Announcements

April 3, 2018

Malissa Wilson Serves as Panelist for Bessie Young Council Mentoring Conference

Forman Watkins Partner Malissa Wilson was one of four panelists with diverse law practices from across the state who talked to law students and attorneys about the realities of law practice at the inaugural Bessie Young Council Mentoring Conference in March of 2018. Malissa shared pointers from a defense attorney’s perspective on a variety of topics, including making the most of support staff; billing time and deciding what it’s worth; and, daily dealings with opposite counsel and clients.

March 27, 2018

Charles Abbott and Melissa Fuller Guest Lecture at LSU Law School

On March 26, 2018, New Orleans attorneys Charles Abbott and Melissa Fuller were guest lecturers for LSU Law School’s Toxic Torts class.  In addition to addressing emerging mass torts, Mr. Abbott and Ms. Fuller provided the second and third year law students with a historical overview of asbestos, benzene and silica litigation, and taught practical aspects and current trends in the litigation of these cases in Louisiana and across the country.

March 21, 2018

2017 Pro Bono and Civic Engagement Annual Report

Click the image below to review the firm’s 2017 Pro Bono and Civic Engagement Annual Report and special thanks to our 2017/2018 Committee members: Alison O’Neal McMinn, Mimi Arthur, Courtney Hunt, Erin Latuso, Vernon McFarland, and Mitch McGuffey.

March 9, 2018

Charles Abbott and Chelsea Gaudin Guest Lecture at LSU Law School

On March 7, 2018, New Orleans attorneys Charles Abbott and Chelsea Gaudin guest lectured at LSU Law School.  Teaching both second year and third year law students in the Toxic Torts class, Mr. Abbott and Ms. Gaudin provided practical experiences and advice related to various topics and issues, including but not limited to causation, expert witnesses, and Daubert challenges of expert witnesses. This is Mr. Abbott’s sixth year guest lecturing in the Toxic Tort class at LSU Law School.

February 6, 2018

Malissa Wilson Honored by Mississippi Business Journal as a Leader in Law

Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP is proud to announce that Malissa Wilson was selected as one of the 2017’s Top Ten Leaders in Law by the Mississippi Business Journal. Each year, the Mississippi Business Journal recognizes a select group of 40 attorneys who exhibit both the legal success and the qualities of character that exemplify this honor. A reception and awards celebration was held in December to recognize the 2017 honorees.

January 9, 2018

Giallourakis & McMinn Recognized by Portico Magazine as 2018 Portico 10 Honorees

Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP congratulates Jackson Partners, Nick Giallourakis and Alison O’Neal McMinn, for being honored by Portico Magazine as 2018 Portico 10 Attorneys. The PORTICO 10 is a group of up-and-coming attorneys in the Jackson area nominated by local firms, past honorees and members of the community before being chosen by a panel of local judges. Each member of the PORTICO 10 has a long list of accomplishments and rewards to compliment their extensive background in leadership.

January 3, 2018

Pro Bono Asylum Case Featured in Louisiana Super Lawyer Magazine

As a follow up from our April 2017 post regarding a pro bono asylum case, Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine published a story in the January 2018 issue featuring Michelle Roy’s work on this case. April 2017: Tim Gray and Michelle Roy of our New Orleans office represented a client, a minor, who fled from Guatemala to the United States with her family in 2015 to escape gang violence and political persecution. The firm sought permanent status for this client as a “Special Juvenile Immigrant” and as a member of a persecuted class entitled to asylum. The firm accepted this pro bono representation through a program sponsored by the Catholic Charities which matches volunteer lawyers with undocumented juvenile children in Louisiana. The firm continues to represent other undocumented minors through this program. We are honored for the featured publication on Michelle’s dedication to this case, you can read the full issue by clicking here. Or read her article here:  

January 2, 2018

Banks, McFarland, McGuffey and Stubbs Promoted to Partner

Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP is proud to announce Jake Banks, Vernon McFarland, Mitch McGuffey, and Andrew Stubbs were promoted to Partners of the Firm in our Jackson, Mississippi office. Jake is licensed in Mississippi and received his law degree from the University of Mississippi.  Jake’s practices in the Firm’s general litigation group, handling diverse legal issues including catastrophic personal injury, contractual disputes, insurance coverage, and TCPA liability. Vernon is licensed in Mississippi and Montana and received his law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law and is a member of the Mississippi Bar and the Magnolia Bar Association. He is a Mid-South Super Lawyer Rising Star and member of the Leadership Greater Jackson Class of 2016-2017. Vernon’s primary practice areas are Toxic Tort Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Professional Liability.  He is a member of the Firm’s Pro Bono and Recruiting Committees and serves the community through his church and other charitable organizations. Mitch is licensed in Mississippi and New York. His practice region also includes most of New England. Mitch received degrees in graphic design and business administration at Auburn University and received his law degree from the University of Virginia. He is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute. Mitch’s practice focuses primarily on Toxic Tort Litigation, including Environmental and Products Liability cases, NCAA Compliance proceedings, and Appellate Litigation. Andrew is licensed in both Mississippi and Arkansas, although his practice region also includes Alabama. He received his law degree from Mississippi […]

December 27, 2017

Louisiana Super Lawyers Announced for 2018

Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP congratulates firm attorneys for being named as 2018 Louisiana Super Lawyers. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.  Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The firm is proud to announce Super Lawyer Charles H. Abbott and Rising Stars: Melissa Fuller, Erin Wedge Latuso, Michelle Roy, and Peyton Smith.