J. Randall Patterson (Mississippi), M. Kim Vance (Tennessee) and Edward R. Young (Tennessee)
Real Estate: Mary L. Aronov (Tennessee), John A. Gupton III (Tennessee), Matthew T. Harris (Tennessee) and William R. Sylvester (Alabama)
Band 3
• Bankruptcy/Restructuring: Dan Carrigan (Washington, D.C.), John McJunkin (Washington, D.C.) and Eric L. Pruitt (Alabama)
• Construction: David Kurtz (Louisiana) and Mark W. Mercante (Louisiana)
• Corporate/Commercial: William S. Mendenhall (Mississippi), B.G. Minisman Jr. (Alabama) and D.J. Simonetti (Alabama)
• Energy and Natural Resources (Oil and Gas): Kenneth Klemm (Louisiana)
• Environment: Michael T. Dawkins (Mississippi)
• Gaming and Licensing: Dan M. McDaniel Jr. (Nationwide)
• General Commercial Litigation: Nancy Scott Degan (Louisiana), Barry W. Ford (Mississippi), Linda A. Klein (Georgia), Kent A. Lambert (Louisiana) and J. Carter Thompson Jr. (Mississippi)
• Health Care: Thomas William Baker (Georgia) and Anthea Daniels (Ohio)
• Immigration: Robert N. Johnson (Georgia)
• Labor and Employment: Steven F. Griffith Jr. (Louisiana), Jennifer P. Keller (Tennessee) and Amelia "Mimi" Williams Koch (Louisiana)
• Real Estate: Jon F. "Chip" Leyens (Louisiana), Murphy McMillan (Alabama), William S. Mendenhall (Mississippi) and David A. Rueff Jr. (Mississippi)
• Tax: Nedom A. Haley (Georgia)
• White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations Litigation: Joe D. Whitley (Georgia)
Band 4
• General Commercial Litigation: Sheryl Bey (Mississippi)
• Labor and Employment: David Gevertz (Georgia)
• Real Estate: Martha Hartley (Florida)
Senior Statesmen
• Construction: J. Ben Shapiro (Georgia)
• Real Estate: H. Chervis Isom (Alabama)
Up and Coming
• Bankruptcy/Restructuring: W. Patton Hahn (Alabama)
• Energy and Natural Resources (Oil and Gas): Adam Zuckerman (Louisiana)
Practice Group Rankings
Band 1
• Construction: Louisiana
• Corporate/Commercial: Mississippi (includes Gaming and Licensing and Municipal Finance)
• Gaming and Licensing: Louisiana
• General Commercial Litigation: Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee
• Health Care: Louisiana
• Real Estate: Alabama and Tennessee
Band 2
• Banking and Finance: Tennessee (includes Regulatory)
• Bankruptcy/Restructuring: Alabama
• Corporate/Commercial: Alabama
• Energy and Natural Resources: Louisiana (includes Oil and Gas)
• Environment: Tennessee
• Health Care: Tennessee
• Labor and Employment: Louisiana and Tennessee
• Real Estate: Mississippi
Band 3
• Antitrust: Florida
• Bankruptcy/Restructuring: Louisiana
• Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions: Louisiana and Tennessee
• Environment: Mississippi
• Labor and Employment: Mississippi