Paul H. Stephenson III

Paul H. Stephenson III

Jackson, MS recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2005
Watkins & Eager PLLC

49 Best Lawyers awards

Watkins & Eager PLLC logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Energy Law Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants Litigation - Banking and Finance Natural Resources Law Oil and Gas Law

Biography

Paul H. Stephenson, III was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1977. He is also admitted to practice before all state and federal district courts in Mississippi, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. His practice has focused on business, commercial and financial disputes at the trial and appellate levels involving a wide array of subject matters. Paul's experience includes complex class actions, oil and gas controversies, and business practices challenges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). His cases of note include The Piney Woods Country Life School v. Shell Oil Co., 539 F. Supp. 957 (S.D. Miss. 1982), aff'd in part, rev'd in part, 726 F.2d 225 (5th Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1005 (1985); on remand, No. J74-0307(W) (S.D. Miss. April 24, 1989), aff'd in part,rev'd in part, 905 F.2d 840 (5th Cir. 1990); on remand, 1995 WL 917482 (S.D. Miss. 1995), aff'd in part, 116 F.3d 478 (5th Cir. 1997);on remand, 170 F. Supp. 2d 675 (S.D. Miss. 1999), aff'd, 218 F.3d 744 (5th Cir. 2000); Ayers v. Allain, 674 F. Supp. 1523 (N.D. Miss. 1987),aff'd en banc, 898 F.2d 1014 (5th Cir. 1990), vacated and remanded, 505 U.S. 717 (1992); on remand, 879 F. Supp. 1419 (N.D. Miss. 1995), aff'd in part, rev'd in part, 111 F.3d 1183 (5th Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 1084 (1998); on remand, 2002 WL 91895 (N.D. Miss. 2002), aff'd, 358 F.3d 356 (5th Cir. 2004), cert. denied,543 U.S. 951 (2004); and Smith v. Tower Loan of Mississippi, Inc., 216 F.R.D.338 (S.D. Miss. 2003), aff'd, 91 Fed. Appx. 952 (5th Cir. 2004),cert. denied., 534 U.S. 1089 (2005).
Watkins & Eager PLLC

49 Best Lawyers awards

Watkins & Eager PLLC logo

Overview

  • University of Mississippi, J.D., graduated 1977
  • University of Mississippi, J.D., graduated 1977

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Litigation - Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Natural Resources Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Oil and Gas Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Litigation - Banking and Finance
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants, Jackson, MS (2025)
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance, Jackson, MS (2024)
  • Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants, Jackson, MS (2021)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Jackson, MS (2020)
  • Natural Resources Law, Jackson, MS (2018)
  • Oil and Gas Law, Jackson, MS (2016)
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance, Jackson, MS (2015)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Energy Law
  • Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Natural Resources Law
  • Oil and Gas Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Antitrust Law
  • Litigation - Antitrust
Special Focus:
  • Appellate
  • Civil Litigation
  • Class Actions
  • Complex Litigation
  • Contract
  • Litigation
  • Natural Resources
  • Natural Resources
  • Oil and Gas
  • Professional Malpractice

Additional Information

  • Publications And Honors
  • The American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2009-2016, Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Litigation - Banking & Finance)
  • Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year 2016, Oil and Gas Law, Jackson, Mississippi
  • Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year 2015, Litigation - Banking & Finance, Jackson, Mississippi
  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2009-2016, Litigation: General and Commercial)
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers (2006-2015, Business Litigation, Class Action/Mass Torts, Civil Litigation Defense)
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV rating
  • 2016 Benchmark Litigation: Local Litigation Star

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