Firm History
Joseph T. Wilkins, III, along with his law partner, Joe McCoy, opened the firm in 1978 as McCoy Wilkins. The young firm practiced primarily insurance defense during the start-up period.
Senith Tipton
Joe Wilkins
The firm can trace its beginning back to 1978 when an office was first opened in the Lamar Life Building in downtown Jackson. Senith C. Tipton joined the firm three years later.
Later, the firm occupied an office on State Street across from the War Memorial Building. The current office location at One LeFleur’s Square began in 1984 but was briefly moved in the early 90's when the firm leased space at Crescent Court. However, that new home lasted less than a year and the firm has continuously occupied all or part of One LeFleur’s Square for over 25 years.
With the move from the State Street location in 1984, Wilkins Tipton became one of the first law firms in Mississippi to leave the downtown area and relocate to an office outside the Central Business District.
Prior to 1990, the firm name was McCoy, Wilkins, Noblin & Stephens. On January 1, 1998 the name was changed to McCoy, Wilkins, Stephens & Tipton. In October of 2000, the firm became known as Wilkins, Stephens & Tipton and remained so for the next decade. The name was changed to Wilkins Tipton in January of 2010.
The firm’s practice has grown rapidly over the past few years with satellite offices opened in Greenville, Mississippi in 2004; Nashville, Tennessee in 2007; Charlotte, North Carolina in 2011; and Birmingham, Alabama in 2012. The firm employs approximately 20 attorneys and 60 employees.
In January of 2010, Wilkins Tipton was named “One of the Best Places to Work in Mississippi” by the Mississippi Business Journal.