The Watson Firm is honored to be named Pensacola’s best law firm in VIP Pensacola Magazine’s Reader Choice Awards 2022.
For several weeks, thousands of readers logged on to nominate Pensacola area businesses. The top ten nominations were then put up for a vote on the magazine’s website.
The Watson Firm came out on top for “Best Law Firm” in Pensacola!
VIP Pensacola is the premier publication for events and local coverage throughout Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Gulf Breeze, Perdido Key and surrounding areas.
While reflecting on being named the best law firm in Pensacola, Watson stated, "We have changed the lives and secured the futures of thousands of Florida families and stood up to insurance companies, Fortune 500 companies, trucking companies, government entities, and other negligent individuals and institutions. We have helped our clients move forward after car crashes, criminal charges, and unimaginable losses. We have held manufacturers accountable for defective products and called out civil rights violations in law enforcement and governing bodies. We have prepared our cases for trial and won settlements for clients who never had to see the inside of a courtroom. Most of all, we have demanded justice and welcomed members of our community into our family during some of the most difficult times in their lives. We are proud to see that the Pensacola community has embraced our law firm and chosen The Watson Firm as "Best Law Firm" in Pensacola."
Aaron Watson's peers and community have repeatedly recognized him for securing multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of personal injury victims in Northwest Florida. Coming off the heels of a five-million-dollar win this year, The Watson Firm is proud to celebrate another success with their selection as "Best Law Firm" in Pensacola by VIP Magazine readers.
Attorney Aaron Watson has been fighting for car accident and personal injury victims in Pensacola for thirteen years. Since opening his law firm in 2016, The Watson Firm has provided assertive and skilled representation for victims of tractor-trailer accidents, night-club and apartment shootings, defective products, boat accidents, daycare injuries, swimming pool drownings, and nursing home neglect. Mr. Watson currently serves on the Board of Governors for his alma mater, Stetson University College of Law. He has served on the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice and the Florida Justice Association. The National Black Lawyers recognize him as one of the Top 100 black attorneys in the United States. Super Lawyers Magazine has named Mr. Watson to its prestigious honoree list based upon his peer recognition, professional achievement, verdicts/settlements, representative clients, experience, pro bono, and community service. No more than 5% of lawyers in each state are selected for this honor. Additionally, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review rating systems have rated attorney Watson "AV Preeminent," the highest possible rating given to attorneys by this prestigious organization. The "AV Preeminent" rating is assigned to attorneys ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.
The Watson Firm has received top ratings on Google and is the recipient of Avvo's "2022 Client Champion Award". In 2018, The Studer Business Institute named attorney Watson "Entrepreneur of the Year". In 2019, The University of West Florida named Watson "Trailblazer of the Year" for his impact on the local community.
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Florida
- The United States Supreme Court
- U.S. District Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida.
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida
RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE
The son of a minister and a graduate of Stetson College of Law, the nation's top-ranked law school for trial advocacy, Mr. Watson secured his first courtroom victories as a national champion while a member of Stetson's award-winning trial team. Watson explained his trial team experience, "In law school, trial competitions are like college football—the best law students from across the country are pitted against each other in a courtroom. I competed In the AAJ student trial competition and didn't lose a single trial." Mr. Watson was named National Trial Champion after beating over 240 teams from law schools across the country.
MILLION-DOLLAR RESULTS
Watson founded his law firm on his birthday in June of 2016. His waterfront office is located on historic Palafox Street and overlooks Pensacola Bay. Within three months of opening his law firm, Watson recovered a one-million-dollar settlement (insurance policy limits) for a Pensacola resident injured in a house fire. In that case, Watson sued a property management company for failing to provide safe housing for its tenants. In 2019, Watson obtained a $750,000 settlement on behalf of a store customer injured after tripping over a steel bolt that protruded from a pedestrian walkway. In that case, Watson argued that the store was negligent in inspecting its premises for hazardous conditions. In May this year, The Watson Firm recovered a million-dollar settlement for a local car accident victim. In June of this year, Watson recovered a five-million-dollar (CAD) settlement for the victim of an 18-wheeler collision. In that case, Watson's client was issued a traffic citation for causing the 18-wheeler collision. During Watson's investigation, he discovered that the investigating officers had conducted a shoddy investigation and missed crucial evidence from the accident scene. After reconstructing the crash with his investigators and engineers, Watson argued that the 18-wheeler operator was distracted and was partially responsible for causing the collision. Mr. Watson credits his award-winning style of advocacy to his church background and his experience listening to the fiery sermons of his father, Reverend Larry Watson, Sr.
Watson is no stranger to large settlements and verdicts. In 2008, Mr. Watson participated in multi-billion-dollar litigation alongside famed civil litigator and mentor, attorney Willie Gary. In 2009, the Pensacola News Journal recognized his achievement by naming him a "Panhandle Personality." In 2010, Mr. Watson served as lead counsel in a high-profile civil rights case against the City of Pensacola. The Steen case received national attention through news agencies such as CNN and the St. Petersburg Times. It resulted in one of the largest civil rights settlements against the city of Pensacola.
In 2013, alongside his mentor, Fred Levin, Watson obtained one of the largest verdicts in the nation in the national Yamaha Rhino litigation. In that case, a Pensacola resident was seriously injured while operating a defective Yamaha Rhino vehicle. After nearly three weeks of trial, a Montgomery County jury returned a verdict of 3.3 million dollars as compensation for his client. In 2014, Watson recovered a 12.6-million-dollar verdict on behalf of a Pensacola resident injured in a head-on collision. In 2015, Watson was honored to become the first African American shareholder of a prominent personal injury law firm before leaving to start his namesake law firm, The Watson Firm.
Watson attributes his success to his faith in God and family and community support.
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
Locally, Mr. Watson has served on the board of directors for the YMCA of Northwest Florida, Guardian Ad Litem of Northwest Florida, The Escambia-Santa Rosa County Bar Association, and as choir director and general counsel for the Englewood Missionary Baptist Church. He is a member of the Alpha Alpha Theta Sigma Alumni Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He enjoys mentoring and public speaking at local colleges, high schools, and churches.
Shortly after opening his law firm, Mr. Watson and his wife, Kimberly, began looking for meaningful ways to give back to the community. Fueled by community spirit and a desire to extend the reach of their giving, the Watsons were inspired to establish The Watson Family Foundation. Each year, he and his wife hosts book bag giveaways, laptop giveaways, holiday turkey and dinner giveaways, and Christmas dinner giveaways. In 2020, The Foundation gave away one thousand whole turkeys and groceries bags for Thanksgiving. This year, the Foundation introduced its inaugural scholarship during its' first annual Juneteenth Family Reunion festival in downtown Pensacola. Kimberly Watson serves as the President of the Watson Family Foundation. Guided by generational values, the Watsons believe in continuing their family legacy of faith-based outreach, community service, and mentorship. Aaron and Kimberly are the proud parents of twin boys, Houston and Gray, and a baby girl, Mia.
While reflecting on his legal career, Watson stated, "We have changed the lives and secured the futures of thousands of Florida families and stood up to insurance companies, Fortune 500 companies, trucking companies, government entities, and other negligent individuals and institutions. We have helped our clients move forward after car crashes, criminal charges, and unimaginable losses. We have held manufacturers accountable for defective products and called out civil rights violations in law enforcement and governing bodies. We have prepared our cases for trial and won settlements for clients who never had to see the inside of a courtroom. Most of all, we have demanded justice and welcomed members of our community into our family during some of the most difficult times in their lives. We are proud to see that the Pensacola community has embraced our law firm and chosen The Watson Firm as "Best Law Firm" in Pensacola."