J. Kearney Travis, Jr.

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...

In his nearly 20 years of practice, Jeffrey Blackwood has handled a variety of commercial litigation matters. He is actively representing broker-dealers and registered investment advisors in matters before FINRA, as well as the Mississippi Secretary of State Securities Division. Jeffrey recently obtained a victory on behalf of a trust in litigation involving investment LLCs in Delaware. In addition, he routinely speaks and writes on topics related to securities regulatory and enforcement matt...

Robert is a member of our Finance, Real Estate and Restructuring Group. He focuses his practice on Real Estate Development and Finance, Corporate Governance, Mergers and Acquisitions and Commercial Finance.

Clay practices within Butler Snow's Tort, Transportation, & Specialized Litigation Group. Clay concentrates his practice in personal injury litigation, primarily in the areas of product liability, medical malpractice, and transportation litigation.

Kenna L. Mansfield, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Kenna L., who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kenna L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joseph G. Baladi was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 2000 and the Mississippi Bar in 2001. Since joining Watkins & Eager, Joe's experience has included numerous pharmaceutical litigations, medical malpractice bench and jury trials, and product liability trials. Joe's involved in several professional organizations and serves as co-chair of Watkins & Eager's Mass Tort and Repetitive Exposure practice group. Joe regularly speaks and presents on the subjects of science at trial, Daubert i...

Kyle Moran practices in the areas of insurance coverage counseling and litigation, as well as and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on energy and marine claims, first-party and third-party insurance property claims, professional liability defense, business torts and contract disputes. He also has extensive experience counseling and defending clients involved in environmental, toxic tort and long-term exposure litigation and managing complex and large exposure claims. In 2010, Mr. Moran ...

John S. Farese is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. John S., who practices law in Ashland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2005. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bill Creel was born in Biloxi, Mississippi and has been licensed to practice in the State of Mississippi since 1990. Bill has litigated matters in state and federal courts. Bill has a varied litigation practice involving, among other things, personal injury defense, premises liability and insurance coverage matters. Bill and his wife are proud parents of three boys. The Creels attend Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church.

Over 43 years’ experience representing banks and financial institutions in a wide variety of business and regulatory matters including compliance, regulatory enforcement actions, bank products and services, bank formation, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial and real estate finance transactions.