Gene Wasson

Gene Wasson joined the Brunini Firm in 1991. He concentrates his practice primarily in the areas of environmental law and energy law, and also handles large agricultural, timber and recreational land transactions and related natural resource matters such as conservation easements.

Gene’s environmental practice has included numerous cases involving cost recovery under CERCLA, citizen suit claims under RCRA and CWA, and common law claims related to environmental contamination. Gene has also represented clients in enforcement actions before state and federal authorities, including MDEQ, USDOJ, USEPA, and USACE under RCRA, EPCRA, CAA, and CWA. In addition, Gene advises clients on all aspects of environmental compliance, permitting, due diligence, and contracting.

Gene’s energy law practice includes energy infrastructure projects such as natural gas storage facilities, interstate natural gas pipelines, electric transmission easements, power plants, solar projects and carbon sequestration, including preparing and negotiating utility easement agreements, solar leases, gas storage leases, and other transactional documents, overseeing right-of-way acquisition projects, and litigating right-of-way and property disputes. Additionally, Gene has extensive experience with all aspects of oil and gas exploration and production, including title opinions, transactions, and representing clients before the Mississippi Oil and Gas Board. He has also dealt with coal, lignite, bentonite, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and other minerals.

Walter Weems has more than thirty-five years of experience in representing business clients in commercial transactions, including entity selection, formation, and capitalization; secured and unsecured lending; purchase and sale of real estate; mergers and acquisitions; and general corporate and contract matters. He serves as principal outside counsel for both traditional corporate entities as well as a number of entrepreneurs, and his practice also regularly includes representation of national and international clients in transactions involving business activities in Mississippi. Walter has handled merger and acquisition transactions, both on behalf of buyers and sellers, in a variety of different industries, including banking, television broadcasting, manufacturing, retail store chains, restaurant chains, poultry processing, oil and gas, timber, and wireless communications. He is particularly experienced in handling large, complex transactions, which requires skills in managing the Firm’s specialists in various disciplines to assure that all aspects of the transaction are properly addressed. He is currently listed in Woodward/White’s Best Lawyers In America® in the fields of Business Organizations, Corporate Law, Commercial Transaction Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, and Tax Law; Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Corporate/Commercial Law; and Mid-South Super Lawyers for Business/Corporate Law.

Walter served as Chairman of the Firm’s Board of Directors from 1999 to 2010. Leadership positions he has held in professional and civic activities include President of the Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar Association, Chairman of the Mississippi Law Institute, President of Magnolia Speech School, President of Jackson Academy, President of the Country Club of Jackson, Chairman of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership and Chairman of Methodist Rehabilitation Center.  He is currently a member of the boards of directors of Methodist Rehabilitation Center and Jackson Heart Foundation.

Ron Yarbrough has more than forty years experience representing general contractors, owners, designers and subcontractors in contract negotiation, construction claims, litigation and arbitration; representing both sureties and claimants in performance and payment bond disputes; representing both fidelity insurers and insureds in disputes involving employee dishonesty claims, fraud and other financial losses; and general commercial litigation.

He was elected a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers and is recognized by Best Lawyers® in America in the fields of Construction Law and Litigation-Construction and by Chambers USA for Litigation-Construction. Ron is a frequent speaker on subjects in which he concentrates his practice and is the author of a number of articles on these subjects.

Prior to law practice, he was Executive Vice President for Administration at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. He is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s panel of arbitrators (construction). Ron served as Adjunct Professor of Business Law at Millsaps College Else School of Management. He has held a number of leadership positions in professional and civic activities, including Vice-Chairs Committee of the American Bar Association’s Fidelity and Surety Law Committee; Past Chairman, Board of Trustees, Mississippi Museum of Art and Past President, National Kidney Foundation of Mississippi.

Karen E. Howell is a seasoned litigator with nearly two decades of experience advocating for clients in complex legal disputes. Since joining Brunini in 2006, she has built a distinguished practice representing individuals and businesses across a broad range of industries, including healthcare, energy, insurance, and intellectual property.

Karen’s expertise spans business torts, breach of contract disputes, class actions, commercial litigation, government contracts, and personal injury matters, among other high-stakes legal areas. She is known for her meticulous case preparation, strategic litigation approach, and dedication to achieving favorable outcomes for her clients.

A Mississippi native, Karen earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration cum laude from Mississippi College in 2003 before obtaining her Juris Doctor magna cum laude from Mississippi College School of Law in 2006. During law school, she served as a Senior Editor of the Mississippi College Law Review and was recognized with multiple American Jurisprudence Awards for excellence in Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Employment Discrimination, Health Care Law, and Labor Law. She was also honored with the Mississippi Bar Foundation Award for her academic achievements.

Karen is admitted to practice in Mississippi, as well as the United States District Courts of Mississippi and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. With a reputation for excellence and an unwavering commitment to her clients, Karen continues to be a formidable advocate in the courtroom and a trusted advisor in navigating complex legal challenges.

Trey Jones joined the Brunini Firm in 1999 after serving as law clerk for the United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi. He practices general civil litigation and focuses on a variety of sub-specialties within that area. Among his many clients, Trey handles litigation for multiple lenders including some of the largest financial institutions in the Southern United States, the world’s largest automaker, one of the world’s largest railroad companies, a major hotel chain, one of the largest utility providers in the country, and multiple governmental entities. He regularly delivers successful results for his clients in complex, high stakes litigation. Trey was recently selected as one of Mississippi’s “Litigation Stars” for 2022 by Benchmark Litigation. Trey has been selected by Best Lawyers® in America in the fields of Commercial Litigation- Banking, Civil Litigation, Commercial Disputes, Complex Litigation, Mass Tort; and Litigation- Environmental. He has also been recognized as a Benchmark Appellate Star, Mid-South Rising Star, American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel’s Top Rated Lawyer® for Appellate Law and is a Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America.

Trey’s professional and civic activities include membership in numerous state and federal bar associations, and he is also a past board member of the Rankin County Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Jackson Exchange Club, Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and the MS Arthritis Foundation. He has enhanced qualifications in mediation and has been approved for the Mississippi Supreme Court’s official list of mediators. Trey is available to mediate a wide range of disputes including commercial, employment and personal injury matters.

Benchmark Once Again Nominated on Shortlist for Mississippi Law Firm of the Year – Jones, Kaufman, McDowell and Bailey recognized as “Stars”

Claire Ketner concentrates her practice in commercial litigation, products liability, and employment litigation. She has represented companies in a variety of contract and tort matters, including bad faith insurance litigation, consumer fraud claims, and products liability suits. She has represented employers in discrimination and harassment suits, and advised employers with respect to preventing employment claims. She was named a Mid-South Rising Star 2011 in Business Litigation. Claire currently serves as the Firm’s Recruiting Chair.

Claire received her undergraduate degree from Millsaps College, where she majored in both history and political science. She received her J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law, where she served as assistant editor for the International Commentary on Evidence, and as research assistant to Professor Craig R. Callen. She assisted Professor Callen in presenting the American trial evidence portion of Comparative Criminal Procedure and Evidence at the University of Leiden, The Netherlands, and also served as copy editor on Expert Evidence Compared: Rules and Practices in the Dutch and American Criminal Justice Systems by P.T.C. Van Kampen.

---

James McCullough joined Brunini in 1995, and has tailored his law practice to representing clients in complex commercial disputes.  Over the years James has developed niches in several commercial litigation and workout sub-specialties including, among others, insurance claim and coverage litigation, commercial bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, healthcare litigation, privacy and information security, and energy litigation.  In these areas James has represented the state’s largest health insurance company, one of the state’s largest hospital systems, the nation’s largest privately owned wireless communications company, one of the largest food production and processing companies in the United States, and one of the largest mortgage information service providers in the world.  In the area of commercial bankruptcy, James has represented Chapter 11 Debtors (including the largest Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed in the State of Mississippi at the time), unsecured creditors’ committees, county governments, and numerous secured and unsecured creditors.  He regularly advises companies on matters involving contract and land disputes, commercial debt workouts, asset recovery and foreclosure, consumer and healthcare privacy and data security issues, and state and federal consumer protection laws and regulations.

James serves as the Firm’s Chairman and Managing Partner, and heads the Firm’s Bankruptcy and Creditor’s Rights Practice Group.  He has been recognized by Best Lawyers® in America in the fields of Commercial Litigation, Bankruptcy Litigation, Bankruptcy, Creditors and Debtors Rights, Insolvency and Reorganization Law, and Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law.

James is very involved in professional and civic activities.  Over the years, James has served as a board member and trustee of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Advisory Board to the Madison County Business League & Foundation, president, board member and program chair of the Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference, and member and president of the diocesan school advisory council of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson.  An Eagle Scout, James is an active volunteer and supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, and has served in numerous roles including Cub Master, Scoutmaster, Venture Crew Advisor, Order of the Arrow Lodge Committee Advisor, District Chairman, Executive Vice President and legal counsel, and currently as Council President of the Andrew Jackson Council, BSA.  For his service to the youth of central Mississippi, James is the recipient of the Silver Beaver award, the highest recognition bestowed by the Andrew Jackson Council for volunteer service.

John Milner concentrates his practice primarily in environmental law and litigation. He represents business and industrial clients in environmental permitting and enforcement actions, natural resource damage assessments and regulation promulgation before the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and other federal and state agencies, as well as in environmental litigation in state and federal courts in Mississippi and other southeastern states. His environmental practice also concerns real estate due diligence and contractual matters in the southeastern region states. John also represents clients in lobbying and monitoring activities concerning environmental and other business and industry issues before the Mississippi Legislature.

John has been inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Environmental Lawyers and the American Bar Foundation . He has been recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers as a Band 1 practitioner of environmental law in Mississippi, by Woodward/White as one of the Best Lawyers in America® in the fields of Environmental Law and Litigation-Environmental in Mississippi and by Martindale-Hubbell with an AV Preeminent Rating.

John  is  past  chair of  the  American  Bar Association’s Section of  Environment,  Energy  and  Resources  (SEER). In 2013, John received from SEER the first annual “Chair’s Award for Outstanding Contribution” to the Section.

John currently serves as Environmental Counsel for the Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA), the primary trade association representing the interests of Mississippi industry. He serves as counsel for the Mississippi Poultry Association (MPA) and the Mississippi Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores Association (MPMCSA).

John is a current member of the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, having served as the Board Chair for five years. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Energy Institute. John has served for several years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA). He also served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Jackson and as a Board member for 21 years.

George O’Connor joined our Washington, D.C. office in 2014.  He has spent over 20 years in federal government service acting in both regulatory and legislative positions.  He also has extensive experience in the private sector as a Vice President for Entergy Corporation and as partner in a Washington, D.C. law firm.  While in federal service Mr. O’Connor was a trial attorney at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), a legal advisor to Commissioner Charles Trabandt at FERC, and a regulatory and legislative counsel in the United States Senate.  He brings his extensive regulatory and legislative experience to Brunini’s Washington, D.C. office.

Mr. O’Connor has a proven record of working with both political parties in Congress.  He was heavily involved with the development, passage and brokering of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, including provisions amending the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act.  He also has substantial experience with the issue of climate change.  Mr. O’Connor was a staff member of  Congressional delegations that took part in COP-6 at The Hague in 2000 and COP-10 at Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2004.  In each instance he was a member of the U.S. Senate staff accompanying both House and Senate Members of Congress.  In 2004, he was Chief of Staff for the Congressional Delegation that traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

After almost 24 years of federal service, Mr. O’Connor retired in 2005 and immediately joined the law firm of Ryan, Philips, Utrecht, & MacKinnon in Washington, D.C. as a partner.  In early 2008, he was hired by Entergy Corporation to lead its Washington, D.C. office as Vice President of Federal Government Affairs.  During his tenure at Entergy he closely followed transmission regulatory activity at FERC, nuclear relicensing proceedings at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and clean air compliance activity at the Environmental Protection Agency and helped inform and shape numerous Congressional energy and climate legislative initiatives during that time.

Mr. O’Connor has also interacted with the financial industry in guiding investments in energy development.

William C. “Charlie” Penick, IV is a member of the commercial department and serves on the firm’s board of directors.  Charlie focuses his practice in the areas of federal and state taxation, mergers and acquisitions and corporate law.  After earning degrees in accounting from the Patterson School of Accountancy and his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi, Charlie graduated from the University of Miami with an LL.M. degree in taxation.

With over 20 years of experience, Charlie’s practice often involves assisting clients with complex corporate situations, including planning, operational, compliance and disposition issues.  In conjunction with this part of his practice, he often serves as lead counsel in significant merger and acquisition transactions.  These transactions range across a number of industries, including telecommunications, construction, financial services, engineering services and automotive and restaurant franchises.

Leveraging his tax experience, Charlie also regularly assists clients in designing and executing estate plans to match clients’ goals.  This often extends through estate administration and appearing before Chancery Courts throughout Mississippi.

Charlie is currently a member of the Independent SALT Alliance and the Estate Planning Council of Mississippi.  He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law and Trust and Estates.  Charlie has been recognized on multiple occasions as the Lawyer of the Year for Nonprofit / Charities Law in Jackson, MS.