Columbus Business Lawyers

Lee Watt is a native of Batesville, MS. He practiced law on the Mississippi Gulf Coast until 2005 when Hurricane Katrina caused his relocation to the Jackson metro area.
Lee has tried over 100 cases, mostly jury cases, in state and federal courts across Mississippi. These cases involve banking, corporate, product liability, real estate, probate, construction and employment matters. His clients include both leading national manufacturers as well as local small businesses, governmental entities, health care professionals and financial institutions.
Lee enjoys helping businesses and ministries grow and become better managers of their human and financial resources. Lee also enjoys helping...

James S. Beam is a native of Baton Rouge, LA and an Eagle Scout (1992). Mr. Beam is a 1999 graduate of Louisiana State University and a 2002 graduate of the Mississippi College School of Law where he earned his J.D. Mr. Beam is admitted to practice in all Federal and State courts in the State of Mississippi and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, LA. Mr Beam has experience in a wide range of subjects including insurance investigations and litigation, personal injury, workers’ compensation, social security and opioid claims. His clients include everyone from...

John W. Robinson III is an attorney with more than 20 years of litigation experience representing people and business throughout Mississippi. John's primary focus is civil litigation-non-criminal cases in court, usually involving claims for money damages. John also counsels and represents clients in contract negotiations and other business transactions. John's civil litigation and trial experience is extensive and includes cases involving a wide variety of matters, such as contract disputes, business torts, employment issues, real estate and land use controversies, intellectual property, commercial sales disputes, construction, insurance coverage and defense, products liability, personal injury, wrongful death and mass tort claims,...

Southaven attorney Benjamin Taylor is a lifelong resident of DeSoto County in Mississippi. Ben is an accomplished lawyer in the areas of personal injury and product liability law.

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 am an attorney with a practice focused on meeting the legal needs of business owners and real estate owners and investors.

My business planning practice involves advising companies and individuals on business matters, including taxation, mergers and acquisitions, choice of entity and company formation, and corporate governance. I have also been lead attorney on several multi-million dollar business acquisitions in the Southeast.

My estate planning practice involves helping clients pay less taxes and protect their assets through the use of trusts, partnerships, closely held businesses, private foundations, and charitable trusts. I have served in various capacities with the Real Property, Trust...

University of Southern Mississippi (B.S., with highest honors, 1982)
University of Mississippi (J.D., cum laude, 1985)

Mr. Panter has been a member of the Mississippi Bar since 1985. He has a wide range of experience, with a focus on business and employment disputes.

Lawsuits can be time-consuming and costly. For this reason, Mr. Panter works hard to resolve his clients’ disputes out of court, saving them valuable time and money. He will not hesitate, however, to file a lawsuit when necessary to protect their interests.

Business clients of Mr. Panter have included healthcare providers, oil and...

We specialize in Personal Injury, Construction Law, Insurance Law, Business Law, and Abuse.

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...

Over the last ten years, i have practiced in several large law firms in the Jackson and surrounding areas as well as served as a law clerk for the honorable Leslie Southwick on the Mississippi Court of Appeals. In April 2010, I dediced to start the law office of Michael Moore, PPLC, where I worked diligently to provide personal attention and excellent legal services to my clients. In January 2016 I partnered with Robert G. Barlow, III and formed Barlow & Moore, PLLC.

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...

Peyton Moore was born in Flowood, Mississippi and raised in Tupelo, Mississippi. He is the son of James and Lorela Moore. Peyton graduated from Saltillo High School before attending The University of Mississippi, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Peyton received his J.D. from The University of Mississippi School of Law. Peyton and his wife Mollie have one son, Parker.

Robert Van Uden is a Member and Manager of Stubblefield, Yelverton & Van Uden, PLLC. Robert received his undergraduate degree in History from Louisiana State University in 1996, his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Mississippi in 2000, his Chartered Life Underwriter designation (CLU®) from the American College in 2006, his LL.M. in Taxation with Distinction from the University of Alabama in 2010, and is a graduate of the Southern Trust School. Robert is a member of the Mississippi Financial Planning Association, Estate Planning Council of Mississippi, the Rotary Club of North Jackson and serves on the Board of...

James has practiced in Mississippi since 1981 with degrees from Millsaps College and the University of Mississippi. With the firm of Page Kruger & Holland in Jackson, he defends commercial, personal injury, product liability and premises litigation. He has completed numerous jury trials and has many reported decisions in both State and Federal courts and carries an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell. He presently serves a Vice President of the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys. He recently served on the Mississippi Supreme Court's Civil Jury Instruction Committee as Vice Chair and worked as the Vice Chair of the Business Court...

Today, Robert B. Ogletree PLLC, is a law firm with clients ranging from large corporations to individuals, and legal matters from complex litigation to real estate transactions. We offer services in a broad range of areas including litigation, OSHA violations, corporate matters, commercial and civil litigation, personal injury, family law, workers compensation and criminal defense. One of the greatest benefits Robert B. Ogletree PLLC offers its clients is our dedication to quality, understanding of the law, trust and respect. Through our experience and the broad range of services that we provide, we are able to offer our clients...

Tim was admitted to the practice of law in January 1981. He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating obtainable. He has been selected as a member of the America College of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates, Best Lawyers in America, Mississippi Bar Foundation. He is admitted to the all courts in the State of Mississippi, the United States District Courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.

He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Mississippi...

Christopher C. "Stopher" Haug, is licensed to practice law in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Stopher has over fourteen years of experience in representing clients in many areas of the law, ranging from general civil litigation to domestic and family law, personal injury, criminal law, as well as contract disputes and business formation and strategy.

Before partnering with Todd Farrar and subsequently Jonathan Franco, Stopher owned his own law firm, The Haug Law Firm in Ocean Springs, MS, worked with two regional law firms in Mississippi and Alabama and served as in-house counsel for one of the largest companies in the Gulf...