MARTIN E. WILLOUGHBY, JR.

Martin has owned and operated successful businesses, strategically advised companies as in-house counsel, and effectively represented clients ranging from individuals to publicly traded entities.  He is currently managing member of Willoughby Law Group, PLLC and focuses his law and consulting practice on working with startup and fast growth ventures.  Martin has received advanced entrepreneurial training with FastTrac, an affiliate of the internationally recognized Kauffman Foundation.  As an entrepreneur, Martin understands firsthand the pressures and demands that come along with growing a company.  Utilizing his diverse legal and business background, Martin helps businesses and individuals achieve their business/legal objectives and develop high performance organizations.


Key Career Highlights:

• Founder, Willoughby Law Group, PLLC
• Experience as General Counsel for international software company, national food services company, national pharmaceutical company, and national manufacturing company
• Former attorney with Watkins & Eager, PLLC
• Co-founder of a facilities management firm
• Co-founded a real estate dot.com in Silicon Valley
• Owner of a real estate company
• Former tennis professional

Educational Background:

• Millsaps College (B.A., 1990); Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa
• Mississippi College School of Law (J.D., 1998); Summa Cum Laude,
  Managing Editor of Law Review
• Mississippi Real Estate Broker's License

Articles and Presentations:

Key Areas of Intellectual Property Law for Business, Mississippi College School of Law, Jackson, MS (July 2005)

7 Key Areas Of Intellectual Property Every Business Lawyer Should Know,  The Mississippi Lawyer (September 2004)

Other:

• Certified FastTrac Facilitator (www.fasttrac.org)
• Member, Entrepreneur's Organization (www.eonetowrk.org)
• Graduate, Leadership Greater Jackson Class of 2007
• Top 40 under 40, Mississippi Business Journal
• Top 40 under 45, Metro Business Chronicle
• Monthly Columnist, Metro Christian Living
• Monthly Columnist, Metro Business Chronicle
• Columnist, Pointe Innovation magazine
• Deacon, Broadmoor Baptist Church (www.broadmoor.org)
• Member, Downtown Jackson Rotary Club

R. PATRICK MCCRANEY, Of Counsel

Patrick McCraney is a lifelong resident of Jackson, Mississippi. Patrick has been recently appointed to continue the growth and development of the firm's Health Law and Healthcare Technology practice group. Through this practice area emphasis, the firm is able to serve traditional health care providers, such as physician and practice groups, while also growing the firm's health-related business clients, such as pharmaceutical, device, medical equipment and diagnostic service companies.
In addition to healthcare emphasis, Patrick enjoys a broad-based business practice representing entrepreneurs, business owners and commercial real-estate professionals with a variety of transactional and financing needs. Patrick is currently an authorized title insurance agent for Mississippi Valley Title Insurance Company and holds a Mississippi real estate broker's license.
Patrick's diverse experience in both business matters and dispute resolution provides him with a broad perspective of experiences to draw upon when serving as an advocate and trusted advisor to his clients.

Key Career Highlights:

• Investor in a residential construction/real estate development firm.
• Founder of Realty Advantage Title and Escrow, LLC, a provider of commercial and residential settlement, escrow and title insurance services.
• Former professor of Business Law at the collegiate level.
• Former owner of a Mississippi-licensed mortgage company.

Educational Background:

• University of Mississippi (B.A., Magna Cum Laude, 1997); Phi Kappa Phi; Omicron Delta Kappa; Order of Omega academic honorary - President; Who's Who of American Colleges and Universities
• Washington and Lee University School of Law (J.D., 2000); Phi Alpha Delta Legal Honorary (top 1/3 of class). National Trial Competition Team - Semi Finalist.

Community Involvement:
Jackson Young Lawyers Association - Former Board Member, Former President; Young Business Leaders of Jackson (Board Member); YMCA of Metropolitan Jackson (Board Member); Christ United Methodist Church.

Seminar Presentations (materials available upon request):

Commercial Real Estate Finance, Lorman Business Systems, Jackson, MS, January, 2006.

SARA WHITE

Sara joined the Willoughby Law Group, PLLC in May of 2009. Her principal areas of practice are estate planning, real estate, and business formation and transactions. She represents clients with both modest and complex estates through the preparation of wills, trust agreements, power of attorney, living wills and other planning documents. In addition, she is a frequent presenter on Trust and Estate related topics for a variety of audiences. She received her B.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi where she was a member of the NCAA Women’s Tennis Team and was awarded Academic Excellence Among College Athletes. She received her J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law, and studied Criminal Law and Intellectual Property in Prague, Czech Republic, through a program offered by South Texas School of Law. Sara is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Mississippi.

Educational Background:

• University of Southern Mississippi (B.S.B.A. 2005)
• Mississippi College School of Law (J.D., 2008)
• South Texas School of Law (Prague, Czech Republic Summer 2007)

Community Involvement:
Mississippi Bar Association; Tennessee Bar Association; United States Tennis Association; American Bar Association; Jackson Young Lawyers Association; YP Alliance; Greater Jackson Partnership

LAWRENCE M. COCO, III, Of Counsel

Lawrence has extensive experience in defending both large and small companies in areas such as general commercial litigation, insurance coverage disputes, construction litigation, and product liability actions. Prior to beginning his formal practice, Lawrence clerked for the Honorable Tom S. Lee, United States Senior District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson and Eastern Divisions. After his clerkship, he practiced for several years with two large defense firms, before becoming a founding member in a litigation boutique firm practicing in Jackson, Mississippi. All of these experiences have provided Lawrence with a unique understanding of the needs of businesses, both large and small, when faced with a conflict that may lead to, or require, litigation to achieve a successful resolution. Lawrence also employs his litigation experience in the area of family law, helping clients of the Willoughby Law Group in matters related to prenuptial agreements, adoption, paternity, property division, divorce, child custody and estate controversy. Lawrence is licensed to practice law in both Mississippi and Tennessee.


Key Career Highlights:

• Clerked for Honorable Tom S. Lee, United States Senior District Judge, Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson and Eastern Divisions
• Former attorney with Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC
• Former attorney with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
• Founding member of Carroll, Bufkin, Fulcher & Coco, PLLC
• Former Administrator (Assistant High School Principal), Teacher (American Literature and European History) and Coach (Football and Track) at Jackson Preparatory School

Court Affiliations:

• Mississippi Bar Association
• Tennessee Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association
• United States District Courts, Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi
• United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Educational Background:

• University of Mississippi (B.A., English and History, 1996); Magna Cum Laude, Phi Kappa Phi; Taylor Medalist; National Merit Scholar
• University of Mississippi School of Law (J.D., 2001); Summa Cum Laude,
  The Mississippi Law Journal – Associate Editor; Moot Court Board – Executive Board

Other:

• Jackson Young Lawyers, Board of Directors (2006-2008)
• Hinds County Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Mock Court Judge for Mississippi High School Mock Trial Competition
• Jackson Preparatory School Alumni Council (2004-2008), President (2007)
• St. Richard Catholic Church

GORDON U. "SANDY" SANFORD, III, Of Counsel

Sandy has counseled and defended many businesses, including Fortune 100 company AT&T, where he served for over six years as Special Counsel to AT&T Mississippi. Through his representation of AT&T Mississippi and other businesses in a variety of industries, Sandy has provided a variety of legal solutions including business startup, contract preparation/negotiation, officer and entity counseling, legislative affairs, administrative and local government dispute resolution and real estate transactions. Sandy also has an active litigation practice in Mississippi Courts and the Mississippi Public Service Commission. He is an adjunct professor of law at the Mississippi College School of Law.


Key Career Highlights:

• Special Counsel to AT&T Mississippi
• Former attorney with Watkins & Eager, PLLC
• Adjunct Professor of Law, Mississippi College School of Law
• President of Mississippi Corporate Counsel Association

Educational Background:

• University of Mississippi (B. Accy 1994); Associated Student Body President; University Hall of Fame
• Mississippi College School of Law (J.D., 1998); Summa Cum Laude (Ranked #1 in Class),
  Editor in Chief of The Mississippi College Law Review

Professional & Community Involvement:

• American and Mississippi Bar Associations
• Hinds County Bar Association (Legislative Affairs Committee Chairman and former Director)
• Mississippi One Call, Mississippi Damage Prevention Committee
• The Business Suit, former Southeastern Editor
• Downtown YMCA, former Director
• Mississippi College School of Law Capital Campaign Team
• Young Business Leaders of Jackson
• Little League Baseball Coach
• Broadmoor and St. Richard Church

Publications:

• 7 Key Areas of Intellectual Property Every Business Lawyer Should Know, THE MISSISSIPPI LAWYER, July-September 2004
• ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MISSISSIPPI LAW, Agency (2000, 2001)
• An Intellectual Property Roadmap: The Business Lawyer’s Role in the Realm of Intellectual Property, 19 MISS. C.L. REV. 177 (1998)