Amanda focuses her practice on administrative and regulatory law, governmental litigation, and election and campaign finance law. Before joining Butler Snow, she served as Counsel to Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour after twelve years of general litigation practice.
Overview
Amanda focuses her practice on administrative and regulatory law, governmental litigation, and election and campaign finance law. Before joining Butler Snow, she served as Counsel to Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour after twelve years of general litigation practice.
Practice Areas
About
Amanda Tollison focuses her practice on administrative law, regulatory compliance, zoning and land use, governmental litigation, legal and governmental ethics, and election and campaign finance law. Much of her recent work includes serving as compliance counsel for various tax exempt entities, representation of governing authorities in various appeals to the circuit and appellate courts, as well as ongoing representation of industry clients in environmental permitting and compliance matters.
Before joining Butler Snow, she served as counsel to Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour where she coordinated and oversaw outside counsel in litigation matters and advised the Governor on judicial appointments, state disasters, bond commission meetings, and election and budget-related matters. Prior to her public service, Amanda had a general litigation practice.
Amanda is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Administrative/Regulatory Law and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants, and her work has been recognized by Mid-South Super Lawyers®. Additionally, she recently served as President of The Mississippi Bar (2019-2020) and has previously served as President of the Young Lawyers Division of The Mississippi Bar (2005-2006) and in several other local and regional leadership positions as well.
She obtained her J.D. from the University of Mississippi and is admitted to The Mississippi Bar, the U.S. District Courts for both Districts of Mississippi and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Experience
- Representation of Public Entities and Private Clients in Federal, State and Local Courts and before Governing Bodies and Administrative Agencies as well as Serving as Compliance Counsel for various Non-Profit Organizations
- Ongoing representation of local governing authorities in various appeals of zoning and adjudicative decisions before circuit and state appellate courts.
- Representation of county board of supervisors in tax assessment appeals before circuit and state appellate courts.
- Representation of public officials in election contest cases in state and appellate courts.
- Forming and advising political committees with regard to state and federal election and campaign finance compliance and related issues.
- Serving as counsel to the Board of Directors of local non-profit corporations and tax exempt organizations, providing advice and counsel regarding compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Advising industry and professional clients in agency enforcement actions and in compliance matters.
- Providing advice and counsel to state public institutions of higher learning on various legal issues and projects.
- Advising various local governing authorities as well as private entity clients in compliance with state alcoholic beverage control laws.
- Representation of public bodies and officials in Open Meetings and Public Records Act matters before the Mississippi Ethics Commission.
- Counseling clients on Mississippi Ethics in Government laws as well as federal ethics rules.
- Energy and Environmental Counseling and Representation of Clients before Administrative Bodies
- Ongoing representation of industry clients in environmental enforcement actions and in investigating and implementing remedial measures to address contaminated soil and groundwater and related vapor intrusion issues.
- Serving as outside counsel to state agency in establishing its water infrastructure grant program and in drafting its program scoring system, regulations, and guidance.
- Guiding industry clients through environmental permitting and compliance matters.
- Providing advice and counsel with regard to the purchase of a municipal water/wastewater system.
- Providing clients guidance with regard to regional opportunities, regulatory challenges, and/or legislative landscapes for developing Hydrogen production, transportation and delivery capabilities.
- Successfully represented industrial facility before the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Permit Board in obtaining and modifying its Water Quality Certification and the transfer of various environmental permits and coverages.
- Negotiation of the purchase of mitigation credits from a local mitigation bank in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
- Other General Administrative Law Experience
- Prior and current representation of clients in permitting, compliance, enforcement matters before the Mississippi Secretary of State, the Mississippi Ethics Commission, the Mississippi Development Authority, the Mississippi Department of Revenue and Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, the Mississippi Department of Health, the Mississippi Department of Human Services, the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure, the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy, the Mississippi State Board of Nursing, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries & Parks and various other state boards, agencies and commissions.
- Governmental Relations
- Ongoing representation of local governments, universities, and non-profit organizations, providing advice and counsel on legislative and executive agency matters including monitoring statutory and regulatory changes, drafting and reviewing pertinent legislation, lobbying members of the legislature, and assisting in compliance with agency rules and regulations.
- Providing strategic and political guidance and advice to clients in their business operations.
- Counsel to Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, 2008-2012
- Coordinated and oversaw outside counsel in litigation matters involving the Governor’s Office.
- Advised the Governor on judicial appointments, state disasters, bond commission meetings, election and budget-related matters.
- Directed the Governor’s Office responses to public records requests.
- Served as the Governor’s Stimulus Coordinator over American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds granted to the State of Mississippi, including $87 million in State Fiscal Stabilization Funds awarded to the Governor’s Office.
- Coordinated the successful passage of the $38,000,000 bond bill for the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History during the 2011 session of the Mississippi Legislature.
- Prior Litigation Experience representing clients in state and federal court actions:
- Representation of state and regional companies in state and federal court actions against claims of negligence, breach of contract and trademark infringement claims.
- Representation of national mortgage brokers in state and federal court actions against allegations of fraud, breach of contract, negligence, and wrongful foreclosure.
- Representation of international respiratory protection equipment manufacturer in numerous state court product liability actions alleging silicosis, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and related injuries.
- Representation of national tire and heavy equipment manufacturers in defense of product liability claims filed in Mississippi state and federal courts.
- Representation of national insurance company in numerous multi-plaintiff fraud proceedings in Mississippi state and federal courts.
Distinctions
- Best Lawyers in America®
- Administrative/Regulatory Law, 2019-2025
- Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2022-2025
- Municipal Law, 2024-2025
- Martindale-Hubbell®
- AV®– Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
- Super Lawyers®
- Mid-South Super Lawyers, State, Local & Municipal, 2012
- University of Mississippi School of Law, Alumna of the Year, 2006 & 2020
- American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Star of the Quarter, 2005
- The Mississippi Bar, Distinguished Service Award, 2006
- The Mississippi Bar, Young Lawyers Division, Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, 2007
- Jackson Young Lawyers, Pro Bono Award, 2005-2006
- Leadership Mississippi, Graduate, 2008
- Mississippi Business Journal, 50 Leading Business Women, 2006-2007
- Mississippi Business Journal, Finalist for Business Woman of the Year, 2006-2007
- Mississippi Business Journal, Top 40 Under 40, 2007
- University of Mississippi School of Law, Phi Delta Phi Award
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 1996
- U.S. District Courts
- Mississippi: Northern, Southern
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit
Education
- University of Mississippi, J.D., cum laude, 1996
- Honor Council Chairman, 1995-1996
- University of Mississippi Law Journal & Moot Court Board, 1994-1996
- Mississippi State University, B.A., Political Science, summa cum laude, 1992
Associations
- The Mississippi Bar
- President, 2019-2020
- National Conference of Bar Presidents (2018-2022)
- Co-Chair of 21st Century Lawyer Committee
- Southern Conference of Bar Presidents (2018-2022)
- National Conference of Bar Presidents (2018-2022)
- Second Vice-President, 2006-2007
- Board of Bar Commissioners, 2018-2021, 2004-2007
- Executive Committee, 2018-2021, 2004-2007
- Access to Justice Committee
- Committee Chair, 2018-2019
- Bench Bar Liaison Committee, 2016-2017
- Ethics Committee, 2012-2015
- Committee Chair, 2014-2015
- The Mississippi Lawyer Committee
- Past Chair, Editor and Member
- Government Law Section Member
- Former Access to Justice Commission Member
- Young Lawyers Division
- President, 2005-2006
- Board of Directors, 1991-2001, 2004-2007
- President, 2019-2020
- Mississippi Bar Foundation
- Trustee, 2005-2006, 2010-2013
- Fellow, 2008-2022
- University of Mississippi Lamar Order
- Lafayette County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
Papers, Presentations & Publications
- Speaker, "The Impact of Recent Federal and State Court Decisions on Local Governments," Mississippi Association of County Board Attorneys, June 2021, January 2022, June 2022, January 2023.
- Moderator, “Promoting Attorney Health & Well Being During COVID,” 21st Century Lawyer Committee Webinar, National Conference of Bar Presidents, March 2021.
- Speaker, University of Mississippi School of Law Graduation 2020.
- Author, “President’s Message on Well-Being,” The Mississippi Lawyer, Spring 2020.
- Presenter, “Legal Ethics in Dealing with the Government – Lobbying, Gifts and Related Considerations,” 7th Annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, June 2020
- Speaker, Fall and Spring Mississippi Bar Admissions Ceremonies, 2019-2020.
- Speaker, “Service as Leadership” for The Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum 2019.
- Presenter, “Tips to Transform you into a Tech-Savvy Attorney,” The Mississippi Bar, Bridge the Gap: Rule 3 – New Lawyer Program, Basic Skills: Effective Utilization of Technology (S3000), December 6, 2019.
- Presenter, "Open Meetings, Public Records, and Legal Issues for Municipal Employees Using Social Media," 2018 Small Town Conference, October 24, 2018.
- Speaker, “Recent Interpretations of Mississippi’s Ethics in Government Law & Political Activity of Public Employees,” The Mississippi Bar, Governmental Law Section Teleseminar, October 2016.
- Author, “The 10 Year Anniversary of Katrina: Reflections on the Role of Lawyers in Disaster Recovery,” CABA Newsletter, September 2015.
- Speaker, "The Impact of Recent Federal and State Court Decisions on Local Governments," Mississippi Association of County Boards of Supervisors, June 2015.
- Speaker, Mississippi Center for Legal Services CLE Presentation on Ethics, Summer 2015.
Civic Involvement
- Christ Presbyterian Church, Oxford, Mississippi