Mark D. Herbert

Ben serves as General Counsel representing the firm on a variety of issues, including ethics and risk management matters. Ben is also a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group where he focuses his practice on director and officer defense, trade secret litigation, contract litigation, intellectual property litigation, administrative law, and aviation law.

Jeff Barber is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. Jeff regularly represents clients in bankruptcy proceedings and assists them in restructurings. He has served as an adjunct professor of Debtor-Creditor Law at the Mississippi College School of Law and has completed the American Bankruptcy Institute and St. John’s University School of Law Bankruptcy Mediation Training. He also lectures frequently on bankruptcy and creditors' ...

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.

Since joining Watkins & Eager in 1991, Walter's practice has included both federal and state court litigation in the areas of pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, medical malpractice, general product liability, and personal injury. Walter has served as lead trial counsel in numerous product liability and medical malpractice cases in both state and federal courts and has tried multiple cases to verdict. Walter chairs the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device and Alternative Dispute Re...

Michael W. Ulmer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Mediation, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Michael W., who practices law in Jackson, Mississippi, has been recognized since 1993. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high es...

Johanna Jumper represents developers, landlords and tenants in all types of real estate transactions including real estate acquisitions, dispositions and refinancing; closing of new loans and loan assumptions; workouts and foreclosures; and retail, office and industrial leasing. She also has served equity investors in the purchase, reorganization and sale of distressed assets. In her leasing and developments practices, Johanna negotiates agreements reflecting the diverse priorities of franchi...

Walter J. Brand heads the Employment and Labor Practice Group at Watkins & Eager PLLC, where he has defended employment litigation for more than twenty years. Walter approaches his practice with the view that successful defense of employment claims begins long before a lawsuit is filed and requires three essential components: (1) fair, accurate and documented handling of personnel actions based on updated employer policies; (2) cogent explanation of employer action before administrative a...

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 2010. 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.

Spencer J. Flatgard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law and Government Relations Practice. Spencer J., 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 Spencer J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Craig Landrum is a partner in the Banking & Financial Services Industry Team. Craig focuses his practice on bank regulatory law, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions law, and securities law. Craig has extensive experience representing banks in a broad range of issues, including more than 100 merger and branch acquisition or sale transactions, as well as representing insurance companies and agencies with regard to corporate and regulatory matters, including the licensing of bank subsidi...