News & Knowledge

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.

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.

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:  

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 […]

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.

A big thank you to our New Jersey office for collecting money and donations to buy warm clothing for those in need.  Our team worked in conjunction with local charity organization, Lunch Break, to gather items for donation during cold winter months.  We appreciate your generosity throughout the year but especially during the Holiday season! Pictured below: Donna Ross & Nicole Diesa   

Forman Watkins welcomed Demi Brown to speak at a recent lunch-and-learn session hosted by the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee.  Mr. Brown is the Associate Dean of Intercultural Affairs and Community Life at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, and presented on Ten Core Concepts Toward Cultural Proficiency.  The session was a continuation of the Committee’s efforts to provide in-house programming focused on navigating a diverse workplace.  Our staff enjoyed lunch with their co-workers and the interesting perspectives offered by Mr. Brown on a number of topics currently in the headlines.                  

The firm recently participated in the Capital Area Bar Association’s annual Toys for Tots campaign. Our team donated a box of unwrapped toys for children in our community. Thank you to Elizabeth Penn and Sam Kapoor for representing the firm at CABA’s Christmas Social to present our donations!

Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP congratulates firm attorneys for being named as 2017 Mid-South 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 Lawyers, Fred Krutz, Trey Watkins, and WG Watkins and Rising Stars: Mary Clift Abdalla, Mimi Arthur, Jake Banks, Tanya Ellis, Joel Fyke, Nick Giallourakis, Brian Hannula, Ruth Maron, Vernon McFarland, Alison O’Neal McMinn, Joshua Metcalf, Elizabeth Penn, Spencer Ritchie, Mandie Robinson, Peyton Smith, Andrew Stubbs, and Caroline Upchurch.

Joel Fyke, along with two other Croft alumni, with degrees in international studies, spoke to a crowd of undergraduate students in the Croft building Friday afternoon. The graduates advised students on making the most of their undergraduate degrees and pursuing jobs they want after graduation. Directly following the panel discussion, the alumni met with small groups of students to conduct breakout sessions, which allowed for more personal conversations. “If you don’t get the job, talk to the person who just rejected you and ask them where you should go and get some experience before you can come back,” 2005 graduate Joel Fyke said. A recipient of the Truman Scholarship, Fyke began his career in a small newspaper and now works with the firm as an Associate in the Jackson office. The Croft Institute for International Studies will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year, and Friday’s event was the second of its kind under director Oliver Dinius’ leadership. Read more on the panel by clicking here.