Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP

United States 2025

National Rankings

Metro Rankings

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General Information

Practice Areas

Individuals recognized in Best Lawyers

Year founded: 1986

This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.

Overview

Content is provided by the firm.

Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP is one of the nation's most respected trial law firms, representing prominent corporate clients in multi-district tort claims as well as other environmental and complex commercial litigation. Our lawyers provide a full spectrum of legal services in a number of other areas, including corporate law, financial services and securities, bankruptcy, commercial real estate, public utilities, antitrust and administrative law.

Forman Watkins proudly celebrates over 32 years of serving our clients. We officially opened for business on December 8, 1986, with the idea that we could create a firm that would be different from others not only in how we approached the practice of law, but also in the work environment for everyone who chose to work with us. We have grown today beyond our Jackson, Mississippi, office to become a national firm with five offices across the country. Experience, innovation and creativity are the cornerstones of the firm's approach to litigation.

Rankings

Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP is nationally ranked in 1 practice areas and metro ranked in 8 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.

Read how Best Law Firms ranks firms

National Rankings

Tier 1

Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

Metro Rankings

Beaumont

Tier 2 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

Tier 3 for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Tier 3 for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Houston

Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Firm Leadership

Walter G. Watkins III

Partner

Walter G. Watkins, Jr.

Partner

Rankings

National Rankings

Tier 1

Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

Regional Rankings

Beaumont

Tier 2 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

Tier 3 for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Tier 3 for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Houston

Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Tier 1 for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Tier 3 for Commercial Litigation

Tier 3 for Natural Resources Law

Jackson-MS

Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation

Tier 1 for Litigation - Environmental

Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Tier 1 for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Tier 2 for Litigation - Insurance

Tier 2 for Litigation - Labor and Employment

New Orleans

Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation

Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

Tier 1 for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Tier 3 for Litigation - Environmental

Tier 3 for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Practice Areas

The below are areas of legal specialty volunteered by the firm and do not designate a specialty in which a Best Law Firms ranking is held.

Bet-the-Company Litigation
Corporate Governance Law
Litigation - Environmental
Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants

Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^®

Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP has 28 lawyers recognized for individual performance in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America^®. By receiving this Best Lawyers recognition from their peers for their professional excellence, these lawyers made Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP eligible for evaluation for Best Law Firms rankings. For almost two decades, Best Lawyers has awarded these singular accolades, making them the foundation of our Best Law Firms awards. Read more about our Best Lawyers process here.

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Awards

Awards are self-reported by firms and are not verified by the Best Law Firms rankings.

Fortune 500 Go-To Law Firm
Altec Industries "Go To" Lawyers
Finance Monthly Magazine's Arbitration and Litigation Law Firm of the Year, USA
Martindale-Hubbell's Top Ranked Law Firms
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform Award for Outstanding Organization
Chambers USA Top Ranked Law Firm
Benchmark Litigation's South Mississippi Case of the Year
U.S. News "Best Law Firms" Jackson, MS first-tier Ranking in 12 areas
U.S. News "Best Law Firms" National first-tier Ranking in Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions
The BTI Client Service A-Team 2013
U.S. News "Best Law Firms" New Orleans, LA Second-Tier in Mass Tort Litigation