Stout, Nicole Wolfe

BEN STONE, a native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, has 49 years legal experience and practices in Gulfport and Jackson, Mississippi. He is a Partner in the firm and represents clients in connection with Energy and Utility Litigation, Corporate and Securities matters, Energy Regulation and Transactions, Gaming, and State Governmental Relations. He is also experienced in environmental and maritime matters and has appeared numerous times before various agencies, permitting and regulatory boards.

He serves as General Counsel for Mississippi Power Company, the Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport, the Gulf Coast Business Council, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Sports Commission. Since the inception of legalized gaming in Mississippi, Mr. Stone has served as General Counsel for several gaming corporations.

Mr. Stone currently serves as Chairman of the Mississippi Ethics Commission. He serves on the Governor's Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal, and on a number of local and state economic development councils. He served in the Mississippi State Senate from 1968 to 1979 and maintains close ties with legislators throughout the State of Mississippi and key legislators in Washington, D. C.

Mr. Stone was the inaugural recipient in 2006 of the Energy Bar Association's State Regulatory Practitioner Award. He has been designated in The Best Lawyers in America and Mississippi Super Lawyers. According to Chambers and Partners, USA, 2010 edition, Mr. Stone is "a star lawyer on the Mississippi Gulf Coast."