BusinessTN

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.

Former Tennessee attorney general and former U.S. District Attorney for Western District of Tennessee. Highly knowledgeable mediator who focuses on commercial cases nationwide.

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

Represents judges. Has litigated substantial claims involving fraud, breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of non-compete and confidentiality agreements, as well as business dissolution and valuation controversies. In 2006, garnered the Lawyer's Lawyer Award from the Memphis Bar Association.

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

Excellent as principal corporate and securities counsel for public companies on banking, thrift and small business lending. Represented Pinnacle Financial Partners in acquisition of Mid-America Bancshares and securing $75 million in expansion funds for Avenue Financial Holdings.

A force in the banking industry. Led a team of lawyers for the planning and zoning for Westhaven, Tenn.'s largest mixed-use development. Assistant to the Tennessee Bar Examiners.

His largest-in-state banking practice includes more than 100 banks in Tennessee and surrounding states. Last year represented Green Bancshares in acquisition of Civitas BankGroup. Works with the Tennessee Bankers Association and the Tennessee Consumer Finance Association on predatory lending and subprime loan matters.

Top-flight bankruptcy practitioner. Focuses on bankruptcy and creditors' rights, as well as communications and media law.

Former assistant examiner, Tennessee Board of Law Examiners. Maintains 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.

Represented GP Medical Ventures and its affiliate, Physicians Medical Center, in acquisition of Carraway Methodist Medical Center in a Section 363 bankruptcy auction sale. Often represents debtors in largest local Chapter 11 cases. Among clients are Xantus Healthplan, Regal Cinemas and Nu-Kote Holdings.

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

Nationally known Chapter 13 trustee. Certified consumer bankruptcy specialist by Tennessee Commission on CLE specialization, and fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy.

Represented the Chapter 11 trustee of Total Fitness, a chain of high-end fitness clubs. Handled all bankruptcy matters for Prime Trust Bank in its secured financings, including adequate protection issues, stay relief, claim allowance and plan confirmation. Past clients include Murray Inc. and James River Coal Co.

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, played active role in American HomePatient's bankruptcy.

Spent most of 2007 as a Chapter 7 trustee overseeing liquidation of Stanley Jones Corp., one of the largest mechanical contractors in the state. Also represented petitioning creditors against Robert McLean, who had collected over $50 million for a Ponzi scheme. Author, Norton Bankruptcy Law & Practice (12 vol. treatise) and Norton Creditors' Rights Handbook.

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

Going strong at age 72. 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.

Won numerous malpractice cases for HCA and others over the years. Highly effective in business disputes, insurance litigation and class actions, commercial law issues, banking and constitutional law matters. Represents Brentwood Academy against TSSAA along with Vanderbilt's Jim Blumstein. (See cover story, pg. 24.)