Tillatoba Lawyers

From the young age of six, I was determined to become an attorney to positively impact my community. I graduated with honors from Grenada High School in 2002 and was inducted into the National Honor Society. As a talented musician and enthusiastic learner, I pursued further education at the University of Memphis. My academic achievements there included making the Dean's List and the National Dean's List, and I was also recognized in Who’s Who Among American College Students. I was nominated as a Candidate for the Truman Scholar distinction. My involvement extended to participating in the Gospel Choir, being a member...

LOUIS H. WATSON, JR. Louis’ firm, Watson & Norris, PLLC, maintains a statewide federal court practice. Louis is a member of NELA and serves as a mediator. Louis was Editor-In-Chief of the Mississippi Law Journal and authored “Enforceability of Covenants Not to Compete in Mississippi,” 64 Miss. L.J. 703 (1995).

A resident of Oxford, Mississippi for the past 30 years, Jay has vigorously fought for individuals facing both misdemeanor and felony charges in the State of Mississippi. Since graduating from The University of Mississippi School of Law in 1999, Jay has concentrated his practice on defending citizens charged with crimes with an emphasis on DUI's, Public Drunkenness, Minor in Possession of Alcohol and Possession of a False ID. After graduating from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1999, Jay served as a law clerk for Presiding Justice C.R. "Chuck" McRae of the Mississippi Supreme Court. Jay then worked for...

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.

I have practiced law in Mississippi since January, 1977. My math background has helped me assist my client's with their financial problems in ways that those without a math background are unable to do. My bachelors degree was in mathematics and I received both my bachelors degree and my Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi. My primary focus is in the areas of Chapter 13, Chapter 7, Chapter 12 and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy along with Social Security Disability Claims. I am one of only three attorneys in Mississippi selected as a super lawyer by...

Hale has practiced law since 1986..He is known for his elder law practice. working with estate, trusts, probate and advising family regarding the issues of aging, as well as fiduciary and trust litigation and complex business litigation. He also assists small businesses in transactions and problem solving. Hale is licensed in Mississippi and Tennessee.

After graduating from the University of Virginia Law School in 1975, Mr. Cocke moved to Clarksdale, MS to begin practicing in a general litigation firm. In 1982, Mr. Cocke and Mr. Merkel left that firm and established Merkel & Cocke, P.A., and since that time the emphasis of Mr. Cocke’s practice has progressed more and more toward medical malpractice.

Richard B. Lewis, Jr. was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi on June 8, 1978. Richard attended Mississippi State University and received a B.B.A. in 2000 and a M.B.A. in 2001. Richard attended Mississippi College School of Law where he received his J.D. in 2006. Richard is a member of the following states bar: Mississippi, 2006. Richard joined Chapman, Lewis & Swan as an associate in 2006. His primary areas of practice are General Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Family Law and Criminal Law. Richard is admitted to practice before all State Courts in Mississippi, the U.S. Court of Appeals...

Heather D. Blansett grew up in Chickasaw County, Mississippi. She received a J.D. degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2015, and she was sworn in to practice law as a member of the Mississippi Bar in November of 2015. She enjoys practicing law in a variety of areas.

Sam McHard has practiced law for 45 years. He is admitted to practice in the following jurisdictions: 1976, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois; 1983, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1985, U.S. Supreme Court; 1999, Iowa; 2001, Mississippi, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Sam received his B.A. at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL and his Juris Doctor at Northwestern University. Sam is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and maintains membership with the following professional associations: Mississippi Bar Association; Iowa Bar Association; Illinois Bar Association; Mississippi Association for Justice; American Association for Justice; Texas Bar Association; and...

I currently serve as the Chair of Mississippi’s Special Education Advisory Panel, where I provide advice and guidance to the Office of Special Education. I am also the Legal Director of the SynGAP Research Fund, a global organization that supports families of SynGAP1 patients, including my youngest son who has been diagnosed with this rare genetic disorder affecting fewer than 1,500 known patients worldwide. Additionally, I am a member of Mississippi’s Rare Disease Advisory Panel. I have been recognized as “Oxford’s Favorite Attorney” by readers of The Local Voice newspaper for fourteen consecutive years, starting in 2009. In April 2019, I...

Mr. Davis is admitted to practice before all Mississippi State and Federal Courts, as well as the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Davis is a member of The Mississippi Bar Association, American MENSA, Defense Research Institute, American Inns of Court, William C. Keady Chapter, and the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association. While in college, Mr. Davis was a member of Phi Delta Phi, and while in Law School served on the Editorial Board of the Mississippi Law Journal, as well as working with the public interest Housing Law Clinic; and served on...

After graduating from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2006, Matt joined the law firm of Tannehill & Carmean, PLLC in Oxford. Matt's area of practice includes all matters relating to real estate, wills and estates, debt collection, and family law.

In November of 2013, Matt was voted one of Super Lawyer's Rising Stars of the Mid South.

While in law school, Matt clerked for two years with Hughes & Hitt, P.A., assisting with real estate loan closings. Matt also clerked with The Scruggs Law Firm, assisting with case research and drafting memorandums for mass tort litigation. In his last...

Over the past 15 years, Attorney Robert Schultze has built a reputation for fairness, hard work and effective advocacy.
Based in downtown Oxford, Robert Schultze has practiced locally in real estate law, litigation and other fields. His primary focus today is criminal defense. He frequently serves as a court-appointed criminal defense attorney in the 3rd and 17th Judicial Districts in North Mississippi.
Robert Schultze earned a juris doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2004. He has since served the law school as a volunteer coach and judge for students...

Mr. Lewis was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi on June 15, 1953. He was admitted to the bar in 1980. Mr. Lewis received a B.A. from Delta State University in 1976 and a J.D. in 1980 from the University of Mississippi. Mr. Lewis joined Chapman Lewis & Swan and became a partner of the firm in 1990. Mr. Lewis is a member of the Coahoma County Bar Association, the Mississippi State Bar, the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, National Association of Defense Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, Mississippi Association of Justice Lawyers. Mr. Lewis has been selected by The Best...

For more than 40 years, Mr. Merkel has personally delivered more than 400 jury presentations in the representation of personal injury victims whose cases involved complex medical and technical injury mechanisms and causation problems.

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...

Steve Cox Law Firm is ready to assist you if you need assistance with Driving Under the Influence (DUI), insurance disputes, wills and estates, or personal injury.

Jacob Jordan, an Oxford native, is the newest addition to Tannehill, Carmean, & McKenzie. Prior to joining the firm, Jacob had the honor of serving as law clerk to Chief United States District Judge Michael P. Mills. While in law school, Jacob was a student attorney and staff researcher with the Mississippi Innocence Project, in which he partnered with attorneys and other students to represent inmates throughout Mississippi with viable claims of innocence. Jacob drafted petitions for post conviction relief that resulted in the exoneration in Hinds County, Mississippi, of Matthew Norwood, who had previously served fourteen years...

Charles M. Merkel, III was born and raised in Clarksdale, MS. He attended the University of Mississippi for his undergraduate and law degrees, graduating with honors both times. While at Ole’ Miss as an undergraduate, he was awarded the Taylor Medal for English; this is the University’s highest academic honor, awarded to less than 1% of the student body. Upon graduation, he received the coveted position as a judicial law clerk for US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division.

Edward (Ted) P. Connell, Jr., is a partner with the law firm of Merkel & Cocke, P.A. Mr. Connell received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mississippi in 1994, graduating cum laude. This was followed by receipt of his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1997. While attending the University of Mississippi School of Law, Mr. Connell authored “Mississippi Casinos and the Detention of a Patron: What are the Parameters of a Casino’s Powers in Detaining a Patron and the Subsequent Liability Which Can Follow?” which was published in the National Gaming Law...

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.

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.

Jay is the founding partner of Hughes Brown, PLLC. He was raised in South Louisiana, and then served as an enlisted soldier in the U. S. Army and graduated from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He moved to Oxford in 1988 to attend law school and fell in love with Oxford, Ole Miss, and a girl from Natchez. He earned his law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1991, with a semester spent at Downing College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, England. He married his college sweetheart, Cris, and they proudly continue to call Oxford...

Swayze earned his B.B.A. in Accounting in 1984 from Ole Miss, followed by his Juris Doctor in 1990 from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He was admitted to practice in MS, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts, and the U.S Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Over the past two decades, Swayze has assisted clients throughout the state, and uniquely served the Ole Miss community. His clients are often referred to him for his experience in divorce, DUI, and criminal defense work. In addition to his client work, he has returned on occasion...

The Law Office of Marc Boutwell is one of Mississippi's top law firms. We take pride in our team of experienced attorneys who are committed to the success of our clients. Our trial attorneys have the litigation and experience to handle large class-action suits and the personal touch to handle local legal matters in Oxford, MS. The Law Office of Marc Boutwell prides itself on providing quality legal services to its clients. Our trial attorneys take ample time to understand our clients' needs and what outcome they want while educating them on legal issues.

James is the managing partner of Harper Little in Oxford, Mississippi. He has 23 years of experience in civil litigation with a focus on employment, business, contract and construction law. James has represented businesses and people in state and federal courts throughout the southeast and is licensed in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Arkansas. He has a master’s degree in conflict resolution and provides mediation services and negotiation training for legal and organizational conflict. Prior to forming Harper Little, James served as a founding partner of Stroud & Harper, P.C., in Southaven, Mississippi, where he focused on employment,...

Juris Doctorate 1969 Ole Miss Law School. Professor of Law at Jackson School of Law 1975-1977 (now Mississippi College School of Law). Currently Senior Counsel and Mediator with Anderson Crawley and Burke , PLLC with offices in Oxford and Ridgeland MS. Recently appointed as Hearing Officer for Mississippi Medicaid appeals. General Practice emphasizes Personal injury cases for both Plaintiffs and Defendants.