Phelps Welcomes Powerhouse Litigator Candace Gregory in Jackson
JACKSON, Miss. - Jan. 3, 2023 – Phelps is proud to announce that Candace Gregory has joined the firm as a partner in the Jackson office, where she will focus on litigation, white collar defense and investigations, and media and First Amendment law. Most recently, she was Director of the Public Integrity Division and Statewide Coordinator for Officer Involved Shootings for the Attorney General of Mississippi. Candace brings an invaluable combination of civil and criminal litigation experience, an impeccable reputation and her unique ability to connect with people across geographies and backgrounds.
Phelps has long been known for its litigation strength across the southeast. Last month, groundbreaking Mississippi State Supreme Court Justices Reuben V. Anderson and Fred L. Banks, Jr., who have been with the firm since 1991 and 2001 respectively, passed the torch to the next generation of Phelps litigators. Candace is the most recent powerhouse to join the firm, which welcomed former Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutor Shaun Clarke in May 2022 and Mike Hurst, who served in the DOJ as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi until joining Phelps in January 2021.
Before joining the Mississippi AG’s office, Candace was the first hybrid Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) for the Southern District of Mississippi, responsible for managing and litigating both civil and criminal civil rights matters and violent crime matters throughout the District. During her time in the DOJ as an AUSA, she received a number of awards including a commendation for her handling of civil rights matters. Candace handled civil litigation involving constitutional claims, transportation authorities and municipalities, and sporting arenas and stadiums. In criminal matters, she handled large-scale fraud investigations, including a prosecution with a loss in excess of $10 million, various civil rights offenses, and numerous investigations and prosecutions involving cyber fraud, COVID-19 fraud and scams.
Earlier in her career, Candace worked as a Public Defender for Hinds County, Mississippi and in private practice in the areas of criminal and family law, personal injury and workers’ compensation. She also worked as an Attorney Advisor for the Social Security Administration. While in law school in Maryland, Candace taught tenth and eleventh grade boys at one of Baltimore’s first charter schools, Baltimore Freedom Academy. She also worked as a Clinical law Fellow in HIV/AIDS law.
Having benefitted from mentors in her life, Candace is committed to mentoring the next generation of leaders. She coached high school mock trial teams in Maryland and Mississippi for more than a decade. A number of her students pursued legal careers and gained their first professional experience working with her. Candace is currently an adjunct professor of criminal law and procedure, and business law at South College in Nashville, Tennessee.
“Candace brings a depth of experience garnered from trying more than 40 cases,” said Todd Butler, Managing Partner of the Jackson office. “She understands the challenges of litigating cases in Mississippi and can communicate clearly about the impact and importance of every case. Most importantly, Candace is highly respected by judges and colleagues across the state,” he said. “Her experience is invaluable to our current clients and will be for those who find themselves in need of strategic representation in the future.”
“An incredible convergence of hard work, challenging cases, great people, and insightful mentors have brought me to this next chapter in my legal career,” said Candace. “I’m excited to draw from my experience to provide the sophisticated type of representation that is required to achieve successful outcomes in complex litigation today.”
