Watkins & Eager PLLC

49 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Litigation - Securities Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Litigation - Banking and Finance Litigation - ERISA Litigation - Trusts and Estates
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Jackson, MS.

Biography

William F. Ray was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1986. His experience spans from commercial litigation, complex litigation and banking, securities and financial services to life, health and disability insurance and ERISA and employee benefit claims. His cases of note include Raines v. Bottrell Ins. Agency, Inc., 992 So.2d 642, 2008 WL 1869290, 2008 Miss. App. LEXIS 274; 27 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1350 (Miss. App. 2008); Estate of Bratton v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., 215 F.3d 516, 2000 U.S. App. LEXIS 14187, 24 Employee Benefits Cas. (BNA) 2510 (5th Cir. 2000); Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority v. SLB, NASD case # 93-03411; First Investors Corp. v. Rayner, 738 So. 2d 228, 1999 Miss. LEXIS 172, 38 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (Callaghan) 963, (Miss. 1999). William is listed in both The Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA for Litigation.
Watkins & Eager PLLC

49 Best Lawyers awards

Watkins & Eager PLLC logo

Overview

  • University of Mississippi, J.D., graduated 1988
  • University of Mississippi, BA, graduated 1983

  • Mississippi, Mississippi Bar
  • Mississippi, Mississippi Bar
  • University of Mississippi, J.D., graduated 1988
  • University of Mississippi, BA, graduated 1983

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Litigation - Securities Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - ERISA Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Litigation - Securities Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Litigation - Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2022 - Litigation - Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Litigation - Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Litigation - Securities Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Litigation - Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Litigation - Banking and Finance
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Securities, Jackson, MS (2026)
  • Litigation - ERISA, Jackson, MS (2025)
  • Litigation - Securities, Jackson, MS (2024)
  • Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Jackson, MS (2024)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Jackson, MS (2023)
  • Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Jackson, MS (2022)
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance, Jackson, MS (2021)
  • Litigation - Securities, Jackson, MS (2020)
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance, Jackson, MS (2018)
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance, Jackson, MS (2013)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - ERISA
  • Litigation - Securities
  • Litigation - Trusts and Estates
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Arbitration
  • Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Special Focus:
  • Banking
  • Commercial Disputes
  • Complex Litigation
  • Covenants Not to Compete
  • ERISA
  • Insurance
  • Securities
  • Trade Secrets
Awards:
  • 2012 Benchmark Litigation: Recommended Mississippi Litigation Lawyer
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers® (2006-2014, Business Litigation, Employee Benefits/ERISA, Banking; 2011 - 2014 Top 50 in Mississippi)
  • Chambers USA-America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2009-2014, Litigation)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2009-2015, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking & Finance)

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