News & Knowledge

FormanWatkins is proud to announce that McCann LeFeve and Amy Maccherone have been named to the 2026 Leadership in Law class by New Orleans CityBusiness. Each year, the publication honors 50 legal professionals in the New Orleans area for their outstanding career accomplishments and community contributions. Their recognition reflects the strength of FormanWatkins’ attorneys, who combine sophisticated litigation experience with creative problem-solving, a commitment to client success, and a dedication to mentorship and service. McCann E. LeFeve represents Fortune 50, Fortune 200, and Fortune 500 companies in complex toxic tort, environmental, commercial, and product liability litigation. She serves as national coordinating counsel for a Fortune 50 energy company in toxic tort matters and as lead counsel in high-stakes class action litigation. Her experience spans benzene and asbestos exposure claims, premises liability, and environmental disputes, reflecting her versatility and strategic leadership in complex litigation. Beyond her litigation practice, McCann provides pro bono legal services to veterans and incarcerated individuals. She also co-chairs FormanWatkins’ Associate Development and Mentorship Committee and serves on the Firm’s Recruiting Committee. Her commitment to the profession and community has earned recognition from The Best Lawyers in America®, Louisiana Rising Stars, and FormanWatkins’ Pro Bono Star program. Amy L. Maccherone is an experienced litigator who represents Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies in complex toxic tort, product liability, and premises liability litigation. With more than 25 years of experience, she serves as national coordinating counsel and regularly acts as lead counsel and co-counsel in significant litigation matters. Her […]

FormanWatkins is pleased to welcome Whitney Dowell to the Firm. Whitney joins the Firm with the kind of foundation that is rare at any stage of a legal career, let alone the outset. She graduated first in her class from Mississippi College School of Law, with a perfect 4.0 GPA, placing her among a small number of graduates in the school’s history to achieve that distinction. She earned seven American Jurisprudence Awards across a remarkable range of disciplines and helped lead the Mississippi College Law Review as Chief Executive Editor. Before law school, Whitney completed her undergraduate degree in three years, graduating summa cum laude, a deliberate decision to accelerate her path to the law. That sense of purpose has not withered. Before joining the Firm, Whitney externed for the Honorable LaKeysha Greer Isaac, United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi, an experience that shaped her understanding of what federal courts expect from counsel and what it takes to advocate effectively at that level. She is also a legal scholar, with a forthcoming article in Volume 44 of the Mississippi College Law Review examining the constitutional dimensions of Mississippi’s indigent defense system, work that demonstrates not just her legal ability, but also her commitment to using the law to address complex, constitutional problems. At FormanWatkins, Whitney will work alongside the Firm’s experienced litigation team. She brings to that work a personal standard that is straightforward: good advocacy requires personal investment. She is committed to outworking the opposition […]

FormanWatkins is proud to announce that Carley E. Scopelliti has joined the firm as an associate. Scopelliti focuses her practice on asbestos litigation and toxic tort defense, representing product manufacturers in complex civil matters across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. “Carley exemplifies the kind of attorney we are proud to bring to this firm. She is rigorous, science-literate, and deeply committed to her clients,” said Charles Abbott, Partner at FormanWatkins. “Her scientific background gives her a genuine edge in the causation-intensive matters that define asbestos and toxic tort litigation, and her record of securing client dismissals early in litigation reflects exactly the strategic, purposeful approach our clients expect. We are confident she will be an outstanding resource for our clients and a valuable member of our team.” Scopelliti brings a distinctive combination of scientific fluency and litigation experience to her defense practice. Before joining FormanWatkins, she developed more than three years of active litigation experience in insurance defense, gaining firsthand proficiency in motion practice, depositions, and case management that she carries directly into the complexity of asbestos and toxic tort defense. Her litigation experience includes briefing and arguing dispositive motions resulting in client dismissals in New Jersey and Pennsylvania state courts, as well as active client involvement in the New York City Asbestos Litigation (NYCAL), one of the most plaintiff-intensive asbestos dockets in the country. A distinguishing credential in her practice is her academic background in the sciences. Scopelliti earned a Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health from The […]

FormanWatkins is proud to announce that three of its attorneys have been recognized by the Charles Clark Inn of the American Inns of Court.  The Charles Clark Inn is a distinguished association of judges, attorneys, and legal scholars dedicated to advancing professionalism, ethics, and advocacy skills throughout central Mississippi. Molly McNair, a current Associate member, has been invited to advance to Barrister, Sampada Kapoor has been invited to join as a Barrister, and Damonta Morgan has been invited to join the Inn as an Associate. Membership in the Charles Clark Inn is by invitation only and reflects a high level of professional respect among the region’s bench and bar. Founded in 1989 under the leadership of Fifth Circuit Judge E. Grady Jolly, the Charles Clark Inn was established to bring the mentorship traditions of the British Inns of Court system to central Mississippi, following a vision first championed by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger. The Charles Clark Inn is named in honor of the former Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, whose commitment to legal excellence and civility continues to define the organization’s mission. “The Charles Clark Inn has always been more than networking; it’s about lawyers at every stage, from law students to federal judges, genuinely investing in each other’s growth. Seeing Sam, Molly, and Damonta step into that tradition is exactly the kind of growth we want for every attorney at our Firm.” said Alison McMinn, partner at FormanWatkins, who […]

FormanWatkins is pleased to announce that partner Malissa Wilson has been appointed to serve on the Mississippi Bar Ethics Committee. Wilson was appointed by Mississippi Bar President-Elect Kelly Sessoms and will serve a three-year term. The Ethics Committee is responsible for issuing advisory ethics opinions as authorized by Section 73-3-143(2) of the Mississippi Code and in accordance with the Mississippi Bar Bylaws. As a member of the Committee, Wilson will attend Committee meetings, participate in the Committee’s work, and perform duties necessary for the Committee to function effectively. “The work of the Bar is in large part accomplished through the work of its committees, and I’m honored to have been asked to contribute to the Ethics Committee’s important work,” Wilson said. “Ensuring that attorneys across Mississippi have access to sound, well-reasoned guidance on professional responsibility is essential to maintaining public trust in our profession, and I look forward to serving alongside my fellow committee members.” Wilson’s appointment to the Ethics Committee adds to FormanWatkins’ longstanding tradition of active engagement with the Mississippi Bar and the broader legal community. “Malissa’s appointment to the Ethics Committee is a well-deserved recognition of her deep commitment to the highest standards of the legal profession,” said Tanya Ellis, Partner at FormanWatkins. “This appointment reflects Malissa’s reputation within the Mississippi Bar and the values we strive to uphold as a firm.”

FormanWatkins is proud to announce that partner Mary Clift Abdalla is serving the second and final year of her two-year term as Board Chairman of Friends of Children’s Hospital, the nonprofit organization supporting Children’s of Mississippi, the state’s only children’s hospital. Abdalla will lead the organization’s 2026-2027 Board of Directors, which brings together leaders from across industries and communities with a shared commitment to supporting children’s healthcare throughout Mississippi. Jennifer Johnson will serve as chairman-elect, positioned to succeed Abdalla at the conclusion of her term. “Serving as chairman of this board has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my career,” Abdalla said. “Our board members bring valuable experience, relationships, and perspective to Friends, but what makes this board truly special is their willingness to be involved in the work. They give their time, expertise, and energy throughout the year to help strengthen our organization and better support the children and families served by Children’s of Mississippi.” Under Abdalla’s leadership, the board has continued to operate as a working board, with members actively engaged in advancing the organization’s mission through strategic leadership, fundraising, hospital programs, and community engagement. For more than three decades, Friends of Children’s Hospital has supported Children’s of Mississippi by raising funds and awareness for programs, services, and facilities that help provide exceptional care for children across the state. Abdalla’s civic leadership with Friends of Children’s Hospital exemplifies the firm’s broader commitment to community involvement and service across Mississippi. “FormanWatkins is honored to support Mary Clift’s […]

A new clinic at The University of Mississippi School of Law is putting law students to work on real appeals this semester, with the opportunity to represent clients who could not otherwise afford representation. The Appellate Litigation Clinic, sponsored by Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP, pairs its inaugural class of student-attorneys with firm counsel to research, write, and argue cases in their final year of law school. “Investing in and developing the next generation of attorneys has always been part of who we are at FormanWatkins, and this Clinic is one of the most meaningful examples of that commitment,” said Damonta Morgan, Clinic Director and attorney at FormanWatkins. “Through this Clinic, students will take on real responsibility for real clients because we believe that is the way we build outstanding lawyers. We are proud to partner with the University of Mississippi School of Law for the new Appellate Litigation Clinic.” The Clinic’s six student-attorneys were sworn in for limited practice on August 26 by the Honorable Magistrate Judge David Sanders of the Northern District of Mississippi and the Honorable Lawrence L. Little of the Eighteenth Chancery District of Mississippi, granting them the authority to represent real clients in civil and criminal appeals. Since then, students have been working under close faculty and attorney supervision to review case records to identify appealable issues, research and draft legal memoranda, and draft briefs in three active cases ahead of oral arguments before the Mississippi Court of Appeals. Beyond their casework, student-attorneys will travel […]

Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP is proud to announce that 49 of its attorneys have been named to the 2027 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, the oldest and most respected peer-reviewed publication in the legal profession, reaffirming the firm’s standing as a premier litigation power nationwide. Many honorees have appeared on the list year after year, with some recognized for nearly two decades, a testament to the sustained, peer-recognized excellence that clients rely on and that makes FormanWatkins a destination for top litigation talent. Among this year’s honorees, 20 attorneys were named to the Ones to Watch list, which recognizes associates and other early-career lawyers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. Together, these rising attorneys and long-tenured litigators reflect a firm that invests in lawyers at every career stage. Attorneys selected to 2027 Best Lawyers in America©: Charles H. Abbott – Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Mary Clift Abdalla – Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, and Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers Michael H. Abraham – Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Pete F. Andarsio – Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants Michael L. Baker – Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants James L. Banks – Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – […]

FormanWatkins’ New Orleans office has been named a 2026 Top Workplace by The Times-Picayune, an honor determined entirely by employee feedback rather than firm submission. The Firm separately received a special award for its Benefits Package, recognizing the strength of its employee benefits, insurance offerings, and the culture created. “For a firm built on defending Fortune 500 companies and national corporate clients in complex litigation, this distinction speaks to something clients rely on but rarely see directly: the depth and stability of the team behind the work,” said Tim Gray, Partner at FormanWatkins. The awards were recently presented at the Top Workplaces ceremony at the Higgins Hotel in New Orleans, where attorneys Charles Abbott and Amy Maccherone accepted the awards on the firm’s behalf. Top Workplaces recognition is based entirely on a confidential, third-party employee survey that evaluates factors including alignment, execution, connection, and engagement. These measures are widely used across industries as predictors of organizational performance and employee retention. “The special award for benefits reflects a long-standing investment in the people who make our work possible,” said Charles Abbott, Partner at FormanWatkins. “As the legal industry grows more competitive, we believe firms that prioritize employee well-being alongside client service build the kind of institutional depth that shows up in the quality and consistency of the work.”

FormanWatkins is pleased to announce that Charles Abbott has been appointed to the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel (LADC) Board of Directors as a District 4 Representative, effective with the start of the LADC’s new term on July 1. In this role, Charles will help shape the direction of one of Louisiana’s most influential and legal organizations, representing the interests of civil defense attorneys throughout the district. “I’m honored to serve as a District 4 Representative for the LADC,” said Abbott, Partner at Forman Watkins. “This organization has played a vital role in supporting Louisiana’s defense bar for more than six decades, and I look forward to contributing to that mission.” Since joining the Firm as a partner in 2017, Charles has built a diverse litigation practice, regularly serving as lead counsel or co-counsel on high-stakes commercial, contractual, business interruption, tort, admiralty/maritime, products liability, construction, and toxic tort cases pending in both federal and state courts throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. His body of work includes serving as national coordinating counsel for Fortune 100 clients in benzene and silica exposure litigation, and as lead counsel for Fortune 500 companies defending against asbestos claims throughout Louisiana and Texas courts. He has also led high-profile matters ranging from a putative class action over endoscope sterilization to multimillion-dollar maritime cargo disputes.  He further provides general legal advice and guidance to small and large companies alike, including serving as general counsel to a national refrigerated trucking company on logistics, regulatory, and litigation matters nationwide. […]