Pre-Law

Anthony joined Watkins & Eager in 2022 and is licensed to practice law in Alabama and Tennessee. His practice focuses on healthcare, insurance, litigation, pharmaceutical and medical device, product liability, and professional liability matters, with particular experience in products liability, medical malpractice, and general business litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Anthony represented a variety of clients in civil defense and business litigation matters in both state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies.

Anthony earned his Bachelor of Applied Arts from Mississippi State University. During law school, he earned a Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and a Master of Business Administration from Samford University. While in law school, he was a member of the American Journal of Trial Advocacy, the nation’s oldest law review dedicated to trial advocacy.

He is admitted to practice in Alabama State Courts, Tennessee State Courts, and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Alabama. He is also a member of the Birmingham Bar Association and the Birmingham Young Lawyers Section.

Stanley Blackmon is an experienced litigator whose practice spans trial and appellate matters across a wide range of industries and substantive areas. He has deep appellate experience, having briefed and argued cases before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits and handled appeals in multiple federal and state appellate courts nationwide. His appellate background frequently brings him into trial teams as an embedded appellate lawyer, where he briefs and argues dispositive motions and complex evidentiary issues while ensuring preservation of appellate matters throughout trial. He also has substantial post-trial experience, helping clients secure successful outcomes through post-verdict and post-judgment motions.

In addition to his appellate practice, Stanley litigates matters including product liability, pharmaceutical cases, commercial disputes, noncompete and trade secret claims, construction litigation, wrongful death, medical liability, and fraud. His practice ranges from single-plaintiff cases to large-scale mass tort and multidistrict proceedings, and his appellate perspective informs his approach from the outset of each case.

Stanley earned his Bachelor of Science from Mississippi State University. During law school, he earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law, where he served as an Articles Editor for the Alabama Law Review and was a member of the Order of the Coif and Order of Barristers.

He is licensed to practice in Alabama and Mississippi and is admitted to multiple federal courts, including several United States Courts of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. Before entering private practice, Stanley clerked for the Honorable Carl E. Stewart of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Sumner Fortenberry is a commercial and construction litigator with a penchant for complex appellate matters. Sumner briefed, argued, and won his first appeal before he was 30 years old. He has handled appeals — some with tens of millions of dollars at stake — in multiple federal circuit courts and the Mississippi Supreme Court. Prior to joining Bradley, Sumner clerked for the Hon. Leslie H. Southwick of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Sumner also maintains a varied trial practice in federal and state court, as well as in arbitration proceedings. The primary focus of his trial practice is construction and commercial litigation, specifically cases involving breaches of contract and business torts. He also has experience in a wide variety of other substantive areas, including insurance coverage disputes, shareholder disputes, employment matters, and governmental affairs.

Sumner received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. During his time at UVA, he lived on a farm in the Virginia countryside and served on the Journal of Law and Politics. He also participated in the school’s First Amendment Clinic, assisting the clinic with brief writing in free speech cases in state and federal court.

Sumner also has a B.A. (summa cum laude) in Political Science from Mississippi State University. During his time at Mississippi State, he was named an Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Political Science and selected to the Society of Scholars. Sumner also spent a summer at the University of Oxford, where he studied the American Constitution and interpretative theory.

Kennedy Guest is a J.D. Candidate at the University of Mississippi School of Law, bringing a strong background in student leadership and legal practice.

As a Summer Associate at Butler Snow, LLP in Ridgeland, Mississippi, and at Watkins & Eager, PLLC in Jackson, Mississippi, Kennedy gained practical legal experience across a range of matters. His areas of interest include political and election law, commercial litigation, criminal law, and government relations.

During his undergraduate years at Mississippi State University, Kennedy served as President of the Student Association, demonstrating an early commitment to leadership and public service. During law school, he has continued that tradition, serving as President of the Federalist Society, Senator on the Student Bar Association, and Senior Advisor to the President of the Associated Student Body, having advised the last three Ole Miss Student Association presidents during his time in law school.

Kennedy is currently pursuing his J.D. at the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he serves as a Staff Editor on the Mississippi Law Journal. He earned his Bachelor of Accountancy from Mississippi State University in 2023.

Lucy Mellen is a J.D. Candidate at the University of Virginia School of Law, demonstrating a commitment to legal and policy fields. Her background includes experience in policy research and legal environments, complemented by a history of student engagement roles.

As a Policy and Research Intern at The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), Lucy contributed to a national non-profit focused on enhancing state and territorial environmental agencies. Her work supported the organization's efforts in public health, environmental justice, and sustainability. Earlier, as a Legal Intern at Cooperative Energy, Lucy researched law and policy affecting the energy cooperative, participating in title and environmental law work and assisting in contract drafting processes. This role provided hands-on research experience through legal databases and local courthouses.

During her time at Mississippi State University, Lucy engaged in student recruitment and campus tours, communicating with prospective students and parents. She also worked as a Student Worker at Shackouls Honors College, assisting faculty and staff with administrative tasks and creating informative graphics for events. Additionally, Lucy served as a Research Assistant, investigating the history of foraging and wild food ways in the U.S. South.

Lucy is currently pursuing her J.D. at the University of Virginia School of Law

Heath is a member of Winstead’s Real Estate Development & Investments Practice Group and represents business entities, individuals, and property owners’ associations in a variety of commercial and real estate matters. His practice focuses on real estate development, with an emphasis on structuring and administering residential and mixed-use condominiums and planned communities nationwide, particularly in Texas and Tennessee. He also advises clients on the governance, management, and administration of property owners’ associations. Prior to joining Winstead’s Austin office, Heath practiced in Nashville, Tennessee.

Heath earned his Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Mississippi State University. During law school, he earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where he was a recipient of the Judge L. Kirby Matherne Scholarship and the Daniel H. Testerman Scholarship.

He is admitted to practice in Tennessee and Texas.

Sarah Singley is a J.D. Candidate at the University of Alabama School of Law, bringing a strong foundation in public service, legal practice, and student leadership.

As a Summer Law Clerk at Brunini Grantham Grower & Hewes, PLLC, she has gained practical legal experience in a prominent Mississippi firm. She has also served as a Summer Associate at both Burr & Forman and Lightfoot, Franklin & White in Birmingham, Alabama. Earlier, as a Legal Extern at The Westervelt Company, she gained in-house experience within a corporate legal environment. Prior to law school, Sarah worked as a Research Analyst Intern at the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor.

During her undergraduate years at Mississippi State University, Sarah was deeply involved in campus life. She served as an Alumni Delegate, acting as the liaison between the university's alumni and its student body, as a campus wide Student Body Senator, and as a Recruiter for the Shackouls Honors College.

Sarah is currently pursuing her J.D. at the University of Alabama School of Law, where she participates as a Junior and Executive Editor on the Alabama Law Review and is a member of the Dorbin Women's Association. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Mississippi State University.

Logan J. Timmis is an associate with Gill Ragon Owen, P.A., where he focuses on helping clients get complex deals across the finish line. His practice covers a broad range of corporate, commercial, and finance matters, including corporate governance, corporate and municipal finance, commercial and agricultural lending, mergers and acquisitions, agribusiness, solar and triple-net leasing, and real estate development and finance. Logan brings a practical, business-minded approach to every transaction, with an emphasis on clear advice, efficient execution, and practical solutions.

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Logan earned his Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Mississippi State University in 2019, with a concentration in Natural Resource and Environmental Conservation—a background that naturally aligns with his work in agribusiness and real estate development. He received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2022, where he concentrated in business law, and was admitted to the Arkansas Bar that same year.

Outside the office, Logan enjoys cheering on his Mississippi State Bulldogs and spending time outdoors with his wife and their two Labrador retrievers, Sawyer and Finn

Drew Whitten is a commercial litigator with broad experience representing clients in complex disputes across a range of industries. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, including the defense of employment discrimination claims, antitrust actions, fiduciary-related matters, and collection actions involving significant electronic discovery and intricate legal issues. He also defends individuals and entities under investigation or charged with white-collar crimes, including financial fraud, and handles matters arising under the Federal False Claims Act.

In addition to his litigation practice, Drew regularly counsels clients on risk management strategies related to difficult employment issues, federal and state investigations, contract disputes, and regulatory and environmental compliance. Prior to joining Baker Donelson, he served as a business law fellow in the regulatory division of Entergy Mississippi, where he developed experience in energy regulatory law. He also served as a legal extern for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi and interned with the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

Drew earned his Bachelor of Business Administration, summa cum laude, from Mississippi State University. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2021. He is admitted to practice in Mississippi state courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, and the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi.

Outside of his practice, Drew is active in the legal community and civic affairs. He has been selected to Mid-South Rising Stars for Business Litigation in both 2024 and 2025, was named to The Record's 20 Under 40 Successful Alumni in 2022, and was recognized as an American Cancer Society Honoree in 2024. He serves on the Board of the Jackson Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar Association and is involved with the Capital Area Bar Association, the Mississippi Children's Museum, the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi, and the American Bar Association.