Leading industry sources have recognized members of the firm as among the best lawyers in America.

The Best Lawyers in America®

Since it was first published in 1983, The Best Lawyers in America® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence, earing the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals.  Lawyers on the Best Lawyers® list are divided by geographic region and practice areas.  They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.  The 2023 edition of Best Lawyers® includes 17 attorneys from QGT honored in 27 practice areas.

Best Lawyers® also honors a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area as a “Lawyer of the Year.”  These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer review assessments.  Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity. Two attorneys from our firm earned this distinction for 2023: John E. Tull III, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Little Rock, and Michael N. Shannon, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, Little Rock.

Five lawyers from Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull have been included in the 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch, which recognizes associates and other lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.  Lawyers recognized in Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch are divided by geographic region and practice areas, reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

Meredith M. Causey
Commercial Litigation

Philip A. Elmore
Commercial Litigation

Seth Hampton
Banking and Finance Law, Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law and Real Estate Law

Ryan O’Quinn
Trusts and Estates

Thomas H. Wyatt
Commercial Litigation

U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is regionally ranked in 24 practice areas in the U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings for 2023.  Firms included in the 2023 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers.  Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.  Ranked firms, presented in tiers, are listed on a national and/or metropolitan scale.  Receiving a tier designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity.

Following are the rankings received by the firm:

Metropolitan Rankings – Little Rock

Appellate Practice (Tier 1)
Banking and Finance Law (Tier 1)
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (Tier 1)
Bet-the-Company Litigation (Tier 1)
Commercial Litigation (Tier 1)
Corporate Law (Tier 1)
Eminent Domain & Condemnation Law (Tier 1)
Employee Benefits (ERISA ) Law (Tier 3)
First Amendment Law (Tier 1)
Insurance Law (Tier 2)
Land Use & Zoning Law (Tier 1)
Litigation – Banking & Finance (Tier 1)
Litigation – Bankruptcy (Tier 1)
Litigation – First Amendment (Tier 1)
Litigation – Labor & Employment (Tier 1)
Litigation – Real Estate (Tier 1)
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants (Tier 1)
Media Law (Tier 1)
Mergers & Acquisitions Law (Tier 1)
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (Tier 1)
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (Tier 1)
Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs (Tier 1)
Real Estate Law (Tier 1)

Metropolitan Rankings – Fayetteville

Commercial Litigation (Tier 1)
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (Tier 2)
Litigation (ERISA) – (Tier 2)
Litigation – Labor & Employment (Tier 1)

 Chambers USA

Chambers USA reviews and ranks individual lawyers and law firms by practice area in each state.  Chambers guides are the culmination of thousands of in-depth interviews by the largest research team of its kind and are trusted globally to objectively rank the world’s best lawyers and law firms.  In the 2022 publication, Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, received the highest ranking possible in the areas of General Commercial Litigation and Real Estate for law firms in Arkansas and was also recognized for its Corporate/Commercial practice. Steven W. Quattlebaum, Timothy W. Grooms, John E. Tull III, E. B. (Chip) Chiles IV, Michael N. Shannon, J. Cliff McKinney II, Joseph R. Falasco, and Jeb H. Joyce received recognition in the publication’s rankings of individuals.

As to the firm’s litigation practice, the publication noted: “A distinguished firm with a significant geographical reach and notable expertise in a range of contentious issues, including class action defense and product liability.  Also regularly mandated by clients from a wide array of industries ranging from the automobile to the pharmaceutical sectors, on environmental and toxic tort litigations.  Offers notable capabilities in breach of contract disputes, as well as personal injury and negligence claims.”  Steve Quattlebaum is lauded by sources who comment that “he is exceptional, he’s one of those guys even the judge can’t help liking, he is an able advocate and I cannot say enough things about him. He is superb in the courtroom.”  John Tull is held in high regard and described as “an outstanding trial attorney whom we trust with bet-the-company litigation. We are fortunate to have him on our team.”  Chip Chiles is described as having impressive expertise as an appellate lawyer and sources said: “Chip is always extremely responsive, is quick to grasp issues and provides sound advice,” and “Chip is an exceptional counselor, always providing practical and well-reasoned advice. He’s a skillful litigator who understands our business goals and helps us achieve them.”   Joe Falasco is “commended for his handling of appellate proceedings and class actions” and Mike Shannon is noted to have “a strong reputation for handling real estate-related litigation but is equally capable of a wide range of broader contentious commercial work.”

For real estate, Chambers remarked: “Excels in advising financial institutions, developers and multinational corporations on real estate matters.  Expertise spans all aspects of purchasing, construction, development, sales and operations for a variety of real estate projects.  Also offers substantial experience handling mortgages, loans, and tax-deferred exchanges, as well as disputes work.  Well placed to advise on projects involving collaboration between public and private sector organizations.”  Tim Grooms is described as “hands-down, the best real estate attorney in Arkansas” and “a star individual and a top attorney by far.”  Sources noted that Cliff McKinney “consistently exceeds expectations.”  Jeb Joyce is described as “a tremendous and skilled real estate attorney.”

Regarding the firm’s corporate/commercial practice, Chambers commented: “Offers substantial experience in banking issues, representing several state and national banks in matters such as formation, M&A and regulatory issues.  Notable capabilities in undertaking tax matters and also adept at working on tax-exempt bond transactions.  Also skilled in offering additional assistance with real estate issues arising from corporate transactions.  Provides further expertise in handling debt restructurings, asset and stock sales agreements and joint ventures.”  Jeb Joyce is described as “an extremely intelligent lawyer with a great practice” and sources noted that Tim Grooms “provides top-notch service on commercial real estate loans” and “he is very strong and responsive to our needs.”

The following shows Chambers’ recognition of the firm and its attorneys:

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC
Commercial Litigation (Band 1)
Real Estate (Band 1)
Corporate/Commercial (Band 3)

• E. B. (Chip) Chiles IV – General Commercial Litigation (Band 2) and Labor & Employment (Band 3)
• Joseph R. Falasco – General Commercial Litigation (Band 3)
• Timothy W. Grooms – Real Estate (Band *) and Corporate/Commercial (Band 2)
• Jeb H. Joyce – Real Estate (Band 2) and Corporate/Commercial (Band 3)
• J. Cliff McKinney II – Real Estate (Band 1)
• Steven W. Quattlebaum – General Commercial Litigation (Band *)
• Michael N. Shannon – General Commercial Litigation (Band 4)
• John E. Tull III – General Commercial Litigation (Band 1)

Key
* – Star Individuals (above rank 1); given to lawyers with exceptional recommendations in their field.

Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers  is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than seventy (70) practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.  The annual selections are made using a patented multi-phase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.  The result is a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.  Fewer than five percent (5%) of all lawyers in Arkansas are selected as Super Lawyers and no more than two and one half percent (2.5%) of lawyers in Arkansas are named to the Rising Stars list.  Steven W. Quattlebaum, Timothy W. Grooms, John E. Tull III, and E. B. (Chip) Chiles IV received some of the highest point totals in the Arkansas nomination, research, and blue ribbon review process and are included in the list of the Top 50 Arkansas Super Lawyers for 2022.

The following lawyers from our firm were recognized by Super Lawyers for 2022:

Benchmark: America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys

The firm was recently recognized in the 2023 edition of Benchmark Litigation as one of only four “highly recommended firms” for litigation in Arkansas.  Steven W. Quattlebaum, John E. Tull III, E. B. (Chip) Chiles IV,   and Michael N. Shannon  were highlighted as Litigation Stars and Brandon B. Cate, Joseph R. Falasco, and R. Ryan Younger were named Future Stars.

Benchmark also recognized firms and attorneys in Labor & Employment for 2022 and Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC was highlighted as one of four “recommended firms” in Arkansas, with E. B. (Chip) Chiles IV, Brandon B. Cate, Joseph R. Falasco, Sarah Keith-Bolden, and Joseph W. Price II named Labor & Employment Stars – South.

Joseph W. Price II, and R. Ryan Younger were named to the 40 & Under List for 2022. This is the sixth time for both attorneys to receive this honor. Those named to this exclusive list have proven their eligibility as individuals at the partner level of their respective firms and are age 40 or younger.  These young, ambitious, and accomplished lawyers frequently handle major cases – some of which are high-stakes or precedent-setting. They are able to adapt to rapidly changing times in addition to juggling their flourishing careers and personal lives, all while staying on top of their industry. These practitioners are among the top young talent in their respective litigation communities in the United States and Canada.

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC was named Arkansas Firm of the Year by Benchmark Litigation in 2023, the tenth time the firm has received this honor.  The award selection is based upon peer review and research conducted by Benchmark’s research team.

Benchmark covers the litigation and disputes market in North America, covering the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.  The original publication, Benchmark Litigation—the definitive guide to America’s leading litigation firms and attorneys—is the only publication to focus exclusively on US litigation.  The guide’s results are the culmination of a six-month research period that allows researchers to conduct extensive interviews with litigators and their clients, examining recent case work handled by the firms, and asking sources to offer their professional opinions on litigators practicing within their state or national practice areas.  Litigation Stars reflect lawyers who were recommended consistently as reputable and effective litigators by clients and peers while Future Stars are litigators who were consistently referenced by peers and clients as litigators who are likely to become Litigation Stars in coming editions of the guide.

Lawdragon

Lawdragon recognized six attorneys from Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC on its inaugural 500 Leading Litigators in America list. Attorneys selected for this guide excel in representing corporations and other organizations in litigating claims involving antitrust, securities, financial, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property and patents, product liability mass tort, white collar, government investigations, and energy disputes. Members of this guide were selected from submissions and independent research focused on recent cases and defense verdicts or settlements, as well as attorneys who sustained excellence in trials.

Michael B. Heister – Complex Business, Environmental, Energy Litigation

Sarah Keith-Bolden – Business Litigation including Employment, Appellate

Steven W. Quattlebaum – Busines, Toxic Tort and Product Liability Litigation

Michael N. Shannon – Commercial Litigation, Class Action, Product Liability

John E. Tull III – Product Liability, Complex Commercial

Thomas G. Williams – Tort, Product Liability

Steven W. Quattlebaum  was recently selected to the Lawdragon 500 Hall of Fame.  Created in 2015, the Hall of Fame recognizes past members of the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America and other outstanding lawyers who have made remarkable contributions as leaders, litigators, dealmakers, power brokers, judges and innovators. The list celebrates lawyers whose mark on the legal profession is indelible and the 34 members of the 2021 Hall of Fame class are described as “among the most acclaimed of their generation, having led America’s signature law firms to unprecedented heights, achieved civil rights advances and changed our world for the better.”  Steve was named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America list eight times and is one of only two attorneys from Arkansas to be inducted into the Lawdragon 500 Hall of Fame. The full list of the 2021 Hall of Fame class, which also includes the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, can be found here.

Selection to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America comes through a group of veteran legal journalists who review thousands of submissions of outstanding lawyers from all regions and practice areas of the American legal profession, including private attorneys, government and other public interest attorneys, judges, and law school professors. From that group, the 500 leading lawyers are chosen by Lawdragon. Less than one-tenth of one percent of all lawyers in the United States are included as members of the Lawdragon 500.