Vance Lawyers

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...

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.

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.

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.

A nationally recognized trial attorney with offices in Cleveland and Madison, Mississippi, Attorney Arthur Calderón proudly serves clients throughout all of Mississippi. With years of experience serving both companies and individuals, he is dedicated to using his knowledge and skill to fight for the rights and best interests of all of his clients. As the founder of Calderón Law, Attorney Calderón focuses his practice on representing people who have suffered catastrophic injuries (including victims of the Camp Lejeune water contamination), employees injured on the job, and persons charged with felony crimes. Using his broad legal knowledge to develop comprehensive legal...

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).

Michael "Mike" Carr focuses his practice on state and federal criminal defense, personal injury, and civil rights.

Mike is a very experienced trial attorney, having litigated more than 50 jury trials in state and federal court as lead counsel, ranging from complex six figure civil personal injury cases to triple homicide capital murder defense. He is often hired as specialized counsel assisting lawyers in other states and has been admitted pro hac vice in Georgia and Tennessee on multiple occasions.

In addition to this practice, Michael is heavily involved in several professional organizations. He is an on-call attorney for the Police...

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...

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...

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...

Todd Jeffreys was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1974. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Mississippi where he obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration, cum laude, degree in 1997. While at Ole Miss, Todd was a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and the Golden Key National Honor Society.Upon obtaining his undergraduate degree, Todd attended law school at the University of Mississippi where he obtained is Juris Doctor, cum laude, degree in 2000. While at Ole Miss law school, Todd was a member of the Mississippi Law Journal, the Moot Court Board and was awarded...

John C. Cox was born and raised in Cleveland, Mississippi. He is a 1996 graduate of Delta State University and a 1999 graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law. He is licensed before all state and federal courts in Mississippi, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He is an "AV" rated lawyer by the Martindale-Hubbell, and has been listed in Super Lawyers magazine on multiple occasions. His areas of practice include all civil and criminal law, including family law, personal injury, and white collar criminal defense. ...

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.

Ed Williams earned his Juris Doctorate with honors, Cum Laude, in 2016 from Mississippi College School of Law. Ed completed his undergraduate work at Mississippi State University where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in Political Science.

While in law school, Ed was a member of the MC Law Moot Court Board, Law Student Bar Association, Phi Alpha Delta Honors Program, American Association for Justice, and the Mississippi Association for Justice. As a member of the 2016 ABA Arbitration moot court competition team, Ed won first place in the National Championship. He was also a finalist in the...

I am a native of Wyoming. Bachelor's at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire with major in French language and literature. Summer and Junior year semester study in France at the Universite de Montpelier and Universite de Dijon with student privileges at the Sorbonne, Paris. Post-graduate French government grant for assistant d'Anglais teaching assistantship at the Lycee Pothier, Orleans, France for one school year. Graduate study and Master's Degree from Harvard University. Four years teaching of French language and literature at University of New Hampshire and the local high school (joint position), followed by careers in...

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R. Kelly Kyle, a partner of Kyle Wynn & Associates, PLLC graduated from Louisiana Tech University, earning his degree from the University’s College of Administration and Business. He attended Mississippi College School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctor degree in 1992. His law school honors include the Dean’s List and the American Jurisprudence Award for Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Mr. Kyle is admitted to practice in the State of Mississippi, the State of Louisiana, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the Capital Area Bar Association...

I am attorney Missy Wigginton, and from my law office in Tupelo, Columbus, Jackson MS, Memphis TN and Florence AL. Mama Justice - MW Law Firm, I work hard to help those who suffered an injury or lost a loved one as the result of someone else's negligence obtain the justice they deserve. Serving the good people in Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama, I have over 22 years of successful legal experience advocating on behalf of those who have been injured. A Mississippi native, I have a genuine concern for the matters that affect the members of my community, and I...

Hiten H. Patel is the Founder and Managing Attorney of HP Attorneys, PLLC, a North Mississippi law firm that practices Criminal Defense, Business Law, Personal Injury, Collections and other General Civil Litigation. Hiten has over ten years of experience in criminal and civil litigation, including trial experience in Mississippi and Alabama. Hiten graduated from Auburn University with a degree in political science, and attended Mississippi College School of Law for law school.

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...

Attorney Amy Pietrowski overcame personal hardship, abuse and poverty to become a leading courtroom advocate for clients in Mississippi and Tennessee.

A native of Michigan, Pietrowski was only 2 years old when she was placed in foster care. She endured a turbulent childhood and in disobedience, rebelled by joining the Marine Corps. The trajectory of her life changed when she joined the U.S. Marine Corps at age 18.

Pietrowski was one of only 2,200 women serving in the Marine Corps during the first Persian Gulf War. She completed boot camp at Parris Island in Port Royal, South Carolina, followed by her Military...

Attorney Victoria V. Washington is the founder and owner of The Washington Law Firm PLLC in Southaven, Mississippi. She serves clients throughout north Mississippi. Ms. Washington has invaluable insight into the criminal justice system and understands how a criminal accusation or personal injury can affect you. She experienced her brother's wrongful conviction in 2003 and a near-death car crash in 2016, which fuel her passion for her clients. Licensed to practice in the state of Mississippi since 2014, Ms. Washington has represented criminal defendants in juvenile, circuit, municipal and federal courts, securing many favorable settlements, case dismissals, and not-guilty...

I have 41 years legal experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants. This year I have had over $8,000,000 in legal settlements in just 4 cases. My top paralegal has been with me for 39 years and is considered by her peers to be the best in the area. I often start my workday at 4 am when it’s quiet and I can do my research and writing. I’ve been fortunate to represent not only individuals but several local, national and international companies as well as our State and 7 different Indian Tribes nationwide. I often work by...

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.

Christopher E. Kittell practices law at the Kittell Law Firm in Hernando, Mississippi. He received his BBA in Computer Information Systems from Delta State University in 1996 and his JD from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1999. Chris received the prestigious James O. Eastland Scholarship to attend law school and was a member of the International Legal Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi while attending law school at Ole Miss. Chris is happily married to his wife Jennifer and is the proud father of three children. Chris practices primarily in the area of civil...

Ben Murphy, a DeSoto County native, has practiced law since 2007 and is licensed in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas. He earned his law degree from Ole Miss, with additional study in Hawaii. Ben currently serves as Desoto County Justice Court Judge for District 2, Public Defender for Southaven (since 2011), and Municipal Court Judge in Horn Lake (since 2017). He is also Vice-President of the DeSoto County Bar Association and a certified Guardian ad Litem. A graduate of Leadership DeSoto and a member of Getwell Church, Ben and his wife, Misty, lead the church’s multi-generation Sunday school class. They live in...