Brunini Law

2022 U.S. News – Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms” Awards Released

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Jackson, MS., November 4, 2021 – Brunini Law Firm is excited to announce our inclusion in U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Law Firms” 2022 list, with the following areas achieving a Tier 1 ranking.

  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Commercial Finance Law
  • Communications Law
  • Construction Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Energy Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Gaming Law
  • Land Use & Zoning Law
  • Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Litigation – Construction
  • Litigation – Environmental
  • Litigation – ERISA
  • Litigation – Intellectual Property
  • Litigation – Labor & Employment
  • Litigation – Land Use & Zoning
  • Litigation – Real Estate
  • Litigation – Securities
  • Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants
  • Mergers & Acquisitions Law
  • Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
  • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Real Estate Law
  • Tax Law
  • Trademark Law
  • Trusts and Estates Law

Firms included in the 2022 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. To be eligible for a ranking, a firm must first have a lawyer recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®, which recognizes 6% of lawyers practicing in the United States.

Achieving a tiered ranking, on a national and/or metropolitan scale, signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. This recognition reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity.

Mississippi Poultry Association, Farm Bureau Win Appeal over Monroe County Poultry Farm Setback Restrictions

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By John Milner, MPA Counsel – Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC

The Mississippi Poultry Association and the Mississippi Farm Bureau federation on September 23, 2021 won their case against the Monroe County Board of Supervisors (Board) over the Board’s 2017 ordinance that essentially doubled the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulatory setbacks for poultry farms from certain property boundaries.  These CEQ regulations are administered by the staff of the MS Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).

MPA and Farm Bureau challenged the Board decision in the Monroe County Circuit Court.  The case was first heard in 2018 by the late Judge Jim Roberts.  After his death, the appeal has been dormant on the court’s docket until it was set for oral argument before newly appointed Circuit Judge Chip Mills on September 23.

The Board adopted setbacks for poultry farms of 1200 feet for neighboring residences and 300 feet from the property line after residents in the Hamilton area objected to a planned broiler farm.  Monroe County was the only county with setbacks greater than the CEQ regulatory limits because in 2018, MPA and Farm Bureau were successful in getting a bill passed in the Mississippi Legislature to prevent cities and counties from going beyond regulatory limits.

The key provision of the 2018 legislative bill, House Bill 1122, specifically stated as follows:

No governing authority of any municipality or of any county shall adopt or impose any ordinance, regulation, rule or policy that prohibits or restricts agricultural operation, forestry activity or traditional farm practices on agricultural land or land that is otherwise unclassified if the land is used for an agricultural operation, forestry activity or traditional farm practices.  Additionally, if the activities being conducted on the land are regulated by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce or the Mississippi Forestry Commission, the provisions of those agencies’ statutes or the regulations promulgated by those agencies shall govern.

House bill 1122 Section 2 (a), 2018 Session, Mississippi Legislature (as approved by Governor).

Monroe County was exempted from the 2018 law because the lawsuit over the county’s ordinance was in court at the time the law took effect.  MPA and Farm Bureau decided to continue to pursue the case after the law passed.

In court briefs, Monroe County took the position in the oral argument that the MPA and Farm Bureau did not have the standing to sue.  Sheldon Alston, with Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, representing MPA and Farm Bureau, argued that (1) the Board’s ordinance was arbitrary and capricious, (2) improperly pre-empted CEQ’s regulatory authority and (3) was also improper because it was an illegal “spot zoning” and therefore invalid since Monroe County has no county-wide zoning plan.

After the oral arguments by the lawyers, Judge Mills decided:

  1. MPA and Farm Bureau did have standing to appeal the board’s decision;
  2. The Board members who held a public hearing and conducted research in 2017 were not arbitrary and capricious in the adoption of the ordinance;
  3. The Supervisors did not pre-empt CEQ’s authority by adopting greater setbacks, but finally,
  4. The ordinance was a land use restriction and because Monroe County does not have a county-wide zoning plan, the ordinance is void and unenforceable.

The decision brings Monroe County in line with the other 81 counties and 300 municipalities which are prohibited by the 2018 legislation from developing their own environmental regulations on agriculture in place the CEQ regulations implemented by MDEQ staff.  The ruling is a significant victory for the poultry industry since it confirms that only the CEQ can promulgate environmental restrictions and requirements for poultry farms or other facilities.

If you have any questions concerning this article, feel free to contact John Milner, MPA Counsel, at jmilner@brunini.com or (601) 960-6842.

Article from Emerging Trends: A Newsletter of the Mississippi Poultry Association

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Leonard A. Blackwell II to Retire

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Brunini Law Firm today announces that Leonard A. Blackwell II will retire effective October 1, 2021.

Mr. Blackwell has been with Brunini Law Firm since October 2011.  He is an active member of the Mississippi Bar and served as State Bar President and Mississippi Bar Commissioner.  He is a Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and is a former Chairman of the Mississippi Gaming Commission.  Len has been recognized by “Best Lawyers ® in America” in the field of Gaming Law and is a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law and of the International Association of Gaming Attorneys.

“Throughout his career, Len has been the picture of what a lawyer should strive to be,” said Sam Kelly, Managing Partner of Brunini.  “His professionalism, collegiality, work ethic and service to his clients and community provide examples of which we all should aspire.  We wish Len well as he begins this new phase of life in retirement.”

Brunini Welcomes Breland Parker

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Brunini Law Firm welcomes Breland Parker as our newest Associate in the firm’s litigation department.  Breland received his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2021, graduating summa cum laude.  In law school, Breland was an Executive Articles Editor for the Mississippi Law Journal and member of the Negotiation Board.  Prior to law school, he received his Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of Mississippi, where he graduated magna cum laude.

In both graduate and undergraduate studies, Breland was a member of Phi Kappa Phi which is the nation’s oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society.

He is admitted to the Mississippi Bar

 

For more information contact: bparker@brunini.com

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Edmund Lawrence Brunini, Jr.

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April 21, 1944 – August 31, 2021

Edmund L. Brunini, Jr. a leader of Brunini Law Firm, passed away on August 31, 2021.  He began his law career in 1969 with Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes where he practiced law for 45 years.  During that time he had an accomplished career focusing on litigation and regulatory law.

In his early years Mr. Brunini served clients in the oil and gas industry of Mississippi. As major petroleum producers began exiting the state, he transitioned into the practice area of healthcare.  He established a relationship with the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois and their mission of St. Dominic’s Hospital in Jackson. As the need for legal services increased, he was able to provide the counsel and resources they needed to help meet the needs of this mission.

Mr. Brunini also served a wide array of other clients in various industries which included manufacturing, healthcare, general business and local governments.

“I always admired Eddie for his keen intellect, sound judgment, compassion for his fellow man, and truly incomparable wit.  We will all miss him and what he provided to our firm,“ said David Kaufman, Partner.

Not only was Mr. Brunini a successful attorney, but he valued and was actively involved in community service.  He modeled this through the many leadership roles he held in numerous community organizations.

“Eddie Brunini was an outstanding lawyer and leader of the Brunini Firm for many years,” said Sam Kelly, Managing Partner of Brunini Law Firm.  “He reminded us all of the importance of service not only to our clients but also to our communities.  He could always be counted on to lighten a moment with his humor and wit.  He will indeed be missed, but his legacy at the Brunini Firm will continue for many years into the future.”

See obituary

 

Brunini Attorneys Recognized in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers

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Brunini is honored to have many of our attorneys recognized in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers of America.  Recognition by Best Lawyers of America is based entirely on peer review.  Best Lawyers of America employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services.

Additional recognitions are also awarded to individual lawyers with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region.  Only one lawyer is recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for each specialty and location.

Best Lawyers of America’s “Ones to Watch” category recognizes extraordinary lawyers who have been in private practice for less than 10 years in the United States.  This award is also based entirely on peer review.

We congratulate the following attorneys for their hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence.

2022 – Lawyer of the Year

  • Jackson-MS
        • Norman E. Bailey – Trademark Law
        • Stephen J. Carmody – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
        • Lynne K. Green – Elder Law
        • Karen E. Howell – Litigation – ERISA
        • R. David Kaufman – Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
        • Warren Ken Rogers – Corporate Governance Law
        • John E. Wade – Litigation – Health Care
  • Tupelo
        • J. Gordon Flowers – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

  2022 Ones to Watch

Alston F. Ludwig (2021)

        • Alternative Dispute Resolution
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Construction Law
  • Lane Bobo (2021)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Construction Law
        • Health Care Law
  • Jacob A. Bradley (2021)
        • Construction Law
        • Litigation – Construction
        • Commercial Litigation
  • Drew C. Bigelow (2021)
        • Corporate Law
        • Real Estate Law
        • Trusts and Estates

 2022 Recognized Lawyers in the following fields by Best Lawyers in America

  • Jackson, MS
    • John M. Flynt (2011)
        • Administrative / Regulatory Law
        • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
        • Commercial Finance Law
        • Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
        • Corporate Law
        • Elder Law
        • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
        • Real Estate Law
  • James L. Halford (2007)
        • Administrative / Regulatory Law
        • Communications Law
        • Energy Law
        • Energy Regulatory Law
  • John E. Milner (1993)
        • Administrative / Regulatory Law
        • Environmental Law
        • Litigation – Environmental
  • Gene Wasson (2018)
        • Administrative / Regulatory Law
        • Environmental Law
        • Litigation – Environmental
        • Natural Resources Law
        • Oil and Gas Law
        • Real Estate Law
  • William Trey Jones III (2003)
        • Appellate Practice
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Litigation – Environmental
        • Litigation – Trusts and Estates
  • Patrick McDowell (2012)
        • Appellate Practice
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Litigation – Securities
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • William D. Drinkwater (2020)
        • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Land Use and Zoning Law
        • Litigation – Banking and Finance
        • Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
        • Litigation – Real Estate
        • Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
  • James A. McCullough II (2012)
        • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
        • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Energy Law
        • Litigation – Bankruptcy
        • Litigation – ERISA
        • Litigation – Health Care
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
  • David Kaufman (2003)
        • Bet-the-Company Litigation
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
        • Litigation – Antitrust
        • Litigation – Securities
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
        • Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Ken Harmon (2018)
        • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
        • Oil and Gas Law
        • Real Estate Law
  • William C. Penick IV (2016)
        • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
        • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
        • Corporate Law
        • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
        • Nonprofit / Charities Law
        • Tax Law
        • Trusts and Estates
  • Warren Ken Rogers (2015)
        • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
        • Commercial Finance Law
        • Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
        • Corporate Governance Law
        • Corporate Law
        • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Walter S. Weems (1999)
        • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
        • Commercial Finance Law
        • Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
        • Corporate Law
        • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
        • Tax Law
  • Lynne K. Green (2003)
        • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Elder Law
        • Tax Law
        • Trusts and Estates
  • Matthew W. Allen (2016)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Sheldon G. Alston (2016)
        • Land Use and Zoning Law
        • Litigation – Labor and Employment
        • Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
        • Litigation – Real Estate
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
        • Commercial Litigation
  • Norman E. Bailey (2016)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
        • Trademark Law
  • Cody C. Bailey (2020)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Construction Law
        • Litigation – Construction
  • Richard Cirilli Jr (2016)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Health Care Law
        • Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
        • Litigation – Health Care
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
        • Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Karen E. Howell (2018)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Corporate Law
        • Land Use and Zoning Law
        • Litigation – ERISA
        • Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        • Trademark Law
  • Samuel C. Kelly (2006)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Construction Law
        • Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
        • Litigation – Construction
  • John E. Wade (2008)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Land Use and Zoning Law
        • Litigation – Health Care
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Ron A. Yarbrough (2007)
        • Construction Law
        • Litigation – Construction
  • Stephen J. Carmody (2009)
        • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
        • Employment Law – Management
        • Labor Law – Management
        • Litigation – ERISA
        • Litigation – Intellectual Property
        • Litigation – Labor and Employment
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Christopher R. Fontan (2019)
        • Employment Law – Management
        • Litigation – Labor and Employment
        • Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
  • Claire W. Ketner (2022)
        • Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Joseph E. Varner III (2012)
        • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
        • Tax Law
        • Trusts and Estates
  • Columbus, MS
    • Gordon Flowers (2009)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Environmental Law
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Scott F. Singley (2022)
        • Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Biloxi, MS
    • Leonard A. Blackwell II (2005)
        • Gaming Law
        • Land Use and Zoning Law

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Brunini’s Matt Allen was a contribution author to the American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) recently released publication

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Jackson, MS:  Brunini’s Matt Allen was a contribution author to the American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) recently released publication, The 2020 Year in Review. The Year in Review is the Section’s annual summary of important developments in environmental, energy, and resources law. Matt was a contributing author on the topics of Pesticides, Chemical Regulation and Right-to-Know and Water Quality and Wetlands. Other topics include air quality, environmental transactions and brownfields, water quality and wetlands, public land and resources, oil and gas, and water resources.

Matt joined the Brunini Law Firm in 2005 and is a member of the firm’s litigation department and environmental law practice group. He has extensive experience litigating a range of matters in federal and state courts, including complex commercial, product liability, environmental, tax, public record, media, and constitutional disputes. He has also advised private entities, non-profits, and local governments on general business and regulatory matters.

For more information contact Matt Allen at mwallen@brunini.com.

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Brunini Law Firm Earns Recertification in Meritas, the Leading Global Alliance of Independent Business Law Firms

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Brunini Law Firm membership in Meritas means clients can access quality legal expertise around the world

JACKSON, MS – July 19, 2021– Brunini Law Firm, a Mississippi – based law firm, today announced that it has been awarded recertification in Meritas, a global alliance of independent business law firms. As a condition of its membership, Brunini is required to successfully complete recertification every three years.

Meritas is the only law firm alliance with an established and comprehensive means of monitoring the quality of its member firms, a process that saves clients’ time validating law firm credentials and experience. Meritas membership is selective and by invitation only. Firms are regularly assessed and recertified for the breadth of their practice expertise, client satisfaction and high standards of cybersecurity to keep legal information safe. Meritas’ extensive due diligence process ensures that only firms meeting the tenets of Meritas’ unique Quality Assurance Program are allowed to maintain membership. The measurement of the firm’s performance, based on input from clients, is reflected in a Satisfaction Index score, which is available online on the Meritas website.

“Our values of quality service and client satisfaction align with the Meritas mission to provide a safe and responsive global offering to clients,” said Benje Bailey, Partner. “We’ve successfully collaborated with colleagues in many jurisdictions around the world to solve client issues and help them seize opportunities outside of this market. We look forward to keeping those vital connections through membership in Meritas.”

The recertification process Brunini completed to maintain its membership status included exacting self-assessment, peer review by other law firms and client feedback.

“Businesses trust the Meritas alliance of law firms for top-tier quality, convenience, consistency and value,” said Sona Pancholy, president of Meritas. “Brunini has demonstrated its commitment to world-class legal standards, and therefore has successfully earned its recertification in Meritas.”

For more information about Brunini’s capabilities and the benefits of its membership in Meritas, visit brunini.com or call 601-948-3101.

About Brunini Law Firm

Brunini Law Firm, a Meritas member firm, was founded in 1891 and currently operates with 39 lawyers and 29 support staff. With offices in three locations, including Jackson, Columbus and Biloxi,  Brunini’s comprehensive and accomplished law practice offers coordinated services across a diverse field of clients, industries and issues. For more information about Brunini visit brunini.com or call 601-948-3101.

 About Meritas

Meritas’ global alliance of independent, market-leading law firms provides borderless legal services to companies looking to effectively capture opportunities and solve issues anywhere in the world. Companies benefit from local knowledge, collective strength and new efficiencies when they work with Meritas law firms. The personal attention and care they experience is part of Meritas’ industry-first commitment to the utmost in quality of service and putting client priorities above all else. Founded in 1990, Meritas has member firms in 259 markets worldwide with more than 7,500 dedicated, collaborative lawyers. To locate a Meritas resource for a specific need or in a certain market, visit Meritas.org or call +1-612-339-8680.

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Brunini Law Firm Welcomes Suzette Turner

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June 24, 2021

Brunini Law Firm welcomes Suzette Turner as a new Associate with the firm.  Turner received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law in December, 2020. While in law school she served as President of the Dean’s Leadership Council.  Turner served as student liason for faculty hiring and selection and was a founding member of the Latin Law Students Association.

From 2019-2020, Turner served as the student attorney for Housing Clinic/Advance Housing Clinic.  She co-authored two federal complaints filed in the U.S. District Court of Mississippi and presented oral arguments in Mississippi State Courts.

Turner graduated cum laude in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science and Molecular Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Suzette is a part of the Litigation group of Brunini Law firm and focuses primarily on Civil Litigation.

 

 

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Brunini Law Firm Attorney Matt Allen presenting at the 29th Annual Southeastern Environmental Law and Regulation Conference

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Brunini Law Firm Attorney Matt Allen will be presenting “Corporate Initiatives to Adjust to a Low-Carbon Economy in Response to EPA’s Deregulatory Agenda: Opportunities for Environmental Professionals” at the 29th Annual Southeastern Environmental Law and Regulation Conference on June 18, 2021.

Allen is a member of the Environmental Practice Group within Brunini Law Firm.  The group is acknowledged as a statewide leader in Environmental Law.  Allen has been with Brunini Law Firm since 2005. He has the highest peer review rating available by Martindale-Hubblell (AV), been recognized numerous times by SuperLawyers as one of the top lawyers in the Mid-South as well as being recognized by Best Lawyers in America.

The Conference is sponsored by Environmental Law Section of the Alabama State Bar and the Section on Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law of the Mississippi Bar.

He may be reached by email at mallen@brunini.com.

For more information regarding the conference go to: https://beaconcle.com/29th-southeastern-environmental-law-regulation-conference/

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