News

Steven W. Quattlebaum was featured in the High Profile section of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, which highlights the movers, shakers, volunteers, and philanthropists across the state. The September 10, 2023, article chronicles some meaningful incidents and people that impacted Steve and significantly influenced his life and legal career. Steve’s impressive trial work, his tenure as the National President of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and his unabashed pride in his law firm and colleagues are also shared in this insightful profile. You can read the complete article here.

William T. Yandell has joined Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC as an associate in the Little Rock office where his practice primarily focuses on commercial litigation. Mr. Yandell graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arkansas School of Law, where he served as Chief Justice of the Graduate and Professional Student Congress and Chief of Staff for the Student Bar Association.  As a co-founder and President of the school’s OutLaw chapter, he organized legal clinics for indigent members of the community.  Mr. Yandell competed as both an oralist and brief writer for the University’s traveling moot court team, which reached the finals in the Philadelphia Regionals of the American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition, securing fourth place for their brief and earning him recognition as an Outstanding Oralist.  He was also the champion of the 2022 William H. Sutton Barrister’s Union Trial Competition. Mr. Yandell was a recipient of the Charles Thomas and Mary Alice Pearson Fellowship in 2021 and 2022. A native of Greenbrier, Arkansas, Mr. Yandell obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Central Arkansas, where he sat as principal trumpet and section leader of the Conway Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, 12:00 Jazz Band, and Bear Marching Band. We are excited to welcome Will to our team!

S. Katie Calvert is a featured author in the Summer 2023 edition of USLAW Magazine. Sarah’s article, “AI: A Cautionary Tale For Non-Lawyers,” addresses several pitfalls associated with using artificial intelligence to draft legal documents instead of qualified attorneys. You can read the article here. As associate at the firm, Sarah concentrates her practice on commercial litigation. USLAW Magazine is the official magazine of USLAW Network, Inc., a network of over 100 law firms worldwide consisting of more than 6,000 lawyers providing the full scope of legal services.

David A. Gardner is a featured author in the Summer 2023 edition of The Arkansas Community Banker. David’s article, “UCC Amended to Accommodate Digital Commerce,” explains changes made to the Uniform Commercial Code in 2022 to address the challenges of digital assets in commerce. You can read the article here. A third-year law student at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, David is a law clerk at QGT and will join the firm as an associate upon graduation. The Arkansas Community Bankers Association is committed to preserving and promoting community banks, their franchise values and the communities they serve.

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is pleased to announce that 18 lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals.  Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in over 75 countries.  Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America® 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. Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to the 2024 The Best Lawyers in America® list:  Brandon B. Cate – Commercial Litigation, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – ERISA, and Litigation-Labor and EmploymentVincent O. Chadick – Agriculture Law and Commercial LitigationE. B. (Chip) Chiles IV – Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – ERISA, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – DefendantsJoseph R. Falasco – Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Litigation – Labor and Employment, and Litigation – Real EstateTimothy W. Grooms – Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Real Estate, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Real Estate LawMichael B. Heister – Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, and Environmental LawJeb. H. Joyce – Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, and Real Estate LawSarah Keith-Bolden – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Labor and EmploymentScott M. Lar – Tax Law and Trusts and EstatesJ. Cliff McKinney II – Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate LawJoseph W. Price II – Commercial Litigation, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, and Litigation – Real EstateSteven W. Quattlebaum – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Litigation – Health Care,  Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – DefendantsMichael N. Shannon – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – PlaintiffsGeoffrey B. Treece – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation – BankruptcyJohn E. Tull III – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, First Amendment Law, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – First Amendment, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Media Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – PlaintiffsDavid B. Vandergriff – Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, and Litigation – Real EstateThomas G. Williams – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – DefendantsR. Ryan Younger – Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Best Lawyers also honors a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area as a “Lawyer of the Year.”  Four attorneys from our firm earned this distinction in Little Rock for 2024: Timothy W. Grooms for Land Use and Zoning Law and Litigation – Real Estate; Steven W. Quattlebaum for Bet-the-Company Litigation and Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants; John E. Tull III for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs; and Michael N. Shannon for Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law.  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 the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity. Five lawyers from QGT have been included in the 2024 Edition of 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.  Lawyers recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 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. Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC would like to congratulate the following lawyers recognized in the 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America:   Meredith M. Causey – Commercial LitigationPhilip A. Elmore – Commercial Litigation R. Seth Hampton – Banking and Finance Law, Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law, and Real Estate LawC. Ryan O’Quinn – Trusts and EstatesThomas H. Wyatt – Commercial Litigation A complete list of these and other rankings can be found on our Awards page.

Michael B. Crosby III and Dalton B. Swindell are featured authors in the Summer 2023 issue of The Arkansas Lawyer, the official publication of the Arkansas Bar Association. The article, “Roll Call: Report of Face the Consequences – What the Corporate Transparency Act Means for Your Business,” explains how the new Corporate Transparency Act, set to become effective January 1, 2024, will have a significant impact on how companies – and those who help create them – operate moving forward. You can read the article here. Dalton and Michael are associates in our Little Rock office where they primarily focus on real estate transactions.

Steven W. Quattlebaum was honored as the Defense Lawyer of the Year by the Arkansas Association of Defense Counsel (AADC) at the 2023 Annual Meeting held August 3-4 in Bentonville, Arkansas. The award was presented by QGT Member and AADC Secretary, Tom Wyatt. The AADC Defense Lawyer of the Year is awarded annually to an Arkansas defense lawyer who best exemplifies the mission and objectives of the AADC.  The lawyer assists members of the Arkansas defense bar in the exchange of information, ideas, and techniques to handle defense litigation, elevates the standards of trial practice in Arkansas and nationally, adheres to the highest standards of trial conduct and courtroom manners, supports and works for the improvement of the adversary system in our state and federal courts, and works to increase the quality of the service and contribution that the legal profession renders to the clients, adversaries, the local community, and Arkansas. AADC is an organization of lawyers in Arkansas whose work focuses primarily on defense litigation and whose objectives include elevating the standards of trial practice in Arkansas and working for the improvement of the adversary system of jurisprudence in our courts.

R. Ryan Younger has been named to the Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under List for 2023.  This is the seventh time Ryan has received 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. Mr. Younger is a managing member of the firm and concentrates his practice on business litigation, class actions, and appeals. Please visit our Awards page to learn more about this and other honors received by our attorneys and firm.

John E. Tull III was recently appointed to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Review Working Group by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. The bipartisan group includes members of the legal and press communities that will review FOIA and provide the attorney general’s office with recommendations on how to improve the law. Other members of the group include State Senator Breanne Davis; Ryan Owsley, Deputy Attorney General, Opinions Division; John Payne, Deputy Attorney General, Civil Litigation Division; State Representative David Ray; State Senator Clarke Tucker; and Ashley Kemp Wimberly, Executive Director of the Arkansas Press Association. “Guarding the state’s Freedom of Information Act has been a large part of my legal career,” Tull said. “I’m honored to serve with the other members of this working group to find ways to improve FOIA but maintain its strength. I’m thankful to Attorney General Griffin for bringing together this group to open this discussion.” John Tull practices in the firm’s Little Rock office and concentrates his practice on newspaper law, products liability, and complex commercial litigation.

QGT Managing Member Steven W. Quattlebaum is featured in the current issue of Arkansas Business where he discusses his role as National President of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Other topics covered in the Executive Q&A spotlight include issues surrounding the judiciary, managing people, and being an effective communicator. You can download the article below. ABOTA is an invitation-only national association of 7,300 highly experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right to civil jury trials. ABOTA’s primary goal is to educate the American public about the history and value of the right to trial by jury, and it is dedicated to elevating the standards of skill, integrity, honor, and courtesy in the legal profession.

The 2023 edition of Chambers USA has been released and 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.  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. To learn more about these rankings, visit our Awards page.

QGT is pleased to welcome Rachel A. Sullivant as an associate in our Northwest Arkansas office, where her practice will primarily focus on corporate transactions.  Ms. Sullivant earned her J. D., summa cum laude, from the University of Arkansas School of Law, where she was a member of the Business Law Society and recipient of the Academic Achievement Award for ranking third in her law school class.  While in law school, she held various positions with the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Arkansas, and upon graduation, she continued her work in that office, most recently as Associate Director of the McMillon Innovation Studio. Ms. Sullivant received a Bachelor of Business Administration from East Tennessee State University in 2014 and a Master of Business Administration with a focus on international business from John Brown University in 2017.  Prior to law school, she was employed as a financial analyst in the aerospace industry and was a Sam Walton Fellow at John Brown University serving as the faculty advisor for a social entrepreneurship program.  We are excited to have Rachel join our team!

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC was named Arkansas Firm of the Year by Benchmark Litigation at the annual Benchmark USA Awards held March 15, 2023, marking the tenth time the firm has received this distinction.  A full list of the winners can be found here. The award selection is based upon peer review and research conducted by Benchmark’s research team. Previously, the firm was recognized in the 2023. edition of Benchmark Litigation as one of only four “highly recommended firms” for litigation in Arkansas, with five attorneys highlighted as Litigation Stars and four attorneys named Future Stars. The firm was also highlighted as one of four “recommended firms” in Arkansas for Labor & Employment for 2022, with five of our attorneys named Labor & Employment Stars – South.  More information about these and other rankings can be found on our Awards page. Benchmark Litigation—the definitive guide to America’s leading litigation firms and attorneys—is the only publication to focus exclusively on US litigation.

Steven W. Quattlebaum was installed as National President of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) at the organization’s annual National Board Meeting in Santa Barbara, California, on January 28, 2023. Since his admission into the association in 1995, Steve has held a number of leadership positions, including two terms as National Secretary. He has served on several committees and chaired or co-chaired programs that have had a broad impact, notably as chair of the ABOTA COVID-19 Task Force, which produced and published “Guidance for Conducting Civil Jury Trials During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” a legal resource that addresses the process of conducting trials safely and the many issues faced by the courts, the legal community, jurors, and the public. His passion for helping young lawyers develop their courtroom skills is evidenced by his many years of involvement in the ABOTA National Trial College, first as a faculty member and later multiple times as co-chair of the week-long instructional program which has been held at Princeton University, Harvard Law School, and Yale Law School. Gordon S. Rather, Jr., ABOTA National President in 1996 and a longtime friend and mentor to Steve, introduced him to the National Board, judges, and guests by describing him as someone who has made tremendous strides in advancing the legal profession. “We all know that there is no victory, no advantage, no fee, and no favor which is worth even the slightest blemish on your reputation for honesty and integrity,” Mr. Rather said. “Steve understands that no matter how successful you are, no matter how many trials you win, your professional life will not be fulfilled if you do not devote some measure of your energy and time to improving the legal profession.” In his remarks to the group, Steve commented, “In the Founders’ eyes, the right to a jury trial was equal in importance to the right to vote. The civil jury trial, as an institution, is important to our democracy. It is imperative that the citizenry, consumer groups, and businesses recognize and understand the vital role of the jury system within our society.” ABOTA is an invitation-only national association of 7,300 highly experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right to civil jury trials. ABOTA’s primary goal is to educate the American public about the history and value of the right to trial by jury, and it is dedicated to elevating the standards of skill, integrity, honor, and courtesy in the legal profession.

We are pleased to share that Michael B. Crosby III has been named to the Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock Board of Directors for 2023. A transactional attorney with the firm, Michael’s practice is primarily focused on real estate and agricultural matters. CREC MLR supports and promotes all aspects of commercial real estate. Groups, individuals, and companies representing development, property management, finance, construction, and other industries work together to facilitate engagement, education, and networking in commercial real estate in the metro Little Rock area.

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is pleased to announce that Aaron C. Cochran has joined the law firm as an associate.   Mr. Cochran is located in the firm’s Little Rock office and his practice is primarily focused on bankruptcy, debtor and creditor rights, secured transactions, and other litigation matters. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Cochran served as a staff attorney to the Honorable Phyllis M. Jones of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas. Mr. Cochran graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arkansas School of Law where he was a member of the Journal of Food Law & Policy, participated in the school’s bankruptcy clinic, was a member of the school’s traveling moot court team, and served as a faculty research assistant.  He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Hendrix College, where he graduated with high honors and became a member of Phi Beta Kappa.  He went on to obtain a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. He was licensed to practice law in Arkansas in 2019.

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is pleased to announce that Sarah Keith-Bolden and Scott M. Lar have become managing members of the law firm and Meredith M. Causey and Philip A. Elmore have been named members.   Ms. Keith-Bolden is located in the firm’s Little Rock office and concentrates her practice on business litigation, appeals, and employment-related matters. She is listed with The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Commercial Litigation, recognized as a Mid-South Rising Star in the area of Business Litigation by Super Lawyers, named a Labor & Employment Star – South by Benchmark Litigation, and was selected for the inaugural Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America guide. She is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society.  Prior to joining Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull, Ms. Keith-Bolden served as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert L. Brown of the Arkansas Supreme Court. She received her undergraduate degree in Environmental Engineering from Brown University and her law degree with honors from Emory University.  While in law school, she served as a Notes and Comments Editor for the Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal. Mr. Lar is based in the firm’s Northwest Arkansas office where he maintains a transactional and taxation practice, which primarily focuses on mergers and acquisitions, taxation and tax planning, federal and state tax audits, tax litigation, corporate transactions, and estate planning, including probate and trust administration.  He is licensed to practice in the United States Tax Court and is recognized by Super Lawyers as a Mid-South Rising Star in the area of Tax.  He holds a Master of Laws degree in Taxation from the University of Florida and served as a Graduate Editor of the Florida Tax Review.  He earned his J.D. with honors from the University of Arkansas School of Law and obtained a B.S.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business. While attending law school, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Food Law & Policy.  Located in Little Rock, Ms. Causey’s practice focuses on electronic discovery and information governance, including the identification, preservation, collection, review, and production of electronically stored information.  Ms. Causey also provides counsel to clients on a variety of technology-related issues, including software licensing agreements, cloud computing, and website privacy policies. She is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in the area of Commercial Litigation.  Ms. Causey graduated from Vanderbilt University with a B.S. in Political Science and received her J.D. from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law.  While in law school, she served as a student extern to the Honorable D. Price Marshall Jr., United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.  Mr. Elmore is a litigation attorney in the firm’s Northwest Arkansas office. He is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in the area of Commercial Litigation and was selected to participate in the ABOTA National Trial College.  Mr. Elmore graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arkansas School of Law where he served as a Note & Comment Editor for the Arkansas Law Review.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science, summa cum laude, from Arkansas Tech University. Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is a law firm consisting of 41 attorneys with offices in Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas.  For more information about Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, please visit www.QGTLAW.com.

Michael W. Shannon and Joseph W. Price II are featured presenters for the Arkansas Easements, Eminent Domain & Water Rights webinar to be held on January 18, 2023.  Mike’s presentation on eminent domain law will include the history and understanding of eminent domain powers, types of eminent domain “takings” and valuing the compensation for “taken” property. Joey’s discussion will cover the condemnation process for government use and for utility and other quasi-public use, hearing and right of appeal, and valuing the property taken. You can learn more about this webinar and register here. Managing members of the law firm, Mr. Shannon and Mr. Price both focus their practices on civil litigation and frequently handle eminent domain and condemnation matters. 

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is pleased to announce that thirteen attorneys with our firm were recently named to the Mid-South Super Lawyers and Mid-South Rising Stars lists for 2022 by Super Lawyers.  Vincent O. Chadick, E. B. (Chip) Chiles IV, Joseph R. Falasco, Timothy W. Grooms, Michael B. Heister, J. Cliff McKinney II, Steven W. Quattlebaum, Michael N. Shannon, Geoffrey B. Treece, John E. Tull III, David B. Vandergriff, and Thomas G. Williams were recognized as Mid-South Super Lawyers.  Mr. Quattlebaum, Mr. Grooms, Mr. Tull, and Mr. Chiles 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.  R. Ryan Younger was named a Mid-South Rising Star by the organization. Click here to read more about these rankings. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Lawyers are selected to a Super Lawyers list in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. 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. 

QGT attorneys Philip Elmore, Andrew Dixon, Jon Mader, and Glenn Larkin were among those volunteering their time to answer questions from low-income community members throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The Day of Pro Bono service, organized by Entergy in recognition of National Pro Bono Week, brings together legal professionals in all four states, simultaneously, to help clear the queue of questions in each state’s freelegalanswers.org website. We appreciate Entergy allowing us the opportunity to serve our community in this important way. http://bit.ly/3UOcoDD

U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®, for the thirteenth consecutive year, have announced the “Best Law Firms” rankings.  Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC has been ranked in the 2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list regionally in 24 practice areas.   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) To learn more about these rankings and other honors received by the firm, please visit our Awards page.

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. Congratulations to the QGT attorneys named to this list: 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 More information about the Lawdragon guide and other honors can be found on our Awards page.

Dalton B. Swindell has joined Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC as a transactional associate in the Little Rock office. Mr. Swindell’s practice primarily focuses on real estate transactions and he also has experience in property acquisitions and commercial contract litigation. Born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Mr. Swindell received his J.D. from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, where he was Vice Justice of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International.  While in law school, he served as a legal extern for the United States Department of Agriculture and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.  He obtained a B.S. in Finance from the University of Arkansas.       Mr. Swindell was licensed to practice law in Arkansas in 2021.

The 2023 Benchmark Litigation USA rankings have been released and we are proud to share that the firm was recognized 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 Litigation—the definitive guide to America’s leading litigation firms and attorneys—is the only publication to focus exclusively on US litigation. Benchmark Labor & Employment rankings, which highlight the best and brightest law firms and partners who stand out in their labor and employment practices throughout the United States, have also been released and Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC was named 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 recognized as Labor & Employment Stars – South. More information about the Benchmark Litigation rankings can be found on our Awards page.

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is pleased to announce that associates Glenn V. Larkin and E. Jonathan Mader have returned to the firm after completing clerkships with United States District Court judges. Both are located in the firm’s Little Rock office. Mr. Larkin practiced at the firm for a year following law school, then served as a law clerk to the Honorable Lee P. Rudofsky of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas before returning to the firm.  Mr. Larkin’s practice focuses on civil litigation.  He received his J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, where he was Articles Editor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review and, as the top-ranked student in his law school class, received twelve top paper awards.    After a year as an associate with the law firm, Mr. Mader served as a law clerk to the Honorable D. P. Marshall Jr. of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.  He concentrates his practice on business-related litigation involving breach of contract, class actions, products liability, insurance, and other matters.  Mr. Mader obtained his J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, where he served as Associate Editor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review.  He received a B.A. in Philosophy & Letters from the University of Dallas. 

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is pleased to announce that Taylor Wilbourn Kelley has joined the law firm as an associate in our Northwest Arkansas office where her practice primarily focuses on corporate transactions, real estate, and mergers and acquisitions.  Ms. Kelley earned her Business Law Certificate and J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Arkansas School of Law and graduated from the University of Arkansas with her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a minor in Supply Chain Management. Prior to law school, Ms. Kelley spent six years working for a major agricultural retailer. First, as a fertilizer buyer in Memphis, Tennessee, then, as part of the national sales team in Loveland, Colorado.

Brittany S. Ford was recently appointed a Vice Chair of the Young Lawyers Committee DRI for Life (Wellness) Subcommittee for 2022-2023. The subcommittee focuses on mental and physical wellness throughout the year and will be responsible for planning and coordinating healthy lifestyle and wellness activities during DRI meetings as well as contributing articles and ideas for DRI publications. Brittany is an associate in the firm’s Little Rock office where she focuses on mass tort, products liability, business litigation, and premises liability matters. DRI is the largest international membership organization of attorneys defending the interests of business and individuals in civil litigation. Membership in DRI provides access to resources and tools for attorneys who strive to provide high-quality, balanced, and excellent service to their clients and corporations. 

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is pleased to announce that 18 lawyers have been included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers 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.  Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in over 75 countries.  Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America 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. Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to the 2023 The Best Lawyers in America list:  Brandon B. Cate – Commercial Litigation, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – ERISA, and Litigation-Labor and EmploymentVincent O. Chadick – Agriculture Law and Commercial LitigationE. B. (Chip) Chiles IV – Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – ERISA, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – DefendantsGrant M. Cox – Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Transactions/UCC Law, and Corporate LawJoseph R. Falasco – Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Litigation – Labor and Employment, and Litigation – Real EstateTimothy W. Grooms – Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Real Estate, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Real Estate LawMichael B. Heister – Appellate Practice and Commercial LitigationJeb. H. Joyce – Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, and Real Estate LawSarah Keith-Bolden – Commercial LitigationJ. Cliff McKinney II – Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate LawJoseph W. Price II – Commercial LitigationSteven W. Quattlebaum – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Litigation – Health Care,  Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – DefendantsMichael N. Shannon – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – PlaintiffsGeoffrey B. Treece – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation – BankruptcyJohn E. Tull III – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, First Amendment Law, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – First Amendment, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Media Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – PlaintiffsDavid B. Vandergriff – Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, and Litigation – Real EstateThomas G. Williams – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – DefendantsR. Ryan Younger – Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Best Lawyers also honors a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area as a “Lawyer of the Year.”  Two attorneys from our firm earned this distinction in Little Rock for 2023:  John E. Tull III for Banking and Finance and Michael N. Shannon – Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs.  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 the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity. Five lawyers from QGT 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. Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC would like to congratulate the following lawyers recognized in the 2023 Edition of Best Lawyer®: Ones to Watch:  Meredith M. Causey – Commercial LitigationPhilip A. Elmore – Commercial LitigationR. Seth Hampton – Banking and Finance Law, Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law, and Real Estate LawC. Ryan O’Quinn – Trusts and EstatesThomas H. Wyatt – Commercial Litigation A complete list of these and other rankings can be found on our Awards page.

Thomas H. Wyatt was recently appointed Second Vice Chair of DRI Young Lawyers Committee for 2022-2023.  DRI is the largest international membership organization of attorneys defending the interests of business and individuals in civil litigation. Membership in DRI provides access to resources and tools for attorneys who strive to provide high-quality, balanced, and excellent service to their clients and corporations.  Tom also serves as Arkansas State Membership Chair for DRI and is responsible for membership recruitment, retention, and engagement on behalf of DRI within Arkansas. Mr. Wyatt is a member of the law firm and concentrates his practice on commercial litigation, property litigation and products liability.

Joseph W. Price II and R. Ryan Younger have been named to the Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under List for 2022.  This is the sixth time both attorneys have received 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. Mr. Price is a managing member of the firm and focuses his practice on civil litigation. Mr. Younger is a managing member of the firm and concentrates his practice on business litigation, class actions and appeals. Please visit our Awards page to learn more about this and other honors received by our attorneys and firm.

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is pleased to announce that Michael B. Crosby III has joined the law firm as an associate.    Mr. Crosby received his J.D. from the William H. Bowen School of Law and a B.S. in Crop Science with a minor in Agricultural Business from the University of Arkansas.  He is located in the firm’s Little Rock office and will concentrate his practice on real estate and agricultural matters.

Robbi Riggs Rosenbaum has been selected for inclusion in the 2022 “20 In Their 20s” class by Arkansas Business.   Nominated by readers and chosen by a group of internal judges, the 20 talented young leaders were selected from hundreds of nominations and are recognized for making a significant impact on their companies, organizations, and communities.  These rising stars will be profiled in a special supplement of Arkansas Business to be distributed on September 12, 2022.  See the full list of honorees here.   An associate at the law firm, Robbi concentrates her practice on banking, real estate, taxation, and entity formation.

Brittany S. Ford is attending the 2022 American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) National Trial College on the campus of Yale Law School, June 20-25, 2022.  Designed for second-year through sixth-year trial attorneys from both sides of the bar, the program consists of five days of intensive instruction, student exercises, and critiques culminating in three simultaneous mock jury trials on the final day with each student having significant participation.  Faculty demonstrations and student exercises encompass all aspects of civil jury trials from effective voir dire to persuasive opening statements and closing arguments.  The classes are taught by highly experienced trial lawyers from all parts of the country who share their techniques of trial preparation and the art of effective advocacy.  The students also have the opportunity to work with very experienced and accomplished expert witnesses.  QGT Managing Member Steven W. Quattlebaum serves as a faculty mentor for the Trial College and is National President-Elect of ABOTA.  The American Board of Trial Advocates is a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Ann Carol Farmer is a featured author in the Spring 2022 edition of The Arkansas Community Banker. Ann Carol’s article, “Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act: Key Information For Lenders” explains how the Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act provides a safe harbor for lenders following the discontinuance of LIBOR in 2023. You can read the article here. Ann Carol Farmer is an Associate Attorney at Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC where she concentrates her practice on real estate and corporate transactions. She can be reached at afarmer@QGTLAW.com or 479-444-5211. The Arkansas Community Bankers Association is committed to preserving and promoting community banks, their franchise values and the communities they serve.

The 2022 publication of Chambers USA has been released and 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.  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. To learn more about these rankings, visit our Awards page.

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC was named Arkansas Firm of the Year by Benchmark Litigation at the East Coast awards ceremony held March 24, 2022, marking the ninth time the firm has received this honor.  A full list of the winners can be found here. The award selection is based upon peer review and research conducted by Benchmark’s research team. Previously, the firm was recognized in the 2022 edition of Benchmark Litigation as one of only four “highly recommended firms” for litigation in Arkansas, with five attorneys highlighted as Litigation Stars and four attorneys named Future Stars. The firm was also highlighted as one of four “recommended firms” in Arkansas for Labor & Employment for 2021, with five of our attorneys named Labor & Employment Stars – South.  More information about these and other rankings can be found on our Awards page. Benchmark Litigation—the definitive guide to America’s leading litigation firms and attorneys—is the only publication to focus exclusively on US litigation.

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC attorney J. Cliff McKinney II represented Arkansas at the 130th National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in July 2021, and his report of the meeting can be found in the latest issue of The Arkansas Lawyer, the official publication of the Arkansas Bar Association. You can read Cliff’s article here. A managing member of the law firm, Cliff concentrates his practice on real estate, land use and business transactions. Founded in 1892, the ULC is comprised of state commissions on uniform laws from each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The state uniform law commissioners come together as the ULC to study and review the law of the states to determine which areas of law should be uniform. The commissioners draft and propose specific statutes in areas of the law where uniformity between the states is desirable, but no uniform law is effective until a state legislature adopts it.  The Legislative Committee, with at least one liaison in each state and territory, is responsible for seeking the state enactment of uniform and model acts approved by the ULC. The Arkansas Bar Association, founded in 1898, is the premier legal association in the state. As a voluntary organization of more than 5,300 members, the Association’s primary mission is to support attorneys; advance the practice of law; advocate for the legal profession; foster professionalism, civility, and integrity; and protect the rule of law

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is pleased to announce that R. Ryan Younger has been named a managing member of the law firm.   Mr. Younger is located in the firm’s Little Rock office and concentrates his practice on complex business litigation, class actions and appeals.  His work in civil litigation has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Super Lawyers, and Benchmark Litigation.   Mr. Younger is a Fellow of the National Trial College of the American Board of Trial Advocates.   “Ryan has consistently contributed to the success of the firm year after year,” said Steven W. Quattlebaum, a managing member of the firm.  “We are certain to benefit from his leadership for years to come.” Prior to joining Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull as an associate in 2009, Mr. Younger served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert T. Dawson of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.  He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arkansas School of Law where he was the top-ranked student in his law school class and served as Research Editor of the Arkansas Law Review.  He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Arkansas.     

Timothy W. Grooms, J. Cliff McKinney II, Jeb H. Joyce, R. Seth Hampton, and Scott M. Lar are among the presenters for The Arkansas Bankers Association 2022 Mega Conference being held virtually January 31–February 1, 2022.  Seth will kick off the conference Monday morning with a session on agricultural lending.  Topics covered will include perfection and priority of liens and security interests covering crops and farm products under Arkansas law and the Food Security Act; collateral assignments of farm program payments paid under programs administered by agencies of USDA; and recent and emerging issues involving the conservation compliance provision of the Food Security Act and the potential effects to creditor liens and security interest covering farm program payments and crop insurance proceeds that can result from non-compliance by borrowers/operators.     On Tuesday afternoon, Tim, Cliff, Jeb, and Scott will explore some of the challenges and emerging issues faced by trust departments managing funds for their clients. Particular emphasis will be placed on the new Uniform Directed Trust Act, which changes the landscape of trust operations. Learn more about the conference and register here. Tim Grooms is a founding member of Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC where he focuses his practice on real estate, banking and commercial lending transactions. Cliff McKinney is a managing member of the law firm and concentrates his practice on real estate, land use and business transactions. Jeb Joyce, a managing member, handles a wide variety of transactions, with an emphasis on commercial real estate.  A member of the firm, Scott Lar maintains a transactional and taxation practice which primarily focuses on mergers and acquisitions, taxation and tax planning, tax litigation, and estate planning. Firm member Seth Hampton concentrates his practice on real estate, agriculture, commercial finance, and environmental compliance. Serving all banks in Arkansas since 1891, Arkansas Bankers Association (ABA) is the advocate for Arkansas banks of all sizes and charter types before governmental bodies and the public. ABA delivers superior industry-specific information and education for bankers, along with high-quality products and services. ABA focuses on creating a stronger economy and helping Arkansans realize dreams by building better banks.

J. Cliff McKinney II is featured in the December 2021 issue of Little Rock Soiree magazine discussing the importance of The Salvation Army bell ringers, a staple of the holiday season. As chairman of the board for The Salvation Army Central Arkansas Area Command branch, Cliff shares the many ways The Salvation Army meets the needs of people in Central Arkansas through a variety of programs. You can read the article here. A managing member of the law firm, Cliff concentrates his practice on real estate, land use and business transactions.

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is pleased to announce that fourteen attorneys with our firm were recently named to the Mid-South Super Lawyers and Mid-South Rising Stars lists for 2021 by Super Lawyers.  Vincent O. Chadick, E. B. (Chip) Chiles IV, Joseph R. Falasco, Timothy W. Grooms, Michael B. Heister, J. Cliff McKinney II, Steven W. Quattlebaum, Michael N. Shannon, Geoffrey B. Treece, John E. Tull III, David B. Vandergriff, and Thomas G. Williams were recognized as Mid-South Super Lawyers.  Mr. Quattlebaum, Mr. Grooms, Mr. Tull, Mr. Chiles, and Mr. Shannon 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 2021.  Scott M. Lar and R. Ryan Younger were named Mid-South Rising Stars.  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. Click here to read more about these rankings.

U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®, for the twelfth consecutive year, have announced the “Best Law Firms” rankings.  Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC has been ranked in the 2022 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list regionally in 25 practice areas.   Firms included in the 2022 “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 RockAppellate 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 2)Eminent Domain & Condemnation Law (Tier 2)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)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 – FayettevilleCommercial Litigation (Tier 1) Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (Tier 2)Litigation – Labor & Employment (Tier 1)

J. Cliff McKinney has been appointed a member of the Joint Editorial Board for Uniform Real Property Acts of the Uniform Law Commission (ULC).  Originally a joint effort of the ULC and the American Bar Association’s Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, the board now includes representatives from the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, the American Land Title Association, the American College of Mortgage Attorneys, and the Community Associations Institute. Founded in 1892, the ULC is comprised of state commissions on uniform laws from each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The state uniform law commissioners come together as the ULC to study and review the law of the states to determine which areas of law should be uniform. The commissioners draft and propose specific statutes in areas of the law where uniformity between the states is desirable, but no uniform law is effective until a state legislature adopts it.  The Legislative Committee, with at least one liaison in each state and territory, is responsible for seeking the state enactment of uniform and model acts approved by the ULC. A managing member of the law firm, Cliff concentrates his practice on real estate, land use and business transactions.

Sarah Keith-Bolden has been selected for the AY About You list of 2021 Intriguing Women, which features some of Arkansas’ brightest minds, boldest visionaries and most passionate leaders from all four corners of Arkansas. The publication describes the list as a celebration of all things women and remarked: “As a women-led organization, we understand and appreciate firsthand the value of women in and out of the workplace. This list is a compilation of what intriguing women exhibit: brains, brawn, tenacity and tenderness. From physicians to philanthropists and bankers to wildlife experts, this diverse landscape of glass-ceiling-shattering ladies is proof that women can do anything they set their minds to.” Read Sarah’s profile here. A member of the law firm, Sarah concentrates her practice on commercial litigation, appeals and employment litigation. 

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is pleased to announce the return of the Honorable J. Leon Holmes, a former federal judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and the addition of John M. Jewell and Shelley Fleisch-Djurica to the law firm.       Holmes served on the federal bench for nearly 16 years before resigning his commission in 2020.  Prior to his nomination by President George W. Bush, he was a partner with Quattlebaum Grooms & Tull, where his practice encompassed a wide range of litigation including product liability, antitrust, unfair competition, media and First Amendment law, as well as appellate work.  As Of Counsel, his work at the firm will focus on litigation and appellate matters. Jewell has extensive experience representing clients in all phases of information technology related matters, along with being involved in a variety of commercial transactions concerning banking, real estate and debtor/creditor rights.  He is Of Counsel to the firm and will concentrate his practice on information technology and computer and software licensing. Fleisch-Djurica is an associate with the firm and focuses her practice primarily on banking, information technology, and commercial transactions.  She also has experience with business litigation and employment-related matters. “We are thrilled to have Judge Holmes, John and Shelley join us. They add depth and dimension to our firm and are sure to be tremendous assets to the firm and our clients,” said Steven W. Quattlebaum, a managing member of the firm. “As one of the original attorneys at QGT, Judge Holmes was critical to the growth and success of our firm, and we are honored to have him rejoin us after his exceptional service on the federal bench.  Many lawyers at our firm have had the privilege of knowing and working alongside John and Shelley for many years and we welcome these excellent lawyers and good friends to our team.” 

The 2022 Benchmark Litigation USA rankings have been released and we are proud to share that the firm was recognized 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, R. Ryan Younger, and Vincent O. Chadick were named Future Stars. Benchmark Litigation—the definitive guide to America’s leading litigation firms and attorneys—is the only publication to focus exclusively on US litigation. More information about the Benchmark Litigation rankings can be found on our Awards page.

Benchmark Litigation has announced the 2021 edition of Benchmark Labor & Employment rankings, which highlight the best and brightest law firms and partners who stand out in their labor and employment practices throughout the United States. Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC was named 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 recognized as Labor & Employment Stars – South. More information about these and other rankings can be found on our Awards page.

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is pleased to welcome four new associates to the law firm:  Sharri Bell, Byron T. Keaton, Laura L. O’Hara, and Noah P. Watson.  Ms. Bell earned her J.D. from the University of Arkansas, where she was an active member of the Black Law Students Association, chaired the Anti-Bias and Racism Task Force, and participated in the Immigration Clinic and Advanced Immigration Clinic.  She received her B.A. in Business Management from Drury University and her M.S. in Organizational Development from Avila University.  Ms. Bell is located in the firm’s Springdale office and concentrates her practice on litigation. Mr. Keaton received his J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law, where he was a member of the Business Law Society, an Associate for the Board of Advocates, and Director of Programming for the Southwest Black Law Students Association.   He obtained a B.S.B.A. in Finance from the University of Arkansas.  As a member of the Arkansas Razorbacks football team, he was named to the SEC Honor Roll and received the Brandon Burlsworth Award for exceptional academic and athletic performance.  Mr. Keaton will focus on civil litigation and office in Little Rock. Ms. O’Hara earned her J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review.  She received several top paper awards, was a member of the law school trial team and represented her class as a Senator with the Student Bar Association.  Ms. O’Hara graduated with her B.A. in history, summa cum laude, from the University of Central Arkansas, where she also earned her M.A. in history, summa cum laude.  She will focus her practice on litigation from Little Rock. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Watson served as a law clerk to the Honorable Lavenski R. Smith of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.  He obtained his J.D. from the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, where he served as the Chief Executive Notes Editor for the Washington University Journal of Law and Policy, President of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and was a founding member of the Native American Law Student Association at Washington University.  He received a B.A., magna cum laude, from Harding University.  Mr. Watson is located in the Little Rock office and will concentrate his practice on litigation and appeals.   

J. Cliff McKinney has been appointed a Council Member of the Legislative Committee of the Uniform Law Commission (ULC).  First appointed to the ULC in 2017 by Governor Asa Hutchinson, Cliff was recently reappointed to the commission by the governor for a second term ending in 2025.  Founded in 1892, the ULC is comprised of state commissions on uniform laws from each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The state uniform law commissioners come together as the ULC to study and review the law of the states to determine which areas of law should be uniform. The commissioners draft and propose specific statutes in areas of the law where uniformity between the states is desirable, but no uniform law is effective until a state legislature adopts it.  The Legislative Committee, with at least one liaison in each state and territory, is responsible for seeking the state enactment of uniform and model acts approved by the ULC. A managing member of the law firm, Cliff concentrates his practice on real estate, land use and business transactions.

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is pleased to announce that 18 lawyers have been included in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.  Best Lawyers has published their list for over three decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals.  Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America 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. Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America list:  Brandon B. Cate – Commercial Litigation, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – ERISA, and Litigation-Labor and Employment Vincent O. Chadick – Agriculture Law and Commercial Litigation E. B. (Chip) Chiles IV – Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – ERISA, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Grant M. Cox – Banking and Finance Law and Commercial Transactions/UCC Law Joseph R. Falasco – Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, and Litigation – Real Estate Timothy W. Grooms – Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Real Estate, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Real Estate Law Michael B. Heister – Appellate Practice Jeb. H. Joyce – Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law Sarah Keith-Bolden – Commercial Litigation J. Cliff McKinney II – Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law Joseph W. Price II – Commercial Litigation Steven W. Quattlebaum – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Michael N. Shannon – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs Geoffrey B. Treece – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation – Bankruptcy John E. Tull III – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, First Amendment Law, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – First Amendment, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Media Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs David B. Vandergriff – Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, and Litigation – Real Estate Thomas G. Williams – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants R. Ryan Younger – Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Four of our attorneys were also recognized as a 2022 “Lawyer of the Year”:  Brandon B. Cate, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Fayetteville; E. B. (Chip) Chiles IV, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Little Rock; J. Cliff McKinney II, Land Use and Zoning Law, Little Rock; John E. Tull III, First Amendment Law, Little Rock.  Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade particularly significant.  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 the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity. Six lawyers from QGT have been included in the 2022 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. Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC would like to congratulate the following lawyers recognized in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyer®: Ones to Watch:  Meredith M. Causey – Commercial LitigationPhilip A. Elmore – Commercial Litigation R. Seth Hampton – Banking and Finance Law, Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law, and Real Estate Law Christoph Keller – Commercial Litigation C. Ryan O’Quinn – Trusts and Estates Thomas H. Wyatt – Commercial Litigation A complete list of these and other rankings can be found on our Awards page.

E. B. (Chip) Chiles IV will be a featured speaker at a breakfast meeting for the American Subcontractors Association of Arkansas on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. This free event will address legal, financial and human resource concerns for those in the construction industry. You can learn more and register for this exchange here. Chip Chiles is a managing member of the law firm and concentrates his practice on business litigation, employment litigation, and appeals.

Joseph W. Price II and R. Ryan Younger have been named to the Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under Hot List for 2021.  This is the fifth time both attorneys have received 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. Mr. Price is a managing member of the firm and focuses his practice on civil litigation. Mr. Younger is a member of the firm and concentrates his practice on business litigation, class actions and appeals. Please visit our Awards page to learn more about this and other honors received by our attorneys and firm.

Sarah Keith-Bolden was recently named a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society established to reflect the new face of the American bar. Membership is limited to 3,500 Fellows, representing less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. The composition of the LCA is aggressively diverse, with recognition of excellence among American litigation and trial counsel across all segments of the bar. The purpose of the LCA is to recognize deserving, experienced, and highly qualified lawyers, to provide an outlet for scholarly authorship of legal articles on trial and litigation practice, to provide additional sources for professional development, to promote superior advocacy and ethical standards in the practice of law, to assist in community involvement by its membership, and to advance a superior judiciary by taking relevant positions on issues or legislation affecting judicial compensation and/or benefits, as well as those affecting the American litigation process. Fellows are selected and invited into Fellowship after being evaluated for effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation and trial work, along with ethical reputation. A member of the law firm, Sarah concentrates her practice on commercial litigation, appeals and employment litigation. 

J. Cliff McKinney II has been elected to the Arkansas Bar Association Board of Trustees for a three-year term effective July 1, 2021.  Cliff has been an active supporter of the Arkansas Bar Association and his involvement through the years includes chairing the Real Estate Law section, service on the Board of Governors and House of Delegates, chairing the 2011 Annual Meeting and the 2015 Mid-Year Meeting, and numerous CLE presentations. Many honors have been bestowed upon Cliff for his hard work and dedication to the association, including the Presidential Award of Excellence in 2018. A managing member of the law firm, Cliff concentrates his practice on real estate, land use and business transactions. Founded in 1898, the Arkansas Bar Association is the premier legal association in the state. As a voluntary organization of more than 5,300 members, the Association’s primary mission is to support attorneys; advance the practice of law; advocate for the legal profession; foster professionalism, civility, and integrity; and protect the rule of law.

QGT Managing Member Joseph R. Falasco has been elected a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (ABF).  The Fellows comprise a global honorary society of attorneys, judges, law faculty and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession and to the welfare of their communities.  Membership in the Fellows is limited to one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction.  Fellows are recommended by their peers and elected by the Board of the American Bar Foundation.  Fellows support the research of the American Bar Foundation through annual contributions and sponsor seminars and events of direct relevance to the legal profession. Joe is located in the firm’s Little Rock office and his practice focuses on real estate litigation, product liability, class actions, and appeals. The American Bar Foundation is among the world’s leading research institutes for the empirical and interdisciplinary study of law.  The ABF seeks to expand knowledge and advance justice through innovative, interdisciplinary, and rigorous empirical research on law, legal processes, and legal institutions.  To further this mission, the ABF will provide timely, cutting-edge research of the highest quality to inform and guide the legal profession, the academy, and society in the United States and internationally.

Timothy W. Grooms, J. Cliff McKinney II, Jeb H. Joyce, Scott M. Lar and Robbi R. Rosenbaum authored the Arkansas chapter for the 2021 Chambers US Regional Real Estate Guide, a state-by-state guide on the real estate sector.  This is the fourth year our firm has contributed to the guide, which provides expert legal commentary on the key issues for businesses involved in the real estate sector, including finance, planning, commercial leases, construction and tax. The chapter also includes a Trends and Developments piece highlighting the impact of COVID-19 on specific commercial real estate sectors in Arkansas. You can read the Arkansas chapter by clicking here. Chambers Global Practice Guides provide expert legal commentary on a number of main practice areas in key jurisdictions around the world.  For every guide, Chambers selects contributors who are ranked in the relevant Chambers Guides as the best in their field.  In the Real Estate section of the 2021 edition of Chambers USA’s Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC received the highest ranking possible for law firms in Arkansas and attorneys Grooms, McKinney and Joyce received individual recognition.  More information on these rankings can be found on our Awards page.

QGT Managing Member John E. Tull III will be a featured speaker for the Arkansas Municipal League’s 87th Virtual Convention scheduled for June 16-18, 2021.  John’s presentation on June 17 will take you through the Freedom of Information Act process and specifically discuss any changes to FOIA by the 93rd General Assembly.  Joining John for this discussion will be John L. Wilkerson, General Counsel for the Arkansas Municipal League.  Learn more about the convention and register here.     Mr. Tull practices in the firm’s Little Rock office and concentrates his practice on newspaper law, products liability, and complex commercial litigation. The Arkansas Municipal League is a service and advocacy organization for the municipalities of Arkansas. The League offers its programs and services to all 500 cities and towns in the state and was created in 1934 to assist cities with information and representation in the public affairs of our state and nation.

The 2021 publication of Chambers USA has been released and 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.  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. To learn more about these rankings, visit our Awards page.

QGT Managing Member Michael B. Heister will be providing an update on legislation of interest to those in the energy and environmental fields at the Arkansas Bar Association’s Environmental Law Virtual Conference April 21-22, 2021. For more information and to register, visit www.pathlms.com/arkbar. Michael Heister is a managing member of the firm and concentrates his practice on complex business litigation and energy and environmental issues with a focus on utility regulatory proceedings, oil and gas issues and environmental compliance.

Steven W. Quattlebaum will take part in a panel discussion on how to move forward with civil jury trials at the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention. The session, Getting Jury Trials Back on Track, will take place at 9:30 a.m. on April 29, 2021. You can register for the convention here. A founding member of Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, Steve’s primary areas of practice are complex business, toxic tort, and products liability litigation.

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC is pleased to announce that Michael B. Heister, Jeb H. Joyce and Joseph W. Price II have been named Managing Members of the law firm.   Mr. Heister is located in the firm’s Little Rock office and concentrates his practice on complex business litigation, regulatory proceedings, environmental compliance and natural resources, and appeals.  His work in civil litigation and appeals has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Super Lawyers, and Benchmark Litigation.   Prior to joining Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull, Mr. Heister served as a law clerk to the Honorable Richard S. Arnold of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and practiced law in Washington, D.C. with the United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division.  Mr. Heister graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arkansas School of Law where he served as Note and Comment Editor of the Arkansas Law Review.  He received a B.A., magna cum laude, from Vanderbilt University.   Mr. Joyce is located in the firm’s Northwest Arkansas office where he handles a wide variety of transactions, with an emphasis on commercial real estate.  He has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Chambers USA, and Super Lawyers for his work in real estate.  Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Joyce served as a legislative assistant and legislative director for U.S. Representative Marion Berry in Washington, D.C.  Mr. Joyce has a Master of Laws degree in Securities and Financial Regulation from Georgetown University Law Center.  He received his law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law where he served as Associate Survey/Comments Editor for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Journal, and he obtained a B.A. from the University of Arkansas. Mr. Price maintains a civil litigation practice in the law firm’s Little Rock office.  His work in commercial litigation and labor and employment law has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Super Lawyers, and Benchmark Litigation.  Mr. Price was a member of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XXXIV and he serves as Arkansas State Membership Chair for DRI.  Mr. Price received his J.D., with high honors, from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law and a B.S, summa cum laude, from the University of Tennessee at Martin. 

Brittany S. Ford has been named Secretary for the Board of Directors for Pulaski and Perry Counties CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).  CASA serves children in Pulaski and Perry counties who have experienced abuse and/or neglect by ensuring each child has a safe and permanent home, giving them a voice in court, and advocating for their safety and specific needs.  The board consists of 15 members that guide the program in various areas including compliance, strategic planning, fundraising, recruitment, budgeting, marketing, and program development. The first CASA program was founded in Seattle and 1977 and has since grown to a network of nearly 1,000 CASA and guardian ad litem programs that are recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers in 49 states and the District of Columbia.  Pulaski and Perry Counties CASA began serving children in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1987 and last year served 240 children with 100 advocates. Brittany is an associate in the firm’s Little Rock office where she focuses on mass tort, products liability, business litigation, and premises liability matters.

Timothy W. Grooms, J. Cliff McKinney II and Jeb H. Joyce are among the presenters for the Arkansas Bankers Association Mega Virtual Conference on February 10-11, 2021. The Thursday afternoon session, “Just Do It: Exploring Due Diligence for Bankers”, will cover common issues in the field of due diligence that face all lenders. The discussion will focus on organizational documents for trusts, LLCs, corporations, surveys, title insurance, environmental reports, loan documentation, UCC filings (and continuations) and other due diligence issues. Attendees will learn why these issues are important, common pitfalls, and best practices for managing the due diligence process. You can learn more about the conference and register here. Tim Grooms is a founding member of Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC where he focuses his practice on real estate, banking and commercial lending transactions. Cliff McKinney is a managing member of the law firm and concentrates his practice on real estate, land use and business transactions. A member of the firm, Jeb Joyce handles a wide variety of transactions, with an emphasis on commercial real estate. Serving all banks in Arkansas since 1891, Arkansas Bankers Association (ABA) is the advocate for Arkansas banks of all sizes and charter types before governmental bodies and the public. ABA delivers superior industry-specific information and education for bankers, along with high-quality products and services. ABA focuses on creating a stronger economy and helping Arkansans realize dreams by building better banks.

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull is thrilled to announce that Steven W. Quattlebaum has been 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.  A full list of the 2021 Hall of Fame class, which also includes the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, can be found here. The annual Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America is the most elite distinction in the profession, covering the best of the best in all practice areas. Selection to this elite group 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.   A founding member of Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, Steve’s primary areas of practice are complex business, toxic tort, and products liability litigation.