GAMING AND RESORT
Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A. was one of the first Mississippi firms to offer comprehensive legal support to companies engaged in the gaming and resort business. We represent businesses and individuals in all aspects of the gaming licensing process and related approval processes. Because of the diversity of the experiences and backgrounds within our Gaming and Resort Practice Group, we are able to work with our gaming clients to address the entirety of their regulatory, corporate, finance, taxation and litigation needs. Our firm structure and depth of expertise in both corporate and regulatory areas enable us to service our gaming clients more effectively by providing them access to a full-service law firm capable of fulfilling all the legal needs of a gaming licensee doing business in Mississippi.
Our Gaming and Resort Practice Group has extensive experience in gaming development matters, including securing appropriate sites for gaming operations; obtaining Mississippi Gaming Commission, environmental (both state and federal) and other regulatory approvals for gaming sites; negotiating tidelands and fastlands leases with the Mississippi Secretary of State; and developing taxable and tax-exempt financing for casino-related hotels and entertainment facilities.
We also provide our clients with a full complement of administrative services and have a very active administrative and regulatory practice. Matters we have handled for our gaming clients include obtaining gaming, liquor, and all other licenses and permits required for gaming operations; obtaining licenses for manufacturers and distributors of gaming devices and regulatory approval of gaming devices and associated equipment; obtaining regulatory approvals for institutional investors who hold securities in gaming licensees; and securing findings of suitability, work permits, junket representative licenses and other approvals relating to gaming employees.
In addition, we have assisted licensees and their parent companies in various corporate transactions and financing matters, including obtaining regulatory approvals for national financings and refinancings of Mississippi casinos and other licensees; obtaining regulatory approvals for securities offerings, representing publicly-traded and privately-held gaming clients and underwriters; participating in and negotiating buyouts and mergers of gaming facilities; and advising with respect to mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations and other corporate transactions affecting Mississippi casinos or other gaming licensees.
Our practice includes representing gaming licensees in connection with various administrative proceeding and other litigated matters in the state and federal courts. We have represented gaming clients facing show-cause orders issued by gaming regulators; defending premises liability suits; planning and litigating federal and state tax matters arising from the construction and operation of casinos in Mississippi; handling administrative tax audits, controversies and appeals; representing gaming clients, both as operator and as manufacturer, in patron disputes; and offering labor and employment advice, worker's compensation advice and related employment and disability litigation services.
We also assist clients in commenting on administrative regulations and other proposed policies and procedures of the Mississippi Gaming Commission; drafting legislation relating to or affecting the gaming industry; and monitoring and lobbying the Mississippi Legislature regarding gaming-related issues.
Publications
Gaming In Mississippi - August 30, 2000
Attorneys
Trudy B. Allen
F. Hall Bailey
Neville H. Boschert
William Alex Brady II
Alveno N. Castilla
Kevin A. Croft
Steven R. Cupp
Susan Fahey Desmond
John F. Fletcher
David C. Goff
Chad J. Hammons
Mark D. Herbert
Kathryn H. (Katie) Hester
Scott Burnham Hollis
Robert T. Jolly
Peyton S. Irby Jr.
Gina M. Jacobs
Henry F. Laird Jr.
E. Patrick Lancaster
Dennis W. Miller
Christopher S. Pace
Joseph Henry Ros
Thomas B. Shepherd III
Ann C. Taylor
