Overview
Clif Jefferis is an equity partner in the firm. With a background in business, geology and environmental engineering, Clif brings a diverse set of skills to handling litigated matters. Clif has served as National Coordinating Counsel for corporate clients for over 20 years. He partners with a strong network of local counsel in jurisdictions across the United States. In addition, Clif has served as local counsel for numerous asbestos clients, and handles commercial, construction, product liability and environmental ligation matters. Clif was named Fellow for the Litigation Counsel of America and has been rated by Super Lawyers® for over ten years.
Education
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- Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon
J.D. December 1999, Environmental and Natural Resources Certificate- Natural Resources Law Scholarship
- Associate Editor: Animal Law Journal
- Phi Delta Phi Fraternity
- Legal Analysis and Writing Honors
- Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi
B.B.A. Management, B.A. Philosophy, May 1993 (Cum Laude)- Additional 32 hours course work in Geology
- Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon
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Admissions
Mississippi, 2000
Alabama, 2001
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit,
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
Texas, 2017
Experience
Prior to going to law school, Clif worked as an environmental consultant, utilizing his education in geology to work with companies and state and federal agencies to identify, delineate and plan for the remediation of contaminated sites. He then applied that experience to obtain an education in environmental and natural resource law in Portland, OR, prior to returning to Mississippi to work as an associate in a defense litigation firm. There he worked in the Commercial and Construction Division, practicing commercial and construction litigation. His work included cases involving arbitration, complex construction claims, real estate disputes, professional negligence, transactional work including contract drafting, and general commercial litigation.
Starting in 2002, Clif began working with companies in defense of product liability and toxic tort claims where he has represented manufacturers, suppliers and premise owners in matters throughout the United States as local, regional and national coordinating counsel for over twenty years. In that role, he has been responsible for conducting corporate investigations, due diligence, developing and implementing defense strategies, and leading and evaluating networks of local counsel handling thousands of asbestos and silica claims. He continues to work in that arena, while still handling some construction, commercial, personal injury and general litigation cases.
Publications & Presentations
Panel Discussion on the Reemergence of Claims Against Heavy Machinery Manufacturers for the Inclusion of Asbestos Containing Components in Finished Products., Mealey’s Seminar on Emerging Trends in Asbestos Litigation Conference
Distinctions
Martindale Hubbell – AV Rated
Mid-South Super Lawyers (more than 10 years)
Associations
- American Bar Association, Member
- Defense Research Institute
- Asbestos Litigation Steering Committee
- Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
- Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
- Trial Law Institute, Member
- Diversity Law Institute, Member
Civic Involvement
Outside the Office
Clif is an avid cook and enjoys spending time in the kitchen or at the grill (or smoker) with his family, including his wife Laura and their six children, and friends. Clif has been a certified Memphis in May barbeque judge and participated on a team that won “4th in the World” at the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. In his spare time, Clif enjoys painting, reading and writing, and occasionally works on trying to invent new technology that might make the world a better place. Clif and Laura also enjoy travelling and exploring local culture and food. Laura does most of the travel planning, and Clif packs the bags.