Mississippi Law Firm

Peyton S. Irby (Full bio), Jr. is Chair of the firm's Labor and Employment Practice Group. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University (B.S., 1967) and the University of Mississippi (J.D., 1970). Mr. Irby is a past chair of The Mississippi Bar's Labor and Employment Law Section. He also is a member of the Federal Bar Association and the Labor and Employment Law Section of the American Bar Association and was elected as a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Mr. Irby is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the Labor and Employment Law Section and in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in Employment Law. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Irby served as a trial and supervisory attorney for the National Labor Relations Board. Mr. Irby focuses his practice in labor matters, NLRB litigation, employment law, and related litigation. Email: pirby@watkinsludlam.com

Steven R. Cupp (Full bio) is a shareholder with Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A., in the Mississippi Gulf Coast office and is a member of the firm's Labor and Employment Group. Steve devotes his practice exclusively to representing management interests in all aspects of federal and state employment law, labor relations, state and federal agency practice, wage and hour compliance and litigation, employee benefits, and related litigation. Email: scupp@watkinsludlam.com

Susan Fahey Desmond (Full bio) is a shareholder with Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A. in the Mississippi Gulf Coast office and is a member of the firm's Labor and Employment Group. Her area of specialization include education law, ERISA litigation, labor and employment law, and public employment. She is a frequent speaker for the Council on Education in Management, the Society for Human Resource Management, and other management organizations. Ms. Desmond is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for labor and employment law and Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in employment law. Email: sdesmond@watkinsludlam.com

Keith R. Raulston (Full bio) is a shareholder in the firm's litigation practice group and has received many honors and awards during his career as an attorney. As a corporate defense lawyer, Keith has successfully represented numerous Fortune 500 firms as well as privately owned local businesses. A frequent lecturer and contributing author, Keith possesses a deep understanding of the law and is adept at communicating with clients, students and peers. Email: kraulston@watkinsludlam.com

April D. Reeves (Full bio) is an associate in the firm's litigation practice group and has worked on cases ranging from employment law to business tort litigation to commercial litigation. She has represented several high-profile clients including one of the largest discount retailers in the country as well as Fortune 1000 lending institutions. Email: areeves@watkinsludlam.com

Throughout her career, Vikki J. Taylor (Full bio) has established a reputation as a strong lawyer who is not afraid to tackle difficult issues. As a shareholder in the firm's litigation practice group, she focuses her practice on general civil litigation with concentrations in defense of employment law, personal injury litigation, and commercial disputes. Vikki is actively involved in many civic and professional activities on a local, state, and regional level. During her career she has also served as counsel for both public and private hospitals, school districts, and other public entities. Email: vtaylor@watkinsludlam.com

Karen S. Clay (Full bio) joined Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis in 2007. She is licensed before all state and federal courts in Mississippi and Arkansas. Karen primarily serves in the Litigation and Labor and Employment practice groups. She devotes a significant amount of her practice representing employers in litigation related to harassment and discrimination in the workplace. While in law school, Karen was an Executive Editor of The Mississippi College Law Review, a member of the Moot Court Board, and competed in several national Moot Court Competitions in New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Malibu, California. She was the 2005 Winner of the Copeland, Cook, Taylor and Bush Moot Court Competition, 2006 finalist in the Mississippi Moot Court Competition, and an ABA Regional Champion in 2007, arguing before various state and federal judges. Prior to attending law school, Karen worked for the University of Tennessee, in Knoxville, in University Housing. Karen is a graduate of the University of Tennessee (M.S. 2004) and Mississippi University for Women (B.A. 2002). Email: kclay@watkinsludlam.com

Courtney L. Leyes (Full bio) is a native of Missouri and a 2005 cum laude graduate of University of Missouri's Honors College (B.A. History and Politcal Science). She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2008. Since that time, Courtney has been working with a Washington, D.C law firm specializing in Labor & Employment matters. Courtney practices from the firm's Olive Branch office in the litigation group. While in law school, Courtney received the William Gates scholarship, was an Associate Notes & Comments Editor for the Mississippi Law Journal, and a participant in the ABA's Labor and Employment Division's Trial Advocacy Competition (2007). Courtney is admitted to practice in Missouri, District of Columbia, Mississippi, U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, U.S. District Court - Northern District of Mississippi, and U.S. District Court - Southern District of Mississippi. Email: cleyes@watkinsludlam.com

Firm Practice Areas: Antitrust, Business Tort and Commercial Litigation; Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights; Business Planning & Operations; Construction Law; Education Law; Environmental; ERISA and Employee Benefits; Estate Planning & Administration; Family Law; Federal, State and Local Taxation; Financial Institutions; Gaming and Resort; Government Law; Insurance; Insurance Litigation; Intellectual Property; Labor and Employment; Legislative & Governmental Relations; Media and First Amendment Law; Mergers & Acquisitions; Product Liability and Personal Injury; Public Finance; Public Utilities; Real Estate and Commercial Finance Transactions; Securities; Technology & E-Commerce; Telecommunications; Workers' Compensation Litigation

Number of Attorneys: 75

Office Locations: Jackson, MS; Gulfport, MS; Olive Branch, MS

The Mississippi members of the Employers Counsel Network also write Mississippi Employment Law Letter. Click here to learn more about the newsletter.

Member firms of the Employers Counsel Network practice law independently and not in a relationship for the joint practice of the law.