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OUR

ATTORNEYS

Ann Landgraf Griffin

Ann Landgraf Griffin
Member​​ // AGriffin@bnlawfirm.com

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PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION:

  • Admitted to Bar 2015, Mississippi

  • Member, The Mississippi Bar Association

  • Member, South Central Mississippi Bar Association

  • Member, Hattiesburg Area Young Lawyers

  • Member, Mississippi Women Lawyers Association

  • Member, Laurel Junior Auxiliary

  • Chairman of the Board, Wesley Manor

 

EDUCATION:

  • University of Southern Mississippi, 2006 (B.A. English Licensure) (Highest Honors)

  • University of Mississippi School of Law, (J.D., 2014)  (Cum Laude)

    • Business Law Certificate with Honors

    • Outstanding Student Award: Copyright Law

    • Published in Business Law Newsletter: “Preserving the Dirt that Disappears with a Click”

    • Member of Phi Delta Phi, Business Law Network and Dean’s Leadership Council

 

PRACTICE AREAS:

  • Automobile Liability Litigation

  • General Litigation

  • Family Law

  • Wills, Trusts & Estates Administration

  • Conservatorships and Guardianships

  • Prenuptial Agreements

Ann Griffin joined Bryan Nelson P.A. in 2015 and concentrates her practice in the areas of wills and estates, guardianships and conservatorships, family law, and automobile liability litigation. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in English Licensure where she graduated in 2006 with Highest Honors. Ann received her Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where she served as a member of  Phi Delta Phi, Dean's Leadership Council, and the Business Law Network.

 

Ann listens closely to her clients' goals and questions as she designs estate plans for high net worth individuals as well as more modest estates. Estate planning includes disposition of assets upon death, naming someone to make medical and financial decisions in case of disability, planning for Medicaid eligibility, minimizing estate taxes, and protecting assets for children and future generations. Ann is committed to helping her clients accomplish their estate planning goals and believes every person deserves to have an estate plan that is shaped by their own set of unique circumstances, whatever those may be. Ann regularly handles multi-generational planning, planning for second marriages, and planning for times of incapacity or disability. She also assists clients with will and trust disputes, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, and pre- marital and domestic partnership agreements. Whether planning or administering an estate, Ann is committed to providing exceptional legal service that is personalized and affordable for every client.

 

Ann is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Mississippi, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. She is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, Mississippi Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, South Central Mississippi Bar Association, Mississippi Women Lawyers Association and the Hattiesburg Area Young Lawyers Association. Ann is also a member of both the Laurel Arts League and Jones County Republican Women.

Andrew A. Hatten

Andrew A. Hatten
Member // AHatten@bnlawfirm.com

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PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION:

  • Admitted 2015

    • All Mississippi State Courts

    • United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi

    • United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi

    • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

  • Mississippi Bar Association

  • South Central Mississippi Bar Association

  • Hattiesburg Area Young Lawyers

 

EDUCATION:

  • Mississippi College School of Law – J.D. 2015

    • Graduated Cum Laude

    • Moot Court Board - Trial Advocacy Chair 

    • Business Law Society 

  • Millsaps College – M.B.A. 2012; B.B.A. 2011

    • Major: Business Administration – Finance

    • Minor: Political Science

PRACTICE AREAS:

  • Business Organizations & Formation

  • Commercial & Business Litigation

  • Contracts

  • General Litigation

Andrew focuses his practice primarily on business law and commercial litigation, as well as general litigation.  From a business law perspective, Andrew counsels entrepreneurs and small business owners in a wide array of legal matters pertaining to their business, including forming business entities, negotiating contracts, and developing lease and property agreements.  On the litigation side, Andrew represents both individuals and businesses in defense and prosecution of lawsuits.  

 

Prior to practicing law at Bryan Nelson, Andrew served as an intern for both federal and state judges. In the summer of 2013, Andrew worked as an intern law clerk for the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Mississippi. In summer 2014, he again worked as an intern law clerk, this time for the Supreme Court of Mississippi. These experiences provided Andrew with a thorough understanding of both federal and Mississippi courts.

 

Personally, Andrew is an active member of the Hattiesburg Area Young Lawyers Association, Pine Belt Young Professionals, serves on the board of Hattiesburg Miracle League and serves on the board of Christian Services. Andrew is a native of Hattiesburg.

Herman M. Hollensed, Jr.

Herman M. Hollensed, Jr.
Of Counsel // HHollensed@bnlawfirm.com

Herman M. Hollensed

PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION:

  •  Admitted to Bar in 1982, Mississippi

  •  Admitted to U.S. District Courts of Mississippi, U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth      Circuit, Supreme Court of the United States

  •  Mississippi Bar Association

  •  South Central Mississippi Bar Association

  •  Prior Member of Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions

EDUCATION:

  • University of Southern Mississippi (B.S. 1979)

  • University of Mississippi School of Law (J.D. 1982)

    • Chairman, Moot Court Board, 1982

    • Member, Journal of Space Law, 1982

PRACTICE AREAS:

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution

  • Appellate Work

  • Automobile Liability Litigation

  • Employment Law

  • General Litigation

  • Insurance Law and Coverage Disputes

  • Premises Liability

Mark E. Norton

Mark E. Norton
Member // MNorton@bnlawfirm.com

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PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION:

  • Admitted to Bar 2004, Mississippi

  • Member, The Mississippi Bar

  • Member, South Central Mississippi Bar Association

  • Member, American Bar Association

  • Member, Hattiesburg Area Young Lawyers Association

EDUCATION:

  • Mississippi State University (B.S. summa cum laude 2001)

  • University of Mississippi School of Law (J.D. 2005) 

PRACTICE AREAS:

  • Automobile Liability Litigation

  • Business Organizations & Formation

  • General Litigations

Rick Norton

Rick D. Norton
Of Counsel // RNorton@bnlawfirm.com

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PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION:

  • AV Rated

  • Admitted to Bar 1990, Mississippi

  • Member, The Mississippi Bar

  • Member, South Central Mississippi Bar Association

  • Member, Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association

  • 13 years prior experience as an Insurance Adjuster

  • Approved counsel for Mississippi Tort Claims Board

 

EDUCATION:

  • University of Southeastern Louisiana (B.S. 1973)

  • Tulane University (J.D. cum laude 1990)

 

PRACTICE AREAS:

  • Admiralty

  • Automobile Liability Litigation

  • Commercial & Business Litigation

  • Environmental / Toxic Tort Law

  • General Litigation

  • Government Tort Claim Defense

  • Local Utilities Administration

  • Insurance Law

  • School Law

  • Trucking Liability

Joseph A. O'Connell

Joseph A. O'Connell
Member // JOconnell@bnlawfirm.com

Joseph A. O'Connell

PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION:

  • Rating: AV Preeminent (Martindale-Hubble)

  • Admitted to Bar 1978, Mississippi

  • Also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States

  • Member, The Mississippi Bar, Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit, Bar Association of the U.S. Supreme Court

  • Member, South Central Mississippi Bar Association

  • Member, American Bar Association

 

EDUCATION:

  • Millsaps College (B.A. 1975)

  • University of Mississippi School of Law (J.D. 1978)

 

PRACTICE AREAS:

  • General Litigation

  • Oilfield and Construction Accidents

  • Products Liability Litigation

  • Asbestos Litigation

  • Medical Malpractice

  • Civil Rights Litigation

  • Workers Compensation

Joe was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1953 and graduated from Hattiesburg High School in 1971. He then earned a bachelor’s degree from Millsap’s College in May, 1975 and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law in December, 1977. While in law school, Joe received Am Jur awards in Federal Jurisdiction and Federal Procedure.

 

For the past 20 years, he has practiced with Bryan Nelson, P.A., and its predecessors. In his active career as a general litigator spanning over 35 years, Joe has represented both plaintiffs and defendants and carried a wide variety of cases to final judgment, through either dispositive motion, trial, or appeal. In his practice, he has routinely handled cases with claims predicated on product defects, breaches of warranty, toxic torts, workers compensation, medical negligence, premises liability, oilfield accidents, and civil rights violations. He has also successfully handled suits arising from other diverse claims: breaches of construction contracts, a franchise agreement, and a longterm coal delivery contract; bad faith denials of insurance benefits; trademark infringement; dilution of voting rights; and life insurance claims involving potential suicides and efforts to recover accidental death and double indemnity benefits.

 

During Joe’s practice with Bryan Nelson, P.A., he has been authorized to handle “high exposure” cases for Mid-Continent Casualty Company, Admiral Insurance Company, Schlumberger Technology Corporation, its affiliates, and insurers, and Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations, Inc., and its insurers. Baker Hughes has also designated Joe as an ‘emergency” counsel and authorized him to lead immediate post-incident investigations involving potential toxic exposure and major motor vehicle collisions. Joe is currently admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Mississippi, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the South Central Mississippi Bar Association, the Mississippi State Bar, and the American Bar Association.

 

On multiple occasions, Joe has served on the board of the United Way of Southeast Mississippi and the Vestry or governing body of Trinity Episcopal Church in Hattiesburg. He and his wife, Jane, reside in Hattiesburg and have two adult children and one grandchild.

David M. Ott

David M. Ott
Member // DOtt@bnlawfirm.com

David M. Ott

PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION:

  • AV Preeminent Rating with Martindale-Hubbel

    Admitted to Bar 1983, Mississippi

  • Member, The Mississippi Bar

  • Member, South Central Mississippi Bar Association

  • Member, Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit

  • Member, American Bar Association

  • Selected by Mississippi Business Journal as one of Mississippi’s Top Ten Attorneys in 2015

  • Past President of Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association

  • Member of the Federal Civil Rules Advisory Committee for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi

  • Law Clerk to Honorable William H. Barbour, Jr.

    • U.S. District Court For the Southern District of Mississippi 1983 - 1985

EDUCATION:

  • Millsaps College (B.A. 1980)

  • University of Mississippi School of Law (J.D. 1983)

    • Mississippi Law Journal 1981-1983

PRACTICE AREAS:

  • Personal Injury Litigation

  • Insurance Coverage Disputes

  • Employment Law Litigation

  • Business Formation and Transactions

  • Risk Management for Businesses

  • Government Entity Matters

Vardaman Vick Smith

Vardaman K. Smith
Of Counsel // VSmith@bnlawfirm.com

Vardaman K. Smith

PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION:

  • AV Rated Preeminent Rating with Martindale-Hubbel

  • Admitted to Bar 1984, Mississippi

  • Member, The Mississippi Bar

  • Member, South Central Mississippi Bar Association

  • Phi Delta Phi

  • Law Clerk to Justice Roy Noble Lee

    • Mississippi Supreme Court 1984 - 1985​

 

EDUCATION:

  • Millsaps College (B.A. 1981)

  • University of Mississippi School of Law (J.D. 1984)

    • Moot Court Board​

 

PRACTICE AREAS:

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution

  • Automobile Liability Litigation

  • General Litigation

  • Government Tort Claim Defense

  • Insurance Law

  • Municipal Law

  • Premises Liability

Vardaman K. Smith (Vick) joined Bryan Nelson P.A. in 1985 and concentrates his practice in the areas of alternative dispute resolution, automobile liability litigation, government tort claims defense, insurance law, municipal law, and premise liability.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Millsaps College in 1981 and then in 1984 received his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he served as an active member of the Moot Court Board and Phi Delta Phi. After law school, Vick clerked with Justice Ray Noble Lee at the Mississippi Supreme Court.

Vick specializes in litigation and has taken over 100 jury trials to verdict. Outside of the courtroom, Vick works  to resolve matters through alternative dispute resolution and mediation.    

Vick is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Mississippi, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. He is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, South Central Mississippi Bar Association, and the Mississippi Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates. Vick also served as on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association from 2012-2015.

 

Personally, Vick is an active member of Main Street United Methodist Church in Bay St. Louis. He is also involved with the Hattiesburg Athletic Officials Association.   

William A. Whitehead, Jr.

William A. Whitehead, Jr.
Member // WWhitehead@bnlawfirm.com

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PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION:

  • Admitted to Bar 1995, Mississippi

  • Member, The Mississippi Bar

  • Member, South Central Mississippi Bar Association

  • Member, American Bar Association

EDUCATION:

  • Mississippi State University (B.A. 1991)

  • University of Mississippi School of Law (J.D. 1995)

PRACTICE AREAS:

  • General Litigation

  • Healthcare Law

  • Insurance Law

  • Medical Malpractice Defense

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