Candace Gregory Named a 2025 TerraLex Trailblazer

JACKSON, Miss. — MARCH 10, 2025 — TerraLex®, a leading network of independent law firms around the world, named Phelps partner Candace Gregory as one of its recipients of its 2025 TerraLex Trailblazers Award for her “outstanding contributions and commitment to inspiring, innovating and paying it forward for others.”

Candace is one of 19 women lawyers whom the TerraLex Women’s Committee recognized nationally with this award during Women’s History Month.

“I’m so honored to receive this recognition and especially during women’s history month,” said Candace.” I am grateful to continue blazing the trail that was set before me.”

As a litigator, Candace has been named a trailblazer for her tireless commitment to being a voice for the voiceless.  As a public defender, she handled over 400 cases in the same county where she was raised.  Notably during that time, Candace obtained a jury verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity for one of her mentally ill clients.  The verdict at the time was the first of its kind in 40 years.  While at the U.S. Department of Justice in Jackson, Miss., she served as the first hybrid Assistant U.S. Attorney where she was responsible for prosecuting civil and criminal cases. Candace handled matters ranging from affirmative civil rights cases including fair lending and housing to voting rights, pattern and practice policing investigations and employment discrimination. On the criminal side, she prosecuted cases involving human trafficking, hate crimes and color of law prosecutions.

Later, as Assistant Attorney General in the Public Integrity Division of the Mississippi Attorney General’s office, Candace helped triple both the number of lawyers and investigators in her division, where she supervised investigations and prosecutions of public corruption, officer involved shootings, cybersecurity, child sex abuse and elder abuse.

At Phelps, Candace practice focuses on litigation, cybersecurity, white collar defense and investigations and sports law. 

As she transitioned to a defense lawyer in private practice, she has continued to educate and lead the next generation of lawyers as an adjunct professor at Tougaloo College and as a high school Mock Trial coach at Callaway High School, her alma mater.

TerraLex celebrates and highlights Candace and her fellow honorees throughout March.