Attorney Profiles

AREAS OF PRACTICE

• creditors' rights 
• bankruptcy
• collections
• title and boundary disputes
• title insurance 
• commercial real estate closings
• homeowner's associations
• landlord/tenant matters
• business entity formation and planning
• business acquisition and dissolution
• contract preparation
• commercial litigation
• civil litigation

EDUCATION

• University of Mississippi, B.A., 2002
• University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., 2005

LICENSING & ADMISSIONS

• Mississippi, 2005
• Tennessee, 2006
• 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

MEMBERSHIPS

• Mississippi Bar Association
• Tennessee Bar Association
• Mississippi Bankruptcy Institute
• American Bankruptcy Institute
• Mississippi Land Title Association
• DeSoto County Bar Association
• Hernando Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, 2008-2014
• Mississippi Bar Association Leadership Forum, 2013

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• "Foreclosure Pitfalls in Mississippi & Tennessee", University of Mississippi CLE by the Hour (December, 2011)
• "Current Issues in Foreclosure Law in Mississippi & Tennessee", University of Mississippi CLE by the Hour (December, 2012)
• "Mississippi & Tennessee Real Estate Update", University of Mississippi CLE by the Hour (December, 2014)  
• "Title Search & Examination Fundamentals", Title Law From Start To Finish (April, 2016)
• "How to Read Surveys and Plats", Title Law From Start To Finish (April, 2016) 
• "Best Practices for Curing Title Problems",  Title Law From Start To Finish (April, 2016)
• "Considerations in Business Formation and Entity Selection", University of Mississippi CLE by the Hour (December, 2016)
• "Handling Title Insurance Claims",  University of Mississippi CLE by the Hour (December, 2018)
• "Subdivision Plat Approval and Amendment: Picking Your Battles",  Current and Evolving Issues in Land Use and Zoning (May, 2019)

Brad maintains an active and diverse practice primarily focused on commercial and business related matters. After graduating from the University of Mississippi School of Law, he began his practice in Jackson, Tennessee, before moving to DeSoto County in 2007. Since moving to DeSoto County Brad has become an active member of the community through his work with the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project. Brad is also active in a number of local civic and charitable organizations. He has served either as a director or board attorney for the Hernando Main Street Chamber of Commerce, West Tennessee Animal Rescue, and the Unknown Child Foundation. 

  AREAS OF PRACTICE

• divorce
• family law
• adoption
• estate probate
• wills and estates
• homeowner's associations
• collections
• landlord/tenant matters
• civil litigation

EDUCATION

• University of Mississippi, B.A., 2001
• University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., 2005

LICENSING & ADMISSIONS

• Mississippi, 2005
• 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi

MEMBERSHIPS

• Mississippi Bar Association
• DeSoto County Bar Association
• M Mississippi Bar Association Leadership Forum, 2015

Before entering private practice in 2009, Bill worked as the Staff Attorney for the Sixth Chancery District in Philadelphia, Mississippi, where he dealt with a wide variety of chancery matters, including family law, wills and estates, youth court, and Katrina-related price gouging litigation. Bill also worked as an adjunct professor of Paralegal Studies at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi.  He graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2005 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude from the University of Mississippi in 2000. 

AREAS OF PRACTICE

• Personal Injury
• Wrongful Death 
• Workers Compensation 
• Estates and Probate
• Governmental Law
• Criminal Law
• Zoning      

LITIGATION PERCENTAGE

• 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Mississippi, 1996
• Tennessee, 1997
• U.S. Court of App. 5th Circuit, 1996
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Mississippi, 1996
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Mississippi, 1996

EDUCATION

• University of Mississippi, B.P.A cum laude, 1993
• University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., 1996

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

• Rinehart v. Barnes, 819 So.2d 564 (Miss. Ct. App. 2002)
• South Carolina Ins. Co. v. Keymon, 974 So.2d 226 (Miss. 2008)
• City of Horn Lake, MS v. Town of Walls, MS, 57 So.3d 1253 (Miss. Ct. App.2011)
• Sass Muni-V, LLC v. DeSoto County, 2013-CA-01490-SCT (Miss. 2015)
• DeSoto County v. Dennis, 160 So.3d 1154 (Miss. 2015)
• Carlisile v. DeSoto County, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 104568 (N.D. Miss. Sept. 2010)
• Sivley v. DeSoto County, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 126308 (N.D. Miss. Nov. 2010)
• Wilson v. Desoto County, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 127918 (N.D. Miss. 2011)
• Williams v. Desoto County, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95676 (N.D. Miss. 2011)
• Hernandez v. Desoto County Sheriff's Dep't, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 41691 (N.D. Miss. 2012)
• Wilson v. Rasco, et al, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 136771 (N.D. Miss. Sept. 25, 2012)
• Langston v. Rascoe, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 69016 (N.D. Miss. May 19, 2014)
• Wrenn v. DeSoto County, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 119439 (N.D. Miss. July 29, 2014)
• Cox v. Desoto County Jail of Hernando, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15807 (N.D. Miss. Feb. 10, 2015)
• Cox v. DeSoto County Sheriff, et al, 1:03-cv-00628) (N.D. Miss. 2010)
• Wakham v. Burgess, 1:04-cv-00207 (N.D. Miss. 2006)
• Williams v. Riley, 2:05-cv-00083-WAP (N.D. Miss. 2012)
• Riley v. Desoto County Sheriff’s Dept., 2:09-cv-00149 (N.D. Miss. 2010)
• Townes v. Rasco, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 142789 (N.D. Miss. Dec. 12, 2011)
• Johnson v. Kemp, 2:10-cv-00100 (N.D. Miss. 2012)
• Whistle v. Pratt, 2:10-cv-00131 (N.D. Miss. 2011)
• Taylor v. Rasco, 2:11-cv-0029 (N.D. Miss. 2012)
• Philley v. DeSoto County, 2:11-cv-00128 (N.D. Miss. 2011)
• Small v. DeSoto, 2:12-cv-000036 (N.D. Miss. 2012)
• Hooghe v. Rascoe, et al, 2:12cv109-MPM-SAA (N.D. Miss. Aug. 29, 2012)
• Schumacher v. Porter, 3:03-cv-00073 (N.D. Miss. 2004)
• Curbow v. Lynch, 3:08-cv-00037 (N.D. Miss. 2010)
• Shea v. DeSoto County, Mississippi, et al, 3:09-cv-00025 (N.D. Miss. 2010)
• Yahweh v. Adams, et al, 3:13-cv-00040 (N.D. Miss. 2014)
• Earnshaw v. DeSoto County, MS, 3:13-cv-00078 (N.D. Miss. 2014)
• Alexander v. DeSoto County, MS, 3:14-cv-00135 (N.D. Miss. 2015)
• DeSoto County, Mississippi Branch of the NAACP et al v. DeSoto County, Mississippi Board of Supervisors, 2:11-cv-00040 (N.D. Miss. 2012)

REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS

• MS Public Entity Workers' Compensation Trust
• DeSoto County Sheriff's Department
• DeSoto County Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Sunrise Builders Supply, LLC
• Mississippi Association of Supervisors’ Insurance Trust
• Accrabond Corporation
• Michael Hatcher & Associates
• Short Fork Creek Drainage District 

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

• Mississippi Municipal Court Judges Association, Member
• University of Mississippi Alumni Association, Member
• Mississippi Association of County Board Attorneys, Member, 2012 - 2014
• Mississippi Bar Association, Member, 1996
• DeSoto County Bar Association, Member, 1996
• 17th Circuit Court District of Mississippi, Bar Commissioner, 2018-2019
• Mississippi Bar Governmental Affairs Executive Committee, 2018-2020
• Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions, 2018 to present 

PAST EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS

• Neyman Law Firm. PLLC , Owner & Managing Partner, 2014-2024
• Smith, Phillips, Mitchell, Scott & Nowak , Partner, 2007 - 2014
• Nowak & Neyman, PC, Partner, 2005 - 2006
• City of Southaven, Municipal Court Judge, 2014 to present
• City of Hernando, Municipal Court Judge, 2001-2014
• Legal Counsel, DeSoto County, Mississippi, 2005 – 2014
• Legal Counsel, DeSoto County, Mississippi Planning Commission, 2005-2014
• Legal Counsel, DeSoto County, Mississippi Board of Adjustments, 2005-2014
• Legal Counsel, Hernando, Mississippi, Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors,      2004-2006
• Legal Counsel, Horn Lake Creek Drainage District, 2005-2014
• Board Attorney, DeSoto County, Mississippi Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2015 to present 

PRO BONO ACTIVITIES

• Participant in Leadership DeSoto
• Past President of the Hernando Optimist Club
• Hernando Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
• Member of Independent Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee

FRATERNITIES/SORORITIES

• Sigma Nu

Licensed in Mississippi and Tennessee, Jody has been practicing law in Hernando since 1996, with extensive trial experience representing both Plaintiffs and Defendants in State and Federal Court. In addition, Jody has served as legal counsel to the DeSoto County Convention and Visitors Bureau, DeSoto County Sheriff's Department and DeSoto County, Mississippi.   In addition to his law practice, Jody presently presides as a Municipal Court Judge for the City of Southaven; he previously presided as Municipal Court Judge for the City of Hernando.  In 2018, Jody was appointed by the Mississippi Supreme Court to serve as a Member of the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions. Previously Jody served as the Mississippi Bar Commissioner for  the 17th Circuit Court District of Mississippi, and also served on the Mississippi Bar's Governmental Affairs Executive Committee.

Jody has been actively involved in the DeSoto County Community, having been a participant in Leadership DeSoto, the University of Mississippi Alumni Association, served as a past President of the Hernando Optimist Club and the Hernando Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Jody is also a member of Independent Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Jody resides in Hernando with his wife, Mary Phillips, and their children.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

• civil litigation  
• commercial litigation
• wills and estates 
• will contests
• zoning and land use
• administrative and regulatory law
• real estate litigation
• non-compete agreements
• family law 
• landlord/tenant 
• defamation 
• appellate practice
• business entity formation and consultation
• business dissolution

EDUCATION

• Mississippi College School of Law, Juris Doctorate (with Special Distinction), 1992
• University of Southern Mississippi, Bachelor of Arts (Highest Honors), 1989
• University of Mississippi (Omicron Delta Kappa), 1978-1981

LICENSING AND ADMISSIONS

• The Mississippi Bar
• United States Fifth Federal Circuit Court of Appeals
• United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi
• Certified Mediator with Mississippi Supreme Court

MEMBERSHIPS

• Mississippi Bar Association
• Desoto County Bar Association
• Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
• Mississippi College School of Law Alumni (Past President)
• Litigation Counsel of America (Senior)
• Lawyers of Distinction
• William C. Keady Inns of Court
• The Trial Law Institute
• National Academy of Jurisprudence
• American Institute of Trial Lawyers
• American Society of Legal Advocates
• Desoto Economic Council (Past Board Member)
• Southaven Chamber of Commerce
• Hernando Chamber of Commerce

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Martindale-Hubbell®: AV-Preeminent rating (2010-2020)
• Super Lawyers®, Mid-South (2014-2020)
• “Litigator Of The Year”, American Institute of Trial Lawyers (2019)
• “Premier 100 Trial Attorney”, American Academy of Trial Attorneys (2015)
• “Top 100 Litigation Lawyer In Mississippi”, American Society of Legal Advocates (2016-2020)
• “10 Best Attorneys In Mississippi”, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys (2017)
• “Top Lawyers In Mississippi”, The Legal Network (2018) 

MILITARY SERVICE

• Mississippi Air National Guard (Honorable Discharge)
• Mississippi Army National Guard (Honorable Discharge)

PUBLICATIONS

• C. Green and M. Graves, “Allocation of Fault: Joint Tort-feasors In Court and the Ones Who Should Be,” 63 Miss.L.J. 647 (1994)
• Comment, “Scope of Investigation Required By Health Insurers In Mississippi Prior to Denial of First-Party Claims,” 13 Miss. C.L. Rev. 173 (1992)
• Note, “Sobriety Checkpoints: A Constitutional Faux Pas,”  12 Miss. C.L. Rev. 231 (1991)
• “Advantage Mississippi Means Tax Breaks And New Jobs”, Business Law Bulletin (2000)
• “A Better Yellow Ribbon: The Uniformed Services Employment And Re-Employment Act”, Business Law Bulletin (2000)
• “A Better Yellow Ribbon: How the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Act Can Affect Your Business”, BLINK Magazine (Nov/Dec 2008)
• “Get A Fresh Start On Bad Debt”, BLINK Magazine (Jan/Feb 2009)
• “Be Informed Before You Fire”, BLINK Magazine (May/June 2009)
• “Going To Court? Stay At Home”, BLINK Magazine (Sept/Oct 2009)
• “Trust And Obey? The Right Way To Respond To A Subpoena”, BLINK Magazine (Nov/Dec 2009)
• “How’s My Driving? Employers’ Liability For Negligence of Employee Drivers”, BLINK Magazine (Jan/Feb 2010)
• “Change Is The Only Constant”, BLINK Magazine (Mar/Apr 2010)
• “Mississippi Business Law Development: More Change Is On The Way”, BLINK Magazine (May/June 2010) 

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• “Making Your Land Use Case To The Planning Commission”, Advanced Zoning And Land Use In Mississippi, Lorman Education Services (July, 2006)
• “Opposing Rezoning Applications Before The Governing Board”, Advanced Zoning And Land Use In Mississippi, Lorman Education Services (July, 2006)
• “Appeal Of And Remedies For Board Action In Land Use Cases”, Advanced Zoning And Land Use In Mississippi, Lorman Education Services (July, 2006)
• “Zoning And Land Use Restrictions”, Current Issues In Real Estate, University of Mississippi CLE (July, 2007)
• “Zoning And Land Use Considerations”, Current Issues In Real Estate, University of Mississippi CLE (July, 2010)
• “Zoning And Land Use Considerations”, CLE By The Hour, University of Mississippi CLE (December, 2010)
• “10 Lies About The Law”, BNI® Midsouth (2015)
• “Procedural Issues In Land Use Administrative Appeals”, Current and Evolving Issues in Land Use and Zoning, University of Mississippi CLE (May, 2019)
• “Exhaustion Of Administrative Remedies In ‘Takings’ Claims”, Current and Evolving Issues in Land Use and Zoning, University of Mississippi CLE (May, 2019)

Mike is an AV-Preeminent rated lawyer with nearly thirty years of experience in civil and commercial litigation. Mike has successfully handled many jury trials in both federal and state courts in Mississippi as well as numerous bench trials and administrative proceedings at both the state and local level. His experience also includes representing businesses and banks in commercial transactions and collection matters. He also has extensive experience in zoning and land use matters before local governing boards throughout Mississippi. Mike is an active member in both his church and local civic organizations.