News & Knowledge

On March 21, 2022, New Orleans attorneys Charles Abbott and Margaret McLaughlin guest lectured at LSU Law School. This is the second time that Mr. Abbott and Ms. McLaughlin have taught together a toxic tort class at LSU Law School, consisting of second and third year law students.

FormanWatkins attorneys visited with students from Mississippi College School of Law and The University of Mississippi School of Law on January 19, 2022 to share best practices for the students’ upcoming on-campus interviews.

Win Gault and Spencer Ritchie completed a successful administrative law trial before the United States Department of Labor, Office of Administrative Law Judges.  The plaintiff, a former pilot, claimed monetary damages under the FAA whistle blower provisions from his employer in the high six-figures.  After a three-day trial and substantial post-trial briefing, the administrative law judge awarded only $2,700 in damages.

This past semester, FormanWatkins has been proud to host a series of Mississippi College School of Law classes in our Jackson office.  Adjunct Professor and retired FormanWatkins attorney Craig Brasfield has been teaching a semester-long class focused best practices for taking depositions. The class included weekly mock depositions of key witnesses in a variety of real-world scenarios, including a Covid wrongful death case, a divorce case, and a toxic-tort case. In addition to hosting the students in a real-world law firm environment, team members of the Firm played the roles of the witnesses in the mock scenarios, and our attorneys shared practical advice based upon their own deposition-taking experience. We enjoyed hosting the students and playing a part in skill development for their future practice.

FormanWatkins is pleased to welcome Taylor White back to the Firm after completing a year-long judicial clerkship for the Honorable Kristi H. Johnson of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.

For 18 months, companies have been consumed with navigating a myriad of operational challenges during this once-in-a-generation pandemic.  HR departments have had the daunting task of interpreting in real time the onslaught of executive and state orders, congressional acts, and federal agencies guidelines to implement COVID-19 policies and procedures to address a variety of personnel matters from remote work to vaccination directives.

We are proud to announce Sampada Kapoor’s election to the newly formed Diversity Council at the University of Mississippi School of Law. The Council is composed of law school alumnus and works with various departments at the School of Law including admissions, student services, fundraising and bar preparations. Sam also serves on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division and is honored as a Mid-South Rising Star and Leader in Law by the Mississippi Business Journal.

FormanWatkins is proud to announce that Charles Abbott and Erin Wedge Latuso have been selected by New Orleans CityBusiness to its 2021 Leadership in Law class. With 2021 marking his third time honored, Charles joins the Leadership in Law Hall of Fame. Each year New Orleans CityBusiness recognizes 50 area professionals in the field of law for their career and community accomplishments, we congratulate our past and present honorees to make the list!

Courtney Hunt, Mitch McGuffey, Peyton Smith, and Amelia McGowan (Mississippi Center for Justice) recently discussed our work on asylum cases and what to consider if you are thinking about taking on a pro bono asylum case on PLI’s podcast, “Pursuing Justice: The Pro Bono Files.” Listen to the podcast here or on your favorite streaming service, search “Pursuing Justice: The Pro Bono Files.”

The Firm is proud to welcome our newest attorneys Haley McCay Arndt and Catherine Pettis to the Jackson office!