Joseph E. "Jody" Varner III

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...

JoJo Adams is a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group. He focuses his practice on discrimination, harassment, and other employment-related litigation. JoJo has extensive experience in employee and supervisor training related to workplace conduct issues and litigating wage-and-hour collective actions. He also has experience in unfair labor practice litigation against unions and in collective bargaining negotiations. JoJo also provides daily employment advice to clients in public...

Jennifer A. Rogers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Jennifer A., who practices law in Jackson, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jennifer A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jeremy T. Hutto is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Jeremy T., who practices law in Jackson, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeremy T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Thomas M. Louis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Thomas M., who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Johnny has represented buyers and sellers in business acquisitions in a multitude of industries, including: software/technology, medical device, building supply, retail, advertising and manufacturing concerns. He previously served as Practice Group Leader for the Business Services Group.

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.

Trey Bourn has a broad practice focused on helping clients from pre-litigation through trial. His experience includes defending products manufacturers in litigation pending in various state and federal venues across the country in cases involving heavy construction equipment, agricultural products, aviation products, pet food, gas pipelines, recreational vehicles, watercraft, medical devices, automobiles, home appliances, and children’s toys. He also counsels manufacturers on risk manag...

Thad serves as Practice Group Leader for the Public Finance, Tax Incentives and Credit Markets Group. His work has been concentrated in all roles of Public Finance since 1996.