Whitney Frazier Watt
Since beginning her career at Stites & Harbison in 2003, Whitney has developed a wide-ranging litigation practice that includes product liability, toxic torts, mass actions, contract disputes, tortious interference, coverage disputes, and wrongful death. Whitney has taken and defended hundreds of depositions and made countless court appearances, including trials. An experienced defender of mass torts, she is currently responsible for managing a docket of several hundred product liability cases brought by thousands of plaintiffs. Whitney’s practice requires daily vigilance and dedication to ensure that a large team of attorneys and paralegals is always focused on the client’s best interests.
Managing External Counsel
Corporate Counsel Training Academy, Chicago, IL, April 6, 2022
Is Quarantine to Blame for Increased Consumer Litigation?
Panel Member, 2021 Women in Litigation Joint CLE Conference, ABA Litigation Section, November 17-19, 2021
Using Bankruptcy to Your Client’s Advantage
IADC Committee Newsletter, Product Liability, June 2020
Defense Strategies for Winning on the Statute of Limitations
American Bar Association, Products Liability Litigation Newsletter, August 2019
Refinery's Blast Coverage Claim Blown Up by Own Expert
by Jeff Sistrunk, Law360, May 3, 2019
How to Win on Statute of Limitations
Speaker, IADC Mid-Year Meeting, Santa Barbara, CA, February 2019
Daubert: Trends and Statistics
IADC Committee Newsletter, Product Liability, November 2017
Trial Skills, Trial-Focused Discovery: What You Need & How to Use It
Chapter 2: Preparation for Trial & Organization of Trial Materials
Time for a Makeover: Newly Proposed Cosmetic Safety Litigation
Five Things Every Businesswoman Should Know About Contracts
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Products Liability Year in Review
Products Liability 2011: Year in Review
Co-author, ABA Joint Products Liability, Mass Torts, and Environmental CLE Materials, 2012
50-State Survey on Statute of Limitations
Ethical Considerations for Using Technology in Your Practice
Avoiding Discovery Pitfalls - How to Manage Your Document Productions and Reviews in a Way that Will Satisfy Your Client and Win Your Case
Litigating in the Face of E-Discovery Rules: Post-Implementation Perspectives and Practice Tips
Management of serial litigation against a major manufacturer of respiratory protection products
Secured summary judgment for a forklift manufacturer in asbestos litigation
Litigation against a prominent appliances manufacturer
Trucking litigation, including scene investigation, against a large professional services provider
Wrongful death, asbestos, and coverage litigation against a boiler inspection and insurance company
Litigation involving a talc supplier
Breach of contract, retaliation, and tortious interference litigation against a mental health hospital system
Litigation against a large motor vehicle manufacturer related to claims arising from fire damage
Litigation against a supplier of chemicals and ingredients used in flavors, fragrances, food, and beverages
Kentucky Governor's Scholar Program, Board of Directors (2020-23)
Whitehall House & Gardens, Board of Regents; Secretary (2019-20)
Greater Louisville Outstanding Women, Member
University of Kentucky College of Law
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Kentucky Law Journal, Managing Editor 2002-03
Davidson College
Oxford University, Lincoln College
Whitney was Managing Editor of the Kentucky Law Journal at the University of Kentucky College of Law. While in law school she served as an intern for the Honorable Joseph M. Hood, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Whitney has participated in several organizations including serving on the NAWMBA National Board of Directors (2014-16), Greater Louisville Outstanding Women, a networking and community-oriented organization, the Board and Advisory Council for Dress for Success Louisville, an organization helping low-income women transition back into the workforce, and as a member of the Board of Regents for Whitehall House & Gardens.
Whitney is also an active member of the International Association of Defense Counsel Products Liability Committee and the ABA Products Liability Committee. She previously served as Chair of the ABA’s Women In Products Liability Committee (2013-14) and is currently serving as Vice Chair of Special Projects for the IADC Product Liability Committee.
Whitney enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated
Best Lawyers in America®, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2020-23)
Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2015-22)
Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Rising Star (2013-14)
Forty under 40 List, Business First of Louisville (2013)
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 98 of its lawyers are included in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Additionally, 11 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 19 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
2022 Corporate Counsel Training Academy
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, Illinois
Whitney Watt will be the Moderator for one of the sessions of this Corporate Counsel Training Academy in Chicago on April 6, 2022.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 37 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2022
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2022 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 37 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 29 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and eight attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
2021 Women in Litigation Joint CLE Conference
Boston Park Plaza, 50 Park Plaza at Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116-39014
Louisville office attorney Whitney Watt will be a member of the panel for a presentation at this ABA Conference in Boston, Mass., November 17-19, 2021.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 93 lawyers are included in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Additionally, 11 attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 14 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 41 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2021
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2021 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 42 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices.
Whitney Frazier Watt Appointed to Governor’s Scholars Board of Directors
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has appointed Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Whitney Frazier Watt to the Board of Directors of the Governor’s Scholars Program.
4th Circ. Says 'Unfair' Va. Law Forces It To Nix Black Lung Suit
Law360 (November 9, 2020, 6:04 PM EST) -- Holding that the court was bound to interpret Virginia's statute of limitations "as it is, not as we would like it to be," the Fourth Circuit has affirmed a lower court's decision to toss a lung disease-stricken coal miner's claims against respirator companies accused of selling poor-quality breathing equipment.