James B. "Rus" Sykes III

Kelly D. Simpkins is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law. Kelly D., who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kelly D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Keishunna is a member of the Tort, Transportation and Specialized Litigation practice group and has more than 14 years of litigation experience. Her experience spans the breadth of defending commercial trucking and transportation companies resulting in the full range of complex personal injury, including catastrophic injury, brain injury, and wrongful death cases, to defending landowners in a wide variety of premises liability cases, running the gamut from simple slip and falls to negligent s...

George R. Fair was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1973. He has a general civil practice of both business and litigated matters, primarily in the banking, commercial lending and finance, corporate, public utilities, construction, fidelity and surety areas. George is a former President of the Mississippi Bar and an active member in several professional organizations.

Tanya D. Ellis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Tanya D., 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 Tanya D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Barber focuses his practice on commercial litigation issues including intellectual property, trade secrets, false advertising, breach of contract, and cybersecurity issues, as well as a variety of other types of commercial and environmental litigation. Barber has experience defending third party administrators in bad faith litigation. Barber’s practice includes matters with complex e-discovery issues, including handling issues relating to identification, preservation and collection of e...

Jamie G. Houston, III, was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1976. He has been admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, and the United States Tax Court. His experience includes practice in corporate and business law, tax and estate planning and administration. Jamie is a Certified Public Accountant (Retired).

Corey has practiced law with Watkins & Eager since he was admitted to the bar in 2004. He is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Mississippi, all federal courts in Arkansas and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He has also been admitted pro hac vice in numerous state and federal courts around the country. Corey's diverse litigation practice has involved representing clients in every phase of litigation-including trials, appeals and alternative...

Ann Corso Taylor is a partner in the firm. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience, she handles matters encompassing every aspect of real estate law. Ann advises clients on matters involving acquisitions, sales, leasing, and financing. In recent years, she has been heavily involved in negotiating leases with national and local tenants for the developer of a new shopping center development. She also has been involved in the purchasing and selling of numerous apartment complexes across the ...

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

Robert B. Ireland, III, was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2002 and is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Mississippi and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Robert has handled and assisted with all aspects of litigated matters, through trial and appeal, in both state and federal courts and also in arbitration proceedings. He has also appeared before municipal and county authorities on numerous zoning related matters. Robert has extensive lit...