Shauncey Hunter Ridgeway is a Partner in Christian & Small’s Jackson, Mississippi office. She focuses her practices on bankruptcy, creditor’s rights, and insurance matters. Shauncey has represented lenders, financial institutions, and other creditors in connection with bankruptcy matters and adversary proceedings, defense against lender liability and related claims, and other litigation and transactional matters concerning real and personal property rights, contract enforcement, and contract modification. She has also represented insurers in a range of matters, including actions involving bad faith, indemnity, and extra-contractual claims. Shauncey strives to provide her clients with value-driven, quality representation tailored to the individual and strategic needs of each of her clients’ matters.

Outside of her practice, Shauncey frequently volunteers to judge advocacy competitions hosted by Mississippi College School of Law’s Moot Court Board during the school’s fall semester. Shauncey began serving as a coach for the law school’s moot court team in 2019 for the American Bankruptcy Institute’s National Duberstein Moot Court Competition and the State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Section’s Elliot Cup Competition and has since coached two award-winning teams.

Professional and Community Involvement

  • Alabama State Bar
  • American Bar Association
  • Charles Clark Chapter of the American Inns of Court, 2019-2022
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI): Young Lawyers Committee Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee, 2020-2022
  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • Mississippi Bar Association: Young Lawyers Division Diversity & Social Justice Committee
  • Mississippi Women Lawyers Association
  • Mississippi Bankers’ Association: Bank Attorneys Committee
  • Madison County Business League & Foundation: Member

Awards and Recognition

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® “Ones to Watch” in the fields of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Recognized by SuperLawyers as Mid-South Rising Star, 2022

Representative Experience

  • Practices civil defense litigation with a focus on bankruptcy and creditors’ rights and insurance.
  • Obtained summary judgment in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Mississippi in favor of creditor finding debtor personally liable for breach of guaranty for $3.1 million commercial loan.
  • Obtained settlement and dismissal with prejudice of action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi involving an action on government contracts based on failure to pay an open account, unjust enrichment, breach of contract, and the doctrine of quantum merit.
  • Obtained severance and removal of third-party complaint against insurer to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi to facilitate settlement of action seeking damages for bad faith and a declaration of insured’s indemnity rights.
  • Obtained settlement and dismissal of adversary proceeding for the avoidance of pre-bankruptcy transfers by oil-servicer creditor in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
  • Obtained reversal of real estate licensing denial before the Mississippi Real Estate Commission Board based on improper interpretation and application of the Commission’s promulgated naming regulation.

Reported Decisions

  • In re World Health Jets LLC, 610 B.R. 118 (Bankr. S.D. Miss. 2019)

Publications and Presentations

  • Author, Mississippi Supreme Court Joins Minority of Courts in Holding Attorney-Client Privilege Did Not Protect Insurer from Disclosure of In-House Legal Advice Regarding Coverage Decision; Petition for Re-Hearing Pending, Christian & Small Nonstop Insights Blog (December 16, 2020)
  • Author, Find Your Voice, Lean into It, and Use It, DRI Diversity Insider: The Newsletter of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee (October 29, 2020)
  • Guest Vlogger, Alabama Supreme Court Allows Ex Parte Interviews with Plaintiffs’ Treating Physicians, Christian & Small Nonstop Advocates VLOG (August 19, 2020)
  • Author, Alabama Supreme Court Opens the Gate for Defense Counsel to Have Ex Parte Communications with Plaintiffs’ Treating Physicians, Christian & Small Nonstop Insights Blog (July 7, 2020)
  • Guest Vlogger, An Honest Conversation on Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Industry, Christian & Small Nonstop Advocates VLOG (June 15, 2020)
  • Author, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): Frequently Asked Questions, Christian & Small Nonstop Insights Blog (April 13, 2020)
  • Author, Covid-19 Impact on Mississippi Financial Institutions, Christian & Small Nonstop Insights Blog (March 26, 2020)
  • Assistant Copy Editor, Research Handbook on Political Economy and Law (2015)

Admissions

  • Alabama
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court

Practice Areas

Education

  • Louisiana State University, 2013, B.A., Manship School of Mass Communication (magna cum laude)
  • Mississippi College School of Law, 2016, J.D. (cum laude, Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society, 2013-2016; 2016 Justice Jess Dickinson Professionalism Award recipient; MC Law Moot Court Board, Internal Competition Problem Editor, 2015; 2015 MC Law Women in the Profession Award recipient; National Moot Court Competition Regional Quarter-finalist, 2015; National Appellate Advocacy Regional Semi-finalist, 2015; Charles Clark American Inn of Court Pupil, 2015; MC Law Best Paper Awards recipient, 2013-2016; Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush Appellate Advocacy Competition Quarter-finalist, 2014)