Professional summary

Mr. Watkins is an experienced trial attorney who works with clients on a range of construction, business litigation, biotechnology and agribusiness matters. He has tried dozens of cases to verdict in federal, state and administrative courts across the country, including a number of multi-week jury trials. Mr. Watkins works with his clients at every phase of disputes, from litigation avoidance through appeal. Prior to joining Martin Hild, P.A., Mr. Watkins was a partner at an Am Law 100 firm in Denver where he focused on complex litigation and class actions.

Admitted

Minnesota, 2009; Colorado, 2015; U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota; U.S. District Court, District of Colorado; U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.

Education

J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 2009. B.A., University of Hawaii at Hilo, 2004.

Languages

Fluent in Japanese.

Professional associations

Colorado Bar Association; Minnesota State Bar Association.

Recognition

• Client Champion Platinum Award, Martindale-Hubbell
• Best Lawyers® — Construction Law
• Super Lawyers — Rising Star, 2018–2019 and 2021
• Excellence in Diversity Award, Ramsey County Bar Association, 2016

Presentations

• E-Discovery — Colorado CLE, 2015
• Written Discovery Strategies and Best Practices — Minnesota CLE, 2013
• Conducting Effective and Efficient Written Discovery — Minnesota CLE, 2011

Representative matters

• First chair in a five-day jury trial, obtaining a complete verdict for the client on all claims and a judgment of over $1 million
• Member of the trial team that secured a complete defense verdict on allegations of a defective artificial hip after a three-week jury trial
• Member of the trial team that secured a complete defense verdict in the first case to go to trial in national litigation involving a metal-on-metal articulating surface
• Obtained a substantial verdict in a construction defect case after a bench trial
• Successfully arbitrated construction dispute claims