Attorney Michelle Ator Inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers
Becomes Only Fourth Ark. Woman in 65+ years to Achieve Fellowship
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS (September 20, 2017) – Michelle Ator of Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), one of the premier legal organizations in North America. She is only the fourth woman in Arkansas to achieve this accomplishment since the organization’s inception in 1950.
The induction ceremony took place Saturday, September 16 at the ACTL Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec.
ACTL is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada and Fellowship in the ACTL is extended by invitation only and after thorough investigation. Duly experienced trial lawyers of diverse backgrounds, who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality, are selected. Lawyers must have a minimum of fifteen years trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship.
Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province. In addition to Ator, six other lawyers from Friday, Eldredge & Clark, including Donald H. Bacon, William Mell Griffin III, Frederick S. Ursery, William A. Waddell Jr., David D. Wilson and James M. Simpson, are Fellows of the ACTL.
"I have been lucky to have great teachers, role models, mentors and clients,” Ator said. “Arkansas has a strong tradition of professional, collegial attorneys and has been a wonderful place to practice law.”
Ator is a partner with Friday, Eldredge & Clark where she has practiced since 2001. Her practice is focused on representing doctors, hospitals and all types of medical and dental care providers in malpractice litigation. Ator also represents pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in products cases. She heads the Medical Malpractice group and serves on the firm’s management committee. Prior to joining the firm, Ator served as a Division Chief in the Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. She is an honors graduate of UALR William H. Bowen School of Law.
About Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP
Friday, Eldredge & Clark serves business, non-profit, governmental and individual clients in Arkansas and across the United States. It is one of the oldest law firms in the state and has been the largest Arkansas-based law firm for nearly 50 years. Friday, Eldredge & Clark is led by managing partner, J. Shepherd Russell III, who is also head of the Public Finance Practice Group. The firm has additional practice groups focusing on General Litigation, Class Action & Business Litigation, Railroad, Labor and Employment, Medical Malpractice, Healthcare, Estate Planning & Probate, Employee Benefits, Real Estate/Commercial Transactions and Merger & Acquisitions. Friday, Eldredge & Clark has offices in Little Rock, Fayetteville and Rogers, Arkansas. For more information, visit www.fridayfirm.com.