Star Appeals & Appellate Lawyers

Merrida (Buddy) Coxwell was admitted to practice law in October 1980. From the day of admission forward Merrida has been a fierce, dedicated, and aggressive advocate for his clients. Over the past thirty-four (34) years he has handled some of the most complex and highly publicized criminal cases in Mississippi. For example, Merrida successfully defended the Mayor of Jackson, MS, when he was charged with four (4) felonies. He successfully defended a Miss. Supreme Court Judge, won two (2) not guilty verdicts in a row in federal drug cases, won a murder case that the local media called the murder...

DISCLAIMER This site is intended to provide you with information about our firm and practice. Use of this, however, does not create an attorney-client relationship. Any decision with respect to legal services is important and should not be based solely upon this, or any other, advertisement. Information and/or any materials provided herein, are solely for the purpose of information. Attorney Keri Haralson Carroll is only admitted to practice law in the State of Mississippi. This shall not be construed as an attempt to certify or designate attorney as an expert in any particular area of the law in the...

Attorney James L. Kelly, is dedicated to fairness and justice. As an experienced and highly respected lawyer, Mr. Kelly zealously defends individuals suspected or charged with committing misdemeanor or felony crimes. This firm also serves clients in the areas of wrongful death, personal injury, child custody, wills, and estates. We practice before all courts in the State of Mississippi, with special emphasis in Rankin, Madison and Hinds counties.

College
Mississippi State University, B.B.A., 1983
Law School
University of Mississippi, Law Center, J.D., 1986
Admitted

1987 – Mississippi; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi; Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
2010 – United States Supreme...

I offer brief writing services to practicing attorneys throughout the Southern District of Mississippi.

Editor of Opinions, Mississippi Supreme Court. Adjunct Professor, Mississippi College School of Law.

I am personally and professionally committed to the goal of achieving the optimum result for each client through strategic, proactive and innovative representation. I have represented a diversity of individuals and companies in regard to disputes in various fields of business, including: banking; consumer finance; energy; fitness; industrial processes; inspection services; insurance; managed healthcare; manufacture and distribution of products; trucking and transportation; and vehicle and equipment rental. My experience includes: contract and business disputes; consumer loan transactions and practices; insurance claims under coverages of both business and personal policies; industrial explosions and fires; aircraft accidents; products such as firearms, construction equipment, farm...

John is a lifelong Mississippian from the Jackson area. In 2022, John co-founded Grant Legal Group, PA, with his wife, Brooke. He is the firm’s president. Before starting Grant Legal Group, John was an equity-owning member of Shows Law Firm PLLC. He also spent 8 years in public service as an attorney for the Mississippi Court of Appeals. As the Court of Appeals’ opinions editor, John worked on over 2,500 published opinions in various areas of the law—both civil and criminal. In private practice, John has successfully argued multiple appeals before the Mississippi Supreme Court and Court of Appeals....

Are you being threatened by a spouse relating to a divorce or child custody matter? Have you recently been arrested and now face significant jail time, loss of driving privileges or other significant fines? Please be aware that you have rights. We are a Jackson, Mississippi area family law and criminal defense firm dedicated to providing each and every client experienced, aggressive representation at a reasonable prices.

When you retain out firm, you ensure that your case will be thoroughly reviewed and it will given the personal,critical attention necessary to meet your objectives. We believe...

Bernard C. Jones, Jr. was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1984. Before entering law school, Bernard served as the Legal Assistance Coordinator for the Mississippi office of the Emergency Land Fund, a nonprofit group which provided education, loans and legal assistance to minority landowners in the south. He also worked as a Title Abstractor for one of Mississippi's largest law firms while in law school. In both positions, he acquired a wealth of knowledge in the area of real property law. Bernard has a particular interest in heir property issues. Bernard testified as an expert witness for the first...

Attorney Rick D. Patt brings twenty-eight (28) years of experience as an attorney to your case. The Patt Law Firm represents clients in cases involving:

1) Family law (divorce, child custody, child support, modifications, and adoptions);
2) Civil litigation (plaintiff/defense/ personal injury/wrongful death/18-wheeler/automobile accidents, etc);
3) Criminal defense (felony, misdemeanor, drug and DUI defense), and expungements;
4) Wills, trusts and estate work; and
5) Appellate representation in the state and federal courts.

Such representation...

Hello. My name is Tim Evans, and I'm a native of Quitman, Mississippi. I attended the University of Mississippi on a Naval ROTC scholarship and served as a commissioned officer in the Navy for three years. I taught middle school and high school before attending and graduating from Mississippi College School of Law. After law school, I served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable William H. Myers, presiding judge for the Court of Appeals of the State of Mississippi. I moved to Hattiesburg in 2003 to begin private practice, and I have had a wide range...

Over 20 years of probate and legal knowledge and representing clients in the following of expertise: ***trust and estate planning; ***trust and estate administration; ***trust and estate litigation; ***guardianships; ***conservatorships; ***license restoration appeals; ***experience serving as trustee, personal representative, receiver, and special master. William has experience in the Probate courts of Michigan in the following counties in Michigan: Barry, Branch, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Saginaw, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, St. Clair, Tuscola, Washtenaw, and Wayne. In February 2022, William was admitted to the State Bar of Mississippi. *In March 2018,...

Christian Shiyou is a hardworking and dedicated attorney ready to assist you and your legal needs. Since 2021, Christian has been engaged in the general practice of law across the entire state of Mississippi with Shiyou Law Firm, PLLC. Christian specializes in adoptions, family law, and criminal law, but also works routinely with civil litigation and appeals. He also regularly works as a Guardian ad Litem where he represents the best interest of children in adoption, termination of parental rights, and custody cases. A native of Collins, Mississippi, Christian received his B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of Southern...

Jason Savarese focuses his practice on civil litigation, corporate law, eminent domain, construction disputes, wills, estates, probate, mediation, debt collection, business formation and litigation, drafting and interpreting contracts, civil litigation appeals, public bid disputes, gun owners’ rights, gaming law, casino site development and licensing, lemon law vehicle warranty claims, and landowners’ rights. Jason has assisted in the management of Community Development Block Grants totaling approximately $235,000,000, by acquiring some 300 parcels of land for the Harrison County Utility Authority as part of the funds allocating by the U.S. Congress for Hurricane Katrina rebuilding and renewal. Jason is rated “A/V...

APRIL L. MCDONALD is a lifelong resident of Lucedale, Mississippi. Her practice is general civil litigation and appellate litigation in the fields of personal injury and insurance defense, as well as family law. Ms. McDonald received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Delta State University and her Juris Doctorate Degree from Mississippi College School of Law. While in law school, Ms. McDonald was a member of the nationally recognized Moot Court Board, Secretary of the Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity, Senator-At-Large of the Law Student Bar Association, and Semi-Finalist at the Labor and Employment Moot...

Born in New Orleans, but a life-long resident of Jackson County, Stephen obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in 1988, where he received a Certificate in German Public and International Affairs with Distinction. In 1993, Stephen graduated from Tulane University's School of Law, acquiring both a Juris Doctor Degree and a Certificate in European Legal Practice. While at Tulane, he served as Tulane Law School President, an extern clerk for U.S. District Judge Martin L. C. Feldman of the Eastern District of Louisiana, as a senior member of the Tulane Journal of International and...

Kevin is a leader in both his profession and community:
- In April 2019, Kevin was honored as one of Mississippi’s Top 50 Under 40 by the Mississippi Business Journal;
- In 2017-2018, Kevin served as President of the Lafayette County Bar Association, overseeing the interests of local attorneys;
- In November 2015, Kevin was elected to serve as Lafayette County District 1 Supervisor;
- Kevin has been voted “Oxford’s Favorite Attorney” by readers of The Local Voice newspaper for eleven consecutive years, beginning in 2009;
- Additionally, Kevin has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Mississippi in the practice...

Taylor's practice covers most every area of law; however, a large portion of his work involves advising business across a range of industries on all manner of transactions and representing them in complex commercial litigation, often involving multi-million dollar disputes. In addition to his commercial practice, Taylor also routinely represents clients with respect to all manner of personal injuries and defends clients from felony and misdemeanor charges in federal and state courts.

Charles C. Wimberly, III (Trey) joined the Perrier Lacoste MS office in 2014. Trey's areas of practice include automobile and transportation litigation, insurance defense, premises liability, medical malpractice and product liability claims. He has received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV rating and has been selected to the 2014 Super Lawyers Mid-South Rising Stars list. Trey attended Louisiana State University where he graduated with honors and received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature in 2000. As an undergrad, Trey earned the Dean’s List award and a full tuition academic scholarship. Trey graduated from the University of Alabama School...

Robert Quimby practices in the litigation section of the firm. His practice includes general litigation, business/commercial litigation, general business and corporate representation, personal injury litigation, and representation related to land use, zoning, and eminent domain. Mr. Quimby has represented numerous governmental entities, businesses, and individuals on a wide range of civil matters.

Flip Phillips is a founding partner of Smith, Phillips, Mitchell, Scott & Nowak, LLP. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law where he served as President of the Law School Student Body and Member of the Mississippi Law Journal. For over 40 years, Flip has represented plaintiffs and insurance policyholders nationwide. Flip’s landmark cases have helped abolish sovereign immunity and define the rules of automobile insurance in Mississippi. They have expanded the role of punitive and extra-contractual damages in insurance regulation and contract enforcement throughout the United States. Flip has served...

David G. Hill is one of Mississippi's most experienced litigation lawyers. He has handled hundreds of cases before a judge and jury and has over 100 cases reported for record in official law books. David G. Hill believes that each and every person deserves a vigorous representation and has founded his practice on that principle.

I was born in Crosby, North Dakota. Prior to the study of law, I served in the United States Coast Guard from 1990-1995. I was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2002 following my graduation from the University of Mississippi School of Law. I am a member of the Coahoma County Bar Association, the Mississippi Bar and the Mississippi Association for Justice.

Wesley Hisaw is a family law and personal injury attorney who practices throughout Tennessee and Mississippi. He authored “Post Divorce Contempt in Tough Economic Times” which appeared in The Mississippi Lawyer. He was recognized for his pro bono work by the Mississippi Bar in 2012 by being awarded the Curtis E. Coker Access to Justice Award. In 2014 and 2015, he was named as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Litigation lawyers for the State of Mississippi by the American Society of Legal Advocates and the National Trial Lawyer’s Association. He was also named a Top Ten Attorney for...

McAlister Law Firm, LLC is proud to operate under the leadership of Carolyn McAlister, Esq. Carolyn is a skilled lawyer that takes a different approach to her clients. She wants to understand the unique needs of each client before helping them understand their options and make informed decisions regarding the process of their case. Carolyn offers support legally and personally, and her experience qualifies her for everything from high-stakes divorce cases to a complicated family estate plan. With over 22 years of experience, Carolyn is equipped for the job. She has worked for two years behind the scenes as a staff attorney...