BusinessTN

Most of what lawyers do they do quietly, without publicity or fanfare. So how exactly do you rate the best in the profession in Tennessee?

Well, first, in compiling its third annual list of the state’s top lawyers, Business Tennessee interviewed dozens of lawyers, asking them the central question, “Who would you hire?” As such, the list is very much a product of peer review. Next, on the condition of anonymity, we also quizzed judges on which lawyers they viewed as the best from their vantage point on the bench. (They are judges, after all.) The end product is an updated, user-friendly guide for selecting the right lawyer in 32 categories of legal practice across the Volunteer State.

This year’s list has been expanded to 150 lawyers from 101 in previous years. Why? The expansion is a testament to Business Tennessee’s ever-increasing familiarity with the marketplaces across Tennessee and the movers and shakers that make them vibrant. Tennessee is a big state full of highly skilled legal professionals. They deserve ample space to recognize their efforts. Expansion of our list also reflects the ever-increasing number of active attorneys who are licensed to practice in Tennessee. That number has grown from 16,871 in 2004 to 17,389 last year. Tennessee Bar Association membership at the end of last year was roughly 9,000. With this list, we give you the crème de la crème of legal professionals in Tennessee.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Robert Brandt Nashville Trauger, Ney & Tuke 4Former Nashville chancery court judge. Joined firm after 20 years on bench presiding over business disputes and state government cases. Resolved disputes for General Motors, HCA, Coca-Cola, Shoney’s and Xerox.

Mike Cody Memphis Burch, Porter & Johnson 4Practitioner of commercial mediation nationwide who mediated selection of athletes for 2004 U.S. Olympic team at request of the American Arbitration Association. Former Tennessee attorney general. Former U.S. District Attorney for Western District of Tennessee.

Lew Conner Nashville Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis 4Instrumental in mediating 31 lawsuits, including 14 death cases, arising from fatal Nashville nursing home fire in 2003. Former Special Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge and gubernatorial candidate.

Rick Marcus Chattanooga Franklin, Cooper & Marcus 4Does lion’s share of mediation work at Chattanooga’s Arbitration and Mediation Services. Marcus focuses on personal injury disputes, as well as construction matters, both commercial and residential.

Howard Vogel Knoxville O’Neil, Parker & Williamson 4Handles commercial and injury disputes across Tennessee. Mediated 2003 contract dispute between HCA and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Fellow, International Academy of Mediators. Former president, Tennessee Bar Association.

BANKING

Steven J. Eisen Nashville Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 4Staying power in booming community bank growth, representing more than 100 banks in Tennessee and surrounding states (his practice is largest in state). Advised American City Bancorp during 2004 merger with FSB Bancshares of Henderson. Does regulatory work for Civitas.

Bob Thompson Nashville Bass, Berry & Sims 4Represented Bethesda, Md.-based Coventry Health Care in $1.8 billion acquisition of First Health Group Corp.; represented Pinnacle Financial Partners in $20 million common stock offering. Other clients include Greene County Bancorp, Civitas Bancgroup and Wilson Bank Holding.

BANKRUPTCY

David Blaylock Memphis Glankler Brown 4Handles creditors’ rights, insolvency, secured creditor representation and general commercial law. Represented Bankers Trust Co. in late ’80s bankruptcy of Julien Co., then the world’s largest cotton merchant.

Mark Dessauer Kingsport Hunter, Smith & Davis 4Handles major corporate reorganizations. Former member, TBA board of governors.

Thomas Dickenson Knoxville Hodges, Doughty & Carson 4Extensive practice in bankruptcy and commercial law, focusing on creditors’ rights and transactional matters. Also handles leases and land acquisition for commercial development. Former assistant examiner, Tennessee Board of Law Examiners.

Craig Gabbert Nashville Harwell, Howard, Hyne, Gabbert & Manner 4Often represents debtors in largest local Chapter 11 cases. Represented Symphony Healthcare as it filed four Chapter 11 cases in 2004. Helped draft rehabilitation plan of Xantus Healthplan in 1999. Co-counsel in bankruptcies of Regal Cinemas, Nu-Kote Holdings, Service Merchandise, Access Health Systems, Washington Industries and Vendell Healthcare.

Paul Jennings Nashville Bass, Berry & Sims 4Co-counsel for Capital One in bankruptcy class action litigation. Co-counsel for Regal Cinemas and Service Merchandise in their Chapter 11 bankruptcies. Also does bankruptcy work for major corporate debtors.

Jim Kelley Nashville Neal & Harwell 4Represented Grillco in effort to buy insolvent Off The Grill restaurant chain, which filed for Chapter 11 in 2004. Usually represents creditors. Biggest client is Bank of America. Was active in American HomePatient’s bankruptcy.

Bill Norton Nashville Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry 4Represented secured creditors in the James River Coal Chapter 11 case, involving $260 million in secured debt. Represented Holcomb Healthcare Services in a tangled litigation with insiders over intellectual property designed by prolific Nashville inventor Robert Holcomb.

Shelley Rucker Chattanooga Miller & Martin 4Represented Calabrian Corp. in litigation with debtors Republic Financial Corp. and Noxso Corp. Almost exclusively represents creditors in high-profile bankruptcy cases. Has done work for unsecured creditor committees, lessors and property managers.

John Ryder Memphis Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh 4Instrumental in handling the bankruptcies of Braniff, Julien Cos., Microwave Products, Wexner & Jacobson and XpertTune. Represents both debtors and creditors. Former Shelby County Delinquent Tax Attorney.

BUSINESS LITIGATION

T. Maxfield Bahner Chattanooga Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel 4At 70, still actively involved in significant cases. Past president, Chattanooga Bar Association. Past governor, American Bar Association, where he led the Tennessee delegation for nine years. Chaired the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Advisory Commission on the Rules of Civil Procedure, helping the court adopt the Tennessee Rules of Evidence.

Leo Bearman Memphis Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 4Often retained by clients seeking new representation. Also sought after by judges in need of counsel. Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers. Former president, Memphis and Shelby County Bar Association. Sons David and Edward also prominent lawyers in the area.

Saul Belz Memphis Glankler Brown 4Represented Federal Express in substantial state tax lawsuit. Well-versed in business transactions and class actions. Has represented broker/dealers and customers in arbitration and litigation. With 30 years law experience, has appeared on both sides of litigation in class action matters involving securities fraud and Title VII claims.

Bernie Bernstein Knoxville Bernstein, Stair & McAdams 4Handles many cases involving real estate and shopping centers in the area. Worked on industrial espionage case with Combustion Engineering Co. Represented Clayton Homes as well as clothing company Goody’s in a stockholder lawsuit.

Thomas Cates Memphis Burch, Porter & Johnson 4City attorney for Germantown and Collierville since early 1990s, but is often retained in commercial litigation and transactional matters. Local counsel in recent sale of Crescent Center in Memphis, a $60 million deal. Oversees litigation, registration matters for long-time client Drexel Chemical Co.

Prince Chambliss Jr. Memphis Evans & Petree 4Veteran handler of commercial and contract disputes, products liability and medical malpractice cases. Has certification as Rule 31 Mediator by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Past president, Tennessee Board of Law Examiners.

Alan D. Johnson Nashville Willis & Knight 4Groomed by Al Knight to carry increasingly heavier workload in representing The Tennessean. Last spring helped newspaper gain access to TennCare records. Point man on Tennessean v. arena operators Powers Management. Also handles commercial law, constitutional, slander and defamation matters.

James Kirby Memphis Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh Expert in business and commercial litigation, civil litigation, construction law and legal malpractice defense. Defended professional liability cases, both medical and legal. Also does risk management counseling.

Lucian Pera Memphis Armstrong Allen 4Practices primarily in the civil trial arena, focusing on commercial, health care, media, intellectual property and professional malpractice litigation. Editor-in-chief of Tennessee Ethics Handbook known by just about every lawyer in the state.

Steve Riley Nashville Bowen, Riley, Warnock & Jacobson 4Represented HCA in Medicare investigation and shareholder lawsuits. Aggressive litigator. Counsel to Bridgestone in tire-related lawsuits. Other clients include renal care giant Fresenius and UnumProvident.

Bob Walker Nashville Walker, Bryant, Tipps & Malone 4Involved in most prominent corporate lawsuits in Nashville over the past three decades. Represented Nashville Predators against Gaylord Entertainment Co. Successfully represented Harding Academy in property dispute with Metro Nashville government.

CIVIL RIGHTS

George Barrett Nashville Barrett, Johnston & Parsley 4Legendary attorney took up the TennCare cause in November 2004, representing hundreds of thousands of people facing disenrollment. Well-known for work in Millberg Weiss litigation and Oak Ridge radioactivity suit filed in 2001. Co-counsel on $10 million Vanderbilt settlement stemming from 1940s experiments on women.

John Eldridge Knoxville Eldridge, Irvine & Gaines 4Has represented numerous Knox County inmates as well as numerous citizens accused of crimes across East Tennessee. Also represented prisons in civil rights suits. Past president, Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Bruce Kramer Memphis Borod & Kramer 4Represented ACLU against city of Memphis. Gained renown for taking unpopular stands and suing other lawyers. Represented adult film star Harry Reems (Deep Throat) in landmark 1976 decency case. Board member, ACLU Tennessee chapter.

COLLECTIONS

John R. Cheadle Nashville Cheadle & Cheadle 4Represents large lenders, such as Bank of America, SunTrust and Union Planters. Also represents large insurers including Allstate, Shelter Insurance Co. and Nationwide Insurance. Handled receivables of Governor’s Crossing Mall in Sevierville and properties of defunct Cooker restaurant chain in three states.

CONSTITUTIONAL

Jim Blumstein Nashville Vanderbilt University faculty 4With five successful U.S. Supreme Court cases under his belt, two of which he argued, considered a premier authority on constitutional issues. Author of scores of law texts on medical law, government, inflation, health care reform and regulation.

Jef Feibelman Memphis Burch, Porter & Johnson 4Represented new charter schools in Memphis over statutory issues with Attorney General’s office. Expert in errors and omissions claims, as well as insurance. Defended municipal tax in Memphis against hotel and motel owners.

CONSTRUCTION

Kim Brown Nashville Sherrard & Roe 4Handling complex commercial construction deals in Tennessee, Texas, Florida and California. Represented Tractor Supply in purchase of roughly 100 units of bankrupt Quality Stores. Represents Bank of America, US Bank and AmSouth.

Ann Cargile Nashville Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry 4Top construction and real estate attorney. Notable clients include Willis North America, American Realty Advisors, Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., MetLife and Brookside Properties, which she represented last year in the purchase of Park Place complex in Nashville.

CORPORATE

Ben C. Adams Memphis Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 4President of Tennessee’s biggest law firm. Oversaw major expansion in 2004 opening a Louisiana office with attorneys from three firms. Most notable clients are Hunter Fan Co., Buckeye Technologies, the University of Tennessee Medical Group and J.R. “Pitt” Hyde.

Howard Lamar Nashville Bass, Berry & Sims 4Focuses on complex transactions for public and private companies and public offerings on behalf of issuers and investment banking firms. Regarded as a gifted securities lawyer. Represented Dollar General Corp., Bright Horizons Family Solutions.

Billy Solmson Memphis Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs 4Focuses on general corporate work, as well as mergers and acquisitions and financial transactions. Taught business law at the University of Memphis. Helped develop a uniform Tennessee legal opinion accord as a special committee member of TBA.

James Weaver Nashville Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis 4Point person in corporate relocations to Tennessee. His firm, which brought HCA and the Titans to the state, is Nissan’s primary counsel and represented the automaker in its recent headquarters relocation to Tennessee. Also a stellar environmental lawyer.

DEFENSE LITIGATION (CRIMINAL)

Leslie Ballin Memphis Ballin, Ballin & Fishman 4One of the leading criminal law attorneys in the state. Last year successfully represented a woman accused of hitting her brother’s girlfriend in the face with a brick. A darling of the Memphis media.

James A.H. Bell Knoxville Sole Practice 4Famous for his take-no-prisoners approach. Former three-term parliamentarian for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Heeney Award Recipient. Past president, Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Tom Dillard Knoxville Ritchie, Fels & Dillard 4Expert in criminal defense, taking on both state and federal cases. Also handles white collar defense. Former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Adjunct professor of trial practice, U.T. College of Law.

Kemper Durand Memphis Thomason, Hendrix, Harvey, Johnson & Mitchell 4Represented Clark McMillan, who was freed from jail after being convicted for rape and robbery 23 years ago and sentenced to 119 years in prison. Specializes in criminal defense, civil litigation and immigration.

Herb Moncier Knoxville Sole Practice 4With 25 years of experience, former state prosecutor known for no-stone-unturned approach. Notorious for frequently suing public officials. Defended accused Knoxville serial killer Thomas “Zoo Man” Huskey.

Jim Neal Nashville Neal & Harwell 4Celebrated Nashville lawyer won a much-publicized trial involving Mississippi trial lawyer Paul Minor accused of corruption and extortion. Minor was acquitted last summer on charges that he gave a Mississippi Supreme Court judge and two other judges $300,000 in cash and loans.

Bob Ritchie Knoxville Ritchie, Fels & Dillard 4More than 40 years experience in criminal defense. Past president, Knoxville Bar Association and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Founding president, Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Lloyd R. Tatum Jackson Tatum, Tatum & Weinman 4Has represented numerous clients in first-degree murder cases in West Tennessee, including Derrick Maness, found not guilty in 2002. Son of F. Lloyd Tatum, retired criminal appeals judge.

Pete Strianse Nashville Tune, Entrekin & White 4Former assistant district attorney in Chattanooga and assistant U.S. Attorney in Jacksonville and Nashville, where he was lead prosecutor for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. Now focusing on federal criminal defense.

DEFENSE LITIGATION (WHITE COLLAR)

Roger Dickson Chattanooga Miller & Martin 4Successfully represented Tyson Foods in immigration litigation in Chattanooga Federal Court. Handles cases involving antitrust and labor law violations, bank fraud, Medicare fraud, and tax matters. Former U.S. Magistrate for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

David Raybin Nashville Hollins, Wagster, Yarbrough, Weatherly & Raybin 4Former assistant attorney general. Expert on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statue, or RICO. Was called upon in 2004 by Gov. Phil Bredesen to preserve criminal sentencing laws in Tennessee.

Jimmy Sanders Nashville Neal & Harwell 4Counsel to Bridgestone/Firestone in tire litigation. Defended director John Landis in Twilight Zone case and Exxon in Valdez spill. Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. Represents Ingram Industries, Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, and Qwest Communications.

DUI

Marvin Ballin Memphis Ballin, Ballin & Fishman 4Represented Mario Jefferson, who was convicted of killing his stepfather with a 29-inch samurai sword. Runs DUI and criminal defense practice with son Leslie and grandson Blake. Memphis civil litigation lawyers turn to him for help.

Roger May Nashville Willis & Knight 4Client roster reads like who’s who of the Nashville sports scene, including Titans quarterback Steve McNair. Other celebrity clients include country music stars Marty Stuart and Terry Clark.

Steve Oberman Knoxville Daniel & Oberman 4Author of DUI: The Crimes & Consequences in Tennessee. Co-author of Drunk Driving Defense. Handles cases on behalf of high-profile clients in Knoxville and across the eastern United States.

ENTERTAINMENT

Mike Milom Nashville Bass, Berry & Sims 4One of the top entertainment lawyers in the country. Clients include Hank Williams Jr., Brooks & Dunn, Trick Pony and Alabama. Founding director, Copyright Society of the South. On ABA’s Copyright Office Committee of intellectual property.

Ken Kraus Nashville Loeb & Loeb 4Represents a plethora of country music stars in Nashville. Maintains offices in New York and Los Angeles, where the firm is based. Clients include: Elvis Presley estate, Clint Black, Kid Rock, Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman and Nickel Creek.

Steve Rush Nashville Rush Law Group 4After eight years with Sukin Law Group of New York, formed own Music Row practice, specializing in music publishing, intellectual property and commercial law. Founded Rush Capital in 2002 to help intellectual property owners gain access to capital. After Iron Curtain fell, secured funding to train Russian attorneys to conduct jury trials.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Drew Goddard Nashville Bass, Berry & Sims 4Represents large firms across the state, including Eastman Chemical. Successfully negotiated many enforcement consent orders with U.S. EPA and the Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation.

Charlie Newman Memphis Burch, Porter & Johnson 4Master of the ins and outs of government regulations. One of the principals in a dispute with the federal government originating in the 1960s regarding efforts to build an interstate through Overton Park.

Lou Woolf Knoxville Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter 4Known for taking on property and personal injury lawsuits arising from air and water pollution, hazardous and non-hazardous waste, as well as Superfund litigation. Represents many major petroleum and chemical companies. Has tried cases in 37 states.

Gordon Nichols Nashville Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry 4One of the most knowledgeable ERISA practitioners in the state. Focuses on health care providers, including individual physicians, physician groups, hospitals and other institutions on pension matters. Handles pension and welfare benefits disputes.

FAMILY LAW/DIVORCE

Dawn Coppock Strawberry Plains Sole Practitioner 4Handles cases on behalf of birth parents or adoptive parents in state, and international and relative adoptions. Does adoption record searches, contested adoptions and appeals. Authored Coppock on Tennessee Adoption Law with Forms and Statutes.

Suzanne Landers Memphis Landers & Associates 4Focuses on domestic litigation, mediation and child custody matters, adoption and Guardian Ad Litem. Member, Academy of Family Mediators. Adjunct professor, University of Memphis School of Law.

Jim Martin Nashville Stites & Harbison 4A first choice for representation among both men and women in divorce cases. Represented Nashville Banner publisher Irby Simpkins in 2000 divorce from Peaches Simpkins. Member, Domestic Relations Code Commission.

Dorothy Pounders Memphis Pounders & Coleman 4Always on the short list to be hired for highly visible and big money domestic relations disputes. Handles cutting edge cases. Chairs alternative dispute resolution section of the Memphis Bar.

Sarah Sheppeard Knoxville Sheppeard & Swanson 4Lectures on divorce matters to roughly 4,000 lawyers a year. Filed a successful appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court in Synthia Lee Bratton v. Michael Wayne Bratton, questioning the validity of post-nuptial agreements on behalf of the husband.

Caesar Stair Knoxville Bernstein, Stair & McAdams 4Specializes in domestic relations disputes. Represented Curtis Elam in Gallaher v. Elam, a highly publicized child support case. Submitted the first brief to the Tennessee Supreme Court challenging child support guidelines that determine awards based on the noncustodial parent’s income.

Landis Turner Hohenwald Keaton, Turner & Spitzer 4Waverly-born lawyer who handles a plethora of family law cases. Former president, Tennessee Bar Association. Member, Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association and American Board of Trial Advocates.

FIRST AMENDMENT

Rick Hollow Knoxville Hollow Law 4Recently left Watson & Hollow to form own practice with son David, focusing heavily on First Amendment issues. Most recent case is Chester v. the City of Knoxville, involving access to in-car video camera tapes of the police department. Defended Larry Flint twice in the 1980s when Hustler was sued in upper East Tennessee and Knoxville.

Al Knight Nashville Willis & Knight 4First Amendment attorney for The Tennessean. Lead attorney in paper’s efforts to open files on Kirby Pines Estates in 1996. Argued for media access to NES customer information. Challenged sealing of settlement between Lebanon and a private citizen.

GENERAL CIVIL LITIGATION

Phil Fleissner Chattanooga The Fleissner Firm 4Highly networked Chattanooga attorney. Active in Tenga crash litigation. Also did the Tri-State Crematory litigation work. Represented UnumProvident in insurance litigation.

HEALTH CARE (REGULATORY)

Dan Elrod Nashville Miller & Martin 4Important lobbyist on behalf of hospitals and insurers in the Tennessee General Assembly. Represented the Tennessee Hospital Association on exclusive physician contracting. Active in certificate of need (CON) disputes. Client roster includes Baptist and St. Thomas hospitals, and Mountain States Health Alliance.

Charles Key Memphis Bogatin Law Firm 4Former general counsel to 650-physician IPA in St. Louis. Focuses on regulatory issues, representing health care providers, physician groups and related organizations. Active in anti-kickback regulation, self-referral, reimbursement and HIPAA matters.

Cindy Reisz Nashville Bass, Berry & Sims 4Represented Surgical Alliance as it planned a new rehab hospital, as well as New Light Imaging Partners with its new outpatient center. Securities law savvy considered invaluable to fast-growing health care client roster, which includes AmSurg and American Healthways.

Max Shelton Memphis Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh 4Expert in nonprofit health care policies and Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement. Represents Baptist Healthcare. Adjunct professor, U.T.-Memphis.

HEALTH CARE (TRANSACTIONAL)

George Bishop Nashville Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis 4Key player since early days of Nashville’s health care industry. Founder, TBA’s health law section. Expert on securities and offerings, with focus on syndications of health care facilities and venture capital financings.

Richard G. Cowart Nashville Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 4Brings plenty of business to the firm after merging his Jackson, Miss., practice with Baker Donelson. Clients include The Med and BMH of Memphis, Erlanger, Wellmont, Quorum and Renal Care Group.

Berry Holt Nashville Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry 4A go-to lawyer in Nashville health care circles regarding transactional, regulatory or operational matters. Frequently on site at St. Thomas Health Services as general counsel. President, Tennessee Academy of Hospital Attorneys. Also advises First Tennessee Bank.

Mark Manner Nashville Harwell, Howard, Hyne, Gabbert & Manner 4Represents American HomePatient, Advocat, Central Parking Corp., Private Business and BioMimetic Pharmaceuticals, among others. One of a handful of biotechnology legal experts in Nashville. Former antitrust attorney, U.S. Dept. of Justice.

John Voigt Nashville Sherrard & Roe 4Heads firm’s health care practice. Regarded as extremely efficient agent on behalf of physicians. Led Georgia Medical Care Foundation in the 1970s.

IMMIGRATION

Linda Rose Nashville Rose Immigration Law Firm 4A leader of the immigration bar for 20 years. Represents some of the top names in the country music industry in immigration matters. Member, PERM Implementation Group, an industry think tank helping the U.S. Department of Labor implement new practices.

Greg Siskind Memphis Siskind Susser 4One of the leading immigration lawyers in the nation and among the first in field to harness the Internet to attract legal work. Writes technology column for Immigration Law Today. Clients include International Paper, Cirque du Soleil and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Roy Berkenstock Memphis Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs 4Former in-house counsel with Smith & Nephew, American Optical Corp. and U.S. Steel. With a degree in electrical engineering, has built a big name for himself in patent applications. Admitted to practice in Tennessee, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

Phil Kirkpatrick Nashville Stewart, Estes & Donnell 4Litigates entertainment, intellectual property, products liability and fire loss cases. Counsel to Universal Music Group defendants in Bridgeport Music litigation that began with 900-page complaint. Successfully represented MCA against Curb over Judds ‘master recordings. Has defended products for Black & Decker and Sunbeam.

Sam Lipshie Nashville Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry 4Expert in Uniform Commercial Code, trade secrets and noncompete agreements. Involved in Streamcast peer-to-peer software litigation. Handles all types of copyright and intellectual property litigation. Experienced in acquisition and disposition of media, broadcast and intellectual property.

Andrew Neely Knoxville Leudeka, Neely & Graham 4Focused on electronics and startup companies, trade secrets, trademark and copyright matters. Name partner in Tennessee’s oldest intellectual property firm, whose clients include U.T.-K, Lexmark, ORNL, Goody’s, Clayton Homes and De Royal.

Robert E. Pitts Knoxville Pitts & Brittian 4As lead trial counsel, has recovered more than $45 million on behalf of clients in patent, copyright and trademark rights cases. Along with partner Bob Brittian, defended Brooks Furniture Manufacturing against Canada-based Dutailier Inc.

Jack Waddey Nashville Waddey & Patterson 4Leads city’s only intellectual property firm. Practice increasingly devoted to ADR work as Waddey has emerged nationally as a master of mediation of intellectual property disputes, a unique niche requiring a special skill set. On recommended mediator list of such stalwarts as head of worldwide litigation for Sony Music New York given proven ability to resolve tough cases.

LABOR/EMPLOYMENT

Bob Ballow Nashville King & Ballow 4Former general counsel for International Circulation Managers Association. Well-known union-buster. One of the most respected corporate defense attorneys on labor issues in the country. Numerous media clients include the San Francisco Chronicle, along with the Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News.

Bob Boston Nashville Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis 4Represents employers in complicated wrongful termination issues. One of the top employment lawyers whose clients include Bridgestone/Firestone and numerous health care companies. Handles compensations and compliance disputes.

Richard Busch Nashville King & Ballow 4More known as specialist in labor and employment litigation, emerged in 2001 as intellectual property attorney with 900-page complaint on behalf of Bridgeport Music, which took on big-name firms such as Universal Music. Thanks to the recent 6th Circuit decision in Bridgeport’s favor, is slated to get more copyright/IP business.

Lewis Hagood Knoxville Arnett, Draper & Hagood 4Big name in commercial mediation, employment discrimination, ERISA and civil cases. Handled dozens of mediations of labor and employment discrimination disputes for TVA, U.S. Postal Service and the IRS. One-time permanent arbitrator for labor disputes between Dept of Energy contractors at Oak Ridge and the Building Trades Union.

Jay Kiesewetter Memphis Kiesewetter, Wise, Kaplan & Prather 4Counsels employers in all aspects of union-free management. Represents companies in unfair labor practice and in proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board and U.S. Courts of Appeal.

Fred Lewis Memphis Lewis, Fisher, Henderson, Claxton & Mulroy 4Focuses on employment litigation, labor relations, employment class actions, as well as union contract negotiations and wage and hour law. Member, ABA’s Equal Employment Opportunity Law Committee.

John B. Phillips Chattanooga Miller & Martin 4Deputy general counsel for labor and employment at Coca-Cola. Defended company in race discrimination class action cases in New York and Cincinnati. Represents Coca-Cola in class-action wage-hour case in Louisiana.

Bruce Shine Kingsport Shine & Mason 4Won the first Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower case in the nation, Welch v. Cardinal Bankshares. Client David Welch, the bank’s chief financial officer, was restored to the job with back pay and attorney’s fees. Former chair, TBA’s labor and employment section. Opened Malta’s consulate in Tennessee in 2004.

Eddie Wayland Nashville King & Ballow 4Focuses mainly on labor law, but receives most publicity for First Amendment cases. Founder, TBA Labor Letter. Represented Acuff-Rose in 1992 copyright lawsuit against Luther Campbell and 2 Live Crew for “Oh, Pretty Woman” parody.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE DEFENSE

Brook Lathram Memphis Burch, Porter & Johnson 4Besides medical malpractice, handles pharmaceutical products liability, antitrust matters and other commercial litigation. Argued a pro bono criminal case before the U.S. Supreme Court that garnered TBA’s volunteer of the year award.

Darryl Lowe Knoxville Lowe & Yeager 4Almost exclusively does defense work. Defended Jefferson City dentist Woody Stinson in the case of over crowning material that had to be removed from plaintiff’s intestines. In 2004 won cases against a marina and a bridge builder. Defends other lawyers in legal malpractice cases.

PERSONAL INJURY (PLAINTIFF)

Kathryn Barnett Nashville Leiff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein 4Co-lead trial lawyer on the Tri-State Crematory case. A top lawyer in the class action category. Garnered $6 million verdict in unborn fetus case in 2000.

Phillip Larry Boyd Rogersville Boyd & Boyd 4Maintains a general practice, but known for personal injury defense work. Former Hawkins County attorney. Also handles real estate, workers compensation, wills and probate matters. Fellow, Tennessee Bar Foundation.

Charlie Gay Nashville Adams and Reese 4Relocated after Hurricane Katrina to firm’s Nashville office. Works extensively in products liability and medical malpractice litigation. Lead medical malpractice trial counsel for the Ochsner Medical Institutions. Recently retained to represent Michael Jackson in a sexual harassment case against the pop star (Bartucci v. Jackson).

Sid Gilreath Knoxville Gilreath & Associates 4Has tried cases in 10 states, winning multi-million dollar verdicts for his clients. Won a $44 million jury verdict for a quadriplegic child in a minivan accident; a $3.9 million verdict for a paraplegic client in a case involving a school bus with faulty brakes.

Houston Gordon Memphis J. Houston Gordon Law Firm 4Handled the 1997 NASCAR Café explosion. Was in charge of appeals in Vietnam trial of Lt. William Calley Jr. Represented a nephrologist in a non-compete dispute. Well-known for Starnes v. First American National Bank, a lenders liability case.

Randy Kinnard Nashville Kinnard, Clayton & Beveridge 4Won $6.5 million for woman who suffered a brain injury after a tubal ligation. Famous for reaching a settlement with Vanderbilt in 2001 case involving faulty prostate procedure. Decorated Airborne Ranger in Vietnam.

Mary Parker Nashville Parker & Crofford 4Won $1.5 million verdict against Dana Corp. in a Clean Water Act case. Among the nation’s top litigators according to The National Law Journal. Tries sexual harassment, products and medical malpractice cases. Tight with John Edwards family.

Bob Pryor Knoxville Pryor, Flynn, Priest & Harber 4For past 35 years, focused on personal injury practice. Also known for medical negligence work. Co-author of three-volume edition on products liability. Former president, Knoxville Trial Lawyers Association.

David Randolph Smith Nashville David Randolph Smith & Assoc. 4Head counsel for 17 families in 2003 fatal Nashville nursing home fire litigation and was instrumental in settling. Represented families in a televised autopsies case. Author of Trial Advocacy in Tennessee.

PUBLIC FINANCE

Mary Aronov Memphis Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 4Expert on commercial law, lending, equipment finance and leasing. Also knowledgeable in loan modifications and work-outs, foreclosures, mergers and acquisitions. Former chair, Memphis and Shelby County Air Pollution Control Board.

Mark Mamantov Knoxville Bass, Berry & Sims 4Devised a rare transaction in 2004 as bond counsel for Knoxville Community Development Corp., in which it borrowed funds in anticipation of future housing authority grants. Managing partner at the firm’s Knoxville office that he co-founded. Bond counsel on a $1bond counsel for Knoxville Community Development Corp., in which it borrowed funds in anticipation of future housing authority grants. Managing partner at the firm’s Knoxville office that he co-founded. Bond counsel on a $100 million financing of Y-12 facilities in Oak Ridge.

James McLaren Memphis Armstrong & Allen 4Expert in structuring transactions and contracts on municipal and health care financing, municipal development regulation and intellectual property matters. Represented bond issuer on construction of AutoZone Park baseball stadium in Memphis.

Cheryl Patterson Memphis Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs 4Behind most big bond deals in Memphis, including the FedExForum bonds, the new MLGW bonds and a private bond deal for Crichton College. On the board of Children’s Museum of Memphis and Bridges.

Charlie Wray Nashville Bass, Berry & Sims 4Has done financings backed by AmSouth, Bank of America, Wachovia Bank and SunTrust. Focuses on tax-exempt finance with 25 years experience. Frequent bond counsel to issuers of small industrial revenue bonds.

REAL ESTATE

Kenneth C. Beckman Chattanooga Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 4Handles all manner of financial transactions, business acquisitions and big-ticket real estate sales from wide variety of industries across nation. Shareholder in charge of real estate finance and commercial lending deals, including securitized loans, bond financings and other loans.

Richard Faulkner Chattanooga Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 4Point man on billions of dollars worth of financings and acquisitions, such as commercial loans, sale-leasebacks, HUD section 232, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and others. Co-authored Advanced Real Estate Law in Tennessee (July 1998).

Jim Haley Chattanooga Miller & Martin 4Among the top names in Chattanooga real estate. Property lawyer for the Corker Group. Borrower’s counsel on $200 million senior credit facility and a related synthetic lease transaction. Represented a bank in $7 million financing of a Georgia carpet maker.

Hunter Humphreys Memphis Glankler Brown 4Behind the sale of Forum I, a large East Memphis office project. Represented buyers of Eastview Apartments, West Rock Apartments and Echelon At The Ballpark downtown. Represented sellers of numerous multifamily properties last year. Currently handling redevelopment of historic Lincoln American Tower and Rhodes Jennings Building in Memphis.

Philip Jones Memphis Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston 4Instrumental in resolving zoning and land use matters. Also knowledgeable in banking and secured transactions. Former counsel to the United States Senate Judiciary Committee. Member of the Mississippi Bar.

Laurence M. Papel Nashville Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 4Managing shareholder with a staff of 160 in firm’s Nashville office. Focuses practice primarily on general corporate matters and in acquisition, disposition and development of commercial and residential real estate. Nashville Zoo board's legal counsel.

Dennis Ragsdale Knoxville Long, Ragsdale & Waters 4Handles commercial and residential matters, which span purchasing, financing, zoning, condo and PUD development for most developers in the Knoxville area.

Charlie Reasor Jr. Nashville White & Reasor 4Expert in commercial real estate matters, commercial workouts and commercial law in general. Known for innovative approach to complex issues in real estate and business law, quietly resolving debt disputes and finding middle ground. Represented Freeman real estate family in the collapse of their real estate syndication empire in late 1980s.

John Stemmler Memphis Bass, Berry & Sims 4Has closed hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions. Represents Kemmons Wilson Companies. Sought after advisor on startups and investments. Joined Bass after 29 years with Burch, Porter & Johnson.

SECURITIES

Gary M. Brown Nashville Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 4Expert in SEC compliance. Chair of the firm’s business department, which includes the securities and M&A practices. Counsel to the boards of companies listed on NYSE, American Stock Exchange, Toronto Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.

Jim Cheek Nashville Bass, Berry & Sims 4Thoroughly connected on Wall Street. Former chair of legal advisory boards of both the NYSE and NASDAQ. Counsel to the independent directors of the American Stock Exchange in its sale from NASD to the members of the exchange. Clients include American Healthways, HCA, Genesco, Thomas Nelson and Bright Horizons. Represents independent directors of ICI Mutual insurance company.

Chase Cole Nashville Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis 4Experienced in all facets of securities work with focus on big public offerings. Clients include LifePoint ($200 million convertible subordinated note offering) and Province Healthcare ($150 million note offering). On ABA’s negotiated acquisitions and federal regulation of securities committees. The key attorney on most HCA spinoffs.

John Good Memphis Bass, Berry & Sims 4Represented Mid-America in $90 million IPO of common stock and in nine follow-on public offerings of common or preferred stock aggregating $600 million of additional equity capital. Counsel to Commerce Financial Corp. on acquisitions having aggregate transaction values in excess of $300 million.

Shep Tate Memphis Tate, Lazarini & Beall 4Has carved out a niche in securities litigation dealing with employment contracts of stock brokers and non-compete agreements. In 2004 won a $6 million raiding award for a Memphis securities firm. Handles similar disputes nationwide.

Robert D. Van de Vuurst Johnson City Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 4Shareholder in the Johnson City/Tri-Cities office who concentrates practice in general corporate law with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions. Also has experience in aviation, trademark, and general litigation. Adjunct professor at both Milligan College and East Tennessee State University.

Mitch Walker Nashville Bass, Berry & Sims 4Clients have included numerous Tennessee publicly traded corporations, such as Gaylord Entertainment Co. and Corrections Corporation of America. Represented Gaylord in its purchase of ResortQuest.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Harry Smith Mountain City Smith & Cockett 4Has second office in Kingsport next to the Social Security Administration’s appeals office. Handles 50-60 cases per year largely on behalf of poor, disabled clients. Well-known for his work in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

TAX

Dale Allen Knoxville Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter 4Well known for tax work along with colleague Jim McCarten. Represented management in Walter v. Nucleus Inc. in 1990, defining fair value in Tennessee. Was counsel in Tibbals Flooring v. Huddleston. First lieutenant, U.S. Army Special Forces.

James Berry Jr. Nashville Frost Brown Todd 4Former president of the Middle Tennessee Employee Benefits Council. Nearly 30 years at Bass, Berry & Sims’ tax department. Recently finished the employee benefits side of the sale of Linatex Corp. of America to an equity fund maintained by investment partners “Asia” Ltd. Has lectured extensively on employee benefits topics.

William Fones Memphis Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 4Master of corporate and business planning and M&A deals. Does business in Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. Has handled federal, Tennessee and local tax controversies at the administrative level and in court. Prior to joining firm in 1981, held numerous positions with the IRS.

Joe Gibbs Nashville Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry 4Head of the firm’s tax group. Advises clients on tax consequences of real estate transactions and development. Has advised foreign nationals on the U.S. tax treatment of their U.S. investments.

William Kenworthy Memphis Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 4Represents most physician groups in Memphis. Formerly with the IRS, Kenworthy is a universally respected ERISA expert. Advises clients on fiduciaries and employee benefit matters, executive deferred compensation, ESOPs and group medical benefits.

Wayne Kramer Knoxville Kramer, Rayson, Leake, Rodgers & Morgan 4With emphasis on ad valorem, sales and use tax matters, maintains an extensive tax practice. Represents clients before Tennessee Department of Revenue, Tennessee State Board of Equalization and other administrative bodies.

Charles Trost Columbia Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis 4Dean of the state tax base in Tennessee. Key cog in firm’s success relocating corporations to Tennessee. Instrumental in tweaking 1999 excise tax law imposing harsher rules on limited partnerships making the law more user-friendly than the original proposal.

TRUSTS & ESTATES

Tom Buckner Memphis Apperson, Crump & Maxwell 4Maintains a large practice primarily composed of high net worth individuals. Expert in family limited partnerships, estate planning and divorce. Former tax counsel to Memphis Bar.

Walter Lee Davis Johnson City Sole Practice 4Former chairman, Johnson City Regional Planning Commission. Former president, Tri-Cities Estate Planning Council. Eighth lawyer in Tennessee to be certified as Estate Planning Specialist by the Commission on CLE and Specialization. President, Estate Law Specialist Board, which covers 17 states.

James Gooch Nashville Bass, Berry & Sims 4Handles tax matters for many of Nashville’s wealthiest families. Former president, Tennessee Federal Tax Institute. Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Council. Trustee, Southern Federal Tax Institute.

Dan Holbrook Knoxville Holbrook & Peterson 4Regarded as a top scholar of trusts and estates. On advisory council of the Baptist Health System of Knoxville. Past president, Knoxville Estate Planning Council. Adjunct professor, U.T. College of Law.

Robert McMurray Cleveland McMurray Law Office 4Among most notable cases are Headrick v. Commissioner; Cleveland Bank & Trust Co. v. Olsen, and First National Bank of McMinn Co. v. Walker. Recipient of Justice Joseph W. Henry award for legal writing.

Jeff Mobley Nashville Paulus & Dolan 4President, Nashville Estate Planning Council, 2001-2006. Chairs the probate committee of the Nashville Bar Association. Co-author of Prithcard on Wills and Estate in Tennessee.

S. Shepherd Tate Memphis Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston 4Recently awarded Tennessee Bar Association’s annual William M. Leech Jr. public service award for outstanding service to the legal profession. TBA president from 1963-1964. American Bar Association president from 1978-1979. Has held a seat in the ABA House of Delegates since 1968.

Mike Yopp Nashville Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis 4Expert in state and federal taxation, partnership and LLC formation. Frequent expert witness in tax cases. Founded and led Yopp & Sweeney prior to merging with Waller Lansden in 2000.

UTILITY REGULATION

Henry Walker Nashville Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry 4A force in the state’s utility regulation and utility property taxation. Focuses on telecom and natural gas matters. Knows TRA inside and out. Made waves representing southeastern resellers opposing BellSouth’s entry into long distance service.

Chuck Welch Nashville Farris, Matthews, Brannan, Bobango, Hellen & Dunlap 4Representing Charter Communica- tions in its opposition to Jackson Energy Authority’s application to provide telecom services. Registered lobbyist for Tennessee Land Title Association and Knox County. Former Collierville assistant city attorney.

ZONING/LAND USE

John King Knoxville Lewis, King, Krieg & Waldrop 4Expert in zoning matters and contract disputes with the city. Represents both government and business. Focuses on waste disposal, residential and commercial development and manufactured housing. Former chairman, Tennessee Housing Development Agency.

Arthur Seymour Knoxville Franz, McConnell & Seymour 4Skilled at resolving disputes before they reach court. Involved in disputes over quarries and landfills, including landfill case against Anderson County. Does work in Jefferson, Blount and Roane counties.

Tom White Nashville Tune, Entrekin & White 4Represented Ensworth in high school construction near Warner Park. Gained renown defending Hoover Inc.’s efforts to build a rock quarry. Represented developer Robert Moore last October in teardown of one of the city’s oldest homes to make way for a Home Depot.