Anderson, Murphy & Hopkins is excited to announce that Doris A. Magsayo and Ilse M. Ghent have joined the firm as associates.

Best Lawyers in America has released its 2026 edition and has named the following Anderson, Murphy & Hopkins lawyers as Best Lawyers for the Little Rock, Arkansas, area: Randy P. Murphy, Mariam T. Hopkins, Michael P. Vanderford, Julie M. Hancock, Mark D. Wankum, and Debbie S. Denton.

Michael P. Vanderford was recognized by his peers and honored with Best Lawyers’ “Lawyer of the Year” award in Insurance Law.

Anderson, Murphy & Hopkins attorneys were recognized as Best Lawyers in the following categories:

Randy P. Murphy
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers

Mariam T. Hopkins
Insurance Law
Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Michael P. Vanderford
Commercial Litigation
Insurance Law
Litigation – Construction
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants

Julie M. Hancock
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

Mark D. Wankum
Insurance Law
Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Deborah S. Denton
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

In addition, Brandon T. Cole was identified in the Ones to Watch category for Commercial Litigation and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants

Anderson, Murphy & Hopkins was ranked as a Tier 1 law firm by Best Lawyers in the following categories:

• Insurance Law
• Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers

Elizabeth Strickland joined the firm as an associate on September 9.

Best Lawyers has released its 31tst edition of Best Lawyers in America and has named the following six Anderson, Murphy & Hopkins lawyers as Best Lawyers for the Little Rock, Arkansas, area in 2024:  Randy P. Murphy, Mariam T. Hopkins, Michael P. Vanderford, Julie M. Hancock, Mark D. Wankum, and Debbie S. Denton.  

In addition, Brandon T. Cole was named in the 5th edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

Amelia Botteicher became a partner with the firm on January 1, 2024. She maintains an active civil litigation practice focused on medical malpractice, professional liability, premises liability, general civil litigation, and insurance defense. She is an experienced trial attorney known for zealously defending her clients at all stages of litigation. Amelia has experience successfully defending businesses, individuals, hospitals, physicians, and automotive and trucking entities, among others, in a wide range of litigation throughout the state of Arkansas in federal and state courts.

Amelia is also a certified civil mediator and enjoys utilizing her litigation experience to work with parties to reach amicable resolutions in even the most complex matters.

Anderson, Murphy & Hopkins was ranked as a Tier 1 law firm by Best Lawyers in the following categories:

• Insurance Law
• Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers

Mariam Hopkins received 2024 Lawyer of the Year awards from Best Lawyers in Insurance Law and Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants.  In addition, the following partners were recognized as 2024 Best Lawyers in Arkansas in the following categories:

• Mariam Hopkins – Insurance Law, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Randy Murphy – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
• Mike Vanderford – Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Julie Hancock – Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Mark Wankum – Insurance Law, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Debbie Denton – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

The following Anderson, Murphy & Hopkins lawyers received recognition from Mid-South Super Lawyers in the following categories:

• Overton Anderson – Personal Injury Medical Malpractice Defense
• Randy Murphy – Personal Injury General Defense
• Mariam Hopkins – Personal Injury Medical Malpractice Defense
• Mike Vanderford – Personal Injury General Defense
• Mark Wankum – Personal Injury Medical Malpractice Defense

Randy Murphy and Brandon Cole were selected as Soirée Best Lawyers in Arkansas in 2023.

Amelia B. Hensel joined the firm on May 9, 2023.  She became an associate with the firm on September 8, 2023.

Best Lawyers has released its 30th edition of Best Lawyers in America and has named the following seven Anderson, Murphy & Hopkins lawyers as Best Lawyers for the Little Rock, Arkansas, area in 2024:  Randy P. Murphy, Mariam T. Hopkins, Michael P. Vanderford, Julie M. Hancock, Mark D. Wankum, and Debbie S. Denton.  

Mariam T. Hopkins was recognized by her peers and honored with Best Lawyers’ “Lawyer of the Year” awards in Insurance Law and Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants.  

Anderson, Murphy & Hopkins attorneys were recognized as 2024 Best Lawyers in the following categories:  

Randy P. Murphy 
        Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers

 Mariam T. Hopkins 
        Insurance Law
        Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
        Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

  Michael P. Vanderford 
        Insurance Law        

Julie M. Hancock 
        Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

Mark D. Wankum 
Insurance Law
        Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
        Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

 Deborah S. Denton 
        Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

In addition, Brandon T. Cole was identified in the Ones to Watch category for Commercial Law.