Michael D. Simmons

Glenn Gates Taylor is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law, Litigation - Environmental, Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law and Water Law. Glenn Gates, who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 1989. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Glenn Gates 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...

Bo represents publicly traded and privately held businesses in acquisitions, sales, mergers and capital raises. He is also experienced in business strategy and planning, including corporate formation, structuring and organization.

Jason H. Strong is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants and Transportation Law. Jason H., who practices law in Madison, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jason H. is held by other top lawyers in the same g...

Margaret Oertling Cupples writes briefs and motions, and manages other lawyers who write them, in civil appeals and commercial litigation. As litigators and their clients know, a vanishingly small percentage of cases actually get to trial; for the rest, a great brief is the way to win. As national legal writing counsel in major litigation for 3M Company, Margaret’s individual contributions and her strong collaboration with colleagues have brought significant value to 3M for two decades....

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

Steve Rosenblatt focuses his practice on bankruptcy, restructuring and commercial litigation. He has a wealth of experience serving as debtor’s counsel in Chapter 11 cases and is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy.

C. Phillip Buffington, Jr. advises financial institutions throughout the United States on federal and state banking laws and regulations. For more than 30 years, he has served as a trusted advisor to community, regional and national financial institutions, helping them to assess and analyze regulatory and litigation risks. Phil advises on a full range of issues, including corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, expansion and divestitures, de novo formations and charter conversions, ba...

Mary Clift Abdalla is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Mary Clift, 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 Mary Clift is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

R. James (Jimmy) Young was named to The Top 50 Mississippi attorneys 2010 and 2012 lists, having received one of the highest point totals in the Mid-South Super Lawyers nomination, research and blue ribbon review process. He was identified as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in Mississippi in the Leaders in Law 2011 by the Mississippi Business Journal. As a Best Lawyer in America for the past fifteen years, Jimmy was also named by his peers as the Best Lawyers in America 2013 Jackson, MS Trusts &...