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Corey has practiced law with Watkins & Eager since he was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2004 and currently serves as Co-Managing Member of the firm.  He is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Mississippi, all federal courts in Arkansas and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  He has also been admitted pro hac vice for cases in numerous other jurisdictions. 

Corey has been an advocate for and represented the interests of individuals, small businesses and large corporations in a diverse array of matters involving every phase of litigation, including jury trials, appeals and alternative dispute resolution.  Corey has been a part of successful trial teams defending product manufacturers, premises owners and pharmaceutical companies.  He has extensive involvement in managing and working on complex litigation in state courts, federal courts and in multi-district litigation.  Some of the areas in which he has significant experience and interest are complex and mass torts, pharmaceutical litigation, products liability, premises liability, insurance bad faith claims, and nursing home litigation. 

Corey is also actively involved in numerous professional, community and bar organizations and has been honored for his pro bono legal work and for his support of pro bono efforts in Mississippi. Corey and his wife Joanna have three children.

Honors & Recognitions

  • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • The Best Lawyers in America – Lawyer of the Year (2024, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
  • Best Lawyers in America (2018-24, Commercial Litigation; Litigation-Insurance; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
  • Benchmark Litigation (2016-2023, Future Star and 40 & Under Hot List)

  • Mid-South Super Lawyers (2018 & 2020, Top 50 in Mississippi; 2013-2022, Personal Injury-General, Personal Injury-Products, Class Actions/Mass Torts)

  • Portico Jackson Portico 10 Attorneys (2014)
  • Mississippi Business Journal's "Top 40 Under 40" (2013)
  • Pfizer Legal Alliance Associate Roundtable (2011-2013)
  • Mississippi Bar's Leadership Forum Class (2011)
  • Mississippi Bar's Outstanding Young Lawyer (2010)
  • Mississippi Bar/Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers' Project Curtis E. Coker Access to Justice Award (2007)
  • Jackson Young Lawyers Pro Bono Award (2007)
  • Mississippi Law Journal, Editor-in-Chief(2003–2004)
  • University of Mississippi School of Law Moot Court Board

Community & Professional

  • American Bar Association—Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) (2017-2021, Vice-Chair, TIPS Business Litigation Committee; (2019-2020, Member, TIPS Standing Committee on Ethics and Professionalism; ABA-YLD Liaison to TIPS Council); formerly Young Lawyers Division (YLD) (2011-2014, ABA-YLD District Representative, District 13)
  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • American Inns of Courts - Charles Clark Chapter, Barrister (former)
  • Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit, Member
  • Capital Area Bar Association (2008–2010, Board of Directors)
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, Member
  • Defense Research Institute (Drug and Medical Device, Toxic Tort, and Trial Tactics Committees)
  • Jackson Young Lawyers (2009–2010, President)

  • The Mississippi Bar—Board of Bar Commissioners, 7th Circuit-Post 3 (2020-2023); Executive Committee (2021-2023); Mississippi Lawyer Editorial Review Committee (2021-2023); Nominating Committee (2020-2022); Professionalism Committee (2019-2021); formerly Young Lawyers Division (2014-2015, Midyear Meeting Chair; 2011-2014, ABA Representative; 2013—2014, Nominations Committee Chair; 2009-2011, Director for Hinds Post VI; 2008-2010, Public Service Committee Chair (implemented “Wills for Heroes” in MS))

  • Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division
  • Mississippi Center for Legal Services Corporation (2006–2013, Board of Directors)

  • Mississippi Early Learning Alliance (2021-current, Board of Directors)

  • Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project (2012–2014, Board of Directors; 2010–2011, Advisory Board)
  • Mississippi Heritage Trust (2020-2023, Board of Trustees; 2022-2023, Executive Committee; Jury Member for 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi 2019)
  • Mississippi Historical Society (2010–2011, Membership Committee; 2006–2007, Awards Committee)
  • University of Mississippi Alumni Association
  • University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association, Life Member

Articles & Publications

  • "New ANSI Standard for Product-Accompanying Literature Aids in Evaluating Failure to Warn Claims," Tort Trial & Ins. Prac. Comm. News (Fall/Winter 2007) (co-author)
  • "A Review of Mississippi Law Regarding Arbitration," 76 Miss. L.J. 1007 (2007) (co-author)
  • "Taking a Gamble: Applying Therapeutic Jurisprudence to Compulsive Gambling and Establishing Gambling Treatment Courts," 9 Gaming L. Rev. 333 (2005)
  • "From the Classroom to the Courtroom: Therapeutic Justice and the Gaming Industry's Impact on Law," 74 Miss. L.J. 827 (2005)
  • "Constitutional Law-First Amendment- School Voucher Program Held Constitutional Under the Establishment Clause," 72 Miss. L.J. 885 (2002)

Presentations

  • “Presenting to the Judge and Jury,” National Business Institute, The Rules of Evidence: A Practical Toolkit CLE, Pearl, Mississippi, September 2015          
  • “The Jury is Still Out: A Mississippi Civil Jury Trial Primer,” Mississippi Bar YLD Litigation 101 Series, Jackson, Mississippi, March 2015 

Education

Juris Doctor: University of Mississippi School of Law, magna cum laude, 2004

Bachelor's Degree: Bachelor of Arts: Political Science/American Studies, University of Southern Mississippi, summa cum laude, 2001