Wright Lindsey Jennings
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The partners of Wright Lindsey Jennings are pleased to announce that four attorneys have been elected into partnership: Eli Bauer, Collins Hickman, Jennifer Smith and Zach Trail.
Eli Bauer’s practice focuses on corporate formation and governance, growth and compliance, mergers and acquisitions, state and local tax, contract negotiations, real estate matters, and business incentives and credits. His regulatory and administrative law experience is concentrated in Arkansas’s medical cannabis industry. Since 2022, Mid-South Super Lawyers has recognized Eli as a “Rising Star” in business/corporate law, cannabis law, administrative law, environmental law and tax law.
Eli practiced with Dover Dixon Horne (DDH) from August 2020 until January 2022, when DDH merged with WLJ. Prior to joining DDH, Eli gained experience at The Office of the Arkansas Attorney General, as a law clerk with DDH, and at a Fortune 10 company.
Eli earned his law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law at Fayetteville (magna cum laude), where he held the prestigious distinction as a Pearson Fellow. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology and Political Science from Arkansas State University. He is a graduate of Leadership Greater Little Rock, Class XL, and serves on the executive board for the 4300 Club, a young professional’s group that supports the mission of Home for Healing.
Collins Hickman’s commercial litigation practice centers around banking law, contract disputes, and trust litigation. He also regularly provides contract drafting and review services for a variety of clients. In his corporate practice, Collins assists clients with business entity formation, corporate governance, and real estate acquisitions. Also, sports law and athlete representation are Collins’ passions. After the NCAA amended its bylaws to allow student-athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness (NIL) for the first time in history, Collins has gained specialized knowledge in NIL compliance, contract drafting, and representing student-athletes.
Collins was recognized as one of Arkansas Business’ 2022 “The New Influentials: 20 in Their 20s,” which highlights talented young leaders in Arkansas’ business and nonprofit community. He currently serves as a board member for two non-profit organizations: the Pulaski County Bar Foundation and the American Red Cross of Greater Arkansas. He is also a volunteer coach for the Miracle League of Arkansas. A Little Rock native, Collins is a graduate of Catholic High School, the University of Arkansas (cum laude), and UALR Bowen School of Law (magna cum laude).
Jennifer Smith rejoined WLJ in 2025 after working in house at the state’s only academic health sciences university, and she previously practiced as a registered nurse. With 18 years of health law experience, Jennifer guides clients through regulatory, administrative and compliance concerns. She represents healthcare providers in numerous areas including healthcare contracting; medical staff issues; professional licensing matters; government investigations and regulatory actions; fraud and abuse laws and regulations; patient privacy; telemedicine; risk management; and regulatory compliance. She also has extensive experience advising clients on the Healthcare Quality Improvement Act, Arkansas Peer Review Fairness Act, Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act, HIPAA, and compliance with CMS guidelines and regulations.
Jennifer is a graduate of Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law. In 2024, Jennifer was appointed Vice Chair of the American Health Law Association (AHLA) Healthcare Liability and Litigation Practice Group. She previously served as a participant in the AHLA Medical Staff, Credentialing and Peer Review Practice Group.
She has served on the Boards of Directors for Dress for Success Northwest Arkansas, the Central Arkansas Rescue Effort (CARE) for Animals and the Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Association (ARORA). She is a graduate of the UAMS Leadership Institute and Leadership Greater Little Rock, Class XXXII, and is a member of the Emergency Nurses Association.
Zach Trail is a litigation partner in the firm’s Rogers office. He has a diverse practice assisting individuals and businesses in a variety of matters, including business-related disputes involving breach of contract, trade secrets, fraud, real estate, construction defects, and insurance issues. Zach’s litigation practice also includes cases involving products liability, tractor-trailer accidents, premises liability, and insurance defense. He has extensive experience in all phases of litigation, including pre-filing diligence, pleadings, fact and expert discovery, mediations, hearings, critical motions, and trials. Zach also counsels clients on contractual issues, real-property disputes, internal-business disagreements, and agricultural matters.
Before joining the firm, Zach clerked for the Honorable D. Price Marshall Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. He earned his undergraduate degree and J.D. from the University of Arkansas, where he was an articles editor for the Arkansas Law Review. Zach is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association and ALFA International. He serves on the board for WelcomeHealth, a free health clinic in Fayetteville.