- Managing Partner: Edwin L Lowther, Jr
- Number of partners: 40
- Number of other attorneys: 22
FIRM OVERVIEW: Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP is a full-service law firm with offices in Little Rock and Rogers, Arkansas, from which legal services are provided to clients based in Arkansas and across the country. Founded in 1900, the firm now consists of some 62 lawyers. Interaction among the practice groups enables the firm’s members to address legal issues while remaining sensitive to the business considerations inherent in every legal matter.They strive to understand each client’s particular needs and to address them in a cost-efficient and timely manner.
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Banking & Finance: Among the firm’s clients are a number of national, regional and state banking associations, investment banking firms and other affiliated banking and investment companies. Members of the firm regularly represent banks in a variety of lending, investment, trust, workout and other general commercial transactions. In addition, members of the firm’s Business Team represent bank clients in the acquisition of and merger with other banks and the sale of bank related assets.
Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights: The firm practices in all chapters and aspects of bankruptcy cases. The bankruptcy practice includes the representation of secured and unsecured creditors, creditor committees, trustees, and reorganizing and liquidating debtors. Firm members also specialize in creditors’ rights issues, including ‘out-of-court’ restructuring and workouts, lender liability cases, replevin, foreclosure, and commercial and consumer banking matters.
Corporate & Securities: The firm advises a wide array of business clients on commercial transactions, business planning and regulatory matters. Firm members currently serve as regular counsel to a number of large multinational corporations headquartered in the state of Arkansas and work closely with management in all areas of SEC reporting, acquisitions and sales of companies, negotiation and documentation of contracts and debt facilities, debt and stock offerings, and management compensation plans.
Intellectual Property: The firm handles various aspects of intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and unfair competition. Firm members litigate infringement cases in both state and federal courts and practice before the relevant administrative bodies, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Labor & Employment: The firm has a management-oriented labor and employment practice covering all aspects of employee-employer relations. The firm has extensive experience in litigation of employment claims and also represents clients in labor arbitrations, union contract negotiations and in administrative investigations.
Litigation: The firm provides experienced representation in all areas of tort and commercial litigation, including medical, engineering, architect, legal and professional malpractice, environmental law, franchise and construction issues, admiralty and maritime, railroad, personal injury, transportation, and insurance defense. Firm members represent and defend a broad range of clients, including insurance carriers, product manufacturers, professionals, individuals and businesses. The firm is widely recognized as one of the premier defense firms in Arkansas.
Municipal Finance: Service as bond counsel and issuer’s counsel to Arkansas state, county, municipal and other local issuers of municipal debt is a major part of the firm’s practice. The firm has delivered opinions in connection with both general obligation and revenue bond issues for major public facilities including public buildings, jails, municipal buildings, community centers, convention centers, hospitals, schools, parks, and numerous municipal utilities including electric, water and sewer facilities. The firm has served as bond counsel to state agencies, public facilities boards, public water authorities and a variety of special improvement districts. In addition the firm regularly serves as counsel to underwriters and corporate trustees in the origination of municipal debt.
Products Liability: The firm serves as statewide counsel for one of the US ‘big three’ domestic automobile manufacturers and a number of the major foreign automobile manufacturers, as well as several other manufacturers and suppliers of automobiles, trucks, and recreational vehicles. Firm members also regularly defend a broad array of manufacturers and suppliers of other products. In addition, the firm is active in the defense of toxic tort, environmental, and chemical exposure cases.
Real Estate: The firmoffers a wide range of real estate related legal services and has been recognized as being one of the leading real estate law firms in the state. The practice focuses primarily upon commercial real estate, real estate finance, planning and zoning; however, firm members also provide services for the owners of residential properties.
Regulated Industries: Many of the firm’s clients are engaged in businesses or professions that are regulated by state or federal agencies and commissions. The firm offers broad expertise in the area of public utility regulation, particularly including electricity, natural gas, telecommunications and transportation. Additionally, firm members are experienced in regulatory matters involving the environment, occupational safety, labor relations and healthcare.
Tax Practice: The tax practice of the firm includes both state and federal tax matters. The firmhandles federal tax issues for corporations, partnerships, trusts and individuals in areas such as income taxes, mergers, acquisitions, tax planning, real estate, decedents’ estates and estate tax planning, audits and tax litigation. The practice also includes advice to and planning for tax exempt organizations and tax exempt bond and lease financing transactions. Tax practitioners in the firm have experience in state tax matters including income, sales and use, ad valorem, audits and appeals and litigation.
CLIENTS: The firm’s corporate clients include Acxiom Corp.; Amerisure Cos.; AT&T Communications, Inc.; Bank of America Securities LLC; Bank of America N.A.; Bayer Crop Science; Central Arkansas Water; Chubb Group of Insurance Cos.; CNA Insurance Co.; Deltic Timber Corp.; Direct Insurance Company; E.I.Du Pont de Nemours and Co.; Entergy Corp.; Fidelity; First Arkansas Bank & Trust; Ford Motor Co.; General Electric Capital Corp.; FedEx; Government Employees Insurance Group; Hartford Insurance Cos.; Helena Chemical Co.; Hendrix College; Hyundai Motor America; Ingersoll-Rand Company; International Truck & Engine Corporation; Lion Oil Co.;Mazda Motors of America, Inc.;Medmarc, Inc.; Ryder Systems, Inc.; Schneider National Carriers Inc.; Sisters ofMercy Health System, St. Louis; Stephens Inc.; Suzuki Motor Corp.; Synthes, Inc.; Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc.;University of Arkansas;Virco Manufacturing Co.;Weyerhaeuser Co.; Zurich North America.