BusinessTN

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Robert Brandt

Nashville

Trauger & Tuke

• One of the foremost dispute resolution specialists in the state. The former Nashville chancery court judge went into private practice after 20 years on bench presiding over business disputes and state government cases. Clients include General Motors, HCA, Coca-Cola, Shoney's and Xerox.

Mike Cody

Memphis

Burch, Porter & Johnson

• A highly knowledgeable mediator who focuses on commercial cases nationwide. Former Tennessee attorney general. Mediated selection of some of the athletes for 2004 U.S. Olympic team at request of the American Arbitration Association. Former U.S. District Attorney for Western District of Tennessee.

Rick Marcus

Chattanooga

Franklin, Cooper & Marcus

• Handles lion's share of mediation work at Chattanooga's Arbitration and Mediation Services. Focuses on personal injury disputes as well as construction matters, both commercial and residential.

AVIATION LAW

Robert D. Van de Vuurst

Johnson City

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
• Shareholder in the Johnson City/Tri-Cities office. Focuses on aviation law but is also well-versed in mergers and acquisitions. Sometimes is called upon in securities matters. Adjunct professor at both Milligan College and East Tennessee State University.

BANKING

Julian Bibb

Nashville

Stites &Harbison

• A force in the banking industry. Recent engagements include representing a major bank in syndicated loans, conduit lending and tax credit issues. Also led a team of lawyers for the planning and zoning for Westhaven, Tennessee's largest mixed-use development. Assistant to the Tennessee Bar Examiners.

Steven J. Eisen

Nashville

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
• His booming community banking practice is largest in state with more than 100 banks in Tennessee and surrounding states. Clients include American City Bancorp and Civitas, for which he does regulatory work.

Bob Thompson

Nashville

Bass, Berry & Sims
• Excellent as principal corporate and securities counsel for public companies on banking, thrift and small business lending. Represented Bethesda, Md.-based Coventry Health Care in $1.8 billion acquisition of First Health Group Corp. Also represented Pinnacle Financial Partners in $20 million common stock offering.

BANKRUPTCY

David Blaylock

Memphis

Glankler Brown
• Handles 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

• Expert at handling major corporate reorganizations. Former member, TBA board of governors. Also handles tax-exempt financing and litigates commercial disputes.

Thomas H. Dickenson

Knoxville

Hodges, Doughty & Carson

• Assistant examiner, Tennessee Board of Law Examiners. Maintains an extensive practice in bankruptcy and commercial law, focusing on creditors' rights and transactional matters. Also handles leases and land acquisition for commercial development. Spent 15 years as a panel trustee for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Craig Gabbert

Nashville

Harwell, Howard, Hyne, Gabbert & Manner

• Often represents debtors in largest local Chapter 11 cases. Along with Barbara Holmes, was Pen Holdings' counsel in its 2002 bankruptcy. Represented Symphony Healthcare as it filed four Chapter 11 cases in 2004. Other clients include Xantus Healthplan, Regal Cinemas, Nu-Kote Holdings, Service Merchandise, Access Health Systems, Washington Industries and Vendell Healthcare.

Robert Goodrich

Nashville

Stites & Harbison

• Has represented creditors, creditors' committees and landlords in bankruptcy and insolvency matters for more than 20 years. Master of complex transactions. Helped revise the Local Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure in the Middle District of Tennessee.

Paul Jennings

Nashville

Bass, Berry & Sims
• Was co-counsel for Capital One in bankruptcy class action litigation; represented Regal Cinemas and Service Merchandise in their Chapter 11 bankruptcies. Also does bankruptcy work for major corporate debtors.

Jim Kelley

Nashville

Neal & Harwell

• Usually represents creditors. Bank of America is biggest client. Represented Grillco in effort to buy insolvent Off The Grill restaurant chain, which filed for Chapter 11 in 2004. Was active in American HomePatient's bankruptcy.

Bill Norton

Nashville

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

Shelley Rucker

Chattanooga

Miller & Martin
• Almost exclusively appears on the creditors' side in high-profile bankruptcies. Represented Calabrian Corp. in litigation with debtors Republic Financial Corp. and Noxso Corp. Has done work for unsecured creditor committees, lessors and property managers.

BUSINESS LITIGATION

T. Maxfield Bahner

Chattanooga

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel

• At 71, still a big player in high-profile 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.

Saul Belz

Memphis

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

Bernie Bernstein

Knoxville

Bernstein, Stair & McAdams

• Represents many shopping centers in the area. Worked on industrial espionage case with Combustion Engineering Co. Represented Clayton Homes as well as Goody's in a stockholder lawsuit.

Julie Burnstein

Nashville

Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry
• Often retained to handle matters arising under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act. Focuses on health care, construction, insurance and trade secrets litigation. Recently prevailed in a dispute by applying the Tennessee Supreme Court's decision in Murfreesboro Medical Clinic, P.A. v. Udom, which deemed physician non-compete agreements unenforceable.

Thomas Cates

Memphis

Burch, Porter & Johnson

• City attorney for Germantown and Collierville since early 1990s, but is often retained in commercial litigation and transactional matters. Oversees litigation, registration matters for long-time client Drexel Chemical Co. Clients include Crescent Center in Memphis, which he helped with a $60 million sale.

Prince Chambliss Jr.

Memphis

Evans & Petree

• Well-versed in handling 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

• Often handles commercial law, constitutional, slander and defamation matters. Groomed 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.

James Kirby

Memphis

Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh

• Often represents companies in fraudulent workers' comp cases. 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.

Bob Patterson

Nashville

Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry
• Consults hospital companies on managing medical malpractice claims. Currently working on a False Claims Act case involving two health care providers seeking indemnity from damages sought in the case.

Lucian Pera

Memphis

Armstrong Allen
• Focuses 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.

Scott Sims

Nashville

Walker, Tipps & Malone

• Rising star among Tennessee business litigators; has already been dubbed legal surgeon in a courtroom. Handles commercial, insurance, professional negligence and products liability work. Represents both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury suits. Clerked for Sixth Circuit Justice Harry Wellford.

Paul Summers

Nashville

Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis

• Fresh to private practice. In the last days as Tennessee's attorney general, filed the lawsuit against the state Judicial Selection Commission on behalf of Gov. Phil Bredesen, who did not like having his arm twisted in selecting the fifth member of the state's highest court. Prior to his state appointment, Summers was judge of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.

Bob Walker

Nashville

Walker, Tipps & Malone

• Central to most prominent corporate lawsuits in Nashville over the past three decades. Successfully represented Harding Academy in property dispute with Metro Nashville government. Represented Nashville Predators against Gaylord Entertainment Co.

CIVIL RIGHTS

George Barrett

Nashville

Barrett, Johnston & Parsley

• “The citizen” took up the TennCare cause in 2004, representing hundreds of thousands of people facing disenrollment, and consequently was criticized for charging $500 an hour to recover billing fees. 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 experiments on women in the 1940s.

John Eldridge

Knoxville

Eldridge, Irvine & Gaines

• Has 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
• Represented ACLU against city of Memphis. Gained renown for taking unpopular stands and suing other lawyers. Famous among lawyers for representing adult film star Harry Reems (Deep Throat) in landmark 1976 decency case. Board member, ACLU Tennessee chapter.

COLLECTIONS

John R. Cheadle

Nashville

Cheadle & Cheadle

• Pilots his own plane while crisscrossing the region on collections duties. Represents large lenders, such as Bank of America, SunTrust and Union Planters, as well as 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

• Nationally recognized as a top authority on constitutional issues with five successful U.S. Supreme Court cases under his belt, two of which he argued. Author of numerous law texts on medical law, government, inflation, health care reform and regulation matters.

CONSTRUCTION

Kim Brown

Nashville

Sherrard & Roe
• Behind many complex commercial construction deals in Tennessee, Texas, Florida and California. Sought-after speaker on real estate finance and development. Represented Tractor Supply in purchase of roughly 100 units of bankrupt Quality Stores.

Ann Cargile

Nashville

Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry• With an established client roster (Willis North America, American Realty Advisors, Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., MetLife and Brookside Properties), considered the top construction attorney in the region.

CORPORATE

Ben C. Adams

Memphis

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
• Presides over Tennessee's biggest law firm. Constantly on the lookout for expansion opportunities (opened a Louisiana office with attorneys from three firms in 2004). Client roster includes Hunter Fan Co., Buckeye Technologies, the University of Tennessee Medical Group and J.R. “Pitt” Hyde.

Howard Lamar

Nashville

Bass, Berry & Sims
• Handles complex mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt deals, as well as corporate governance matters for public and private companies. Represents HealthSpring, Ozburn-Hessey Logistics, CCA, Jewelry Television and Luminetx Corp. Very strong in securities law.

James Weaver

Nashville

Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis

• Instrumental in many 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. Former government relations chair at the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. Represents Wal-Mart.

DEFENSE LITIGATION (CRIMINAL)

Leslie Ballin

Memphis

Ballin, Ballin & Fishman
• One of the leading criminal law attorneys in the state. Last summer was interviewed by Fox News' Greta Van Susteren when he represented Mary Winkler, who was accused of shooting her preacher husband to death.

James A.H. Bell

Knoxville

Sole Practice

www.jameshbell.com
• Runs the firm that has resolved thousands of criminal and civil cases in the eastern U.S. Former three-term parliamentarian for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Heeney Award Recipient. Past president, Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Chuck Burks

Knoxville

Justice, Noel & Burks

• Handles personal injury, tort litigation, and workers' comp, among other matters. Hired by the Police Benevolent Association to represent Knox County canine officer Mick Reyda against an assault charge. Represented Anderson County Sheriff Scott Manning against charges that included misuse of county funds and abuse of power.

Tom Dillard

Knoxville

Richard, Dillard & Davies

• Expert 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

• Specializes in criminal defense, civil litigation and immigration. Represented Clark McMillan, who was freed from jail after being convicted for rape and robbery 23 years ago and sentenced to 119 years in prison.

Jim Neal

Nashville

Neal & Harwell

• Some say he's slowing down, but the celebrated Nashville lawyer keeps his own pace. Has represented the late Alabama football booster Logan Young, who was murdered in Memphis last April. Successfully represented 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.

Peter J. Strianse

Nashville

Tune, Entrekin & White

• Former 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
• Successfully represented Tyson Foods in immigration litigation in Chattanooga Federal Court. Handles antitrust and labor law violations, as well as bank and tax fraud matters. Former U.S. Magistrate for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

David Raybin

Nashville

Hollins, Wagster, Yarbrough, Weatherly & Raybin
• Former 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

• Represents Ingram Industries, Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, and Qwest Communications. Counsel 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.

DUI

Marvin Ballin

Memphis

Ballin, Ballin & Fishman

• Easy-going litigator who molded his son Leslie and grandson Blake into successful criminal defense lawyers. Represented Mario Jefferson, who was convicted of killing his stepfather with a 29-inch samurai sword. Often called upon by Memphis civil litigation lawyers when they need help.

Steve Oberman

Knoxville

Daniel & Oberman

• Chair of the DUI Defense Committee for the NACDL since 1995 and a regent of the National College for DUI Defense since 1999. Authored two DUI treatises covering both Tennessee and national drunk-driving laws; holds DUI seminars across the country. Adjunct professor at the UT College of Law.

ENTERTAINMENT

Ken Kraus

Nashville

Loeb & Loeb

• Represents plenty 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.

Mike Milom

Nashville

Bass, Berry & Sims
• One of the top entertainment lawyers in the country. Clients include Hank Williams Jr., Brooks & Dunn and Alabama. Founding director, Copyright Society of the South. On ABA's Copyright Office Committee of intellectual property.

Robert Sullivan

Nashville

Loeb & Loeb
• Administers the Johnny Cash estate, which recently sold his home in Hendersonville to Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees for $2.5 million. Handles entertainment transactions (primarily in music), as well as entertainment and intellectual property disputes, representing major recording artists, songwriters and publishers.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Drew Goddard

Nashville

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

Bob Martineau

Nashville

Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis

• In charge of the firm's regulatory practice. Expert on Clean Air Act, he has prepared companies for negotiations on Title V, PSD and other matters. Recently counseled an automotive company in negotiating and obtaining permits to build a $1.4 billion manufacturing facility.

Charlie Newman

Memphis

Burch, Porter & Johnson

• Expert in 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

• Has tried cases in 37 states. Takes 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.

FAMILY LAW/DIVORCE

David Caywood

Memphis

Causey & Caywood

• Expert in matrimonial law arbitration. Highly knowledgeable in civil trial, domestic relations and business litigation. Has lectured on family law topics. Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

John Hollins Sr.

Nashville

Hollins, Wagster, Yarbough, Weatherly & Raybin
• Along with John Hollins Jr. represents country music star Sara Evans in her highly publicized divorce from Craig Schelske. Former president of the Nashville Bar Association, former assistant city attorney and district attorney.

Suzanne Landers

Memphis

Landers & Associates

• Focuses 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

• A family law powerhouse. Often the 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.

Rose Palermo

Brentwood

Cheatham & Palermo

• Feared by many due to her many high-profile successes. Represented such country music stars as Wynonna in her divorce from Arch Kelley and Krisyn Osborn of Shedaisy. Often quoted as expert by the media covering the Sara Evans divorce.

Sarah Sheppeard

Knoxville

Sheppeard, Swanson & Mynatt
• Lectures 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

• 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.

FIRST AMENDMENT

Rick Hollow

Knoxville

Hollow Law

• Last year left Watson & Hollow to form own shop with son David, focusing heavily on First Amendment issues. Defended Larry Flint twice in the 1980s when Hustler was sued in upper East Tennessee and Knoxville. Last year filed Chester v. the City of Knoxville, involving access to in-car video camera tapes of the police department.

GENERAL CIVIL LITIGATION

Hal Hardin

Nashville

Nashville School of Law faculty

• Along with Vanderbilt's Jim Blumstein, one of the few tenured professors also practicing law to great renown. Excellent in general civil and criminal trial matters. Also handles white collar defense cases. Teaches criminal procedure with emphasis on the Tennessee rules of criminal and appellate specifics.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Dick Lodge

Nashville

Bass, Berry & Sim
• At Bass since 1985, has been litigating government relations matters, such as contracting, corporate compliance, and nonprofit issues. Was first chair of Nashville's influential Sports Authority. Mover and shaker in Democratic circles (chaired the Tennessee Democratic Party between 1983 and 1988).

HEALTH CARE (REGULATORY)

Dan Elrod

Nashville

Miller & Martin
• Important lobbyist on behalf of hospitals and insurers before the Tennessee General Assembly. Represented the Tennessee Hospital Association on exclusive physician contracting. Active in certificate of need (CON) disputes. Clients include Baptist and St. Thomas hospitals, and Mountain States Health Alliance.

Bill Hubbard

Nashville

Hubbard, Berry & Harris

• A force operating under an understated law firm shingle. Former chief deputy attorney general who knows state government inside and out. Regarded as a strategist, brilliant thinker and writer. Counsel to the Tennessee Hospital Association.

Charles Key

Memphis

Bogatin Law Firm

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

Cindy Reisz

Nashville

Bass, Berry & Sims
• Focuses on structuring deals for hospitals, PET centers, diagnostic imaging outfits and disease management firms. Expert in reimbursement, licensure and CON matters. Clients include Healthways, Ardent Health Services and ProVision Healthcare.

Max Shelton

Memphis

Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh

• Expert in nonprofit health care policies and Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement. Represents Baptist Healthcare. Adjunct professor, UT-Memphis. Frequent lecturer on health care topics.

HEALTH CARE (TRANSACTIONAL)

George Bishop

Nashville

Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis

• Founder, TBA's health law section. Expert on securities and offerings, with focus on syndications of health care facilities and venture capital financings. Key player since early days of Nashville's health care industry.

Steve Braun

Nashville

Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry
• Former senior VP and general counsel of HCA. Boasts vast transactional experience, with numerous acquisitions, dispositions and joint ventures of hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and insurance companies. Negotiated five definitive agreements valued at $1 billion each.

Richard G. Cowart

Nashville

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz• Big player in health care law. Founder and chairman of Baker Donelson's health law practice. The only Tennessean to preside over the American Health Lawyers Association. Recently hired former White House health care aide Lance Leggitt, who will work out of the firm's D.C. office. Clients include Erlanger, St. Luke's-Houston, Novant-North Carolina and Baptist in Memphis.

Berry Holt

Nashville

Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry
• 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

• One of a handful of biotechnology legal experts in Nashville. Former antitrust attorney, U.S. Dept. of Justice. Represents American HomePatient, Advocat, Central Parking Corp., Private Business and BioMimetic Pharmaceuticals.

Leigh Walton

Nashville

Bass, Berry & Sims
• At the firm since 1979, making partner in 1984. Represented IASIS Healthcare Corp. in the $1.5 billion sale to Texas Pacific Group and in multiple hospitals and outpatient services acquisitions. Represented Spheris in its sale to Warburg Pincus and Soros Private Equity and other transactions. Other clients include Brown-Forman Corp.

IMMIGRATION

Rehim Babaoglu

Memphis

Thomason, Hendrix, Harvey, Johnson & Mitchell

• Highly skilled immigration attorney, fluent in Italian and Russian. Has built a vast network of referrals from previous successful representations. Lectures on immigration and deportation law topics.

Linda Rose

Nashville

Rose Immigration Law Firm

• Represents multi-national corporations, high-ranking universities and medical centers, as well as top names in country music. Recognized leader in labor certification practice, including difficult wage issues. Favorite legal pastime is suing the government for extreme delays in naturalization cases.

Greg Siskind

Memphis

Siskind Susser Bland• Continues to expand his practice, having recently merged with New York-based Eric Bland Law Firm. The new entity represents Cirque de Soleil, the British Broadcasting Corp., International Paper, Hilton Hotels, as well as production companies behind Broadway shows Hairspray and Wicked. The firm has cornered the modeling immigration market (70% of all visas issued to fashion models last year).

Roy Berkenstock

Memphis

Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs

• Former 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.

Robert Brewer

Nashville

Bass, Berry & Sims
• Despite young age, already a force on the state's IP field. Has carved out a niche for himself in IT and business outsourcing as he handles all manner of licensing and distribution arrangements, university licenses and other things. Chairs the software licensing section of the ABA's intellectual property licensing and transactions committee.

Phil Kirkpatrick

Nashville

Stewart, Estes & Donnell

• Litigates entertainment, intellectual property and unfair competition cases. Has represented the estate of Tupac Shakur and Baby Bash. Along with partner Horton Frank, represents the estate of renowned country songwriter Harlan Howard. Successfully represented MCA against Curb over Judds' master recordings.

Sam Lipshie

Nashville

Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry• Expert 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

Luedeka, Neely & Graham

• Name partner in Tennessee's oldest intellectual property firm, whose clients include UT-Knoxville, Lexmark, ORNL, Goody's, Clayton Homes and DeRoyal. Focused on electronics and startup companies, trade secrets, trademark and copyright matters.

Robert E. Pitts

Knoxville

Pitts & Brittian
• As 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
• Leads city's only intellectual property boutique. Emerged nationally as mediation expert in intellectual property disputes, a unique niche requiring a special skill set. Clients include Sony Music New York and Ocean Tomo. Firm has mediated cases between GML Inc. and Blockbuster, Nu-Kote Holdings and Canon Computer Systems.

LABOR/EMPLOYMENT

Bob Ballow

Nashville

King & Ballow

• Started his career as a newspaper boy in East Nashville, then went to law school to become a celebrated union-buster. Former general counsel for International Circulation Managers Association. 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

• Handles compensations and compliance disputes. Represents employers in complicated wrongful termination issues. One of the top employment lawyers, whose clients include Bridgestone/Firestone and numerous health care companies.

Richard Busch

Nashville

King & Ballow
• Has had a banner year, having landed the $4.4 million jury verdict in March against Bad Boy Records and Universal Music. In September, won the $4.14 million verdict on behalf of Nashville-based American Color Graphics against Travelers Insurance Co.

Waverly Crenshaw

Nashville

Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis

• Chair of Waller's labor and employment practice group. Focuses on racial discrimination, harassment and retaliation cases. Recent wins include defending a diabetes protocol in response to a challenge under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Member of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Equal and Fair Employment Opportunity.

Lewis Hagood

Knoxville

Arnett, Draper & Hagood
• 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. Big name in commercial mediation, employment discrimination, ERISA and civil cases.

Charlie Hill

Memphis

Glankler Brown• Often represents employers in defending claims filed with the EEOC and State Human Rights Commissions. Maintains an active broker/dealer litigation practice. Also handles trade secrets and restrictive covenants.

Jay Kiesewetter

Memphis

Kiesewetter, Wise, Kaplan & Prather

• Counsels 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

• Focuses 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.

Gordon Nichols

Nashville

Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry• One of the most knowledgeable ERISA practitioners in the state. Represents providers and individual physicians, physician groups, hospitals and other institutions on pension matters. Handles pension and welfare benefits disputes.

John B. Phillips

Chattanooga

Miller & Martin
• Deputy general counsel for labor and employment at Coca-Cola. Defended company in race discrimination class action cases in New York and Cincinnati. Also represented Coca-Cola in class action wage-hour case in Louisiana.

Bruce Shine

Kingsport

Shine & Mason

• Former chair, TBA's labor and employment section. Known for his victory in the first Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower case in the nation, Welch v. Cardinal Bankshares. Applied for the state Supreme Court judgeship last year. Opened Malta's consulate in Tennessee in 2004.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE DEFENSE

Brook Lathram

Memphis

Burch, Porter & Johnson

• Argued a pro bono criminal case before the U.S. Supreme Court that garnered TBA's Volunteer of the Year award. Besides medical malpractice, handles pharmaceutical products liability, antitrust matters and other commercial litigation.

Darryl Lowe

Knoxville

Lowe & Yeager

• Focuses almost exclusively on 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.

Edward White

Knoxville

Hodges, Doughty and Carson

• Key figure in doctor defense. During the last 20 years, has focused exclusively on medical malpractice cases, landing numerous defense verdicts in complex multi-million dollar cases. Represents St. Mary's Healthcare System. Former president of the Knoxville Bar Association.

PERSONAL INJURY (PLAINTIFF)

Kathryn Barnett

Nashville

Leiff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein

• Lead trial lawyer in the declaratory judgment action against Georgia Farm Bureau to collect $80 million in the Tri-State Crematory litigation. Represented class members who received $40 million in settlements. Also obtained an $80 million settlement against the owners of the crematory grounds. Expected to join upcoming Vioxx litigation in New Jersey as trial counsel.

John Day

Brentwood

Branham & Day

• Well-known throughout the state as “Mr. Tort.” One of the best-known litigators focuses his energy on personal injury, wrongful death and commercial litigation. Also handles class action suits. Former president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.

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Charlie Gay

Nashville

Adams and Reese
• Was retained to represent Michael Jackson in a sexual harassment case against the pop star (Bartucci v. Jackson). Relocated 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.

Sid Gilreath

Knoxville

Gilreath & Associates

• Has 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.

J. Houston Gordon

Memphis

J. Houston Gordon Law Firm

• This successful litigator has been at the center of attention as he vies for the state Supreme Court seat. Handled the 1997 NASCAR Café explosion. Was in charge of appeals in Vietnam trial of Lt. William Calley Jr. Well-known for Starnes v. First American National Bank,
a lenders liability case.

Mary Parker

Nashville

Parker & Crofford

• Influential in Democratic circles, last year put her political chops to test while running for the State Senate. Won $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.

David Randolph Smith

Nashville

David Randolph Smith & Assoc.
• Head 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

Cindy Barnett

Nashville

Adams and Reese
• In addition to running the firm's Nashville office, regularly serves as bond counsel or issuer's counsel in complex transactions. Expert in tax-exempt matters. Represents the Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund and the Metro Nashville Health and Educational Facilities Board.

Mark Mamantov

Knoxville

Bass, Berry & Sims
• Managing partner at the firm's Knoxville office that he co-founded. Bond counsel for Knoxville Community Development Corp., which borrowed funds in anticipation of future housing authority grants. Bond counsel on a $100 million financing of Y-12 facilities in Oak Ridge.

Cheryl Patterson

Memphis

Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs

• Gets behind most big bond deals in Memphis. Has done work on the FedExForum bonds, 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
• Frequent bond counsel to issuers of small industrial revenue bonds. Has done financings backed by AmSouth, Bank of America, Wachovia Bank and SunTrust. Focuses on tax-exempt finance with 25 years experience.

REAL ESTATE

Richard Faulkner

Chattanooga

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
• Has worked 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).

Hunter Humphreys

Memphis

Glankler Brown
• Has represented sellers of numerous multifamily properties. Behind redevelopment of historic Lincoln American Tower and Rhodes Jennings Building in Memphis. Handled 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.

Rob Liddon

Memphis

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
• Represents First Horizon and Premcor Refining Group. Highly skilled in multi-state lending transactions, credit financing and bank regulatory work. Has handled military base closures and a plethora of other matters.

Laurence M. Papel

Nashville

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
• Highly skilled real estate attorney with a passion for development. (Luxury Adelicia condos, in which he is a partner, is currently under construction in Midtown.) 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

• Handles commercial and residential matters, which span purchasing, financing, zoning, condo and PUD development for most developers in the Knoxville area.

John Stemmler

Memphis

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

SECURITIES

Gary M. Brown

Nashville

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
• Expert in SEC compliance matters. Recently handed Pinnacle Financial Partners' $180 million acquisition of Cavalry Bancorp; testified before a U.S. Senate subcommittee on using foreign tax shelter schemes to circumvent securities laws. Handled CBRL Group's $800 million “Dutch auction” tender offer and related $1.25 billion financing.

Jim Cheek

Nashville

Bass, Berry & Sims
• Thoroughly 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

• On ABA's negotiated acquisitions and federal regulation of securities committees. The key attorney on most HCA spinoffs. Experienced 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).

John Good

Memphis

Bass, Berry & Sims
• Counsel to Commerce Financial Corp. on acquisitions having aggregate transaction values in excess of $300 million. Represented 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.

Tom Sherrard

Nashville

Sherrard & Roe
• Highly skilled and well-connected attorney. Adjunct professor of law at Vanderbilt University Law School and Owen Graduate School of Management. Member of ABA's federal securities and commercial law committees. Chairs the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.

Shep Tate

Memphis

Tate, Lazarini, Brady & Guerra

• Has carved out a niche in securities litigation dealing with employment contracts of stock brokers and non-compete agreements. Former chair of the securities section of the Memphis Bar Association. In 2004 won a $6 million raiding award for a Memphis securities firm. Handles similar disputes nationwide.

Mitch Walker

Nashville

Bass, Berry & Sims
• Clients 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

• Reclusive and hard-working lawyer who works upwards of 60 cases per year, largely representing poor, disabled clients. Has second office in Kingsport next to the Social Security Administration's appeals office. Well-known for his work in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

TAX

Dale Allen

Knoxville

Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter

• 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. Well known for tax work along with colleague Jim McCarten.

James Berry Jr.

Nashville

Frost Brown Todd
• Former president of the Middle Tennessee Employee Benefits Council. Veteran of Bass, Berry & Sims' tax department. Worked on 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 matters.

William Fones

Memphis

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
• Went into private practice in 1981 after holding numerous posts with the IRS. Master 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.

Joe Gibbs

Nashville

Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry
• Head 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
• Advises clients on fiduciaries and employee benefit matters, executive deferred
compensation, ESOPs and group medical benefits. Represents most physician groups in Memphis. Formerly with the IRS, Kenworthy is a universally respected ERISA expert.

Wayne Kramer

Knoxville

Kramer Rayson LLP
• With 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.

Mike Sontag

Nashville

Bass, Berry & Sims
• Chair of the firm's tax practice. Gained national renown for successfully litigating the J.C. Penney National Bank case, which was the first to challenge institution tax to out-of-state banks with no physical presence in Tennessee. Currently litigates on behalf of Arco Buliding Services, AmEx, U.S. Bank, Bank One and others.

Charles Trost

Columbia

Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis

• Helped tweak 1999 excise tax law imposing harsher rules on limited partnerships making the law more user-friendly than the original proposal. Dean of the state tax base in Tennessee. Key cog in firm's success relocating corporations to Tennessee.

TRUSTS & ESTATES

Tom Buckner

Memphis

Apperson, Crump & Maxwell

• Maintains 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

• Foremost estate lawyer in the area. Eighth practitioner 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. Former chairman, Johnson City Regional Planning Commission. Former president, Tri-Cities Estate Planning Council.

James Gooch

Nashville

Bass, Berry & Sims
• Handles 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

• Sits on the advisory council of the Baptist Health System of Knoxville. Regarded as a top scholar of trusts and estates. Past president, Knoxville Estate Planning Council. Adjunct professor, U.T. College of Law.

Steve McDaniel

Memphis

Williams, McDaniel, Wolfe & Womack

• Former president of the Memphis Estate Planning Council. In 2004 presided over the 20,000-member National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. With help from Walter Lee Davis wrote the exam for the Estate Law Specialist Board (Tennessee CLE board).

Robert McMurray

Cleveland

McMurray Law Office

• Among 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

Howard & Mobley

• Recently departed from Paulus & Dolan to hang a new shingle with trusts and estates attorney Bryan Howard. President, Nashville Estate Planning Council, 2001-2006. Chairs the probate committee of the Nashville Bar Association. Co-author of Pritchard on Wills and Estate in Tennessee.

Mike Yopp

Nashville

Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis

• Expert 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
• A force in the state's utility regulation and utility property taxation. Expert in telecom and natural gas matters. Knows TRA inside and out. Gained renown representing
southeastern resellers opposing BellSouth's entry into long distance service.

Chuck Welch

Nashville

Farris, Matthews, Brannan, Bobango, Hellen & Dunlap
• The former Collierville assistant city attorney represented Charter Communications in its opposition to Jackson Energy Authority's application to provide telecom services. Registered
lobbyist for Tennessee Land Title Association and Knox County.

ZONING/LAND USE

John King

Knoxville

Lewis, King, Krieg & Waldrop

• Expert in zoning matters and contract disputes with the city, representing both government and business. Focuses on waste disposal, residential and commercial development and manufactured housing. Former chairman, Tennessee Housing Development Agency.

Jim Murphy

Nashville

Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry
• Represents public and private sector clients in complex zoning, condemnation, environmental law and other matters. Honed his craft during 18 years with the Nashville Metro Government's legal department. Sits on the University of Tennessee's Board of Trustees. Authored the 1992 revision to Eminent Domain in Tennessee, An Attorney's Guide.

Arthur Seymour

Knoxville

Franz, McConnell & Seymour

• Known for his ability to resolve 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

• Behind Ensworth high school's construction efforts near Warner Park. Famously defended Hoover Inc.'s construction of a rock quarry. Represented developer Robert Moore in a controversial 2004 teardown of Nashville's historic home to make way for a Home Depot.