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Lawyer Profile

Image of Russell F. Watters

Russell F. Watters

Brown & James, P.C.
  • Recognized Since:
    2012
  • Recognized in:
    Insurance Law
  • Law School:
    Saint Louis University
  • Lawyer Page:
    http://www.brownjames.com/Lawy...
  • Website:
    http://www.brownjames.com
  • Location:
    Bank of America Plaza, Suite 1100
    800 Market Street
    St. Louis, MO 63101-2501
  • LinkedIn
"As house counsel for a major insurance company, I manage bodily injury insurance defense litigation in connection with seven branch offices in four states (MO, NE, IA, and FL) and have had experience in the past with branch offices in a couple of other states as well (MI and OH). Over the past 15 years, I have dealt with many different defense firms and attorneys, but I have encountered none that come close to the competence of Brown & James, and none that give me the supreme level of confidence that I enjoy knowing that they are handling a matter. Specifically, Russ Watters is the single best attorney that I have encountered in the past 15 years."

-Bob Kamp (Auto Owners Insurance Company), Lansing

"Brown & James, PC, in general, and Russ Watters and Mike Ward, in particular, are the strongest, most knowledgeable, most reliable attorneys that I encounter anywhere in the country. (My practice localities are Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis, Des Moines, Sioux City, Tallahassee, Pensacola, and Ocala)."

-Bob Kamp (Auto Owners Insurance Company), Lansing

  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Firm Details

Lawyer Bio

Russ Watters is a shareholder and one of the founding members of Brown & James. He concentrates his practice in the areas of complex business and insurance litigation and catastrophic injury and death cases. He frequently lectures to both professional and industry organizations on litigation topics. 

Mr. Watters is considered one of the leading national authorities in the field of business and insurance law, personal injury, and products liability litigation, having tried more than 200 cases to conclusion and more than 100 appeals throughout the state and federal levels. He is retained by a number of the national home offices of many of the largest companies throughout the United States. He is continually named a Super Lawyer by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyer Magazine and has been awarded the annual "No. 1 Trial Defense Verdict in Missouri" honor twice by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. He was named the "Lawyer of the Year" for Insurance Law in St. Louis by The Best Lawyers in America in both 2013 and 2018. He has also been inducted into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®. 

Read more on firm website
  • Education
  • Bar Admissions
  • Affiliations
  • Award List
  • Additional Information
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge

Education:

  • Saint Louis University, J.D., graduated 1976

Bar Admissions:

  • Missouri
  • Illinois
  • Missouri, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
  • Missouri, United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
  • Illinois, United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • Missouri, United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • Illinois, United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • Kansas, United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

Affiliations:

  • American Board of Trial Advocates - Past Member
  • American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel - Fellow
  • Claims & Litigation Management Alliance - Member
  • Council on Ethical Billing Management - Member
  • Defense Research Institute - Member
  • Illinois State Bar Association - Member
  • Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers - Member, Past Director
  • Property Loss Research Bureau - Member

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:

  • Insurance Law, St. Louis (2020)
  • Insurance Law, St. Louis (2018)
  • Insurance Law, St. Louis (2013)
 

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Insurance Law
 

Awards:

  • Lawyer of the Year - Insurance Law, The Best Lawyers in America (2013, 2018)
  • Best Lawyers - Insurance Law, The Best Lawyers in America (2012-2018)
  • Largest Reported Settlement in Missouri in 2015, Missouri Lawyers Awards 2016, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
  • Super Lawyers - Insurance Coverage, Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers (2005-2016)
  • St. Louis' Best Lawyers - Insurance Law, St. Louis Magazine (2012-2013)
  • Number 1 Defense Verdict in State of Missouri, Missouri Lawyers Weekly (2009)
  • Number 1 Defense Verdict in State of Missouri, Missouri Lawyers Weekly (2001)
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent

Areas of Expertise:

  • Fire and Casualty
 

Lawyer Client Comments

"As house counsel for a major insurance company, I manage bodily injury insurance defense litigation in connection with seven branch offices in four states (MO, NE, IA, and FL) and have had experience in the past with branch offices in a couple of other states as well (MI and OH). Over the past 15 years, I have dealt with many different defense firms and attorneys, but I have encountered none that come close to the competence of Brown & James, and none that give me the supreme level of confidence that I enjoy knowing that they are handling a matter. Specifically, Russ Watters is the single best attorney that I have encountered in the past 15 years."

Bob Kamp, Auto Owners Insurance Company, Lansing

"Brown & James, PC, in general, and Russ Watters and Mike Ward, in particular, are the strongest, most knowledgeable, most reliable attorneys that I encounter anywhere in the country. (My practice localities are Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis, Des Moines, Sioux City, Tallahassee, Pensacola, and Ocala)."

Bob Kamp, Auto Owners Insurance Company, Lansing

Firm Details

Image for Brown & James, P.C. View Firm Profile
Brown & James, P.C.
http://www.brownjames.com
 
Headquarters
Bank of America Plaza, Suite 1100
800 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63101-2501
(314) 421.3400
7 Office Locations
in 1 Country

United States

United States

Arkansas

Arkansas

Little Rock, AR

400 West Capitol, Suite 1704

Little Rock, AR 72201

United States

(501) 492.3404

Get Directions

Illinois

Illinois

Belleville, IL

Richland Plaza One, Suite 200

525 West Main Street

Belleville, IL 62220-1547

United States

(618) 235.5590

Get Directions

Kansas

Kansas

Wichita, KS

111 South Whittier

Wichita, KS 67207

United States

(316) 689.4297

Get Directions

Missouri

Missouri

Columbia, MO

3610 Buttonwood Drive, Suite 200

Columbia, MO 65201

United States

(573) 886.8970

Get Directions

Kansas City, MO

2345 Grand Boulevard, Suite 2100

Kansas City, MO 64108

United States

(816) 472.0800

Get Directions

Springfield, MO

300 John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 603

Springfield, MO 65806

United States

(417) 831.1412

Get Directions

 
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