Tales from the Trenches: War Stories from the Defense Bar

Megan Hargraves is a health care lawyer with Mitchell Williams Law Firm who provides clients with strategic counsel on health care regulatory, compliance and legislative matters along with public policy and implementation issues. She advises hospitals and other health care clients on issues related to risk management, quality assurance and regulatory and operational compliance. She advises and represents clients on matters related to the Arkansas Peer Review Fairness Act, the Healthcare Quality Improvement Act (HCQIA), Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the False Claims Act, the Stark Act and anti-kickback statutes and other state and federal statutes.  Megan's experience as a litigator representing clients in medical malpractice, products liability, class action and general insurance defense cases makes her a trusted advisor to health care industry clients. Megan continues to represent clients across industries in defense of complex consumer class actions, specializing in cases brought under the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. 

Michelle Ator heads the Medical Malpractice Group at Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP. Her practice is focused on representing doctors, hospitals, and other medical care providers in malpractice litigation. She also represents pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in products cases. Michelle has been recognized by Arkansas Business as one of the 250 Most Influential Arkansans and also in Chambers USA: America's Leading Individuals. She was previously named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in the area of medical malpractice defense and has been rated by Super Lawyers as one of the "Top 50 Lawyers in Arkansas" and "Top 50 Women Lawyers of the Mid-South." Martindale-Hubbell has rated Michelle as AV “Preeminent” – the highest rating for ability and ethical standards. Michelle is licensed to practice in Arkansas state courts, federal courts in Arkansas, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and before the United States Supreme Court. 

Sarah Greenwood is a lawyer with Munson, Rowlett, Moore & Boone, P.A. Her areas of practice include Medical Malpractice, Arson and Insurance Fraud Litigation, Insurance Coverage, Class Action Litigation, Drug and Medical Device Litigation, Product Liability, and Insurance Defense. Sarah is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association, Pulaski County Bar Association, Arkansas Association of Defense Counsel, and Defense Research Institute. She received her B.A. from Lyon College in 2000 and her J.D. with honors from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in 2003.