Atty. Michael B. Heister
Michael B. Heister is a managing member at Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, with extensive experience in regulatory, environmental, and complex commercial litigation.
Profile Summary
About Michael B. Heister at a glance
Michael B. Heister is a business, litigation, environmental, appellate, and energy attorney based in Little Rock, Arkansas, practicing at Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC. They have 24+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2002. Admitted to practice in Arkansas (2002) and District of Columbia (2003). Educated at University of Arkansas (J.D., 2002) and Vanderbilt University (B.A., 1998). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Energy Regulatory Law (2026). Serands clients in Little Rock, AR and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
Michael B. Heister is a managing member at Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, with extensive experience in regulatory, environmental, and complex commercial litigation. Mr. Heister’s practice focuses on electrical utility regulatory proceedings, environmental enforcement/compliance, and defending clients who do business in highly regulated industries.
His recent experience includes:
- Advising and representing clients in matters before the Arkansas Public Service Commission, including electrical facility siting, transmission development, and regulated asset transactions.
- Handling litigation and compliance for clients in highly regulated industries, such as oil and gas and solid waste disposal, including class actions and permit challenges brought in both state and federal court.
Representing clients before state and federal agencies on environmental matters, including third-party rulemaking, permit compliance, and site remediation.
- Counseling clients on mineral-related lease disputes, including lithium, oil, and natural gas leases, as well as title and permitting issues.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Heister practiced law in Washington, DC, for three years as a trial attorney with the United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division and for six years with an international law firm. While at the Department of Justice, Mr. Heister defended federal environmental actions in a variety of jurisdictions at the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Heister’s experience in private practice also included trial and appellate work in environmental enforcement actions, along with complex land use disputes and litigation over federal rulemakings. He is licensed to practice law in Arkansas and the District of Columbia.
Recognition
The Best Lawyers in America® (since 2017)
Super Lawyers (2014-present)
Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America Guide (since 2024)
Benchmark Litigation Under 40 Hot List (2016)
Education
University of Arkansas School of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2002)
Note and Comment Editor, Arkansas Law Review
W. J. Arnold Award
James H. McKenzie Award
Vanderbilt University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1998)
Practice Areas Explained
Michael B. Heister's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Michael B. Heister handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Michael B. Heister is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Arkansas →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Michael B. Heister is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Arkansas →
Environmental attorneys for regulatory compliance, contamination, land use, and natural resource law.
Michael B. Heister is one of 56,434 environmental attorneys indexed nationally. Browse environmental attorneys in Arkansas →
Appellate attorneys for civil and criminal appeals at state and federal court.
Michael B. Heister is one of 86,319 appellate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse appellate attorneys in Arkansas →
Energy attorneys for oil & gas, renewables, utility regulation, and energy sector transactions.
Michael B. Heister is one of 36,230 energy attorneys indexed nationally. Browse energy attorneys in Arkansas →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Arkansas
Practicing law in Arkansas. Legal matters in Arkansas are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Little Rock are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Arkansas state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Arkansas brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Arkansas courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Arkansas attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Little Rock or all attorneys in Arkansas.
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