A significant part of part of Mr. Begley's practice involves the Mississippi casino industry. He represented Lady Luck Gaming Corporation, the first Nevada gaming company to obtain a Mississippi gaming license. He served as Lady Luck's attorney in connection with the licensing and development of casino projects located in Natchez, Tunica (Mhoon Landing), Biloxi and Lula (Coahoma County). He also handled all licensing and regulatory issues attendant to the development of Hollywood Casino Corporation's casino and hotel located in Robinsonville (Tunica County). He has handled the licensing and regulatory work for Treasure Bay Gaming & Resorts, Inc.'s casino in Biloxi. He recently served as Myriad's Casino Resort's counsel before the Mississippi Gaming Commissions on the issue of site development plan approval for its Tunica development. Mr. Begley has represented the casino industry in litigation concerning public trust tidelands leases on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He represented the plaintiff in a lawsuit seeking to set aside the tribal gaming compact between the State of Mississippi and the Mississippi Band of Choctaws. Mr. Begley lobbied the Mississippi Legislature during the Katrina special session to secure the passage of limited land based gaming legislation for the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Mr. Begley represented Federated Technologies, Inc., in behalf of its efforts to obtain a permit to store and dispose of hazardous waste at a facility to be developed in Noxubee County, Mississippi.
He has represented the Two Lakes Foundation in its effort to create a flood control plan that would convert the Pearl River at Jackson into eleven miles of recreational lakes with major waterfront development for the City's downtown.
In connection with his representation of his gaming clients, Federated Technologies and the Two Lakes Foundation, Mr. Begley has handled a wide range of environmental issues causing him to appear before the Mississippi Department of Environment Quality, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Environment Protection Agency. He has also secured alcoholic beverages and beer permits from the Mississippi State Tax Commission for his casino clients.
Mr. Begley has representation individuals and employees in various labor and employment law matters. He has represented individuals on professional licensure matters before the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure, the Mississippi Dental Board, and the Mississippi Board Nursing.
Mr. Begley has represented numerous candidates for elective office and political committees in election related proceedings. On September 18, 2008, Mr. Begley successfully argued before the Mississippi Supreme Court the case of Berger V. Barbour, which declared unlawful the Governor and Secretary of State's placement of the Special U.S. Senate race at the bottom of the 2008 general election ballot.
He has lobbied the Mississippi Legislature on various issues including, hazardous waste, gaming, liquor regulation, and certificate of need issue for a Jackson, Mississippi hospital.
Mr. Begley has been retained by the City of Jackson, Mississippi as counsel in numerous public works bond issues, including the 1999 issuance of water and sewer system revenue bonds in the amount of $35 million, the 2003 issuance of general obligation bonds in the amount of $20 million and the 2004 water and sewer system revenue bond issue in the amount of $78 million. He has served as counsel for the City of Jackson in employment discrimination and police brutality cases and in a constitutional challenge to the City's adult entertainment industry. He appeared before the United State Supreme Court in the case of Smith v. City of Jackson (decided March 30, 2005), which considered the question of whether a disparate impact claim can be made under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. He has advised the City on downtown development projects and was counsel for the City's petition for the annexation of 50 square miles of additional territory.
Recently Mr. Begley served as bond counsel to the City of Natchez in connection with the refunding of its Convention Center Bonds and as counsel in related interest rate "swap" transaction.
Mr. Begley presently represents Belle La Vie, a proposed 5,000-unit master planned community, in court proceeding to cause its territory to be annexed into the City of Biloxi.
In 1997, he chaired the transition team for Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson. He resides in Jackson at 845 North Jefferson Street in the Belhaven Heights Historic District.