Attorneys

Primary Contacts

Practice Attorneys

Commercial Litigation

The firm's attorneys have litigated some of the largest and most complex cases that have been brought in the state and federal courts of Mississippi. The firm is also regularly engaged to handle complex commercial litigation in other states. The firm's attorneys who head the commercial litigation practice group have considerable trial and appellate experience, and a number of them have been recognized in Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA for their expertise. The firm's commercial litigators are assisted by an excellent staff of qualified paralegals as well as state-of-the-art litigation support software, both of which are essential to handling complex business disputes involving voluminous documents.

The Brunini firm recognizes, however, that litigation is expensive and often distracts clients from focusing on business. For this reason, the firm employs innovative practices designed to achieve early, inexpensive resolution of business disputes. These include not only alternative dispute resolution but also creative business solutions. If these attempts fail or if strategy dictates, however, the firm has the talent and resources to litigate the most complex matters aggressively. The firm's commercial litigation practice includes the following specialties:

Business Torts - The firm's commercial litigators have long-standing experience in litigation involving business torts, including commercial defamation, interference with contract and business relations, fraud and misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, and others.

Antitrust - The firm has handled numerous antitrust cases involving claims under both state and federal laws. Clients represented by the firm in antitrust litigation include health care providers, publishing companies, insurance companies, manufacturing concerns, waste management companies and gaming entities. The firm also regularly advises its clients regarding antitrust compliance.

Breach of Contract - The firm's litigators have served as lead counsel in some of the largest and most complex contract disputes that have been brought in the courts of Mississippi. The firm has handled contract disputes for clients engaged in a wide array of businesses -- oil and gas, telecommunications, insurance, banking, health care, automobile and truck sales, technology, manufacturing, shipbuilding, and others.

Technology and Software - The firm's commercial litigators also are experienced in the litigation and arbitration of disputes involving technology and software. The firm has represented both providers of technology and customers in contract disputes and intellectual property matters.

Class Actions - The firm's commercial litigation practice also includes experience in class action litigation. The firm has successfully defended a number of class action suits in federal courts in Mississippi.

Banking and Lender Liability - The firm's representation of financial institutions has given it broad experience in lender liability litigation and other disputes involving banks. The firm's experience includes cases focusing on the extent to which financial institutions owe fiduciary duties to their customers.

Securities Fraud and Shareholder Disputes - The firm has a wealth of experience in litigating and arbitrating claims for securities fraud. The firm has defended a number of matters involving allegations of churning, unsuitability, and other forms of securities fraud and has defended the largest class action securities fraud cases ever filed in Mississippi. The firm's commercial litigators also have represented clients who have been victims of securities fraud and handled disputes between corporations and their shareholders.

Health Care - The firm has significant experience in health care litigation, including appeals of administrative decisions involving certificates of need, antitrust claims, contract disputes, and lawsuits involving staffing and licensure.

Insurance - The firm has significant experience in the litigation of insurance coverage disputes. The firm's trial lawyers have represented both carriers and insureds regarding their rights and obligations under a wide variety of insurance policies. The firm is also active in the defense of bad faith litigation, in which insureds allege that carriers have wrongfully refused to pay benefits. The firm's commercial litigators are also actively involved in insurance litigation relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Energy - The firm's attorneys have experience for many years in litigating disputes involving energy, oil, and natural gas. The firm's trial attorneys frequently work in conjunction with members of the firm's Regulatory Department in handling these matters. Litigated matters the firm's attorneys have handled for energy clients include major natural gas curtailment, take or pay, and royalty cases; large breach-of-contract claims;  title, drainage, balancing, and gas-processing disputes; and lawsuits stemming from well blowouts and contamination, including claims based on naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM).

Intellectual Property - The firm has experience in state and federal courts in trademark and copyright litigation, including litigation of issues involving opposition, cancellation, infringement, and breach of contract. The firm's attorneys also advise clients concerning intellectual property issues, including advertising, labeling, and federal regulatory compliance, as well as protecting their interests in computer software and related materials.

Construction - The firm's attorneys have experience in the litigation and arbitration of construction disputes and have represented contractors, owners, lenders, and other professionals in this litigation.

Securities Fraud and Shareholder Disputes - The firm has a wealth of experience in litigating and arbitrating claims for securities fraud. The firm has defended a number of matters involving allegations of churning, unsuitability, and other forms of securities fraud and has defended the largest class action securities fraud case ever filed in Mississippi. The firm's commercial litigators also have represented clients who have been victims of securities fraud and handled disputes between corporations and their shareholders.

Technology and Software - The firm's commercial litigators also are experienced in the litigation and arbitration of disputes involving technology and software. The firm has represented both providers of technology and customers in contract disputes and intellectual property matters.

Representative Matters

News & Events

Publications

  • "The Federal Faith-Based and Community Initiative: A Guide for Future
    Legislation", 71 Miss. L.J. 241 (Fall 2001)
  • "Constitutional Law - Establishment Clause - A Policy Allowing Potential Religious Expression at Government-Sponsored Events Violates the Establishment Clause if the Government Entity Created the Policy with the Purpose to Promote Religious Beliefs," 70 Miss. L.J. 473 (Fall 2000)