Ashley Trotto

Practice Areas: 31 years litigating at trial and appellate levels in Commercial, Construction, Insurance Defense, Medical Malpractice Defense, Personal Injury, Product Liability, and Wrongful Death disputes. She is a Rule 31 Listed Mediator in General Civil Mediation. Admitted: Tennessee; Texas; U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee; U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; U. S. Supreme Court. Academic: University of Tennessee: 1986, B. S., with highest honors; 1991...

John W. Elder received his undergraduate degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 2000. He received his law degree, with high honors, from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2003 and joined Paine Bickers in August of the same year. Since joining the firm, he has represented numerous individuals and entities on local, regional and national levels in all types of complex civil litigation. John is a 2007 graduate of IADC Trial Academy and a 2010 graduate of the Tennessee Bar A...

Rick is a civil litigation attorney. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1987, at which time he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as a systems acquisition officer at the Ballistic Missile Organization at Norton Air Force Base until 1992 and last served as the Reentry Systems Launch Program Acquisition Logistics Manager. Upon separation from the Air Force as a captain, Rick attended t...

Bryce E. Fitzgerald, committed to professionalism, integrity and delivering high quality work product, maintains a diverse practice that includes a wide range of litigation in employment, government, estates, and health care in state and federal court. He has experience in wage and hour disputes arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and in discrimination and retaliation lawsuits arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and variou...

Kacie has a wide range of experience in real estate and corporate transactions, including representing both borrowers and lenders in real estate development transactions, commercial leasing and secured lending, as well as representing clients in corporate formations and corporate M&A. Kacie handles long term care transactions, including financing, leasing, acquisitions and dispositions of long-term care and seniors housing facilities. She has particular experience related to environmental...

Edward (“Ward”) Phillips has a wealth of knowledge and trial experience in his practice areas of Labor and Employment Law. Ward represents management exclusively in all areas of employment and labor relations, including state and federal employment litigation and in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Department of Labor, and the National Labor Relations Board. He is a forceful, effective litigator. Ward has been describ...

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Mr. Brown has practiced with the firm since 2002 and has been a Equity Member of the firm since 2008. He concentrates his practice in the areas of workers' compensation and general liability defense, primarily premises and auto liability. He also has a background in defense of governmental entities, having formerly served as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Nathaniel D. Moore is a meticulous and knowledgeable litigator who joined the firm as an associate in 2018. Nate maintains a diverse civil litigation practice that focuses primarily on insurance law, employment law, and civil rights matters. Nate practiced in courts across East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia for six years prior to joining the firm. He has extensive experience representing employers, insurers, and individual clients before various state and federal courts and administrative ...

Wayne A. Ritchie II is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Wayne A., who practices law in Knoxville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Wayne A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jim Wright was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Jim’s father was a lawyer so he grew up working in his Dad’s office. He attended Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee College of Law, was honored with the Order of the Coif and served on the Tennessee Law Review. He is admitted to the United Supreme Court Bar as well as all Tennessee State and Federal Courts. Jim is also admitted before the Sixth Circuit and Fourth Circuit Bar as well as the U.S. Court of...