NEW ORLEANS and JACKSON, Miss., Aug. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — William H. Hines, Managing Partner of the law firm of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre L.L.P., and Dennis W. Miller, Chief Executive Officer of the law firm of Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A., today announced plans to combine firms. The combination, approved by the shareholders of Watkins Ludlam and the Jones Walker partnership this month, is to be effective on or before January 1, 2012. The combined firm will have more than 375 attorneys. The transaction adds 67 new attorneys, one government relations specialist, and three Mississippi offices in Jackson, Gulfport, and Olive Branch to the Jones Walker firm.

Mr. Hines commented, “The Watkins Ludlam firm, founded in 1905, has a long and impressive record of sophisticated legal service to and deep community involvement in the State of Mississippi, as well as the prestige of having former governor William F. Winter as a member. The firm is well recognized for serving clients in the corporate, banking, construction, financial services, gaming, government relations, public finance, tax, and real estate sectors with the utmost integrity and legal talent. This expansion for Jones Walker into Mississippi and the addition of the above-referenced capabilities in the Mississippi market offers a wider range of services to our client base. Many Jones Walker clients have business interests in the Mississippi market and across the Gulf South, and we can service them more efficiently with a larger footprint.”

Former Governor William Winter stated, “We are excited to join such a well-respected firm in the Gulf South region. This transaction adds depth and expands the practices that we are able to offer to our clients. Together, our two firms strengthen our capabilities across the region and throughout the Southern United States. The combination of the two firms fits well with both firms’ strategic business objectives and allows us to offer services in additional states and in Washington, D.C.“

The law firm will continue under the name of Jones Walker, led by William H. Hines as Managing Partner. After the merger is completed, Jones Walker will have 15 offices in six states and the District of Columbia.

Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre L.L.P. (www.joneswalker.com), with more than 300 attorneys, provides a comprehensive range of legal services to a national and international corporate client base in highly regulated industries through offices in Alabama, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.

Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A., founded in 1905, has more than 100 years of history in Mississippi. The firm’s attorneys work with Fortune 500 companies to defend complex lawsuits, and they have invested countless hours to improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Mississippi‘s residents. The firm is considered to be one of the leading firms in the state of Mississippi and many of its attorneys have helped to draft the laws in Mississippi including the blue sky laws and tax laws within the state.

Contacts: Carol Todd Thomas
504.582.8438
cthomas@joneswalker.com

Leslie E. Dixon
601.949.4710
ldixon@watkinsludlam.com

SOURCE Jones Walker and Watkins Ludlam