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Michael Rainwater

Rainwater Holt & Sexton - Little Rock
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Michael Rainwater
Rainwater Holt & Sexton - Little Rock
Little Rock,
 AR

When you’re hurting, you want a lawyer who will stand with you and one who has been through the battles and knows what it takes to win. For more than four decades, Mike Rainwater has helped Arkansas families navigate some of the darkest and hardest moments of their lives. He believes every person deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect, and that no Arkansan should ever have to walk through an injury alone.

Mike’s legal career is grounded in real courtroom experience, not theory. He has practiced law in Arkansas his entire career and has personally handled thousands of cases. Over his years representing Arkansas cities, counties, and injured individuals, Mike has been involved in more than 6,000 cases and has represented over 30,000 Arkansans. When Mike gives legal counsel, it comes from real experience, what he has lived, argued, tried, and negotiated in Arkansas courtrooms for the real people of Arkansas.

Born in Little Rock with deep Arkansas roots in Crawford County, White County, and Central Arkansas, Mike graduated from North Little Rock High School and attended Henderson State University and Louisiana Tech. Before becoming a lawyer, Mike worked as a computer programmer, but he soon realized he was drawn to people, not machines. He enrolled in South Texas College of Law, working full-time during the day and attending law school at night.

After law school, Mike returned home to Arkansas to raise a family and serve his community. He served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and later represented city officials through the Arkansas Municipal League Defense Fund. He also helped create and litigate for the Association of Arkansas Counties Risk Management Fund, representing county officials across the state for more than 31 years.

Alongside this work, Mike began representing injured people because he felt called to help those who were hurting and sidelined by tragedy in their lives. In 2006, Mike helped form Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, which has grown to over 40 attorneys and more than 125 team members, all built on one simple philosophy: put people first.

Mike loves Arkansas and has spent his entire law career serving its cities, counties, and families from every corner of the state. When he’s not practicing law, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife, children, and nine grandchildren, especially outdoors at the family farm.

Memberships and Service:

  • Debtor-Creditor Bar of Central Arkansas
  • Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association
  • Arkansas Bar, 1979
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, 1982
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1982
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1986
  • Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Sixth Judicial District, Pulaski County, Arkansas, 1979-1980
  • Pulaski County Bar Association, Board Member, 1988-1990
  • Arkansas Bar Association
  • American Association for Justice
  • Arkansas Bar Foundation, Fellow

Awards and Peer Reviews:

  • Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2006-present
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • Arkansas Life Top Attorney, 2015-present
  • Arkansas Democrat Gazette Best Attorney, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021
  • Little Rock Soiree Best Lawyer, 2015-2019
  • 100 Best Lawyers, Soirée Magazine
  • Arkansas Super Lawyers®, 2006-present
  • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®, 1995 – present
  • Avvo® Superb 10 Rating, 2013-present
  • Scott Fellow, Pulaski County Bar Foundation
  • The Best Lawyers in America©, recognized since 2006
    • Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
  • American Association for Justice Leaders Forum
  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Life Member
  • Super Lawyers of the South, 2006
  • U.S.News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”, 2012-present
  • Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers

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