Briana A. O’Neil

Briana A. O’Neil is an attorney at Watkins & Eager in Jackson, Mississippi. Her practice includes product liability litigation, medical malpractice, general commercial disputes, insurance defense, and white collar criminal defense. She represents clients in civil and criminal matters and works with issues that arise from product claims and professional liability. Her published professional biography identifies these fields as the main areas of her litigation practice.

O’Neil earned a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law and an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi. While attending law school, she was Notes and Comments Editor of the Wake Forest Journal of Business and Intellectual Property Law. She participated on the Wake Forest BLSA Mock Trial Team. These activities provided training in legal writing, the evaluation of evidence, and courtroom advocacy.

O’Neil ‘s litigation practice involves claims arising from manufactured products, medical treatment, commercial disagreements, insurance disputes, and allegations of white collar misconduct. She is admitted to practice before Mississippi state and federal courts. Her professional recognition includes Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for product liability defense and general criminal defense. Her work at Watkins & Eager places her within the firm’s civil litigation and insurance practices.

Briana A. O’Neil has been active with the Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division, including leadership of its High School Mock Trial Competition. She received the Mississippi Bar Foundation’s 2025 Law-Related Public Education Award for that work. Her professional service includes committee involvement with the American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Her background combines defense litigation, professional engagement, and legal education activities.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Watkins & Eager
• Member, The Mississippi Bar
• Chair-Elect of the Automobile Litigation Committee, American Bar Association – Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) (2025-2026)
• Chair of the High School Mock Trial Competition, Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar (2022-2026)
• Chair for Evening Honoring the Judiciary, Capital Area Bar Association (2024-2026)
• Member, Jackson Young Lawyers Association
• Board Member, Central Mississippi Ole Miss Rebel Club
• Member, Defense Research Institute
• Member, Junior League of Jackson

Licensed State

• Mississippi

Education

• Wake Forest University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Mississippi
  Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy Leadership

Awards & Badges