William F. Goodman III

Will Goodman has practiced law with Watkins & Eager since 1977. He represents the fourth generation of his family in the law firm founded by his great-grandfather, Will Watkins, in 1895. Will defends pharmaceutical and chemical companies in complex commercial and personal injury litigations. Admitted pro hac vice in numerous state and federal courts, he has tried cases to verdict in Arkansas, California, and Mississippi. These trials include defense verdicts for Bayer Corporation in the second and third Baycol trials in the nation. Will currently serves as coordinating and national trial counsel in several major litigations. He is one of two Mississippi lawyers nationally ranked in Product Liability by Chambers USA - America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2010. Awards and Honors Honors Mid-South Super Lawyers Class Action/Mass Torts, 2007-2021; "Top 50," Mississippi, 2010-2011, 2013-2014; "Top 50," Nashville, 2015; "Top 100," Tennessee, 2015, 2018 The Best Lawyers in America® Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2015-2022; Commercial Litigation, 2011-2022; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, 2007-2022; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2009-2022The Best Lawyers in America The Best Lawyers in America® "Lawyer of the Year," Nashville, Mass Tort Litigation – Defendants, 2020; "Lawyer of the Year," Nashville, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2017 Chambers USA—America’s Leading Lawyers for Business nationally ranked in Product Liability and ranked in General Commercial Litigation for Mississippi), 2009 - 2010 Benchmark Litigation "Local Litigation Star," Mississippi, 2013-2014; "Local Litigation Star," Tennessee, 2015 Who’s Who Legal: Products Liability Defence , 2008-2020 Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rated, 1988-2021

• Retired Partner
• Representative Clients
• Astra Pharmaceutical Products, Incorporated
• GAF Corporation
• Sterling Drug Incorporated

• Mississippi, 1977
• Tennessee
• District of Columbia Court of Appeals
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Mississippi
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Mississippi
• U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Tennessee
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee
• Supreme Court of Mississippi
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit

• International Association of Defense Counsel, 1988 - 2021 (Member)
• Millsaps College Board of Trustees, 2021
• American Bar Association, 1977 - 2021
• Mississippi Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute, (Steering Committee, Drug and Device Committee), 1982 - 2021
• Tennessee Bar Association
• Nashville Bar Association
• Fraternities and Sororities
• Omicron Delta Kappa