Personal Information

• Born in Jacksonville, Florida, 1956
• Married to Ouida Bass Holland with two sons, Robert and David

Education

• Millsaps College, B.A., 1978
• University of Mississippi, J.D., 1981
• Study in Fire Origin and Cause Investigation
• Study in Accident Reconstruction

Honors and Achievements

• Selected as one of the Best Lawyers in America both for Commercial Litigation and for Products Liability Litigation, 2011 and 2012
• AV Peer Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Selected to become a member of the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, ADTA, 2010
• Selected to become a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, IADC, 2011
• Selected as a Fellow of the American Bar Association, 2010
• Elected for a three-year term to the DRI Board of Directors as Regional Director for the Southern Region made up of Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee, 2010-2012
• Chair of the DRI State and Local Defense Organization Relationship Committee, 2010-2012
• Board Liaison to the DRI Appellate Advocacy Committee, 2010-2012
• DRI Strategic Planning Committee, 2010
• President of the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association, 2007
• DRI Distinguished Service Award, 2008
• Vice Chair of the Mississippi Supreme Court Jury Instruction Task Force, 2010-2012
• Vice Chair of the Business Court Study Committee, appointed by the Mississippi Secretary of State, Delbert Hosemann, 2010
• Chair of the Mississippi Bar Association’s Summer School for Lawyers, 2009

Professional Affiliations

• DRI, the Voice of the Defense Bar, 1988-2012
• ADTA, Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
• IADC, International Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
• Fellow of the American Bar Association
• Capital Area, Mississippi, Fifth Circuit, and Federal Bar Associations
• MDLA, Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
• MCA, Mississippi Claims Association
• IAAI, International Association of Arson Investigators
• Former Senior Warden, St. James’ Episcopal Church
• Graduate, Education for Ministry, University of the South
• Former President, Board of Directors, Young Jacksonians for the Symphony
• Former President, Board of Directors, Mississippi Easter Seals
• Former Board Member, Mississippi Opera Association

Bar Admissions

• Admitted to bar, 1981, Mississippi
• U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit