W. Edward Hatten, Jr.

Mississippi

Dukes, Keating, Hatten, McRaney, Blum, P.A.
13334 Seaway Road,
Suite 203
Gulfport, Mississippi 39503

Tel: 228-868-1111

Professional Biography

W. Edward “Ed” Hatten, Jr. is a Director, Officer, and Shareholder of Dukes, Keating, Hatten, McRaney, Blum, P.A., where he has practiced since 1995. With more than three decades of legal experience and an academic background in Construction Engineering Technology, Ed brings both legal and technical insight to construction-related disputes and complex civil litigation. His combination of industry knowledge, litigation experience, and long-standing involvement with the construction sector has become a defining feature of his practice.

Before entering law practice, Ed earned his B.S. in Construction Engineering Technology from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1987. He remains closely connected to the construction industry through his service on the Industry Advisory Council for the university’s School of Construction and has previously served on the Industry Advisory Council for USM’s Center for Logistics, Trade and Transportation. He has also returned to USM as a guest lecturer on Construction Law on several occasions.

Ed earned his J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1990, where he served on the Moot Court Board. His early legal career included service as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Mississippi from 1991 to 1993, followed by private practice in Jackson with a focus on civil litigation. He is admitted before the Mississippi Supreme Court, all state trial and appellate courts in Mississippi, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Ed’s professional standing has been recognized through a number of honors. He holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, has been named a Super Lawyer in Construction Litigation each year since 2014, and has received multiple Martindale-Hubbell client recognition awards. He has also been selected to the American Arbitration Association’s National Roster of Arbitrators and appears on the Mississippi Bar’s approved list of mediators and arbitrators.

Ed is a member of The Mississippi Bar, the Harrison County Bar Association, the Russell-Blass-Walker Chapter of the American Inns of Court, the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association, the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, the Defense Research Institute, and the Professional Liability Defense Federation. He has also maintained longstanding involvement with the University of Southern Mississippi through alumni and advisory roles.

The Construction Law Practice

Dukes, Keating, Hatten, McRaney, Blum, P.A.’s Construction practice represents clients throughout Mississippi, with particular strength along the Gulf Coast. The firm advises a broad range of construction industry participants, including developers, contractors, subcontractors, architects, owners, suppliers, equipment manufacturers, insurers, realtors, appraisers, and surveyors.

The team provides counsel throughout the lifecycle of residential, commercial, and industrial projects, advising on zoning, development issues, environmental matters, contractor licensing, contract negotiation and enforcement, and construction and mechanic’s liens. Its attorneys also handle construction defects, contractor and subcontractor liability, insurance and construction liability defense, and property damage and jobsite injury claims.

When disputes arise, Dukes, Keating, Hatten, McRaney, Blum represents clients in litigation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Combining construction counseling with substantial disputes experience, the firm emphasizes practical, cost-effective solutions and long-term relationships with clients from initial project planning through post-construction matters.

About Dukes, Keating, Hatten, McRaney, Blum, P.A.

Dukes, Keating, Hatten, McRaney, Blum, P.A. is a full-service Mississippi law firm based in Gulfport, serving businesses, corporations, insurance companies, public agencies, professionals, and individuals. For more than 40 years, the firm has provided legal counsel across a broad range of commercial, regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters, with an emphasis on practical, cost-efficient representation and long-term client relationships.

The firm’s practice includes construction law and litigation, business and commercial law, real estate transactions and disputes, employment law, healthcare, governmental and regulatory matters, insurance defense, transportation and trucking liability, airport law, and the defense of products liability, professional liability and premises liability claims. Construction is a significant part of the firm’s work, supported by attorneys with substantial litigation experience and industry-specific backgrounds, including construction engineering and extensive involvement in construction-related disputes.

Dukes, Keating, Hatten, McRaney, Blum combines broad legal capabilities with deep courtroom and ADR experience. Its attorneys handle complex matters in Mississippi state and federal courts, as well as mediation and arbitration, and several members of the firm have longstanding experience in insurance, transportation, premises liability, and construction litigation. The firm has also earned an AV rating and recognition in the Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers, reflecting its established reputation within the Mississippi legal community.

“Ed has built a strong reputation through decades of construction-focused advocacy, industry involvement, and dispute resolution work. His AV rating, sustained peer recognition, and role on the AAA’s National Roster reflect the credibility and experience he brings to significant construction matters.”

The Construction Attorneys, 2026