Symmes & Estes PLLC

David B. Estes

A Lifelong Gulfport local. David attended Millsaps College where he received a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in 2001. He later attended Mississippi College School of Law where he graduated in 2003. David was admitted to practice law in Mississippi in 2004. David is a former President of the Harrison County Young Lawyers Association, a member of the Harrison County Bar Association and the Mississippi Bar Association. David, along with partner Will Symmes, founded Symmes & Estes, PLLC in 2020 along with their prior firm of Tindell, Symmes, Estes & Cusick in 2016. David was also a partner in his family firm, Estes & Estes, P.A., from 2011-2016.

Since 2011, David’s practice is primarily focused on Real Estate Closings through the firm’s title company, Integrity Land Title. David handles both commercial and residential closings primarily in Harrison, Hancock, Jackson, Stone, Pearl River and George Counties. David also handles Wills and Estates, Landlord/Tenant disputes, Tax Title Confirmations, Quiet Title Litigation and also helps families in need of Guardianship/Conservatorship services. David serves as a closing agent for The Security Title Guarantee Corporation of Baltimore, First American Title Insurance and Chicago Title Insurance Company.

David is married and has two Children, and attends Church in Gulfport, MS

William Symmes

Over his 17 years of practice, he has handled antitrust litigation, general civil litigation, insurance defense litigation, and products liability litigation, including defense of claims involving asbestos, silica, benzene, and pharmaceuticals. Will also is experienced in handling matters involving practice areas such as corporate law, representation of governmental entities such as the State of Mississippi and Harrison County, Mississippi, and various Chancery Court matters, including divorces, support and custody matters, estates and land disputes.

Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1996 from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he was an honored recipient of the Dr. C.A. Walker, Jr. Scholarship for his academic endeavors and was a four year letterman as a center on the Golden Eagle football team. Will later attended Mississippi College School of Law, and he earned his law degree in 2000.

Will founded Tindell, Symmes, Estes, & Cusick, PLLC in July 2016. He has been a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Gulfport for over 30 years and has served as Elder for the 2009 – 2011 Session and currently serves as Elder for 2015-2017 Session. Will has been a member of the Gulfport Chapter of Kiwanis International since 2014 and currently serves as Vice President. Will is married and has two daughters.

Will has an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected as a Mid-South Rising Star by Super Lawyers on several occasions beginning in 2010.

Stephanie Beaver

Stephanie received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1998 from the University of Southern Mississippi and her law degree from the University of Mississippi in 2000.  After graduating from law school, Stephanie served as a law clerk at the Mississippi Supreme Court for Justice Michael P. Mills and Justice George C. Carlson.

Stephanie has practiced in civil litigation since 2002, which includes jury and bench trials in state and federal courts.  She has represented large and small legal entities, insurance companies and individuals throughout her career.
Commercial and business litigation practice has included nursing home defense, medical malpractice defense, dental malpractice defense, defending clients subject to the Mississippi Tort Claims Act, legal malpractice defense, premises liability defense, automobile negligence defense, and general third-party insurance defense. 

Domestic Relations and Family Law practice includes divorce, child custody, modification, contempt, adoption, grandparent’s rights, heirship proceedings and minor’s claims.  She has been a certified Guardian Ad Litem for years, having been selected and appointed by Chancery Court judges to serve as an arm of the Court. 

Extensive motion and appellate experience, which includes successfully pursuing and defending a vast array of proceedings ranging from procedural motions to summary judgment, as well as successfully pursuing and opposing appeals to the Mississippi Court of Appeals, Mississippi Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Stephanie was recently honored to have earned an “AV Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest level of professional excellence based on ethical standards and legal capabilities. 

Matt Quinlivan

Matt joined Symmes & Estes in November of 2023, after practicing at Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, where he served as a partner in the firm’s Commercial Litigation Department, and on its Finance and 401k Committees.  Mr. Quinlivan regularly practices in both Alabama and Mississippi. His primary areas of practice include defense of professional liability claims against attorneys, accountants, real estate agents and brokers, banks and financial institutions, directors and officers.  Mr. Quinlivan also defends commercial and personal general liability claims, catastrophic personal injury, and insurance first party claims including bad faith.  In addition to litigation, Mr. Quinlivan regularly provides insurance coverage opinions, and assists insurers with fraud investigations.

Mr. Quinlivan also has experience with commercial transactions, estate planning, forming business entities, representing home owners’ associations and quieting title to residential and commercial real properties.

Mr. Quinlivan has obtained dismissals and verdicts of many claims brought against attorneys, insurance agents, brokers, and adjusters for claims of professional malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligent misrepresentations.  In addition to successful dismissals and verdicts, Mr. Quinlivan has given numerous presentations to attorneys and insurance companies that adjust their own claims, insurance claim adjusting firms, and insurance producers, training them to avoid procurement or adjusting errors, and instructing them on the proper course of action once an error claim arises.

Mr. Quinlivan served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve for six years, progressing from the rank of Private to Sergeant. He deployed to Iraq in 2003 where he served as an Infantryman in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Mr. Quinlivan is married with three sons. Both Mr. Quinlivan and his family enjoy shooting, hunting, fishing, cooking, and anything involving a boat.

“In March of 2003, General James N. Mattis reiterated the 1st Marine Divisions’ motto of ‘No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy’ in the closing of a letter to all Marines serving under his command in the First Marine Division just before the invasion of Iraq.  I vividly remember reading that letter from General Mattis.  The motto served me well in Iraq and throughout my life since coming home.  Applying the motto to my practice, I cordially investigate each claim then present an intense and aggressive defense to obtain the best results for my clients.”

AREAS OF LITIGATION:

Professional Liability of Attorneys, Accountants, Agents and Brokers

Banking

Business and Commercial Transactions

Commercial Litigation

Directors and Officers Liability

Insurance Coverage and Litigation

Premises Liability

Real Estate

Trusts and Estates

Zachary S. Wessler, Sr.

Zachary is an experienced attorney licensed to practice law in Mississippi and Louisiana. His practice primarily focuses on defending professionals, including accountants, attorneys, architects, engineers, realtors, insurance agents and brokers, healthcare providers, and real estate agents and brokers, in liability claims filed in state and federal courts. Zachary skillfully guides professionals through the challenges of defending against claims of professional negligence, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, errors and omissions, and malpractice. He takes pride in his ability to effectively discern and communicate legal issues, develop case-specific litigation plans, and tailor solutions that fit each of his individualized clients’ unique legal needs.

In addition to defending professional liability claims, Zachary handles complex commercial litigation, representing plaintiffs and defendants in matters involving premises liability, trucking/auto negligence, catastrophic personal injury, property damages, and insurance coverage litigation. Prior to joining S&E, Zachary worked for a large insurance defense law firm for five years and, prior to that, he worked for a boutique bankruptcy law firm in Louisiana, where he represented creditors, debtors, and bankruptcy trustees in Chapters 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcy proceedings and contested matters.

Zachary is actively involved in the legal community. He serves as a volunteer on the board of directors for the local Boys and Girls Club, he is a member of the board of directors for the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association, and he is the Young Lawyers Division Liaison to the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Lawyer’s Professional Liability claims.

Zachary received his juris doctorate from Tulane University Law School. While in law school, he served as a law clerk for the United States Coast Guard District 8 legal office, a legal intern/extern for three federal judges, and as a summer associate for a plaintiffs’ law firm specializing in mesothelioma/asbestos, environmental litigation, class action/mass torts, occupational diseases, personal injury suits, and maritime claims.

Areas of Practice:

• Representing plaintiffs and defendants in commercial disputes, personal injury, and professional liability matters
• Handling wills, estates, and probate work
• Real estate transactions
• Corporate and business law matters
• Insurance law matters
• Bankruptcy law matters
• Family law matters, and more

Renee Hasty

Renee has served as a real estate closing specialist for over 20 years and is the primary point of contact for the firm’s real estate closings.  Renee has served as a closer for the firm via the Firm’s closing entity, Integrity Land Title, LLC since the firm’s inception in 2016 and has worked with nearly every lender available in South Mississippi as well as working with national mortgage lenders across the nation.

Meredith Cunningham

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