Best Mississippi Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Lawyers

Since joining Watkins & Eager in 1991, Walter's practice has included both federal and state court litigation in the areas of pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, medical malpractice, general product liability, and personal injury. Walter has served as lead trial counsel in numerous product liability and medical malpractice cases in both state and federal courts and has tried multiple cases to verdict. Walter chairs the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device and Alternative Dispute Re...

Jim Crongeyer served as a Managing Member of the firm from 2008 to 2023. He began practicing law in Florida in 1995 after graduating cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He is admitted to practice in Mississippi (1997), Alabama (1996), and Florida (1995), and has actively practiced in all three states. Jim has significant litigation and trial experience across multiple jurisdictions (Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Nebraska, New Jersey, Kansas, Kentucky...

La'Verne practices within Butler Snow's Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Litigation group and serves as the Chair of the firm’s Inclusivity Committee. She is experienced in defending cases involving product liability, medical negligence, premises liability, bad faith insurance, employment disputes and legal malpractice. Chambers USA, which recognized La’Verne for Litigation: General Commercial – Mississippi in 2023 and 2024, states that “[s]he is very well...

Edwin S. Gault, Jr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Environmental, Litigation - Insurance, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Edwin S. practices law in Jackson, Mississippi Best Lawyers has recognized Edwin S. Gault, Jr. since 2013. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geograph...

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.

Mitch McGuffey is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Mitch practices law in Jackson, Mississippi Best Lawyers has recognized Mitch McGuffey since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Mitch McGuffe...

Nicholas C. Giallourakis is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Nicholas C. practices law in Jackson, Mississippi Best Lawyers has recognized Nicholas C. Giallourakis since 2016. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects th...

Kyle is a member of the Products, Catastrophic and Industrial Litigation Group and chair of the firm’s Energy and Environmental Litigation Task Force. He regularly defends clients in class action, catastrophic loss, product liability, and consumer protection litigation.

Jennifer M. Studebaker is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Jennifer M. practices law in Jackson, Mississippi Best Lawyers has recognized Jennifer M. Studebaker since 2017. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Jennifer M. St...

Kevin J. White is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Kevin J. practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi Best Lawyers has recognized Kevin J. White since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Kevin J. White is held by other lawyers.

James E. Lambert III is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. James E. practices law in Gulfport, Mississippi Best Lawyers has recognized James E. Lambert III since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which James E. Lambert III is held by other lawyers.

Mary Clift Abdalla is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Mary Clift practices law in Jackson, Mississippi Best Lawyers has recognized Mary Clift Abdalla since 2019. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional ...

As a member of the firm’s Products, Catastrophic and Industrial Litigation Group, Lem focuses on product liability law, energy law and energy litigation, personal injury defense, toxic torts, and governmental and municipal liability.

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...

Alison O'Neal McMinn is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Alison O'Neal practices law in Jackson, Mississippi Best Lawyers has recognized Alison O'Neal McMinn since 2019. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the prof...