Holmes S. Adams

Betty Ruth Fox is Counsel with Watkins & Eager focusing in the areas of environmental law and bankruptcy. From 1993 to 2002, Betty Ruth was a Senior Attorney with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and worked in regulation and enforcement in every MDEQ Program Area, coordinating with appropriate federal, state and local agencies and/or governing authorities. Beginning in 2002, Betty Ruth worked as a Trial Attorney with the Department of Justice/U. S. Trustee Program in ci...

Bobby House is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He focuses his practice on insurance regulatory, corporate, administrative, and public policy law. Bobby provides general counsel representation to several insurance and insurance-related entities, including residual market mechanisms. He advises insurers on company formation and licensing, mergers and acquisitions, Form A and other insurance holding company system filings, reinsurance transactions, financial and market conduct examina...

Ben focuses his practice on Corporate/LLC Law, Securities Law, Mergers and Acquisitions and Business Planning and Operations. He has served multiple tenures on the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Business Law Reform Committees for LLCs, Corporations and Securities Laws.

Alyson serves as Practice Group Leader for our Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Group. Frequently called upon to assemble teams and manage both coordinated proceedings and individual plaintiff cases, she represents pharmaceutical and medical device companies in product liability litigation across the country. “Alyson is a phenomenal case manager and a strong litigator.” Chambers USA, which ranked Alyson for nationwide Product Liability & Mass Torts (2025). The Leg...

Kelly Blackwood is a member of the firm’s Environmental Practice Group and the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. Her practice involves regulatory and litigation work with a wide range of experience in environmental permitting and enforcement matters. Kelly has a strong working relationship with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and works regularly with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Kelly has represented clients before Mississippi state courts, the Mis...

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.

Will Manuel focuses his practice primarily on commercial and employment litigation. He has handled various disputes for both large and small businesses in both Mississippi and other jurisdictions. Will's clients include numerous manufacturers and commercial interests as well as various insurance and financial services companies. He has worked to defend these clients in both MDL litigation and individual actions brought in Mississippi. Will also has experience in advising businesses on issues ...

Nick Morisani practices in the area of labor and employment and represents both private and public employers in defense of discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims. He also represents clients in defense of civil rights claims arising under the U.S. Constitution. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, Nick served as a law clerk to the Honorable Sul Ozerden, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi, and as a litigation associate at a large ...

Mary Clift Abdalla is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Mary Clift, who practices law in Jackson, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mary Clift is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

F. Hall Bailey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. F. Hall, who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which F. Hall is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.