RICHARDS & CONNOR - Key Persons
Alison ("Ali") E. Connor was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She attended the University of Oklahoma where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Minor in Spanish in 2015. She then attended the University of Oklahoma College of Law, graduating in 2018. Alison began her legal career in the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office. As an Assistant District Attorney, Alison was a part of the Special Victim's Unit and ultimately became the director of that unit. Alison prosecuted individuals charged with murder, rape, human trafficking, and drug trafficking, taking many of these cases through to jury trial verdicts. She was a member of the Oklahoma Coalition Against Human Trafficking, working with numerous other state agencies to reduce the demand for human trafficking in the State of Oklahoma and provide support and services for victims. Since joining Richards & Connor, her practice has been focused on professional liability matters, representing healthcare providers and hospitals in professional negligence and medical malpractice claims.
In her free time, Alison enjoys spending time with her family, cooking new recipes for her husband, John, and watching football and golf.
Mr. Williams graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1966 with a degree in economics. He then graduated from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1969. He served in the Air National Guard from 1966 to 1972.
In 1970 he was employed at the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office where he participated in or chaired twenty-five felony trials. In February 1973, he was hired by the Hall Estill law firm in Tulsa. He was subsequently employed in 1979 at Mazzio's LLC as Senior Vice President and General Counsel until February of 2016. He is still General Counsel for Mazzio's.
Mr. Williams has been the Every Member Canvas Chairman at Saint John's Episcopal Church on four different occasions. He has also served on the Vestry at Saint John's and on the Outreach Committee. He was formerly on the Judiciary Committee of the Tulsa County Bar Association. He has served on the Tulsa County Bar Foundation Golf Committee for over fifteen years. He has also participated in the building of seventeen Habitat for Humanity homes in the Tulsa area. His awards include the Gary C. Clark Distinguished Service Award from the Tulsa County Bar Association in 2015, multiple times on the honor roll in law school and the AmJur award in administrative law.
He enjoys numerous sports and has eleven years of Krav Maga training.
Mr. Williams is married. He and his wife Nancy have two sons. Brad III lives in Greenwich, Connecticut and Brent resides in London, England. They have five grandchildren with two in the states and three in London.
Donald ("Donny") P. Stephens was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. He is a graduate of the Paul R. Carter College of Business at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, where Mr. Stephens obtained a B.B.A. in Accounting (2010) and an M.B.A. in Business Management (2011). While at Harding, he was also a four-year letterman and two-time captain on the baseball team. Mr. Stephens attended law school at the University of Tulsa College of Law and graduated in 2015. While in law school, he received CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Non-Profit Law. Before joining Richards & Connor, Mr. Stephens served as an Assistant District Attorney for Tulsa County, where he was a member of the Gang and Organized Crime Prosecution Unit. As a prosecutor, Mr. Stephens represented the State of Oklahoma in cases involving violent gang-related offenses and large-scale narcotics investigations. Since joining Richards & Connor, his practice has been focused on professional liability matters involving the defense of healthcare providers against professional negligence and medical malpractice claims. Mr. Stephens is a member of the Tulsa County and Oklahoma Bar Associations.
Mr. Stephens is married, and he and his wife, Megan, have three sons and a spoiled dachshund. He enjoys spending his free time playing golf, woodworking, and spending time with his family.
Emillie L. Cain was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and graduated from Glenpool High School in Oklahoma. She attended The University of Oklahoma for her undergraduate studies in Political Science before being admitted to the University of Oklahoma College of Law where she graduated with distinction. During law school she was a member of the Board of Advocates and an Articles Editor for the Oil and Gas, Natural Resources, and Energy Journal. She also participated in ABA Negotiation, Client Counseling, and Arbitration Competitions.
Since joining Richards & Connor, Emillie's practice has been focused on bad faith litigation and general insurance defense litigation. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.
Ethan M. Sneed was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts in Slavic Languages and Literature in 2013. He then attended the University of Oklahoma College of Law and graduated in 2016. Upon graduating, Mr. Sneed began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney for Tulsa County, where he was a member of the General Felony team, prosecuting violent felonies as well as property and drug crimes. As a prosecutor, he also represented the State of Oklahoma in Post-Conviction Relief proceedings, reviewing trial and appellate records in order to uphold the State's convictions of many of Tulsa County's most violent offenders. Since joining Richards & Connor, his practice has primarily focused on coverage litigation, general insurance defense, and bad faith litigation.
In his free time, Ethan enjoys watching Sooner football, listening to music, and running.
Hunter Bailey grew up in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He completed his undergraduate studies at Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he graduated magna cum laude in 2016. During his undergraduate studies, Hunter was an active member of Tau Kappa Epsilon and several student organizations. Upon completing his undergraduate studies, Hunter began his legal education at the University of Tulsa College of Law. During law school, Hunter participated in several student organizations, including Phi Alpha Delta, the Native American Law Student Association, and the Federalist Society. Hunter earned a CALI award in copyright law before graduating from law school in 2019 with distinction for his community service performed.
After passing the Oklahoma Bar Examination, Hunter began his legal practice here in Tulsa as a personal injury, employment, and insurance attorney. Hunter utilized his extensive legal knowledge and writing skills to advocate for hundreds of clients over the years before joining our team.
In 2022, Hunter joined Richards & Connor where he continues to zealously advocate for his clients with his strong work ethic and writing skills. Since joining Richards & Connor, Hunter's practice focuses primarily upon bad faith litigation and general insurance defense. He is admitted to practice law in all Oklahoma trial courts, including Oklahoma's three federal district courts.
Hunter is a life-long musician, teaching himself how to play several instruments since he was a child. When not advocating for his clients, Hunter spends his time playing and watching soccer, exercising, relaxing with friends and family (including his German Shepherd), and mentoring at-risk children through Big Brother Big Sister. Hunter is a proud member of the Chickasaw Nation.
Jim Connor was born and raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, graduated from the University of Tulsa with a B.S.B.A. in Finance in 1983, and his law degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1987. After working in the United States Attorney and the Public Defender offices in Tulsa throughout law school, Mr. Connor became the first law clerk for Federal District Judge Layn R. Phillips in Oklahoma City. Following his clerkship, Mr. Connor gained extensive experience trying cases as a partner in two other law firms in Tulsa and Oklahoma City until he joined the firm of Richards & Connor in 1997. Mr. Connor has tried approximately 100 jury trials, most of which were very high exposure cases. His practice primarily includes medical malpractice defense, products liability, bad faith, labor law arbitration, general commercial and business litigation, and personal injury litigation.
Mr. Connor is admitted to practice in Oklahoma, the United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has tried cases in all of these courts as well as in every corner of the state, and has taught many continuing education classes dealing with various aspects of litigation to both attorneys and physicians. Mr. Connor has handled numerous cases resulting in published decisions on topics including medical malpractice, products liability, insurance coverage, antitrust and the judiciary. He was twice named Tulsa Best Lawyers Medical Malpractice Defense Lawyer of the Year, 2022 Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year, and 2023 Products Liability - Defendants Lawyer of the Year, is listed by Super Lawyers as one of the Top 50 lawyers in Oklahoma, and has enjoyed an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell for many years. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (2008) and a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (2016), the two most exclusive and prestigious trial lawyer organizations one can only be invited to join.
Mr. Connor's success and intense competitiveness as a trial lawyer emanate from his background in athletics. He was a 2-time state champion tennis player in high school, an All American, 3-time conference champion, a 4-year letterman at the University of Tulsa, and is a 2-time inductee into the Bartlesville Athletic Hall of Fame. Mr. Connor competes nationally as a Master Class shooter in Sporting Clays and has been a member of many Oklahoma All State Sporting Clays Teams.
Mr. Connor is married and has two children, a son-in-law, and three beautiful grandchildren. He is a past president of the Junior Comet Football Association, served on the Bishop Kelley High School Board for several years, coached junior basketball for 12 years, and is active in the Tulsa community. He enjoys hunting, fishing, shooting, motorcycles, and doing anything with his family.
Jamie Gregory was born and raised in Oklahoma City. She received her associate degree in nursing from Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City in 1992. After working several years in a hospital setting and taking care of acutely ill patients, she decided to explore her interests in the law and medicine and began working as a paralegal in 2000. Ms. Gregory began her paralegal career representing plaintiffs' interests in medical malpractice cases. Since 2014, after joining the law firm of Richards & Connor, her area of focus has been medical malpractice defense work.
Ms. Gregory enjoys anything outdoors and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Jessica Battson was born in Santa Barbara County, California. She graduated from California State University with Honors after having worked with the California Bar Association on a peer mediation program for middle school students in a Carson, California school. Following graduation, she moved to Tulsa to attend the University of Tulsa College of Law where she graduated with Honors in 2009, and earned a CALI award in Juvenile Law from her professors, Judge Kuehn and Judge Fransein. For two years as a student intern followed by two years as a practicing attorney, she worked defending indigent clients at the Tulsa County Office of the Public Defender. She won multiple hearings and chaired multiple jury trials before different judges.
Ms. Battson joined Richards & Connor in 2012, specializing in insurance coverage and complex "bad faith" litigation. She has been working closely with clients to advocate in court and throughout litigation. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in the area of Insurance Coverage in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. She is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern, Western, and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma.
Prior to beginning her career in Oklahoma, Ms. Battson was raised being home-schooled by her mother through high school, worked through her undergraduate education as a Teacher's Assistant, managed a Santa Monica café, and worked part-time as multiple music venues. She also placed in several national dance competitions, including the National Jitterbug Championship. She now enjoys living in Tulsa and raising a family while advocating for her clients.
Kelsie Mynon Sullivan was born in Denison, Texas, and graduated from Enid High School in Oklahoma. She attended The University of Oklahoma for her undergraduate studies in Public Relations before being admitted to the University of Oklahoma College of Law where she graduated with distinction. During law school, she was a member of the American Indian Law Review and was the American Bar Association Representative for OU. Ms. Sullivan is admitted to all Oklahoma District Courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Western, Northern, and Eastern Divisions, as well as the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Her specialities include direct representation of insurance carriers in personal and commercial coverage and bad faith litigation. She has served as lead counsel through jury trial verdict in all aspects of the litigation. Ms. Sullivan has extensive experience in complex institutional discovery matters, expert witness discovery, electronic discovery and executive level depositions. Her experience all includes negotiation of multi- claimant settlements involving insufficient policy limits and the defense of multi-jurisdiction lawsuits.
Ms. Sullivan joined Richards & Connor in 2015, after spending almost 10 years practicing in Oklahoma City. She has defended numerous clients before governmental agencies, including the Merit Protection Commission, the Department of Labor, OSHA, and the EEOC. She also authored and assisted in implementing employee guidelines for employers ranging from 5 to 5,000 employees.
Ms. Sullivan has published articles and taught courses on social media and its place in employment law and the general practice of law. She was named an Oklahoma Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2012, 2013, and 2014. She was the Ruth Bader Ginsburg American Inn of Court Outstanding Barrister in 2014 and received an invitation to the Rue's Ratings America's Best Lawyers in 2014. She was the OBA Labor and Employment Section Secretary for 2015. Ms. Sullivan has sat on the Boards of Directors for the Red Bud Foundation and the Oklahoma Junior Hospitality Club. Volunteer activites include Oklahoma Lawyers for Children and Tulsa Lawyers for Children..
In her free time, Ms. Sullivan enjoys sharing her love of the outdoors with her family.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the American
Mary Elizabeth Nesser was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in Letters and a B.A. in Journalism, she graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2008, earning a Native American Law certificate. While attending law school, Miss Nesser served as the Managing Editor of the American Indian Law Review and President of the Board of Advocates. She was awarded the National Order of the Barrister and the Joseph F. Rarick Award.
Miss Nesser is a member of the American, Oklahoma and Tulsa County Bar Associations as well as Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel and the Tulsa Women Lawyer's Association. She enjoys participating in the community through her multiple volunteer positions as a member of the Junior League of Tulsa. Her practice areas include insurance coverage litigation, bad faith defense, and general insurance defense litigation.
Melissa Hillhouse was raised and educated in the Tulsa area. She was the only daughter in a family of four children. Melissa has been in the legal field for nearly 20 years, with extensive experience working on both plaintiff and defense cases, which provides her a unique perspective. She is passionate about her work as a paralegal and enjoys her role at trial. She has assisted/presented at multiple jury and non-jury trials in several different districts.
In her free time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family, riding dirt bikes and other shenanigans, hunting, and watching movies.
Mike Carr graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1996 and then attended the University of Oklahoma College of Law, graduating in 1999. Upon graduation, he began his legal career in Oklahoma City defending County government entities, Sheriff's offices and jails in both civil rights matters and employment litigation. In 2002, Mr. Carr moved his family back to his hometown of Tulsa and began practicing insurance defense, professional negligence liability, medical malpractice, products liability, insurance coverage, and bad faith litigation. He has successfully litigated matters to jury trial in dozens of cases in both State and Federal Court all across Oklahoma. Mr. Carr attended the International Association of Defense Counsel's Trial Academy at Stanford University in 2006, has an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and has been named to Oklahoma's list of Super Lawyers since 2012. He is licensed to practice in Oklahoma, Arkansas, all three Federal Courts in Oklahoma, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Carr joined Richards & Connor in 2022 and continues to represent his clients in insurance coverage and liability litigation. He lives in Tulsa and spends his time collecting records, books and art, learning to play guitar, and working around his house.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Oklahoma Association of Defense
Phil Richards is a trial lawyer whose practice is focused on representing businesses and insurers, particularly in the areas of insurance coverage litigation and insurance bad faith litigation. He has repeatedly been selected as one of Oklahoma's Top 10 Super Lawyers and listed as Best Lawyers' 2012 Tulsa Insurance Lawyer of the Year. He has also been selected for inclusion by the Best Lawyers in America for the past several years in the practice areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, as a Top Lawyer in Financial Services by Corporate Counsel Magazine, and as a Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law by The American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel magazine. He maintains a Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV Preeminent, and is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
Mr. Richards graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1983 and began his practice as an Assistant District Attorney in Duncan, Oklahoma. In 1984 he returned to his home town of Tulsa to practice civil law, joining a firm in which he became a partner in 1988. In 1997 he formed the law firm that is now Richards & Connor. He has tried over 100 cases to verdict before juries in state district courts throughout Oklahoma and in all three of Oklahoma's federal district courts, and has handled appeals in both the Oklahoma appellate courts and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has also litigated insurance coverage matters in Arkansas and Kansas. Mr. Richards is admitted to practice before all trial and appellate courts of the State of Oklahoma, all federal district courts in Oklahoma, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
His practice areas include business and commercial litigation, insurance coverage litigation, insurance bad faith defense, and the defense of claims involving significant injuries or economic loss in state and federal court.
Active in the bar, Mr. Richards is a member of the Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel and has served on its Board of Directors (2000-2002), as its Vice-President (2003), and as its President (2004). He has also been active in the Hudson-Hall-Wheaton Chapter of the American Inns of Court since 1995, where he is a Master Emeritus and has been the Inn's Program Chair (2003-2007, 2011-2022). On a national level, he is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and has served on its Admissions Committee, its Extra-Contractual Liability Section (Vice Chair 2004-2005, Chair 2006-2008), and its CLE Committee (Vice Chair 2007, Chair 2008-2012, 2014-2018). He has also served on the American College of Trial Lawyers' State Committee for Oklahoma since 2006 (Vice Chair 2009-2011, Chair 2011-2013).
He has taught continuing education programs on trial practice, insurance coverage and bad faith law, and has authored papers on topics including trial practice, insurance coverage, bad faith, and constitutional jurisprudence. Published decisions in cases he has handled include matters of insurance coverage, bad faith liability, ERISA, medical malpractice, governmental liability, tort liability and commercial litigation.
Mr. Richards is married and has three children. He is an Eagle Scout, a former Cubmaster of his son's Cub Scout Pack (2005-2008), the Scoutmaster of his son's Scout Troop (2011-2014, 2019-Present), and on the District Committee where he served as District Chairman (2015-2016). He also served as a Sunday School teacher for the high school class at First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa from 2004 to 2022.
Sidney D. Smith, Jr. was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor of arts in History. Mr. Smith attended the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University and graduated in 2004. Since graduating from SMU, Mr. Smith's practice has been devoted entirely to civil litigation. From 2004 to 2008 he practiced in Hawaii before returning home to Tulsa. Upon moving back to Tulsa Mr. Smith began representing healthcare providers in professional negligence claims. Since 2008 his practice has been devoted nearly exclusively to professional liability matters. Mr. Smith joined Richards & Connor in 2014 to continue defending healthcare providers against medical malpractice claims. In addition to being a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, he is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, and Western District of Oklahoma. He has also been admitted to the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii and all Hawaii state courts.
Teena M. Harvell-Tooman is an Oklahoma native. She was raised in Tulsa and graduated from Jenks High School. She completed her paralegal studies at Tulsa Junior College and graduated from Rogers State College, Magna Cum Laude. She is a NALA certified paralegal. In total, she has over 20 years of paralegal experience. Teena has spent 12 years of her career specializing in civil litigation, aviation law and bankruptcy law. At present, and for the last 13 years, she has focused exclusively on medical malpractice defense work.
Teena is married and has a daughter and two step-sons. She enjoys sailing, cycling, and spending time outdoors with her family.