Established in 1895, Watkins & Eager PLLC is a full-service law firm focused on the pursuit of excellence in the practice of law. Our 70+ professionals in Mississippi and Alabama from varied backgrounds use their wealth of experience to creatively help our clients navigate an ever-changing legal landscape. The firm's enduring mission is simply stated: We endeavor to obtain outstanding results for our clients in the most cost-effective fashion feasible.
Watkins & Eager’s bankruptcy and creditors’ rights practice primarily focuses on the representation of creditors in major Chapter 11 cases, and workouts for large commercial loans and bond transactions. We also represent creditors in Chapter 7, 12 and 13 cases. Our bankruptcy practice has included representation of creditors’ committees in large Chapter 11 cases and Chapter 7 trustees. Our lawyers routinely litigate bankruptcy issues such as avoidance actions, automatic stay relief, use of cash collateral, assumption or rejection of executory contracts and unexpired leases, dischargeability complaints, determination of secured status, and plan confirmation. We are experienced in representing purchasers at section 363 sales, including negotiation of bid procedures and asset purchase agreements. Our lawyers also represent creditors in non-bankruptcy matters. We have extensive experience in problem loan workouts, landlord/tenant disputes, defaulted bond issues, foreclosures, commercial collections, receivership actions, lien enforcement, and actions to recover possession of personal property. Our clients include financial institutions, bond trustees, creditors’ committees, asset purchasers, and other parties in interest.
The firm’s employment practice, in-keeping with Watkins & Eager’s long-standing tradition as Mississippi’s preeminent litigation and trial firm, is principally dedicated to defense of individual and complex employment litigation before federal and state courts, and related administrative claims before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the federal Department of Labor (DOL). Our employment litigation practice includes summary judgment practice, jury trials, and appeals in individual, class, and EEOC litigation. We regularly defend litigation in federal and state courts, representing employers in cases brought under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and other federal statutory schemes, as well as in cases brought under state law, such as breach of contract, wrongful discharge, and employment tort actions. The firm also regularly handles restrictive covenant disputes and litigation, and is able to immediately respond to any exigencies arising in this area. We also represent employers in employment disputes resolved through alternative dispute resolution forums and processes.
We also regularly handle other administrative matters and advise clients on a daily basis about all aspect of employee relations and human resources administration. Our employment-related administrative and advice practice includes investigation of claims and complaints, preparation of position statements, on-site investigations and fact-finding conferences, daily advice concerning personnel matters, policy review and updating, employee training, and guidance concerning work authorization. We represent employers in unfair labor practice claims and related administrative trials before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). We prepare and update employer affirmative action programs and represent employers in on-site audits and investigations initiated by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Our lawyers also handle claims filed with the Wage/Hour Division of the DOL, and investigations and audits conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Watkins & Eager also has experience in union elections and collective bargaining matters. We are experienced in helping public and private companies, nonprofits, and international corporations avoid and solve workplace legal problems.
Watkins & Eager provides comprehensive, sophisticated corporate and business counseling. We assist with business, corporate, and non-profit formation, including the drafting of organizational documents. Our lawyers provide transactional advice for banking transactions, business reorganization, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and securities law. Our transactional work ranges from suggesting simple solutions drawn from our extensive experience to designing and structuring complex transactions for businesses and investors. Our lawyers counsel new and established companies regarding statutory and regulatory compliance, taxation issues, employment and labor issues, corporate governance, and numerous other areas. Our corporate and business litigators handle all types of commercial cases, assisting clients before administrative agencies, in trial courts, and through the appeals process.
Watkins & Eager has a longstanding, full-service banking practice. The firm regularly advises and represents financial institutions and consumer finance companies regarding business operations and in litigation and arbitration proceedings. Our familiarity with today’s ever-evolving economic and regulatory landscape allows us to counsel banks on matters ranging from day-to-day concerns to complex financing transactions and high stakes litigation. The members of our banking and financial institutions team have worked with large and small financial institutions, including community banks, for many years and offer a wealth of practical, hands-on experience and legal knowledge. The firm’s representation includes lending, debtor-creditor issues, bankruptcy, loan workouts, corporate trust matters, estate and trust administration, third-party legal opinions, regulatory compliance, insurance, mergers and acquisitions, litigation in state and federal courts, and arbitrations. Watkins & Eager is particularly active in commercial lending, including credit facilities that range from traditional commercial loans to multi-state credit arrangements. The firm also has significant experience handling distressed loans and assets and failed bank receiverships.
We counsel federal and state-chartered depository institutions and their holding companies on regulatory, enforcement, transactional, and litigation issues. Our clients include banks of all sizes, including domestic banks, regional and community banks, and specialty banks.
Watkins & Eager provides comprehensive, personalized estate planning services and strategies for individuals and their families. Our practice is built on a commitment and sensitivity to our clients’ interests and confidential matters that span multiple generations. We have decades of collective knowledge and experience in trusts and estates, probate, tax, corporate, litigation, employee benefits, and real estate law, which allows us to offer clients integrated advice and a full range of services.
Watkins & Eager’s insurance practice is broad in scope and deep in experience. Our lawyers are widely recognized for their insurance expertise, having represented and advised insurance companies and their insured clients in thousands of cases for over a century.
Watkins & Eager's legal services include matters arising from insurance policies covering property, life, health, accident, employment, professional liability and construction, as well as various forms of property and casualty insurance. Our insurance carrier clients include companies that provide highly sophisticated liability coverage for businesses. Those carriers retain us to defend their insured clients or to advise them regarding complex coverage matters.
Watkins & Eager represents insurance industry clients before regulatory and administrative agencies. The firm also represents insurance companies and their related financial services divisions in investigations and claims arising from industry practices, claims handling, underwriting and inter-insurance disputes.
Litigation has been a core part of the Watkins & Eager’s practice since 1895. Our litigators possess exceptional trial and appellate skills, in-depth knowledge of state and federal courts at all levels, and practical business judgment, all of which contribute to our consistent delivery of cost-effective results. The firm’s litigation practice encompasses all aspects of business and commercial litigation, including creditors’ rights, banking and financial institutions, construction, general business, insurance, intellectual property, products liability, professional liability defense, real estate, environmental, securities, white collar criminal defense, and trust and estate litigation.
Our litigation lawyers represent clients in a broad spectrum of industries such as financial services, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, oil & gas, real estate, insurance, and construction, among others. We also have substantial experience in alternative modes of dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation. Several of our members are invited fellows of the American College of Trial Attorneys and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
Watkins & Eager brings deep-rooted knowledge, experience and prompt responsiveness to real estate transactions. With significant experience in the real estate industry, our lawyers approach complex and simple transactions with sound, common-sense advice. Our firm's culture of collaboration promotes timely responses to our clients, allowing us to quickly address their needs, negotiate difficult issues, devise creative solutions, and consummate a successful transaction or closing. We are well prepared to address a multitude of real estate issues including tax, environmental issues, and finance. Our lawyers represent and work closely with owners, developers, lenders, title companies and investors in the real estate industry. The firm's capabilities and experience encompass a wide array of real estate services including:
We understand the business of real estate. Our lawyers are repeatedly recognized as leaders within the field of real estate law and participate in nationally recognized industry organizations. Our experience, knowledge, and skills bring added value to every transaction.
At a time when the lines between regulatory, civil, and criminal investigations have become blurred, the ability to provide a comprehensive and nimble defense on multiple fronts sets apart Watkins & Eager’s white collar defense group. Our lawyers have tried a substantial number of cases, both civil and criminal, and come from a wide variety of practice backgrounds. A former federal prosecutor, along with seasoned commercial litigators and other subject matter experts in the financial, health care, and business fields, lead our diverse team of white collar lawyers. Our broad base of experience in the white collar arena makes Watkins & Eager unique among its peers. We have successfully defended clients in criminal and civil actions against a broad array of charges asserted by government agencies. We handle internal and external investigations and understand how to work with prosecutors, state and federal agencies, and law enforcement to help our clients avoid and minimize criminal charges and civil fines.
