T.L. "Smith" Boykin III

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...

Paul has extensive experience in tax controversy matters. He is a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel.

Kristina Johnson is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. She provides sophisticated counsel in complex and what are often cross-jurisdictional bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, workouts, receiverships, commercial litigation, and collection matters. Described as "an expert bankruptcy litigator" in Chambers USA 2020, Kristina has represented secured and unsecured creditors, buyers of assets in bankruptcy sales, contract parties, trustees, and unsecured creditors' committees and deb...

Jennifer is a partner in Balch’s Jackson office and holds licenses in Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi. She is an experienced litigation attorney who practices primary in the areas of product liability, toxic and environmental torts, wrongful death, and negligence cases. For more than 18 years Jennifer has defended a myriad of product manufacturers and possesses specialized knowledge in silica litigation defense. Jennifer has defended thousands of silica claims across the Southeast for l...

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' ...

Jay practices within the Products, Catastrophic and Industrial Litigation Group. He focuses his practice on product liability litigation, toxic tort litigation, environmental litigation, catastrophic events and major claims, incident response and evidence preservation, OSHA and general litigation defense.

Bailey R. Fair was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2012. His practice is focused on commercial lending and finance, government relations, public utilities, and real estate. While in law school, Bailey served as Vice-Chairman of the Moot Court Board and was selected to the Order of Barristers. He has earned the ANSI-accredited Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) credential through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Ashley Eley Cannady is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Ashley Eley, 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 Ashley Eley is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Whit Rayner is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and co-leader of the intellectual property team. He focuses on copyright and trademark registration and protection, software licensing, and intellectual property litigation and prosecution. Whit provides counsel and advice to notable large domestic and international clients, including outdoor lifestyle brands, technology companies, and financial institutions. He also represents clients in commercial litigation and contract disputes. Wh...

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 &...