Mcalester, OK

Tony Edwards

Tony Edwards was born and raised in McAlester, Oklahoma and has devoted himself to serving the legal needs of the people in his home area. He achieved an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, indicating the highest level in legal ability and ethical standards. He received his undergraduate degree in sociology and psychology from East Central University in Ada and then went to Oklahoma University College of Law, receiving his J.D. in 1982. He took a position with a general-practice law firm in Ada and stayed there for five years before returning to McAlester to practice personal injury law. Tony began focusing on civil litigation on behalf of injured plaintiffs. In 2006, he decided to that he wanted to create a smaller firm that would give him an opportunity to provide more personal service. The Edwards firm was born that year, and he has continued to concentrate on plaintiff’s civil litigation. His practice today encompasses cases involving motor vehicles, nursing homes, defective products, and oil-field injuries. He has been involved in numerous mass-tort cases involving defective products. Edwards and Patterson began in 2015 when he became partners with Matt Patterson. His efforts have resulted in numerous significant verdicts and settlements for his clients. One of his most notable was a confidential settlement on the eve of trial with the Ford Motor Co. on a products-liability case involving the design of a gas tank that ignited. In another, he represented the family of a college football player who was killed in a hate-crime incident. No matter what case, Tony brings the same committed approach to the benefit of his clients. Tony and his wife, DeVonna, are active in the Lakewood Christian Church, where he has been an elder for more than 20 years. Shared Blessings was launched by Tony and DeVonna in 1998 to provide clothing for people in need. Since then, it has continued to expand and now also provides food, household goods, disaster relief, and emergency financial assistance. In his spare time, Edwards enjoys golf and is a passionate Oklahoma University sports fan.

Matthew Patterson

Attorney Matthew (Matt) Patterson grew up near McAlester on a family ranch, where he began to develop the ethic of hard work and character that consistently guides his law practice today. Matt first joined a law firm specializing in personal injury law in 2008 after receiving his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Since then his practice has concentrated primarily in the field of civil litigation on behalf of injured accident victims, achieving numerous noteworthy outcomes. Two of his highlights are settlements of $1.2 million for a motorcycle injury case involving a UPS truck and $1.75 million for an oilfield-negligence case. In 2012, Matt was recognized among the Top 40 Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyer Association. In 2013, the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys awarded him the top 10 award. In 2020, named a Rising Star Attorney in Oklahoma by Super Lawyers. After receiving B.A. and M.A. degrees from Southern Nazarene University and the University of Oklahoma, Matt enrolled in the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he focused on trial work and litigation. During his third year of law school, he worked in the Cleveland County District Attorney’s office, getting his first courtroom experience. That experience helped him to set his sights on the legal career that he wanted to pursue. “I knew then that I wanted to be in a courtroom,” he recalls. “When I first started law school, I thought that’s what I wanted, and then when I started working in that environment it confirmed that was exactly what I wanted to do.” A four-year baseball player at Southern Nazarene University, Matt is competitive by nature and enjoys the challenge of litigating cases against insurance companies and their lawyers. But his primary motivation, he says, is a desire to help people in need. “I enjoy serving the community and serving people,” he says. “This job is not about recognition or money, it is about being able to help people in their times of need.” Despite his busy professional life, Matt finds the time to serve his community in other ways. He is on the board of his church, Arpelar Church of the Nazarene, where he and his wife, Ami Patterson, are active in leadership and service projects. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Southern Nazarene University. Additionally, he has previously served as president of the Pittsburg County Bar Association and served on the board of Oklahoma Legal Aid Services. Matt and his family still maintain and operate a Brangus cattle ranch. But his primary personal hobby is keeping up with his teenage son (Bartlett) and young daughter (Scout) who are active in baseball, basketball, softball, and gymnastics.

Eddie Harper

An experienced attorney in personal injury, workers compensation, oil and gas, products liability, and general litigation, admitted in Oklahoma (1963), the U.S. Supreme Court, and U.S. District Courts for Oklahoma. Holds an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell®. Earned LL.B. and B.S. from the University of Oklahoma and is active in multiple bar associations, including leadership in the Workers’ Compensation Section.

Paul M. Northcutt

Paul M. Northcutt is an attorney practicing in DUI, Criminal, Family Law, Probate, Wills, Guardianship, Social Security, Automobile Accidents, wrongful death, and Personal Injury. He is admitted to practice in all Oklahoma State Courts. He graduated from the University of the Ozarks with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 2006 and from Oklahoma City University Law School in 2010. He previously worked at the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office and the Edwards Law Firm before co-founding Hogan & Northcutt, PLLC in 2015.

Paul M. Northcutt

Paul M. Northcutt is an attorney practicing in DUI, Criminal, Family Law, Probate, Wills, Guardianship, Social Security, Automobile Accidents, wrongful death, and Personal Injury. He is admitted to practice in all Oklahoma State Courts. He graduated from the University of the Ozarks with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 2006 and from Oklahoma City University Law School in 2010. He previously worked at the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office and the Edwards Law Firm before co-founding Hogan & Northcutt, PLLC in 2015.

Jeffrey H. Contreras

Jeffrey H. Contreras has continuously practiced law since October 16, 1985, and is an experienced trial attorney. He graduated with Honors from University of East Central Oklahoma State with a B.S. in Business Finance and obtained his Juris Doctor with Distinction from the University of Oklahoma School of Law.

Pat Layden

Pat Layden was born in McAlester, Oklahoma. He attended the University of Oklahoma, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. He then attended Law School at Oklahoma City University, where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1987. He is a third-generation attorney practicing law in McAlester, Oklahoma, for over 35 years.