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veryone needs a good lawyer. In this issue, we’re highlighting the Arkansas Bar Association’s award-winning lawyers ahead of the Arkansas Bar Association Annual Meeting in Hot Springs from June 13-15, as well as our readers’ picks for the best lawyers in the state. We polled AY readers on the best attorneys in banking and finance, bankruptcy, criminal defense, DUI/DWI defense, education, elder law, family law, health care law, trusts and estates, real estate, trademarks and more. Whether you’re making plans for the future or going to court, these are names you can trust. You have a right to an attorney, and these lawyers are the best in the business.
AYMAG.COM . 69
T
he Arkansas Bar Foundation was established in 1958 to support efforts at improving the administration of justice. The Arkansas Bar Foundation, which is classified as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, is a charitable organization with a mission to promote educational, literary, scientific and charitable purposes. The Arkansas Bar Association is a voluntary, statewide organization with more than 5,000 members. Among its purposes are the advancement of the administration of justice and the fostering among its members of high ideals of integrity, learning and public service. The 2017-2018 Arkansas Bar Foundation/ Arkansas Bar Association Joint Award Recipients:
Outstanding Lawyer Award:
Ralph M. Cloar, Jr., Cloar Law Firm, Little Rock, received the award in recognition of excellence in the practice of law and outstanding contributions to the profession.
Outstanding Lawyer-Citizen Award:
Rosalind M. Mouser, Simmons Bank, Pine Bluff, received the award in recognition of outstanding participation in and for excellent performance of civic responsibilities and for demonstrating high standards of professional competence and conduct.
C. E. Ransick Award of Excellence:
Bobby McDaniel, McDaniel Law Firm, PLC, Jonesboro, received the award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the profession.
Outstanding Local Bar Associations:
Benton County Bar Association, Grant County Bar Association, Sebastian County Bar Association 2017-2018 Association President Anthony A. “Tony” Hilliard selected the following members as award recipients for their outstanding work and service to the Association.
Presidential Awards of Excellence: F. Thomas Curry, McMillan, McCorkle, & Curry, LLP, Arkadelphia, received a Presidential Award of Excellence for his work as Association Secretary for 12 years. Judge Audrey R. Evans, Retired U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, received a Presidential Award of Excellence for her work as co-chair of the 2020 Commission.
James H. McKenzie Professionalism Award: Ralph C. Williams, Attorney at
Howard “Baker” Kurrus, Attorney at Law, Little Rock, received a Presidential Award of Excellence for his work as co-chair of the 2020 Commission.
Equal Justice Distinguished Service Award: Mark Mayfield, Womack Phelps
Judge Mary Spencer McGowan, Circuit Judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit, received a Presidential Award of Excellence for her work as the chair of the 2018 Annual Meeting.
Law, Bentonville, received the award in recognition of sustained excellence through integrity, character and leadership to the profession and the community.
Puryear Mayfield & McNeil, P.A., Jonesboro, received the award in recognition of his commitment to and participation in equal justice programs, including pro bono efforts through legal services programs.
Special Award of Merit:
Bill W. Bristow, Bristow & Richardson, PLLC, Jonesboro, for distinguished services and accomplishments in the legal profession.
J. Cliff McKinney II, Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, Little Rock, received a Presidential Award of Excellence for his work as chair of the Governance Committee. Annabelle Imber Tuck, Retired Arkansas Supreme Court Justice, received a Presidential Award of Excellence for her work as chair of the SJR8 Task Force.
AYMAG.COM . 63
Golden Gavel Awards: William A. Gruber, Pulaski County Civil Attorney’s Office, Little Rock, received the award for his work as chair of the Social Media Committee.
Mark W. Hodge, Barber Law Firm, Little Rock, received the award for his work as chair of the Personnel Committee.
Brian M. Rosenthal, Rose Law Firm, Little Rock, received the award for his work as co-chair of the Member Benefits Committee.
Other Awards: Judge Brandon J. Harrison, Arkansas Court of Appeals, received the Maurice Cathey award for his valued contributions to The Arkansas Lawyer magazine.
Cindy W. Kolb, Cross, Gunter, Witherspoon & Galchus, P.C., Little Rock, received the award for her work as co-chair of the 2018 Mid-Year Meeting.
Sarah C. Jewell, Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP, Fayetteville, received the Judith Ryan Gray Outstanding Young Lawyer award and the Frank Elcan award.
Joe F. Kolb, j.kolb, Little Rock, received the award for his work as co-chair of the 2018 Mid-Year Meeting. Paul W. Keith, Gibson & Keith, Monticello, received the Outgoing Board of Governors Chair award. Nathan C. Looney, Waddell, Cole & Jones, PLLC, Jonesboro, received the award for his work as Vice Chair of the 2018 Annual Meeting.
David Mitchell, Jr., Rose Law Firm, Little Rock, received the award for his work as co-chair of the Member Benefits Committee.
Dr. Casey Rockwell, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, received the award for her work as chair of the CLE Committee.
Jordan Rogers, Arkansas Access to Justice, Little Rock, received the award for his work on the Social Media Committee.
64 . JUNE 2018
Jacob S. Potter, The Potter Law Firm, Texarkana, received the YLS Award of Excellence.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe, Little Rock, received the CLE Award for elevating the quality of continuing education provided through ArkBar CLE.
Jordan P. Wimpy, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C., Little Rock, received the CLE Award for elevating the quality of continuing education provided through ArkBar CLE.
T
he Joint Arkansas Bar Association and Arkansas Judicial Council Annual Meeting is an amazing Arkansas tradition dating back to the early 1900s. On June 1315, 2018, the Arkansas Bar Association will host over 1,000 Arkansas attorneys, judges and justices from across the state, plus families and guests, over a threeday period at an event envied by other bar associations nationwide. The event boasts extensive continuing education opportunities, from family law to criminal law, with courses by national speakers on everything from business law to #metoo. Also included are addresses from Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and the annual State of the Judiciary Address from Chief Justice Dan Kemp. My theme throughout this bar year has been, “The world really needs another good lawyer.” Arkansas is blessed with some truly great lawyers, many of whom you will see throughout the pages of this magazine. The highlight of the Annual Meeting, for me, is the recognition of those lawyers, starting with the attorneys celebrating 50 years as members of the Arkansas Bar Association – the attorneys and judges who have honored our state with their service to others that goes above and beyond what is expected of any person. Their names are listed below. In addition to the 50-year members, we also honor at this annual meeting attorney members who have provided extraordinary service to the bar and legal community – throughout the year and throughout their lives. These lawyers and their awards are listed in the margin as well. And as we honor them, I can safely say, “YES, the world needs another lawyer, just like these.” Congratulations to the following members who have been admitted to the practice of law in Arkansas for 50 years: • Ben F. Arnold • Charles W. Baker • Allen W. Bird, II • Judge David B. Bogard • Justice Robert L. Brown • Gene C. Campbell • Judge Robert J. Donovan • Robert R. Durden • Larry W. Garrett • Judge Donald Goodner • Michael E. Hale • Donis B. Hamilton • Philip E. Kaplan • R. David Lewis • Judge John R. Lineberger • Richard Leon Mays, Sr. • Ed W. McCorkle • James “Jim” A. McLarty III • Benjamin C. McMinn • Judge Andre E. McNeil • George L. McWilliams • Max C. Mehlburger • Sheffield Nelson • Charles C. Owen • William L. Owen • Judge John M. Pittman • Judge Richard L. Proctor • Donald C. Pullen • Judge John “Buddy” W. Raines • Gordon S. Rather, Jr. • Richard H. Smith • James V. Spencer III • Judge William A. Storey
• Michael Kenneth Wilson • Ronald E. Worthen At the annual meeting, the Arkansas Bar Foundation and the Arkansas Bar Association will recognize several persons to honor because of their outstanding contributions. Those selected are: • Outstanding Lawyer Award: Ralph M. Cloar, Jr. • Outstanding Lawyer-Citizen Award: Rosalind M. Mouser • C. E. Ransick Award of Excellence: Bobby McDaniel • James H. McKenzie Professionalism Award: Ralph C. Williams • Equal Justice Distinguished Service Award: Mark Mayfield • Special Award of Merit: Bill W. Bristow • Outstanding Local Bar Associations: Benton County Bar Association, Grant County Bar Association, Sebastian County Bar Association Also during the meeting, I will award the following award recipients for their work over the past year: Presidential Awards of Excellence: • F. Thomas Curry • Judge Audrey R. Evans • Howard “Baker” Kurrus • Judge Mary Spencer McGowan • J. Cliff McKinney II • Annabelle Imber Tuck
Golden Gavel Awards: • William A. Gruber • Mark W. Hodge • Cindy W. Kolb • Joe F. Kolb • Nathan C. Looney • David Mitchell, Jr. • Dr. Casey Rockwell • Jordan Rogers • Brian M. Rosenthal Other Awards: • J udge Brandon J. Harrison: Maurice Cathey • Sarah C. Jewell: Judith Ryan Gray Outstanding Young Lawyer award • Paul W. Keith: Outgoing Board of Governors Chair award • Jacob S. Potter: YLS Award of Excellence • U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe: CLE Award • Jordan P. Wimpy: CLE Award Anthony A. “Tony” Hilliard, Arkansas Bar Association President
Ramsay, Bridgforth, Robinson and Raley LLP, Pine Bluff AYMAG.COM . 65
66 . JUNE 2018
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AYMAG.COM . 67
5 LAWYERS
INCLUDED IN THE 2018 EDITION OF THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA
THOM DIAZ
68 . JUNE 2018
BOB SEXTON
MIKE RAINWATER
DENISE HOGGARD
LAURA BETH YORK
BANKING AND FINANCE LAW Dover Dixon Horne Garland W. Binns, Jr. 501-375-9151 Wilson & Associates Jennifer Wilson-Harvey 501-219-9388 Quattlebaum Grooms & Tull Timothy W. Grooms 501-379-1713
Lassiter & Cassinelli Jack T. Lassiter 501-370-9300 Epperson Panasiuk Law Pam Panasiuk 501-404-7400 CRIMINAL DEFENSE: WHITE COLLAR Jeff Rosenzweig Jeff Rosenzweig 501-372-5247
EDUCATION LAW Friday, Eldredge & Clark Ellen Owens Smith 501-370-1578
EMPLOYMENT LAW Sanford Law Allison Koile 479-880-0088
Friday, Eldredge & Clark Khayyam M. Eddings 501-370-1417
Friday, Eldredge & Clark Khayyam M. Eddings 501-370-1417
Friday, Eldredge & Clark Christopher J. Heller 501-370-1506
Kendall Law Susan K. Kendall 479-464-9828
Mitchell, Blackstock, Ivers, Sneddon Clayton R. Blackstock 501-378-7870
FAMILY LAW Sanford Law Allison Koile 479-880-0088
Laser Law Firm Dan F. Bufford 501-376-2981
Dover Dixon Horne Gary B. Rogers 501-375-9151
BANKRUPTCY & CREDITOR DEBTOR RIGHTS/INSOLVENCY & REORGANIZATION LAW The Lancaster Law Firm Jennifer Lancaster 501-776-2224
Lassiter & Cassinelli Jack T. Lassiter 501-370-9300
Rose Law Firm Brian Rosenthal 501-859-6185
DUI/DWI DEFENSE Epperson Panasiuk Law Pam Panasiuk 501-404-7400
ELDER LAW The Elrod Firm Justin Elrod 501-847-1311
Hilburn, Calhoon, Harper, Pruniski & Calhoun Sam Hilburn 501-372-0110
Dodds, Kidd, Ryan & Rowan David W. Parker 501-375-9901
Wilson & Haubert Dennis Wilson 501-372-1212
HEALTH CARE LAW Andreoli Law Elizabeth Andreoli 501-372-3634
Wright, Lindsey & Jennings Charles T. Coleman 501-371-0808 CRIMINAL DEFENSE: GENERAL PRACTICE Jeff Rosenzweig Jeff Rosenzweig 501-372-5247 70 . JUNE 2018
Bristow & Richardson Bill W. Bristow 870-935-9000
Wales Comstock Christy Comstock 479-439-8088
The Raymon B Harvey Law Firm Raymon B Harvey 501-221-3416
Friday, Eldredge & Clark Bruce Tidwell 501-376-2011
Wright Lindsey & Jennings Lee Muldrow 501-212-1216 BANKRUPTCY Davis, Clark, Butt, Carithers & Taylor Constance Clark 479-521-7600 Wright, Lindsey & Jennings Charles T. Coleman 501-371-0808 Hardin & Grace David Grace 501-378-7900 Dover Dixon Horne Randall Bynum 501-375-9151 Coplin & Hardy Betty Hardy 501-707-0300 Kutak Rock Mark Dossett 479-695-1961 TRUSTS AND ESTATES Friday, Eldredge & Clark Allison Cornwell 501-370-1452
Going The Extra Mile
is simply doing what others are not willing to do.
THANK YOU LITTLE ROCK! THANK YOU LITTLE ROCK! THANK YOU LITTLE ROCK! THANKS FOR VOTING ME ONE OF AY’S BEST LAWYERS OF 2018!
AYMAG.COM . 71
F. THOMAS CURRY
of McMillan, McCorkle, & Curry LLP, Arkadelphia, received a Presidential Award of Excellence for his work as Arkansas Bar Association Secretary for 12 years. Congratulations and thank you for your dedication to clients.
- Ed McCorkle and Philip McCorkle 72 . JUNE 2018
Rose Law Craig Lair 501-375-9131 Gill Ragon Owen Robert Beach 501-376-3800 MEDIATION Hamlin Dispute Resolution Frank Hamlin 501-850-8888
Law Offices of Gary Green Gary Green 888-442-7947 Law Offices of Gary Green Kayce Green 888-442-7947 Dover Dixon Horne Michael Smith 501-375-9151
Robert Hornberger Robert Hornberger 479-459-7878
Dover Dixon Horne Todd Wooten 501-375-9151
ADR, Inc. John Dewey Watson 501-376-2121
TAX LAW Dover Dixon Horne Michael Parker 501-375-9151
PERSONAL INJURY LIT Rainwater Holt & Sexton Thom Diaz 800-767-4815
Dover Dixon Horne John Peace 501-375-9151
Rainwater Holt & Sexton Bob Sexton 800-767-4815 Rainwater Holt & Sexton Mike Rainwater 800-767-4815
Dover Dixon Horne Matthew Boch 501-375-9151 Rose Law Brantly Buck 501-375-9131 Rose Law Bryant Cranford 501-375-9131
Each week, award-winning columnist and Arkansas Money & Politics Editor Caleb Talley takes on the news of the day, and he’s not holding anything back. Whether it’s local, state or national political matters at hand, he’s got an opinion. And like a true Arkansan, he’s happy to share it – no holds barred. Look for his column, Cash & Candor, every Saturday, exclusively on Arkansas Money & Politics.
Editor Caleb Talley
501.244.9700 • amppob.com
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Congratulations
John Dewey Watson on being named one of AY Magazine’s Best Lawyers of 2018.
Rose Law Wilson Jones 501-375-9131 Rose Law Craig Lair 501-375-9131 Rose Law Dan Young 501-375-9131 Friday, Eldredge & Clark J. Lee Brown 501-370-1541 Friday, Eldredge & Clark Bryan Duke 501-370-1560 Friday, Eldredge & Clark Walter Ebel 501-370-1557
Rose Law Mark Murphey Henry 479-856-6017 Patent Law Offices of Stephen D. Carver Stephen Carver 501-224-1500 Wright Lindsey & Jennings J. Charles Dougherty 501-212-1383 TRUSTS & ESTATES Dover Dixon Horne John Peace 501-375-9151 Dover Dixon Horne Michael Parker 501-375-9151
Friday, Eldredge & Clark Byron Eiseman 501-370-1546
Dover Dixon Horne Cal McCastlain 501-375-9151
Friday, Eldredge & Clark Price Gardner 501-370-1543
Friday, Eldredge & Clark W. Thomas Baxter 501-244-1599
Friday, Eldredge & Clark Robert Smith 501-370-1559
Friday, Eldredge & Clark J. Lee Brown 501-370-1541
REAL ESTATE LAW Dover Dixon Horne James Beachboard 501-375-9151
Friday, Eldredge & Clark Allison Cornwell 501-370-1452
Dover Dixon Horne Monte Estes 501-375-9151
Friday, Eldredge & Clark Byron Eiseman 501-370-1546
Dover Dixon Horne Randall Bynum 501-375-9151 Rose Law Firm Brian Rosenthal 501-859-6185
74 . JUNE 2018
TRADEMARK LAW Rose Law Kathy Perkins 501-377-0417
Friday, Eldredge & Clark Sarah Cotton Patterson 501-370-3317
Rose Law Firm Robyn Allmendinger 501-377-0343
Friday, Eldredge & Clark K. Coleman Westbrook 501-370-1531
Gill Ragon Owen Daniel Goodwin 501-376-3800
Nash Law Firm Elizabeth Richardson 501-851-0040
WE LOVE A GOOD DEBATE, BU T THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOK EN.
JAMES PAUL BEACHBOARD
GARLAND BINNS
MICHAEL PARKER
MATTHEW BOCH
JOHN PEACE
GARY ROGERS
RANDY BYNUM
MONTE ESTES
MICHAEL SMITH
CAL MCCASTLAIN
TODD WOOTEN
Readers of AY Magazine have named 11 of our attorneys Best Lawyers of 2018. All of us at Dover Dixon Horne are proud to congratulate them. DOVERDIXONHORNE.COM AYMAG.COM . 75