Whether they are needed to help someone get out of a legal situation, set up a business or find resolutions to family issues, lawyers play a growing role in keeping our society moving forward. According to the American Bar Association’s annual National Lawyer Population Survey, the number of attorneys in the country increased by 15.2 percent over the last decade. There are more than 1.33 million attorneys actively practicing law in the United States, and more than 6,000 practicing in Arkansas. With so many to choose from, it can be difficult for a potential client to know they are getting the best representation they can. With that in mind, AY About You is highlighting the Arkansas Bar Association’s award-winning lawyers ahead of their first-ever virtual conference on June 8-13, as well as our readers’ choices for the best lawyers in the state. 

 

The Bar is for Service, For Good and for You; we ask all lawyers to help us serve them for good. 

 

At this time of great personal and community challenge, it is a great honor to recognize those whose efforts have led our association to new heights of service and opportunity. 

 

 Our theme this year has been service as reflected in our inaugural Public Service Academy attended by 25 statewide lawyers and 12 students and co-presented by the Clinton School of Public Service. 

 

Similarly, the theme for our first ever virtual annual meeting is Making a Difference-Lawyers in Service to Clients, Communities and the Profession.  Traditionally held in conjunction with the Arkansas Judicial Council, attorneys and judges will take time to learn about some of the latest legal topics and be inspired by hearing from lawyers who are indeed making a significant difference for their clients, communities, and profession around the world and around the block.  

 

 Also, at our virtual annual meeting, we will unveil our new logo.

 

 Our dynamic organization achieves through volunteers with staff guidance.  It is my privilege to recognize outstanding achievements by attorneys and judges and those who help advance our profession.

 

 Our staff is ineligible but should be first in line for recognition.  Thank you Karen, Jay, Kristen, Alexis, Jennifer, Yan, Michele, Cynthia and Anna!! Each of you honor our association with your dedication to our profession.

 

At the annual meeting, the Arkansas Bar Foundation and the Arkansas Bar Association will recognize several persons to honor because of their outstanding contributions. 

Those selected are:

• Outstanding Lawyer Award: Eddie H. Walker, Jr.

• Outstanding Lawyer-Citizen Award: James A. (Jim) McLarty III

• Outstanding Lawyer-Humanitarian Award: William C. (Bill) Mann III

• C. E. Ransick Award of Excellence: Jeffrey E. McKinley

• James McKenzie Professionalism Award:  C. C. (Cliff) Gibson III

• Outstanding Jurist Award: Judge John N. Fogleman

• Equal Justice Distinguished Service Award: Steven B. Davis

• Outstanding Local Bar Associations:  Pulaski County Bar Association and Sebastian County Bar Association 

 Also during the meeting, I will award the following award recipients for their work over the past year:

Presidential Award of Excellence:

• Maggie Benson

• Nathan C. Looney

• Nikolai DiPippa

• Joe F. Kolb

• Dean Skip Rutherford

• Aaron L. Sqyures

Golden Gavel Awards:

• Kandice A. Bell

• Howard W. Brill

• Beverly I. Brister

• Judge Earnest E. Brown, Jr.

• Tim Cullen

• Representative Carol Dalby

• Bob Edwards

• Bob Estes

• Julie DeWoody Greathouse

• Heide Harrell 

• Heather Haywood, APR

• Glen Hoggard

• Chris Hussein

• Jamie Huffman Jones

• Sarah C. Jewell

• Sean T. Keith

• Cindy Kolb 

• Jeffrey E. McKinley 

• J. Cliff McKinney II

• Anthony L. McMullen

• Regan Gruber Moffitt

• G. S. Brant Perkins

• Jordan Bates-Rogers 

• Speaker Matthew Shepherd

• Scott C. Trotter

• Samantha Vital

Other Awards:

• Chris Hussein

• Caroline Kelley

• Mary Claire Hyatt

• Brandon K. Moffitt

 

Congratulations to the following members who have been admitted to the practice of law in Arkansas for 50 years:

Samuel N. Bird • Larry W. Burks • Jerry L. Canfield • George Randall (Randy) Coleman, Jr. • Thomas (Tom) A. Daily • Al J. Daniel, Jr.

John C. Everett • Larry Froelich • Stephen A. Geigle • Sam Gibson • John C. Gregg • Robert L. Hart, Jr. • Donald B. Kendall

Jerry Mazzanti • Jack A. McNulty • J. Conley Meredith • Jim Roger Nash • Bobby Lee Odom • Eudox Patterson • Jerry Dean Patterson

David J. Potter • Lonnie A. Powers • Robert J. Reid • J. Mark Spradley • George Edwin Steel • Boyd A. Tackett, Jr.

Allyn (Lynn) Tatum • David S. Taylor • Byron Thomason • William M. Warren • John Dewey Watson • Timothy F. Watson, Sr.

 

Brian Rosenthal

Arkansas Bar Association President, Rose Law Firm