David Bridges

Ben Williams is a corporate and transactional attorney in the firm’s Real Estate and Banking & Financial Services practice groups with more than 40 years of experience in complex corporate, commercial finance, and real estate transactions. Ben’s practice includes creating, negotiating and closing nuanced structures and innovative financing alternatives on behalf of lender and borrower clients alike, and assisting businesses on both sides of acquisitions and mergers. His work i...

Walter Willson practices in the areas of commercial litigation, lender liability, insurance defense and complex litigation. He has extensive experience representing consumer credit institutions, banks, finance companies, and other lenders in cases involving consumer and commercial loans, and the purchase of debt protection instruments and/or credit insurance, and advises clients on regulatory issues related to the development and marketing of debt protection products, and has drafted contract...

Lynn Thompson has practiced extensively in construction law and litigation, government contracts and procurement (federal state, and local) law, grants law, commercial litigation and transactions, and business consulting for over 26 years. Lynn is deeply skilled in these areas of practice—as counsel for plaintiffs and defendants—and has successfully represented prime contractors, subcontractors, private and public owners, and suppliers in scores of lawsuits, arbitrations, bid prot...

Jim Crongeyer is a Managing Member of Watkins & Eager and has served in this capacity since 2008. He began the practice of law in Florida in 1995 after graduating cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He is admitted to practice in Mississippi (1997), Alabama (1996) and Florida (1995), and has actively practiced in all three states. Jim has significant litigation and trial experience in the general product liability litigation, mass tort, complex litigation and constr...

John England served as the practice group leader for Butler Snow’s Public Finance, Tax Incentives and Credit Markets Group for over 14 years. John concentrates his practice in government finance, tax credit finance and economic development incentives. He has participated in reviewing, analyzing and structuring a variety of public finance, economic development finance and tax credit finance transactions for over 31 years. He has been involved in financings to support hospitals and other ...

Sai has extensive experience counseling businesses dealing with a wide variety of antitrust issues, from pricing and distribution issues to issues relating to collaborations, joint ventures and acquisitions. He also represents buyers and sellers in business transfers, management buy-out transactions, and business reorganizations. Sai has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America and Mid-South Super Lawyers for his corporate law work.

Caroline M. Upchurch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Caroline M., who practices law in Jackson, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Caroline M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Gregg A. Caraway is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law. Gregg A., who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gregg A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James L. Banks is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. James L., who practices law in Jackson, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Susan L. Steffey was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1987 and to the Mississippi Bar in 1991. She is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Mississippi and Florida and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Before joining Watkins & Eager in 1991, Susan practiced in Tampa, Florida, with the law firm of Sessums & Mason (1987-1990), and served as law clerk to the Honorable Rhesa H. Barksdale, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1990-19...