Clark W. Mason

Recognized and respected for his courtroom successes and personal commitment to his clients, Clark Mason's diverse litigation practice has taken him throughout the state of Arkansas and across the country. In the late 80's, Clark began his international success when serving as trial counsel in a case against Japanese manufacturing conglomerate Mitsubishi Aircraft in his first aviation case.  The case arose from the inflight breakup of a Mitsubishi MU-2 over central Georgia, killing all on board.  After a week long jury trial, the jury awarded the survivors almost $3 million, the precise amount requested by Clark during the trial and in summation.  Notably, Defendant Mitsubishi offered nothing to settle the case.  Only a few years afterwards, Clark continued his international success when representing an Arkansas manufacturing and distribution company with its primary manufacturing plant based in Taiwan. Serving as lead counsel and after a week long jury trial in Federal Court, the jury awarded a judgment against the company's Taiwanese contractor in excess of $1 Million. After multiple trips to Taiwan, and subsequent litigation internationally, Clark ultimately collected substantially all of the original judgment against the Taiwanese company. Clark's practice initially included negotiating and litigating complex business transactions and representing U.S. Bankruptcy Court appointed Trustees in multiple Chapter 7 liquidation cases. In late 1999, after a longstanding relationship with the Birmingham, Alabama law firm of Hare, Wynn, Newell and Newton, Clark opened and managed Hare Wynn's first office outside of Birmingham in its over 100 year history. Clark opened and managed Hare Wynn’s Little Rock, Arkansas office until 2006, bringing Hare Wynn’s brand and vast history to Arkansas. After successfully managing Hare Wynn’s Arkansas office, Clark had the opportunity to return to his private practice in 2006, founding Clark Mason Attorneys. Clark's practice presently emphasizes litigation, and he remains extremely proud of his firm's representation of farmers throughout Arkansas and surrounding states in agricultural matters where Clark remains dedicated to helping farmers protect their way of life. One recent example includes joining his former Hare Wynn colleagues to represent nearly 3,000 corn farmers from states throughout the corn belt. The case arose after agricultural giant Syngenta, now owned by the German chemical and pharmaceutical company Bayer, A.G., which marketed genetically modified corn seed that ultimately contaminated U.S. corn exports bound for China. China, as do other European and Asian countries, have a zero tolerance policy relating to unapproved genetically modified food imports, and the genetically modified Syngenta corn was not approved for import to China. Once China recognized the U.S. corn had been contaminated with the unapproved genetic traits, China rejected all U.S. corn imports for well over a year, driving the market price of corn down at the expense of American farmers. The case is nearly complete as distribution of the settlement proceeds, attorneys' fees and ongoing related litigation winds down following settlement of the corn farmers' claims in the sum of $1.51 Billion Dollars.

Clark also focuses on representing those critically or catastrophically injured in personal injury cases and the families of those tragically killed in wrongful death actions.  Clark is AV-rated by Martindale Hubble and served as a Special Associate Justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court in the landmark case of Murphy, et al., vs. Baptist Health, et al., participating in the majority opinion.

In 2005 Clark Mason was instrumental as co-lead counsel in achieving the largest civil settlement by private attorneys in the state of Arkansas at the time, $43 Million Dollars, and represented nearly 100 Arkansas hog farmers. In 2006, as in years before, Clark Mason continued his commitment to giving back to his profession and was elected President of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association after serving on its Board of Governors beginning in 2001.  He was elected Secretary, Vice President, President Elect and ultimately President. Clark is an Eagle Scout and remains active in scouting and has been an avid pilot for over 30 years, flying over 25 different aircraft. Clark holds multiple FAA ratings and endorsements, and in 2008 was appointed to the Arkansas Aeronautics Commission. Clark was reappointed in 2013, ultimately serving under two Arkansas governors in multiple capacities, including Chairman of the Aeronautics Commission.

Clark is recognized as a forward-thinking founding partner, litigation attorney, experienced general counsel and chief legal officer with consistent success providing counsel and direction, building trust, mentoring staff and managing teams.