William L. Guice III

William Lee Guice III, the third generation of his family to practice law at Rushing & Guice, P.L.L.C. and now its senior partner, has provided trusted counsel to thousands of businesses and individuals since 1972. He focuses his practice in the areas of commercial and general litigation, including financial issues, lender liability and corporate defense, white collar criminal defense, and admiralty law.

Guice also represents banking interests and handles sophisticated financial and real estate transactions. He advises his clients in the areas of asset protection and preservation, estate planning, business formation and environmental matters. These clients include financial institutions, physicians, various members of the seafood industry and leaders of business and industry.

Guice’s sterling reputation among his peers for legal acumen, professionalism, and ethics is reflected in his AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell for over 30 years and his consistent designation as one of the top attorneys in Mississippi by Super Lawyers magazine, an honor bestowed upon only five percent of the lawyers in each state. Guice is listed in Best Lawyers in America and is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, which recognizes the top ½ of 1% of America’s trial attorneys.

Guice is licensed to practice in Mississippi, Texas, New York and the District of Columbia and has been admitted to practice before the United States Court of International Trade. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Harrison County Bar Association, the Commercial Law League of America (Chairman, Southern Region, 1987-1988), the International Association of Commercial Collectors, the Dixie Land Title Association and the Maritime Law Association.

He is the author of several publications, including “Maintenance and Cure, The Jones Act, Land-Based Seamen,” page 877, Volume 46, Tulane Law Review, 1972 (author), “Office Surgery and the Law,” Advances in Dermatology Yearbook, Medical Publishers, 1986 (author), “Mississippi Collection Law,” P.E.S.I., 1985 (co-author), and “Mississippi Collection Law,” P.E.S.I., 1984, 1986, 1989 (co-author).

Guice received his undergraduate degree from Tulane University in 1969 and his law degree from Tulane University in 1972. While at Tulane, he was a member of the Board of Student Editors of the Tulane Law Review from 1970 to 1972.

He has also served as a presenter and lecturer at numerous courses on contract and commercial law, Mississippi collections law, law office management, ethics and other legal topics. Guice is president of Renaissance Title, L.L.C., the firm’s subsidiary title company that provides loan closings, escrow services and title commitments and policies.

ABOUT WILLIAM L. GUICE III

Admitted: 1972, Mississippi

Honors and Awards:

• Listed in Best Lawyers since 2010
• Named one of 2017 Lawyers of Year for Mississippi by Best Lawyers in America
• Earned AV preeminent Rating for over 33 years
• Selected for Fellowship in the Litigation Counsel of America
• Member of Tulane Law Review
• Mid-South Super Lawyers 2012
• Mid-South Super Lawyers 2011
• Mid-South Super Lawyers 2010
• Mid-South Super Lawyers 2009
• Mid-South Super Lawyers 2008
• Mid-South Super Lawyers 2007
• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America

Bar/Professional Activity:

• American Bar Association, the Mississippi Bar Association, the Harrison County Bar Association, the Biloxi Bar Association, the Commercial Law League of America (Chairman, Southern Region, 1987-1988), the Southeast Land Title Association and the Maritime Law Association.
• Admitted to Practice in United States Claims Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and for the Federal Circuit; United States Supreme Court

Scholarly Lectures and Writings:

• Guice has authored several publications, including “Maintenance and Cure, The Jones Act, Land-Based Seamen,” page 877, Volume 46, Tulane Law Review, 1972 (author), “Office Surgery and the Law,” Advances in Dermatology Yearbook, Medical Publishers, 1986 (author), “Mississippi Collection Law,” P.E.S.I., 1985 (co-author), and “Mississippi Collection Law,” P.E.S.I., 1984, 1986, 1989 (co-author).

Verdicts and Settlements:

• Copa Casino: Litigation of Casino’s ownership
• Barq v. Coca-Cola: Intellectual Property Suit Theft of Goodwill

Transactions:

• Promenade acquisition for the Target development on Sangani Boulevard in D’Iberville, Miss.
• Local Counsel for Harrah’s Entertainment in Biloxi acquisitions
• General Counsel for Barq’s sale to Coca-Cola
• Barq’s Inc. and trademark Barq’s to Coca-Cola
• Counsel for Jackson County Mississippi to investigate County Hospital (2^nd largest employer in County), prevent financial failure and save Pension Plan, settlement of class action.

Educational Background

• 1972: Tulane University School of Law Juris Doctorate.  While at Tulane, he was a member of the Board of Student Editors of the Tulane Law Review from 1970 to 1972
• 1969: Tulane University, Bachelor’s Degree.
• 1967-1968: Study abroad La Sorbonne, Paris

FIRM DESCRIPTION

Constant Innovation. Timeless Values.

Over the more than 100 years Rushing & Guice has been providing exceptional legal services and sound counsel along the Gulf Coast, we’ve seen our share of change. We’ve stood alongside businesses and neighbors through boom times and times of hardship; weathered hurricanes and enjoyed blue skies; comforted those facing tragedy and guided those planning for a bright future.

We’ve trimmed our sails and navigated a steady course through sea changes in the laws and regulations that impact our clients’ businesses, and rode the waves of technological innovation that have altered the economy and the practice of law. We keep ahead of the latest developments in the law and business and use leading-edge technology to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.

Throughout our history, our agility and adaptability to change has served our clients well. However, there are five things that we have steadfastly refused to change since they were established as the core principles of the firm over a century ago by attorneys Charles Rushing and Lee Guice:

• Legal Excellence. The legal acumen, skill, and sophistication of our attorneys is unmatched along the Gulf Coast. The firm holds the highest professional ratings as to our legal abilities, and we have earned a reputation among colleagues, adversaries, and judges as attorneys to be reckoned with, whether in the courtroom or at the negotiating table.
• Professionalism and Integrity. We firmly believe in a principle that is too often forgotten in the legal community: that being formidable, zealous and successful advocates for our clients does not mean abandoning professionalism, civility, or integrity. We adhere to the highest ethical standards and are as uncompromising in our commitment to maintain those standards as we are to achieving the best possible results for our clients. In fact, we believe they go hand-in-hand.
• Service and Respect. When you meet with us at our Ocean Springs offices, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the attorney you meet with will be the attorney handling your case. We work closely with you to ensure that you are always informed, that all your questions are answered, and that the strategy we use in your case will get the best results in the most cost-effective manner possible. With free, limited initial consultations and a pledge to always be accessible and responsive, we provide our clients with convenience and the personal attention that is sometimes lacking at larger and more impersonal firms.
• Value and Results. At Rushing & Guice, we have a track record of successful results that extends back more than a century. We are focused on achieving optimal outcomes for each of our clients based on our knowledge of the law, tireless work ethic, and full understanding of our clients’ concerns and goals.   But we realize that a successful result can be illusory if it is accompanied by exorbitant bills for legal fees. That is why we always keep an eye on our clients’ bottom lines as we formulate the best strategies and approaches in each case. Our smaller size keeps our costs lower without impacting the strength of our representation or ability to bring every resource to bear on behalf of our clients.
• Commitment to Community. Beyond the courthouse and conference room, Rushing & Guice regularly participates in community events and service projects. For our 100thanniversary in 2008, the firm conducted a special “100 Acts of Charity” community outreach program, donating at least 100 items to organizations on the Mississippi Gulf Coast each month. We continue to actively support local charities and other organizations serving our community. Rushing & Guice has been honored as one of the “Best Places to Work” in Mississippi, and our attorneys and staff are active members of area business, civic, and legal associations.

At Rushing & Guice, these timeless principles inform everything we do. We’re proud of our record of success and the reputation for integrity and approachability we’ve built throughout our history. We invite you to learn more about what we do by exploring our practice areas, and welcome the opportunity to meet with you.

At Rushing & Guice, experienced, aggressive, and innovative legal services for businesses and professionals on the Gulf Coast are a phone call away. Call us at (228) 374-2313 or fill out our online form to arrange for a free consultation. We look forward to assisting you.