Adam G. Smith

J. Cole Dowsley, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Construction Law. J. Cole, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which J. Cole is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mark Smith’s clients include hospitals, doctors and other health care providers throughout the state of Tennessee. He handles the defense of medical negligence claims and suits involving allegations of wrongful death and catastrophic injuries with the potential for significant financial exposure. Other practice areas include general, commercial, estate and appellate litigation, as well as high-exposure plaintiff’s personal injury cases. Mark has practiced law 32 years, including m...

Rebecca McKelvey Castañeda is a Member of the firm in the Nashville and Franklin offices. She works exclusively in the practice known as Family Law with an emphasis in international family law, especially parental child abductions from country to country. She has significant experience with cases brought under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the International Child Abduction Remedies Act. The United States has signed this particular H...

Jon Harris is a trusted counselor to employers in all aspects of their labor and employment law needs. He also spends a significant amount of his practice defending companies in data privacy class actions. Jon has gained repeated recognition for his responsiveness and problem-solving prowess. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, Jon tailors solutions to a client’s business needs and risk tolerance. Jon is known as a strategic advisor and zealous advocate in employment matters, incl...

John's practice is mostly focused on healthcare mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, with a particular emphasis on diagnostic imaging, radiation therapy, urgent care, and ambulatory surgery centers. In addition, John performs healthcare due diligence in support of the firm’s representation of commercial lenders operating in the healthcare space. He helps his clients accomplish their business goals while navigating the fraud and abuse and other regulatory issues unique to healthc...

Mike focuses his practice on the intersection of business litigation and business bankruptcy. He is able to not only obtain a judgment, but also take steps to ensure that the judgment is “worth the paper it is written on,” by preventing efforts to dissipate assets. On the other side of the equation, he advises companies and individuals who are defending litigation who are simultaneously exploring their bankruptcy options. This confluence of business disputes and ability-to-pay iss...

Mr. Patterson is an experienced patent practitioner and trial attorney. His primary practice involves the writing and prosecution of patent applications in the electrical, electronic, and computer software arts including business methods; patent, trademark and copyright counseling, including preparing validity and infringement opinions; licensing; and litigation in all areas of intellectual property law. He has assisted clients in obtaining over 200 U.S. patents. From 1973 to 1977 Mark Patter...

Matthew Evans is a shareholder at Johnson Evans & Headrick PC in Nashville, Tennessee. His practice focuses on Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Insurance, with an emphasis on products liability, pharmaceutical, commercial, and insurance matters in both state and federal courts. Matthew has developed a substantial portion of his practice defending pharmaceutical and products liability claims and regularly manages complex litigation, including multidistrict litigation (MDL) matters in...

Rick Nickels is a member of the firm’s Tax and Trusts and Estates practice groups. Rick practices at the intersection of business, tax and estate planning. A significant portion of his practice involves advising private companies and their owners, directors and executives on an array of state and federal tax, governance and corporate matters. Rick regularly assists with matters ranging from early-stage structure and funding to mid-stage buyouts and divorces to late-stage exits. He has s...

Dewey Branstetter has represented a broad range of individuals and entities, but his practice concentrates on utility and municipal issues; employment matters, including employee benefits issues; and complex litigation. Mr. Branstetter has extensive experience advising and representing utility districts, municipalities, and utility related entities such as Tennessee 811. He recently appeared before the Utility Management Review Board and successfully defended against the first ratepayer petit...