Johnny has represented buyers and sellers in business acquisitions in a multitude of industries, including: software/technology, medical device, building supply, retail, advertising and manufacturing concerns. He currently serves as Practice Group Leader for the Business Services Group.
Overview
Johnny has represented buyers and sellers in business acquisitions in a multitude of industries, including: software/technology, medical device, building supply, retail, advertising and manufacturing concerns. He currently serves as Practice Group Leader for the Business Services Group.
Practice Areas
Experience
- General Counsel to Cooperative Association of Tractor Dealers, Inc, a captive funding company owned by independent heavy equipment dealers; represents the Cooperative in structured financing transactions with its members and all corporate matters.
- Mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations in a multitude of industries, including technology, healthcare, wholesalers, retail, and manufacturing.
- Special counsel to numerous county governments in connection with the sale or long-term lease of community hospitals to private operators.
- Intellectual property matters, focusing primarily on licensing, prosecution of federal and state trademark applications and copyright law.
- Counsel to private businesses in capital formation, organization and business planning.
- Local Counsel of independent power producers in connection with acquisitions, sales and financing of facilities located in Mississippi.
Distinctions
- BL Rankings, Best Lawyers in America®,
- Copyright Law, 2011-2025
- Corporate Law, 2024-2025
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2024-2025
- Trademark Law, 2011-2025
- Patent Law, 2011-2023
- Lawyer of the Year, Copyright Law, (Jackson, MS), 2015, 2019, 2021, 2025
- Lawyer of the Year, Trademark Law, (Jackson, MS), 2020
- Thomson Reuters Mid-South Super Lawyers®,
- Business/Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, 2013-2014
- Mississippi Secretary of State’s Business Reform Committees – Trademarks, 2008
- Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Assistant & Associate National Bank Examiner, 1987-1991
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 1994
- U.S. District Courts
- Mississippi: Northern, Southern
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit
Education
- University of Mississippi, J.D., 1994
- Editor-in-Chief, Mississippi Law Journal
- Mississippi State University, B.B.A., Banking and Finance, 1987
Associations
- American Bar Association
- Intellectual Property Section
- Business Law Section
- Mississippi Bar Association
- Intellectual Property Section
- Chair, 2003-2004
- Business Law Section
- Intellectual Property Section
- Capital Area Bar Association