J. Scott "Scott" Gilbert

J. Scott "Scott" Gilbert

Jackson, MS recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2021
Watkins & Eager PLLC

49 Best Lawyers awards

Watkins & Eager PLLC logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Qui Tam Law Criminal Defense: General Practice Litigation - Health Care
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Jackson, MS.

Biography

Scott practices primarily in the areas of white-collar criminal defense, asset forfeiture litigation, criminal appellate litigation, criminal and civil healthcare litigation, False Claims Act litigation, and governmental and corporate investigations. He has represented clients who were under state or federal criminal investigation, successfully guiding them through the process and avoiding charges. Scott has trial experience defending criminal cases and represents clients in the federal and state courts throughout the United States in criminal matters, civil False Claims Act matters, and in both civil and criminal asset forfeiture cases. He is an adjunct professor at Mississippi College School of Law, where he teaches Federal Criminal Practice and Asset Forfeiture Law.

Before joining the firm, Scott served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the Southern District of Mississippi, where he litigated white-collar criminal matters, including health care fraud, money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act, bank fraud, asset forfeiture, and public corruption. Scott’s criminal practice also included appellate work in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Besides criminal cases, Scott litigated civil health care fraud cases and other False Claims Act and qui tam matters. While with DOJ, Scott was a frequent lecturer on money laundering and asset forfeiture at the Department of Justice training facility in Columbia, South Carolina. Scott also spent time at "Main Justice" in Washington, D.C. managing the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering program for the 94 United States Attorney's offices.

Watkins & Eager PLLC

49 Best Lawyers awards

Watkins & Eager PLLC logo

Overview

  • Mississippi College, JD, graduated 2006
  • Mississippi State University, BA, graduated 2003

  • Mississippi, Mississippi Bar
  • Texas, Texas Bar

  • American Bar Association - -
  • Bar Association of The Fifth Federal Circuit - -
  • Federal Bar Association - -
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - -

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • Mississippi, Mississippi Bar
  • Texas, Texas Bar
  • American Bar Association - -
  • Bar Association of The Fifth Federal Circuit - -
  • Federal Bar Association - -
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - -
  • Mississippi College, JD, graduated 2006
  • Mississippi State University, BA, graduated 2003
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Qui Tam Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Criminal Defense: General Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2022 - Criminal Defense: General Practice
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Qui Tam Law, Jackson, MS (2026)
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, Jackson, MS (2023)
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, Jackson, MS (2022)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice
  • Litigation - Health Care
  • Qui Tam Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Health Care Law
Awards:
    • National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, 2013 Investigation of the Year Award
  • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

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