Jimmy B. Wilkins

Jimmy B. Wilkins was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1997 and brings substantial experience in tort, general litigation, and personal injury litigation on the defense side. His practice exclusively focuses on defending clients sued in cases involving catastrophic incidents, including explosions, electrocutions, fires, burns, drownings, severe injuries or deaths, and product cases involving significant injuries. His clients include premises owners, oil and gas product companies, businesses engaged in major commercial and residential projects, product manufacturers, and national retailers. Jimmy has a strong track record of handling significant premises and product liability cases, having tried approximately twenty-five significant cases to verdict. Before joining Watkins & Eager, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable William H. Barbour, Jr., United States District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi (1997-98). Additionally, Jimmy is a frequent national lecturer on integrating artificial intelligence in litigation, utilizing Apple technology as an organizational tool in litigation practice, and is a frequent national lecturer on using Apple technology to present at trial effectively.

• AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

• The Best Lawyers in America_ (2011-25, Insurance Law; Litigation - Insurance; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants)

• Magnolia Bar Association
• Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
• Defense Research Institute
• The Mississippi Bar
• American Board of Trial Advocates - Past President Mississippi Chapter from March 11, 2023 to February 10, 2024
• Mississippi Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules - Secretary/Treasurer
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. - Southern Region Legal Counsel

• Presenter Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Webinar: Using AI in Trials - January 28, 2025.
• Adjunct Professor ABOTA Trial Practice Class - Mississippi College School of Law Winter Intersession.  This 3 hour law school course provided instruction to law students on basic trial skills covering all aspects of a trial from jury selection to closing statement. 
• Speaker EVOLVE Workshop:  A Practical Approach to Utilizing Tech Tools to Get a Firm Handle on Deposition Transcripts and Witness Testimony - July 29, 2024 Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel  2024 Annual Meeting Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Speaker - FDCC Inaugural AI Workshop:  How You Can Use AI - A Step by Step Tutorial on Using AI at Your Law Firms and Legal Departments - July 31, 2024 - Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel  2024 Annual Meeting Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Presenter - Fed Tech U - A Technology Workshop for Lawyers - April 19 - 21, 2024 - Miami, Florida - Presented by Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel.  This course provides instruction to seasoned defense lawyers on using technology to present case trial themes and how to use technology to become more organized in defense law practice with a specific focus on the benefits of Apple's iPad Pro.