Best Civil Lawyer in Arkansas
JOSH SANFORD
Civil Lawyer
Josh Sanford practices almost exclusively in employment litigation, focusing on wage-and-hour law. This includes trial work in cases arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Pay Act. Mr. Sanford was voted “Best Attorney” (tie) in a readers’ poll published by The Courier in Russellville, AR. Mr. Sanford has served as the president of the Pope County Bar Association. In addition, Mr. Sanford has been a member of the American, Arkansas and Pope County Bar Associations, the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, the National Employment Lawyers Association, the Russellville Kiwanis Club and the Russellville Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Sanford lives in Little Rock with his wife Kirsten and their children. When not aggressively advocating for a client in court, managing the growing law practice or helping raise three children, Mr. Sanford enjoys basketball, golf and weightlifting.
EDUCATION:
- Russellville High School (1992)
- Wheaton College B.A. in English, cum laude (1996)
- University of Arkansas at Fayetteville School of Law, J.D. (2001)
BAR ADMISSIONS:
- Arkansas Supreme Court, 2001
- U.S. District Court Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, 2001
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado, 2010
- U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, 2010
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 2011
- Texas Supreme Court, 2011
- Colorado Supreme Court, 2012
- U.S. District Court Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas, 2012
- Fifth Circuit, 2016
- U.S. District Court of N. Dakota, 2016
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 2019
- U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois
Gary V. Weeks
Civil Lawyer
Gary V. Weeks is a partner with the Law Group of Northwest Arkansas PLLC. For more than 30 years, Gary’s legal practice has served individuals and corporations in the areas of agricultural, environmental, and business law, as well as complex civil litigation spanning a broad range of issues. Gary’s trial experience is extensive, earning him an AV Martindale-Hubbell rating for Civil Defense Litigation, Commercial and Environmental Law. He also serves as corporate counsel for a number of large, mid-size, and small Arkansas-based institutions, advising these clients on business issues, regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, transactional matters, employment disputes, contracts, and settlement negotiations both pre-and post-trial.
Gary graduated from Lyon College in 1971 with a Bachelor’s degree in History. He is a member of the Lyon College Sports Hall of Fame. Gary did his graduate work in philosophy at the University of Arkansas, before graduating summa cum laude from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1987. His dedication to clients, as well as the results he achieves on their behalf, has been the foundation for Gary regularly being named as a “Mid-South Super Lawyer.” Gary is a practicing member of the state and federal bars of Arkansas and Missouri, as well as a member of the Washington County Bar Association and the Defense Counsel Bar of Arkansas. Additionally, he is admitted to practice law before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Gary has received an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell.
Practice Areas
Agricultural and Food Law
Business Law
Employment Law
Insurance Defense
Tim F. Watson, Sr.
Civil Lawyer
Tim Watson, Sr. is a graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law and has been practicing law in his hometown of Newport, Arkansas for over 45 years. Over the years he has practiced in a wide variety of fields, including criminal, family, personal injury, wills and estates, contracts, real estate transactions, and business litigation. In 2017, Tim F. Watson, Sr. was asked to serve as Circuit Judge for the 3rd Judicial District, to fill out the term of a Circuit Judge who retired early. Tim Sr. finished that term in December 2018, and is back practicing law at Watson & Watson. He is available to take new clients.
JOHN C. COLLINS
Civil Lawyer
John Collins has arrested people and trained officers on arrest procedure. John has prosecuted people and trained prosecutors. John has defended people and has trained attorneys from the US and Canada to defend people charged with crimes. John has sat as a special Judge in various courts and has trained Judges.
Mr. Collins started his career in law enforcement, serving as a field training officer, patrolman, investigator, and instructor of an alcohol education program. John went on to become a deputy prosecuting attorney in Garland County. Mr. Collins has conducted several courses dealing with Arkansas and Texas DWI DUI offenses. He has been a guest speaker for Arkansas law enforcement training sessions on topics related to DWI DUI.
Mr. Collins has sat as a special judge in numerous Arkansas district courts. Mr. Collins is a founding member, currently on the board of directors, a faculty member and former state ambassador of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association. John is also a member of the Arkansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Texas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Inns of Court, and the American Chemical Society.
Mr. Collins has been hired as an adjunct professor at William H. Bowen School of Law to teach law students how to perform necessary tasks in a law practice.
John received the Client Distinction Award from Martindale.com/Lawyers.com in 2013, and was named by Thomson Reuters as a Rising Star 2011, has been named as a Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021), has been published in Arkansas Life Magazine, Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association Docket Call Magazine, and Arkansas Times Magazine. He has been ranked as a superb attorney by AVVO.com with a 10 out of 10 rating and, most recently, is a published author of the DWI book used in Arkansas, published by Lawyer and Judges Publishing Company.
Mr. Jesse W. Thompson
Civil Lawyer
Jesse W. Thompson has been a Practicing Lawyer in Conway, Arkansas both in the local court system and various others around the state of Arkansas for over 37 years. In that time, he has been a defense attorney and prosecutor as well as a private attorney. He has successfully handled a large variety of other civil litigation including Divorce and Custody, Probate and Estates, Contract and Damages Action, Civil Litigation, Corporations and Business Litigation, Property Law, Real Estate Litigation, Adoption, Guardianship, as well as other family law, in addition to other legal matters of various types.
He has successfully handled a large variety of other civil litigation including Divorce and Custody, Probate and Estates, Contract and Damages Action, Civil Litigation, Corporations and Business Litigation, Property Law, Real Estate Litigation, Adoption, Guardianship, as well as other family law, in addition to other legal matters of various types.
Josh Mostyn
Civil Lawyer
- Arkansas
- Texas
- Federal – U.S. District Court Eastern District of Arkansas
- Federal – U.S. District Court Western District of Arkansas
- Principal Broker License – Arkansas Real Estate Commission
- Certified Mediator – Arkansas Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission
- University of Arkansas School of Law, Fayetteville, Arkansas; JD – cum laude
- University of North Texas, Denton, Texas; BBA – Finance
- Arkansas Bar Association (Member)
- Benton County Bar Association (Past President)
- Washington County Bar Association (Member)
- The Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies (Past President, NWA Lawyers Chapter)
- Equal Access to Justice Panel – Legal Aid of Arkansas
- U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Vice Chair, Arkansas Advisory Committee) 2016-2020
- Watertown – Fourth Amendment Exceptions; YLS in-brief – Arkansas Bar Association
- What Judges Want – YLS in-brief – Arkansas Bar Association
- Mid-South Super Lawyers (by Thomson Reuters), Rising Star – 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
NATALIE J. DICKSON
Civil Lawyer
Natalie Dickson has experience as a trial lawyer in multiple disciplines of civil and criminal litigation with experience in both bench and jury trials. Licensed in Arkansas since 2003, Natalie’s practice primarily focuses on domestic relations law (divorce, custody, visitation, adoption, child support) and criminal defense. She obtained an undergraduate degree in political science from Arkansas State University in 2000, and attended both William H. Bowen School of Law and the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis before receiving her J.D. in 2003. Natalie is licensed in state court as well as the United States District Court for Arkansas.
Originally, Natalie practiced in Jonesboro, Arkansas with the general practice firm of Lyons, Emerson & Cone and later moved to Pulaski County to serve as a Deputy Public Defender. She spent five years in North Little Rock at Hilburn, Calhoon, Harper, Pruniski & Calhoun, LTD, before opening LDHR with her partners.
Natalie is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association, Pulaski County Bar Association, and the Judge William R. Overton American Inn of Court. In 2013-2014, she chaired the Family Law Section of the Arkansas Bar Association, and she has served as a special judge in North Little Rock District Court and Pulaski County Circuit Court. Natalie has been named by Soiree magazine as one of the Best Lawyers in Little Rock in the field of Family Law.
Darren O'Quinn
Civil Lawyer
M. Darren O’Quinn, a native of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, began his legal career in 1985 working as a law clerk at one of Arkansas’s most prestigious and largest law firms, then known as House, Holmes & Jewell (which eventually became Dover & Dixon). After receiving his Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law in 1987, he joined the firm’s Litigation Section as an associate where his practice emphasized the defense of insurers, doctors, hospitals, nurses, pharmacists, nursing homes, and personal injury, eventually being named a partner of the firm.
In 2002, Mr. O’Quinn became a founding member of The Law Offices of Darren O’Quinn, where he began to prosecute the types of cases he formerly defended. Through his over 30 years of experience in both defending and prosecuting cases, Mr. O’Quinn has gained valuable insight into successfully screening and aggressively preparing cases for trial so that, ultimately, a careless wrongdoer will accept responsibility for the harms and losses caused to an innocent victim.
Natural State Navigation: Why You Need a Top Civil Lawyer in Arkansas
Even amidst Arkansas’ scenic beauty and rich history, legal conflicts can arise. If you’re facing a civil lawsuit, navigating the legal system can feel like traversing the winding rivers of the Ozarks – beautiful but potentially treacherous, demanding a skilled guide. Here’s why securing a top-notch civil lawyer in Arkansas is crucial for protecting your rights and achieving the best possible outcome:
1. Masters of the Arkansas Legal Landscape:
Arkansas has its own distinct set of civil laws, statutes, and court decisions. A top-tier civil lawyer licensed in Arkansas possesses an in-depth understanding of these nuances:
- Decoding Legal Complexities: They can meticulously analyze your case within the framework of the Arkansas Code Annotated , interpreting key court rulings that may influence the case and identify the best path forward.
- Expert Legal Guidance: Their knowledge of Arkansas’s civil law allows them to provide accurate legal advice and craft effective strategies tailored to the specific circumstances of your case. (AR.gov)
2. Building a Strong Case from the Ground Up:
A skilled civil lawyer in Arkansas takes a proactive approach:
- Strengths and Weaknesses Assessment: They will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your case, meticulously analyzing evidence, contracts, and witness statements. This deep dive allows them to identify strengths, weaknesses, and potential claims, crafting a strategic plan to maximize your chances of success.
3. Your Champion in Arkansas Courtrooms:
The best civil lawyers are your fiercest advocates:
- Skilled Representation: They will represent your interests effectively throughout the legal process, leveraging their experience and legal knowledge to develop a strong legal argument and present evidence persuasively.
4. Expert Guidance Through Legal Thickets:
Civil litigation can involve complex legal procedures:
- Complex Legal Procedures Made Simple: A top civil lawyer will have experience navigating these processes and can ensure that all necessary steps are followed correctly and in a timely manner, including filing court documents, gathering evidence, conducting depositions, and presenting arguments in court.
5. Protecting Your Assets and Rights:
- Mitigating Damages and Maximizing Compensation: In civil disputes, financial compensation or equitable remedies are often sought. A skilled civil lawyer can help assess the extent of damages or losses suffered and work to maximize the compensation you may be entitled to. They can also negotiate on your behalf to minimize any potential liability or damages claimed against you.
6. Exploring Alternative Dispute Resolution Options:
Not all conflicts require a courtroom battle:
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Expertise: In some cases, civil disputes can be resolved through alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation or arbitration. A top civil lawyer will be experienced in these processes and can effectively represent your interests, negotiate settlements, or present your case in alternative forums.
Overall, hiring the best civil lawyer in Arkansas can provide you with the expertise, guidance, and representation necessary to navigate complex legal matters successfully and protect your rights and interests.