Jane Butcher was born in Martin, Kentucky and attended Margaret Hall School in Versailles, Kentucky. She graduated from Collins High School in West Virginia and went on to attend George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Ms. Butcher graduated with B.A. degrees in political science and philosophy from Eastern Kentucky University. Ms. Butcher received a Master’s Degree from the University of Kentucky and went on to the prestigious Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana where she received her J.D. degree in 1981. As a student at Tulane University, Ms. Butcher clerked for Hon. J. Bennett Johnston, United States Senator in Washington, D.C. Ms. Butcher returned to Kentucky and began her legal career opening the Butcher Law Office, PLLC in 1983 where she concentrated her legal practice in the area of criminal defense, divorce and family law. She has handled thousands of criminal cases, including death penalty and homicide cases. She has also dedicated her career to representing many clients in their divorce, child custody, and adoption cases. Ms. Butcher was joined in her legal practice by her daughter, Erin Butcher Hjersted in 2002 until 2010 when she left the practice to care for her daughter, Lucinda Jane Hjersted. In 2020 Ms. Butcher joined the office of the Commonwealth of Kentucky for Whitley and McCreary Counties as Assistant Commonwealth Attorney where she prosecuted homicide and death penalty cases. Ms. Butcher is licensed to practice law in all Federal Courts and in all courts in Kentucky. Ms. Butcher has been dedicated to “client service” for more than forty years and is pleased to join with the Law Offices of Croley & Foley to continue that service.

Mary-Ann Smyth is originally from northwestern Indiana but has lived in Kentucky for the past thirty years. Mary-Ann graduated from Valparaiso University with a degree in criminal justice. She went on to attend Valparaiso University School of Law before joining the United States Air Force, where she was an officer for seven years. During her military career, Mary-Ann served as an attorney in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps and was special assistant U.S. Attorney at Tyndall Air Force Base. She has spent considerable time abroad, most notably at Osan Air Base in South Korea. Following her decorated military career, Mary-Ann developed a successful private practice in Corbin, Kentucky, which quickly became a staple in the local community. Mary-Ann has spent her career practicing in a number of different areas such as family law (divorce, custody, and adoption), estate planning (will preparation and probate administration), bankruptcy law (Chapters 7 and 13), and contract law. She is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association and the Whitley County Bar Association.

Lisa Circeo, the principal of Circeo Law Firm, is an acclaimed and sought-after trial lawyer, with more than 25 years of experience successfully representing clients. Committed to making the world a safer place by holding wrongdoers accountable, Lisa is a dedicated, uncompromising voice for the rights of vulnerable members of society, both in and outside the courtroom. Lisa has successfully represented victims of nursing home negligence, wrongful death, product liability, electrocution, fires, negligent security and more. Lisa’s legal successes include over $70,000,000 in verdicts recovered on behalf of victims of nursing home abuse and neglect as well as numerous seven- and eight-figure settlements on behalf of victims of nursing home abuse and neglect, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death.

From the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, where she was born and raised to the bluegrass region that she now calls home, Megan has represented clients and litigated cases all across this great commonwealth. She has experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a host of different types of cases, including nursing home abuse and neglect, medical malpractice, negligent security, wrongful death, slip and falls, trucking accidents, car accidents, wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment, negligent hiring and retention, as well as a variety of other types of cases. In addition to securing substantial settlements for her clients, Megan has experienced great success at both trial and arbitration.

Hannah Jamison has represented hundreds of clients across all parts of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Prior to joining Circeo Law Firm, P.S.C., at its inception, Hannah worked for Wilkes & McHugh, P.A., and Landrum & Shouse, PLLC, both in Lexington, Kentucky. She has worked on both the plaintiff side and the defense side and has experience working on many different types of cases, including nursing home negligence, medical malpractice, corporate negligence, wrongful death, products liability, slip and falls, trucking accidents, car accidents, oil and gas litigation, and class action lawsuits. Hannah has obtained millions of dollars in settlements on behalf of her clients and has participated in several trials, including a nursing home negligence trial, which resulted in a seven-figure verdict for the client.

Thomas Todd is an attorney that works to protect his clients’ interests. He understands that people often feel overwhelmed by the legal process and are looking for guidance and effective representation. In an effort to ensure clients have an understanding of their case, Tom maintains consistent communications. Thomas handles civil matters. He practices in the following areas: Civil Litigation, Debt Collections, Domestic (Family), Personal Injury, and Workers’ Compensation. In addition, he serves as a Guardian Ad Litem for abused and neglected children.

Rick Circeo has spent the last two decades fighting for the rights of the elderly across the country. As the former managing attorney for a national law firm’s offices in Memphis, TN, Nashville, Tennessee, and Lexington, Kentucky, Rick has been involved in thousands of cases involving elder abuse and neglect. He has successfully obtained numerous substantial settlements for victims of nursing home abuse and neglect in Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

Patrick is originally from Murray, Kentucky. He started his legal career working for the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, where he briefed and argued cases in front of the South Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, before returning home to the Bluegrass State. Prior to joining the Circeo Law Firm, Patrick was a partner at a civil defense firm in Lexington, where he defended insurance companies and their insureds on complex cases through trial and appeal. He has represented clients across Kentucky on a wide variety of claims, including nursing home negligence, dram shop liability, false light and defamation, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, premises liability, trucking and car accidents, and insurance bad faith. Before Patrick started practicing law, he enlisted in the National Guard and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He cares deeply about issues facing veterans, and is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association’s Military and Veterans Law Committee.

Dearon graduated from the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law. During law school, Dearon worked with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, helping prepare income tax returns for low-income, disabled, and limited English-speaking individuals. He also served on the College of Law Honor Council. Prior to joining Circeo Law Firm, Dearon was a staff attorney for the Honorable Kimberly N. Bunnell of Fayette Circuit Court, 9th Division, where he conducted extensive legal research, managed the civil docket, and completed first-round opinion drafting in district court and administrative agency appeals

As a zealous advocate for social justice, Elizabeth’s foremost passion is helping injured clients by providing them with the highest quality legal representation. Elizabeth began her legal career representing defendants in medical malpractice actions but quickly found her true calling in representing injured individuals. Both a registered nurse and an attorney, Elizabeth’s background gives her unique insight into complex injuries, medical records, and health care systems. Prior to joining Circeo Law Firm, P.S.C., Elizabeth gained experience representing plaintiffs in a variety of cases, including medical malpractice, premises liability, negligent security, corporate negligence, car accidents, trucking accidents, wrongful death, sexual harassment and assault, and other civil litigation.