Civil Litigation

Lawson Hester has extensive civil trial litigation experience representing municipalities, counties, corporate entities and insurers in high exposure civil rights and constitutional law claims/issues, including class actions, as well as government contracts, HUD compliance, risk analysis, zoning, tort liability, and governmental and private liability matters. Lawson has tried more than 140 civil cases to verdict or judgment, handled more than forty appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Federal Circuit, and successfully defended appeals to the United States Supreme Court.

Lawson frequently lecturers in continuing legal education seminars on civil trial practice, including effective deposition practice, tort reform, corporate/private attorney-client privilege, civil rights, governmental liability, ethics, and the art of cross-examination.

• University of Mississippi, B.A. (English and Political Science) – 1984

• University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D. – 1986

• Mississippi, 1987

• Tennessee, 2021

• North Carolina, 2021

• Rated AV Preeminent 5.0 by Martindale-Hubbell

• Selected for Woodward White’s Best Lawyers in America

• Mid-South Super Lawyer, 2019-2021 - Top Rated Lawyer for Products Liability and Personal Injury Defense

• Selected as 2018 Leading Civil Rights Litigator of the Year – Mississippi

• Lifetime Achievement Award, America’s Top 100 Attorneys – Mississippi

• Appointed as Attorney Advisor to Chairman of Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions, District Judges’ Association, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

• Member of the Defense Research Institute.

• Recipient, Gray Award for excellence in writing, 1984

• Winner, University of Mississippi School of Law Mock Trial Competition, 1986