News & Knowledge

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. […]

It is with profound sadness that FormanWatkins announces the passing of Daniel “Danny” J. Mulholland, a distinguished partner whose grit and intelligence helped shape our Firm and left an indelible mark on the legal profession. “We are heartbroken. Danny brought intensity and mastery to our work.  He was a fierce and loyal partner and friend who will be deeply missed,” said Tanya Ellis, Partner at FormanWatkins. “For those of us privileged to work with him and learn from him, his intentionality, his unwavering work ethic, his integrity, and his genuine friendship shaped our careers and our lives.” Throughout his distinguished career, Danny represented companies in high-stakes matters across the country, including complex mass torts, MDLs, class actions, commercial disputes, professional liability cases, and insurance coverage matters. His exceptional work garnered national recognition – most notably, his work exposing fraud in In Re Silica Prods. Liab. Litig. (MDL No. 1553) earned him a prominent spot above the fold in the Sunday edition of The New York Times, a remarkable career achievement.  Danny’s cases and contributions were also covered in The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, NPR, The National Law Journal, Corporate Counsel, and Reader’s Digest. “Very few lawyers have been featured on the front page of The New York Times for groundbreaking legal work,” said Win Gault, Partner at FormanWatkins. “Danny was one of them.” Danny graduated first in his class from Ole Miss Law School and joined the Firm as its first associate. His strategic approach, combined with a commitment to […]

The FormanWatkins Foundation proudly supported the Breakthrough T1D Walk held on Saturday, October 18, in Flowood, Mississippi. The Foundation, along with colleagues from FormanWatkins’ Jackson office, joined more than three hundred participants from across Mississippi in raising awareness and funds to support those living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). “Our Foundation’s mission to advance health and well-being and strengthen communities is deeply reflected in our partnership with Breakthrough T1D,” said Jennifer Studebaker, Partner at FormanWatkins and Foundation Committee Chair. “By supporting initiatives that drive medical research and improve patient care, we are investing in the futures of individuals and families affected by T1D. This work embodies our commitment to creating lasting, meaningful impact in the communities we serve.” The annual walk, which brings together families, healthcare professionals, and community members has raised nearly $130,000 to date. These vital funds support groundbreaking research, patient care initiatives, and community programs that demonstrate to those living with T1D that they are not alone in their journey. Ruth Maron Huskey, Partner at FormanWatkins and Breakthrough T1D Mississippi Community Board President, emphasized the importance of community-driven events like the walk. “Events like the Breakthrough T1D Walk are transformative because they unite our community around a shared mission, to foster healthier lives through medical research, enhanced patient care, and strengthen community well-being,” said Huskey. “When we stand alongside families, support innovation, and build hope together, we are not just funding research, we are showing those affected by T1D that they do not face their journey alone. […]

FormanWatkins is pleased to announce that Kelsi Baldwin has joined the Firm as an associate in the Jackson office. Kelsi brings to the Firm distinguished clerkship experience, having served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Leslie H. Southwick of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and to the Honorable Kristi H. Johnson of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Kelsi graduated summa cum laude from Mississippi College School of Law, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Mississippi College Law Review. During law school, she earned numerous honors, including the Joey Phillips Award, recognition as Best Overall Advocate in the CCTB Appellate Moot Court Competition, and several American Jurisprudence Awards. She was also a Teaching Assistant in multiple subjects and selected as a Pupil of the Charles Clark Inns of Court. Her academic achievements also include a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, from Mississippi College, and an Associate of Arts degree, with highest honors, from Copiah-Lincoln Community College, where she was inducted into the Co-Lin Hall of Fame. In addition to her judicial clerkships, Kelsi has contributed legal scholarship as a contributor to the Mississippi Practice Series and as author of the Conflict of Laws chapter in the Encyclopedia of Mississippi Laws. Her published works also include Matter of Will of Ratcliff and the Not-so-Harmless Error: A Call to Change Mississippi’s Approach to Will Formalities in the Mississippi College Law Review. “Kelsi has already built an impressive […]

Malissa Wilson recently delivered a compelling presentation titled AI in the Workplace: Legal Implications and Emerging Trends. The session was presented to the International Association of Defense Counsel’s Employment Law and Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, and Technology Committees, and addressed the intersection of AI with workplace practices and data privacy laws. The presentation analyzed how AI affects talent acquisition and performance management, while also outlining the associated legal and ethical risks. Using Mobley v. Workday as a case study, Malissa provided a comprehensive analysis of key issues such as algorithmic bias, transparency, and compliance with employment and privacy laws. Attendees were left with actionable strategies to harness the benefits of AI while managing its associated risks. “AI is reshaping workplace operations, but its adoption requires a thorough understanding of legal and ethical considerations,” said Wilson. “This presentation provided practical insights to help organizations implement AI responsibly and effectively.” Read more about Malissa Wilson here.