Recent News - Law Firm Barrett & Deacon A Professional Association Attorneys Jonesboro, Arkansas

John C. "Jack" Deacon Passes Away at 90

JONESBORO, Ark. (July 15, 2011) - Barrett & Deacon, A Professional Association, regrets to announce the passing of its founder and patriarch, John C. "Jack" Deacon. Mr. Deacon was born in Newport on Sept. 26, 1920, to John and Marie Deacon, and he died peacefully at his home on Friday, July 15, 2011.

After his family moved to Little Rock, he attended Catholic High School for Boys, Little Rock Junior College and, afterwards, the University of Arkansas, where he met his bride-to-be, Dorine Barrett, and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

He served his country in two tours of duty, first as a captain in the U.S. Army Intelligence during World War II and then as a major in the Army, serving in the Pentagon during the Korean Conflict.

After serving in WWII, he finished law school at the University of Arkansas and moved to Little Rock, where he practiced with the Rose Law Firm. After his service in the Korean Conflict, he moved to Jonesboro to begin practice with his father-in-law, Joe C. Barrett. He was the founder and managing principal of the Barrett and Deacon law firm in Jonesboro and was proud to have practiced law with four generations of his family. He had a long and distinguished legal career, serving as president or chairman of numerous local, state, national and international legal bodies and receiving numerous honors and awards recognizing the many achievements of more than 60 years of legal service.

He was particularly active in the Arkansas Bar Association, American Bar Association and Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Over the years, he served as president of the Arkansas Bar, president of the Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and was on the governing board of the American Bar Association.

Civic service was something in which Deacon took great pride and undertook with a passion. He served in leadership roles for most of the major local civic organizations in Jonesboro as well as many state organizations. He was a founding member of the United Way of Northeast Arkansas and was a longtime Rotarian, serving as president of the Jonesboro Club and Governor for District 6150.

He was an active member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He served for many years as chairman of the board of St. Bernards Medical Center, forging a loving partnership and friendship with the order of Olivetan Benedictine Sisters.

In the midst of this active service to and on behalf of others, Deacon found considerable time for his family, particularly traveling in the family station wagon on weekends to competitive swimming meets, where he almost always served as the official judge at the events. His service in that capacity was so extensive that Deacon was voted into the Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Bobby Deacon of Memphis, and is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Dorine Barrett Deacon; their four children, Marie Landon and husband Brooks of Iowa City, Iowa, Barry Deacon and wife Sherry of Jonesboro, John Deacon and wife Myra of Jonesboro, and Rush Deacon and wife Debbie of North Little Rock; 16 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

For those wishing to leave lasting memorials, the family requests you please consider the Blessed Sacrament Church, 614 South Church St., Jonesboro 72401; the Arkansas Bar Foundation, 2224 Cottondale Lane, Little Rock 72202; or a charity of your choice in memory of Jack Deacon.

To sign an online registry, go to http://www.emersonfuneralhome.com/.

Brandy Brown & Andrew Dallas Named Principals

Brandy L. Brown and Andrew H. Dallas have been named Principals with Barrett & Deacon.

Brown joined the firm in 2003 after earning his Master of Laws degree in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law. Since that time, Brown has developed the firm's agricultural law practice related to USDA government programs, and he has provided counsel to the firm's clients on a variety of agriculture and business law issues. He has extensive experience in USDA government program eligibility and compliance, as well as in the creation of complex legal entity structures. Brown practices primarily in the areas of USDA government program eligibility and compliance, legal entity formation, agricultural finance and credit, business transactions, and real estate.

Brown earned his B.S.B.A. in Finance from the University of Arkansas Walton College of Business in 1999. He received both his J.D., with honors, and his LL.M. in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law at Fayetteville, where he served as an NCALRI Fellow. He is a past Chairman of the Agricultural Law Section of the Arkansas Bar Association and currently serves as Chairman of the Craighead County Election Commission.

Andrew H. Dallas has also been named Principal with Barrett & Deacon. Dallas joined the firm in 2003 after receiving his J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law. Since that time, Dallas has been a part of the firm's litigation section, handling complex commercial litigation, employment law, and railroad defense. He also has considerable appellate experience, having successfully pursued his clients' interests before the Arkansas Supreme Court, the Arkansas Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Dallas and the firm have significant experience representing large clients in complex litigation, which includes acting as national counsel in an ongoing multi-district litigation involving mass tort claims.

Dallas is a 2000 graduate of Lyon College, where he earned a B.A. in Political Philosophy, cum laude. He continued his education at the University of Arkansas School of Law and earned his J.D., cum laude, in 2003. During his time in law school, he was a member of the Arkansas Law Review.

Barrett & Deacon Welcomes Curt Hawkins

Barrett & Deacon is pleased to welcome Curt Hawkins as the newest member of the firm's Business and Tax Group. A native of Jonesboro, Hawkins received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature from Lyon College and his Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami Gardens, Florida, where he graduated fourth in his class. Hawkins continued his legal education at New York University School of Law, the top ranked program in the field of taxation, where he earned his Master of Laws in Taxation, focusing his studies primarily in the area of Estate Planning.

As a member of the firm's Business and Tax Group, Hawkins' practice will focus on the following areas: taxation, estate planning, wills and trusts, probate, business law, commercial transactions, and business organizations.

Barrett & Deacon Honored as Top Tier Law Firm

U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers have released the 2010 Best Law Firms rankings, marking the inaugural publication of this highly-anticipated annual analysis. The rankings were created as a guide for referring lawyers and clients, who need an especially high level of legal work because of the particularly difficult legal issues presented. Firms are ranked according to "tiers," with Tier 1 being those firms recognized as the best in their geographic area. Barrett & Deacon is honored to be recognized as a Tier 1 law firm in the following practice areas within the Little Rock Metropolitan Area:

Best Lawyers Recognizes Four Barrett & Deacon Attorneys

Barrett & Deacon is proud to announce that four of its attorneys have been named to the 2011 edition of Best Lawyers®. Best Lawyers® was first published in 1983 and is recognized as the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. This year's class of Best Lawyers® represents eight of the firm's major practice areas.

Alfred F. Angulo, Jr. - Commercial Litigation, Personal Inury Litigation
Robert S. Jones - Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
Paul Waddell - Labor and Employment Law, Medical Malpractice Law
Ralph Waddell - Banking Law, Corporate Law

Barrett & Deacon Attorneys Recognized as Super Lawyers

Barrett & Deacon is proud to announce that four of its attorneys have been named to the Mid-South Super Lawyers list for 2010. The list recognizes the best lawyers in their respective fields in the Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi region. The list is created based on a statewide nomination process, review of resumes, and peer evaluation by practice area. Only five percent of all attorneys in the region are chosen for inclusion.

Alfred F. Angulo, Jr. - Insurance Coverage
Barry Deacon - Business Litigation
Paul Waddell - Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice
Ralph Waddell - Mergers and Acquisitions

In addition to their inclusion in the Mid-South Super Lawyers publication, Barry Deacon and Paul Waddell will also be recognized in Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition. Mr. Deacon will be recognized for his work in the area of Business Litigation, while Mr. Waddell will be recognized for his work in the area of Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice. The Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition is unique in that it focuses only on those practice areas routinely called upon by corporate clients.

Paul Waddell Appointed to Arkansas Bar Foundation Trust Committee

Continuing in Barrett & Deacon's strong commitment to the Arkansas Bar, Paul Waddell has been appointed to serve on the Arkansas Bar Foundation Trust Committee. The Trust Committee is charged with budgetary oversight of the Arkansas Bar Foundation trust and is made up of attorneys from across the state. Mr. Waddell will serve a six year term beginning July 1, 2010.

Scott Jackson Speaks to UT-Martin Students

On March 31, 2010, Barrett & Deacon attorney Scott Jackson spoke to students at the University of Tennessee at Martin Career Day hosted by the College of Business and Global Affairs. The program provided students the opportunity to hear from and interact with a variety of professionals from across the region in hour-long sessions scheduled throughout the day. During his session, Mr. Jackson discussed his path to becoming an attorney, the daily rigors of practicing law, and provided general advice on making the transition from college student to young professional.

Barrett & Deacon Attorneys Named Best in Arkansas

Barrett & Deacon is proud to announce that six of its attorneys have been named to the Arkansas Times Best Lawyers in Arkansas list.

Ralph Waddell - Banking Law and Corporate Law
Barry Deacon - Commercial Litigation and Railroad Law
Alfred F. Angulo - Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation
Paul Waddell - Medical Malpractice Law and Labor and Employment Law
Jack Deacon - Railroad Law and Personal Injury Litigation
Robert Jones - Tax Law and Trusts and Estates

Paul Waddell and Scott Jackson Present "You've Been Served"

Paul Waddell and Scott Jackson recently spoke at a continuing medical education program entitled, "You've Been Served: Managing Litigation Stress and Surviving Depositions." The multimedia presentation advised and educated physicians on various aspects of medical malpractice litigation, focusing primarily on preparing for and participating in depositions.

Barry Deacon Appointed to Committee on Professional Conduct

Barry Deacon, Managing Principal of Barrett & Deacon, has been appointed by Per Curium Order of the Arkansas Supreme Court to serve on the Committee on Professional Conduct. The committee is charged with investigating all complaints alleging violations of the Arkansas Model Rules of Professional Conduct and imposes sanctions when permitted and appropriate. Mr. Deacon will serve a six year term.