Gray Reed Partner Jeff Watters was one of 40 lawyers selected for the National LGBTQ+ Bar’s Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40 ranking, an annual recognition of LGBTQ+ legal professionals (practicing lawyers, law professors, corporate counsel, members of the judiciary, politicians, etc.) under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their field and have demonstrated a profound commitment to LGBTQ+ equality. Awardees will be recognized during the 2023 Lavender Law® Conference and Career Fair.

“[It] was a highly competitive year for this award, with over 130 nominations for very qualified and passionate young LGBTQ+ attorneys,” according to the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association’s press release. “The LGBTQ+ Bar is heartened to see such a diverse, talented and driven group of individuals within the legal profession and commends them on their considerable achievement.”

At Gray Reed, Watters focuses on trusts and estates litigation and administration matters for clients throughout Texas. His litigation practice is largely devoted to resolving fiduciary duty claims arising from the administration of trusts and estates, a unique and challenging area of law where significant dollar amounts are typically at stake and no two cases are ever alike. He also takes lead on a variety of traditional estate litigation matters, including will contests, will interpretation suits and accounting disputes.

Outside of the firm, Watters demonstrates his commitment to the LGBTQ+ community through his involvement in various legal organizations.

He’s currently co-chair of the Houston Bar Association LGBTQ+ Committee’s annual Halloween party benefiting The Montrose Center’s Youth Rapid Rehousing Program. In 2021, Watters was co-chair of the leadership council at Lambda Legal Houston, a local chapter of the oldest and largest national organization in the country with the mission to advance the civil rights of LGBTQ people through high-impact litigation, education and public-policy work. He also presented “Probate & Estate Issues for LGBTQ+ People” at the State Bar of Texas LGBT Law Section’s annual CLE in 2021.

About The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association

The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association is a national association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, law students, activists, and affiliated lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender legal organizations. The LGBTQ+ Bar promotes justice in and through the legal profession for the LGBTQ+ community in all its diversity. To learn more, visit www.lgbtqbar.org.

About Gray Reed

A full-service Texas law firm with offices in Dallas, Houston and Waco, Gray Reed provides legal services to companies ranging from start-up to Fortune 500 as well as high net worth individuals. Gray Reed attorneys assist clients with a myriad of legal issues including commercial litigation, corporate transactions, oil and gas, tax planning and litigation, real estate, construction, healthcare, trusts and estates, employment law, family law, intellectual property and bankruptcy. For more information, visit www.grayreed.com.