Education
- University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D.
- Texas Tech University, B.A., History
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 2012
- U.S. District Courts for Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Clerkships
- Law Clerk to the Honorable Rhesa H. Barksdale, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard A. Schell, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
Spencer Ritchie has one goal: to help his clients navigate their way through the legal system in an efficient manner and get them back to doing what they do best. In working toward this goal Spencer uses his desire for excellence and his strong attention to detail to come up with creative solutions for each of his clients, while also being able to scale back and see the big picture of the case. With a love for reading and writing, Spencer offers his clients quality, personalized work, backed up by over six years of federal and state political experience, two federal judicial clerkships, and as an associate at a major regional law firm. Spencer ultimately decided to become a lawyer because he desired to be a part of a profession with the capacity to help improve society, therefore clients will find in Spencer not only a love for books, sports, politics, and the law, but compassion for his clients’ business and livelihoods.
Professional Recognition
Important Litigation Involvement
- Appellate counsel on trial team defending Fortune 500 company in asbestos exposure suit, Mobile County Alabama Circuit Court, 2022
- Successful reversal in appeal before the U.S. Department of Labor, Administrative Review Board, 2022
- Successful Motion to Dismiss Title VII Suit, Federal Court Mississippi, 2021
- Brief Writer, Fourth Circuit, Lightfoot v. Weyerhaeuser Co., et al, 5 F.5th 484 (4th Cir. 2021) (See Bloomberg Law article)
- Election Contest Trial, Lowndes County Mississippi Circuit Court, 2021
- Counsel to non-profit organization in filing amicus brief with the Mississippi Supreme Court, 2021 (See Law360 article)
- Counsel to Mississippi campaign supporting Initiative 65 for medical marijuana, 2020
- Chemical Spill Trial, Federal Court Mississippi, Burroughs Diesel v. Baker Hughes, 2020
- Brief Writer, Fifth Circuit, Chevron Oronite v. Jacobs Field Services, 951 F.3d 219 (5th Cir. 2020) (See Law360 article)
- Election Contest Trial, Monroe County Mississippi Circuit Court, 2020
- Election Contest Trial, Madison County Mississippi Circuit Court, 2020
- Bench Trial verdict for plaintiff, contractual indemnity claim, Louisiana Federal Court, Chevron v. Jacobs, 2019
- Successful Motion To Dismiss CERCLA claim, Federal Court Mississippi, Burroughs Diesel v. Baker Hughes, 2018
News & Knowledge
- August 15, 2024
41 FormanWatkins Attorneys Honored by Best Lawyers in America
Read More - May 29, 2024
FormanWatkins Hosts Fourth Annual Diversity Pipeline Program
Read More - February 26, 2024
FormanWatkins Attorneys Celebrate Development Groundbreaking with Investment Group and Sports Entertainment Clients
Read More - November 28, 2023
Twenty-one FormanWatkins Attorneys Honored as 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Read More - August 21, 2023
45 FormanWatkins Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers® Award Recipients
Read More - May 2, 2023
Ritchie Elected to Mississippi Law Journal Board of Directors
Read More - April 25, 2023
FormanWatkins Provides Zoning Counsel in Multi-Million Dollar Development Project
Read More - April 20, 2023
FormanWatkins Pro Bono Initiative Hits 5-Year Mark
Read More - January 12, 2023
Magnolia Tribune Publishes Article by Ritchie on FTC’s Proposed Noncompete Ban
Read More - August 18, 2022
FormanWatkins Attorneys Included in 2023 Best Lawyers® List
Read More - May 17, 2022
Wilson and Ritchie Speak at Mississippi Employment Law 2022 Seminar
Read More - April 13, 2022
McGuffey, Ritchie, and Fyke Attend Events Honoring Judge Rhesa H. Barksdale
Read More - March 8, 2022
FormanWatkins Awards 16 Attorneys with Pro Bono Recognition for Service in 2021
Read More - December 16, 2021
Gault and Ritchie Complete Successful Department of Labor Whistle Blower Trial
Read More - September 16, 2021
Employment Law Team Secures Dismissal of Title VII Suit Against National Retailer
Read More - August 19, 2021
FormanWatkins Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers®
Read More - July 22, 2021
Forest Products Team Wins Major Ruling from U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Read More - February 4, 2021
FormanWatkins Awards 17 Attorneys with Pro Bono Recognition for Service in 2020
Read More - November 30, 2020
2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Read More - August 26, 2020
“Y’all Politics” Publishes Article by Ritchie
Read More - August 20, 2020
FormanWatkins Attorneys Recognized in 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers®
Read More - April 9, 2020
COVID-19: Do I Have a Business Interruption Insurance Claim?
Read More - April 2, 2020
Mississippi Issues Shelter-in-Place Order: What You Need To Know
Read More - March 20, 2020
Employment Law Update – COVID-19 and the Workplace: An Employer’s Quick Guide
Read More - March 19, 2020
Gault and Ritchie Complete Successful Jury Trial
Read More - February 27, 2020
Gault and Ritchie Win in U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Read More - January 9, 2020
Penn, Pujol, and Ritchie Promoted to Partner
Read More - January 6, 2020
Ritchie Appointed to Mississippi Ethics Commission
Read More - December 9, 2019
Gault and Ritchie Present Oral Argument Before U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Read More - November 5, 2019
2019 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Read More - August 6, 2019
Wilson and Ritchie Speak at Mini Law School for Human Resource Professionals
Read More - July 23, 2019
Ritchie Appointed to Mississippi Bar Professionalism Committee
Read More - July 9, 2019
Ritchie Publishes Political Redistricting Article with Mississippi Business Journal
Read More - June 5, 2019
Join FormanWatkins at the Mini Law School for HR Professionals Seminar
Read More - April 8, 2019
Wilson and Ritchie Speak at Human Resource Law from A to Z Seminar
Read More - January 30, 2019
Gault and Ritchie Obtain Bench Trial Verdict
Read More - December 20, 2018
Join FormanWatkins at the Human Resource Law from A to Z Seminar
Read More - August 31, 2018
FormanWatkins Promotes Experience of Labor & Employment Practice Group in Recognition of Labor Day
Read More - May 14, 2018
ANALYSIS — Ponzi Schemes and Controversial Clawback Claims Against Investors by Win Gault & Spencer Ritchie
Read More - April 18, 2018
Spencer Ritchie Serves as Moderator for Appellate Judge Roundtable
Read More - April 11, 2018
Political Contributions: Know Your Limits by Spencer Ritchie
Read More - January 24, 2018
Employment Law Update: Workplace Sexual Harassment – January 2018
Read More - November 29, 2017
FormanWatkins Announces 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyers
Read More - October 16, 2017
Mississippi Business Journal Publishes Ritchie’s article on Mississippi Campaign Finance Laws
Read More - August 30, 2017
Welcome New Attorneys in Jackson and New Orleans Offices
Read More
Professional Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch, (2021-2024): Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
- Selected to Mid-South Super Lawyers (2023)
- Selected to Mid-South Rising Stars (2014, 2019-2021)
- FormanWatkins Pro Bono Star (2020-2022)
- Capitol Area Bar Association Pro Bono Award (2015)
Organization/Committee Memberships
- Mississippi Ethics Commission, Member (2020-2024)
- Downtown Jackson Partners, Advisory Council
- Mississippi Secretary of State Election Law Reform Study Group
- United States Election Assistance Commission, Board of Advisors
- Mississippi Republican Party, Treasurer
- Hinds County Republican Party Executive Committee, Chairman
- Tate Reeves for Governor, Hinds County Co-Chair (2019, 2023)
Speaking Engagements
- Mississippi Employment Law 2022 Seminar (May 2022)
- Mini Law School for HR Professionals – A Comprehensive Primer on Labor & Employment Law, Speaker, Jackson, Mississippi (June and August 2019, July 2022)
- Human Resource Law from A to Z Seminar, Pearl, MS (March 2019)
- Capital Area Bar Association’s New Appellate Judges Roundtable, Moderator (April 2018)
- “The Many Ways Social Media Can Land Employers in Court,” Human Resource Management local chapters (2015)
- “Bad Faith Watch List,” Defense Research Institute, Life, Health, Disability, and ERISA Seminar, Boston, Massachusetts (2013)
Publications
- “U.S. Supreme Court Considers Donor Disclosure Challenge.” Mississippi Business Journal (May 7, 2021).
- “Mississippi Legislature Considers Bill to Privatize Wholesale Alcohol Distribution.” Mississippi Business Journal (February 3, 2021).
- “Voting by Mail Versus Absentee Voting.” Y’all Politics (August 25, 2020).
- “Redistricting on the Horizon.” Mississippi Business Journal (July 8, 2019).
- “ANALYSIS – Ponzi Schemes and Controversial Clawback Claims Against Investors.” Mississippi Business Journal (May 11, 2018).
- “Political Contributions: Know Your Limits.” Mississippi Business Journal (April 11, 2018).
- “Changes to Mississippi Campaign Finance Laws Affect Business Community.” Mississippi Business Journal (October 16, 2017).
- “The Journal’s Journey: a History of the Mississippi Law Journal.” 81 Miss. L.J. 1527 (2012).
Pro Bono & Community Service
- Habeas Corpus Petitions and Counsel
- Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Deacon
Law School Honors & Awards
- Mississippi Law Journal, Notes & Comments Editor
- Moot Court Board
- Finalist, 2009 National First Amendment Moot Court Competition, Vanderbilt University
- 2010 ABA National Appellate Competition, Washington D.C.
- Inductee, The Order of Barristers
- American Jurisprudence Award
Previous Experience
- Associate Attorney at a major regional law firm
- Legal Writing Instructor, Mississippi College School of Law
- Law Clerk to the Honorable Rhesa H. Barksdale, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard A. Schell, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- Executive Director, Mississippi Republican Party
- Director of Legislative Affairs, Associated Builders and Contractors
- Legislative Assistant, U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX)