The Best Lawyers in America® Recognizes 51 Mitchell Williams Attorneys

August 21, 2025

(LITTLE ROCK, Ark) -- Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard P.L.L.C. announces 51 lawyers have been included in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Forty-four Mitchell Williams attorneys have been named to the 2026 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
• John Keeling Baker - Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Real Estate, and Litigation and Controversy - Tax
• Melissa Bandy – Banking & Finance Law, Real Estate Law
• Wade Bowen - Corporate Law
• John Bryant - Corporate Law
• C. Douglas Buford, Jr. - Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, and Securities Regulation
• Melvin L. Burner, Jr. - Insurance Law
• Charles B. Cliett, Jr. – Administrative / Regulatory Law and Health Care Law
• Craig R. Cockrell - Tax Law and Trusts and Estates
• Courtney C. Crouch III – Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Adam D. Franks – Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
• Karen P. Freeman - Commercial Litigation
• Allan Gates - Litigation - Environmental
• Ashley L. Gill - Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
• 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 L. Janik Jr. - Litigation and Controversy - Tax and Tax Law
• John Johnson – Commercial Litigation
• Margaret A. Johnston – Administrative / Regulatory Law, Banking and Finance Law, Insurance Law and Trademark Law
• Casey Dorman Lawson - Corporate Law and Trusts and Estates
• D. Nicole Lovell - Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Emily McCord – Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Stuart P. Miller - Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Michael Nored – Administrative / Regulatory Law, Insurance Law
• Brian A. Pipkin - Appellate Practice and Insurance Law
• Julie M. Pomerantz – Administrative / Regulatory Law, Insurance Law
• Nathan A. Read - Employment Law - Management
• Christopher T. Rogers - Tax Law and Trusts and Estates
• 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 and Insurance Law
• John P. Talbot - Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate
• Graham C. Talley – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendant and Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
• Jeffrey H. Thomas - Administrative / Regulatory Law and Insurance Law
• Jay A. Thompson - 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

Seven Mitchell Williams attorneys have been named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America which recognizes associates and other lawyers, who are earlier in their careers, for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. 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 -
• Lizzi Esparza – Commercial Litigation and Privacy and Data Security Law
• Colt D. Galloway - Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation
• Sarah Gold – Commercial Litigation, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
• Caroline Kelley - Tax Law and Trusts and Estates
• Jacob McElroy - Commercial Litigation

In addition, three Mitchell Williams attorneys have been named 2026 “Lawyers of the Year.” Receiving the “Lawyer of the Year” designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism and their integrity. Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the "Lawyer of the Year," making it a significant accolade. They are:

• Christopher T. Rogers - Tax Law 
• Derrick W. Smith – Government Relations 
• J. Scott Schallhorn – Commercial Finance Law

About Mitchell Williams

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. is a full-service law firm with Arkansas roots and national reach. For 70 years, the firm has provided sophisticated legal counsel to corporations, entities and individuals on day-to-day business needs to the most complex corporate matters. From offices in Little Rock, Rogers and Jonesboro, Arkansas and Austin, Texas, Mitchell Williams delivers strategy and experience to valued clients. Learn more at MitchellWilliamsLaw.com.

About Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional and national publications across the globe.

Lawyers who are nominated for consideration are voted on by currently recognized Best Lawyers working in the same practice area and located in the same geographic region. Our awards and recognitions are based purely on the feedback we receive from these top lawyers. Those who receive high peer reviews undergo a thorough verification process to make sure they are currently still in private practice. Only then can these top lawyers be recognized by Best Lawyers.