46 Mitchell Williams Attorneys Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®

August 20, 2026

(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) – Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. announces five lawyers have been named 2027 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” honorees, and 46 lawyers have been included in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

Five Mitchell Williams attorneys have been named 2027 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” honorees in Little Rock. The “Lawyer of the Year” designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same community and practice area for their abilities, professionalism and integrity. Only one lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as “Lawyer of the Year,” making it a significant accolade. They are:

• Craig R. Cockrell – Trusts and Estates

• Megan D. Hargraves – Health Care Law

• D. Nicole Lovell – Securities/Capital Markets Law

• Stuart P. Miller – Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

• Jordan P. Wimpy – Environmental Law

Forty Mitchell Williams attorneys have been named to the 33rd edition of The Best Lawyers in America® list. They are:

• John E. Alexander – Commercial Litigation
• Michele Simmons Allgood – Economic Development Law, Project Finance Law, and Public Finance Law
• Melissa Bandy – Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law
• Devin R. Bates – Commercial Litigation
• Wade Bowen – Corporate Law and Tax Law
• John Bryant – Corporate Law
• Melvin L. Burner, Jr. – Insurance Law
• Charles B. Cliett, Jr. – Administrative/Regulatory Law and Health Care Law
• Craig R. Cockrell – Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
• Courtney C. Crouch III – Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Securities/Capital Markets Law
• Ashley Edwards – Corporate Law and Real Estate Law
• Adam D. Franks – Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Karen P. Freeman – Commercial Litigation
• Allan Gates – Litigation – Environmental
• Allison R. Gladden – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, and Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Jill Grimsley – Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Finance Law, and Real Estate Law
• Audra K. Hamilton – Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Harold W. Hamlin – Banking and Finance Law, Project Finance Law, and Real Estate Law
• Megan D. Hargraves – Health Care Law and Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions Defendants
• Martha McKenzie Hill – Government Relations Practice
• Benjamin D. Jackson – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Health Care, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Anton J. Janik Jr. – Litigation and Controversy – Tax and Tax Law
• John Johnson – Commercial Litigation
• Margaret A. Johnson – Administrative/Regulatory Law, Banking and Finance Law, Insurance Law, and Trademark Law
• Casey Dorman Lawson – Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, and Trusts and Estates
• D. Nicole Lovell – Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Securities/Capital Markets Law
• Stuart P. Miller – Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Michael Nored – Administrative/Regulatory Law and Insurance Law
• Brian A. Pipkin – Appellate Practice and Insurance Law
• Julie M. Pomerantz – Administrative/Regulatory Law and Insurance Law
• Nathan A. Read – Employment Law – Management
• Emily M. Runyon – Education Law, Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• J. Scott Schallhorn – Commercial Finance Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, and Real Estate Law
• Derrick W. Smith – Administrative/Regulatory Law, Government Relations Practice, and Insurance Law
• Zachary T. Steadman – Administrative/Regulatory Law, Health Care Law, and Insurance Law
• John P. Talbot – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Real Estate
• Graham C. Talley – Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants and Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Jeffrey H. Thomas – Administrative/Regulatory Law and Insurance Law
• Jordan P. Wimpy – Environmental Law and Water Law
• Walter G. Wright, Jr. – Energy Law, Environmental Law, and Water Law

Six Mitchell Williams attorneys have been named to the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, which recognizes attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in America. They are:

• Cara Butler – Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Nathan D. Coulter – Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Real Estate Law
• Colt D. Galloway – Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation
• Sarah Gold – Commercial Litigation and Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Jacob McElroy – Commercial Litigation
• Robbi Riggs Watson – Banking and Finance Law and Corporate Law

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.