MEET OUR ATTORNEYS

SAMUEL CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON, founder, president and co-owner.

Chris graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, where he won the prestigious trial advocacy competition sponsored by the Jackson law firm Steen Reynolds, and represented Ole Miss in the National Trial Competition. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg with a bachelor's degree in radio, television and film production. He also attended Mississippi State University as an undergraduate.

Chris is a former public defender in Harrison County, and has represented several hundred clients charged with felony and misdemeanor crimes in state and federal courts in Mississippi. His law practice is focused on civil litigation, criminal defense, and property transactions. Chris is a member of the Harrison County Bar Association, Mississippi Bar, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, Mississippi Attorneys for Constitutional Justice, and the American Civil Liberties Union. He regularly participates as a judge in the Mississippi Mock High School Trial Competition, and has spoken to high school students through the Lawyers in the Classroom program.

Chris is married to Anne-Carol Johnson, formerly of Laurel, and they have one child, Jacob. They live in Pass Christian. Chris and his brother, vice president and co-owner Hayes Johnson, were born in McComb and grew up in Vicksburg. Chris graduated from Warren Central High School. He formerly worked in the entertainment industry. He is an avid golfer, fisherman, reader and motorcyclist.

R. HAYES JOHNSON, JR., vice president and co-owner.

Hayes graduated with high honors from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville, where he was a member of the Arkansas Law Review editorial board and won the top individual prize in the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition. He graduated from Mississippi State University in Starkville with a bachelor's degree in communication-print journalism. Hayes formerly was associated with Phelps Dunbar, L.L.P., in Jackson, Mississippi, where he worked primarily in civil litigation. His law practice is focused on civil litigation, communications law and intellectual property, and creditor rights.

Hayes is a member of the American Bar Association and is a member of various litigation, media law and intellectual property committees of the ABA. He is also a member of the Mississippi Bar and regularly speaks to media and lawyer groups on subjects related to First Amendment, freedom of information, Internet and intellectual property law.

Hayes is married to Colleen Fahey Johnson, formerly of Birmingham, Alabama. Hayes and his brother, president and co-owner Chris Johnson, were born in McComb and grew up in Vicksburg. Hayes graduated from Warren Central High School. He formerly worked in the newspaper industry, where he was a reporter and editor at newspapers in Mississippi, Ohio and Florida. He enjoys golf, hunting, cooking and walking.