C. Gavin Shepherd

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...

Clint J. Woodfin is the Managing Partner of Spicer Rudstrom and the Managing Member of the firm’s Knoxville office, a Member of the firm’s Board of Directors and the Chair of the firm’s Trucking and Transportation practice. He graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1990 and the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1993. He is a member of the Hamilton Burnett Inns of Court and has obtained an AV-Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubb...

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...

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...

Betsy J. Beck is a Partner and a member of the Firm’s employment law team. Ms. Beck has spent her career litigating issues involving employment discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour and other compensation issues, and all other aspects of the employer-employee relationship both in federal or state court and in front of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Department of Labor (DOL), and various other state and federal administrative agencies. Business owners, in-house ...

Thomas A. Bickers graduated with honors in 1984 from Middle Tennessee State University. He graduated with high honors from The University of Tennessee College Of Law in 1987. Following law school, he served as law clerk to the Honorable H. Ted Milburn of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In 1993, Tom was appointed by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee to serve as a member of the advisory group tasked with revising the Court’s l...

Joshua Hedrick has practiced criminal defense law in Tennessee since 2006. He possesses extensive trial experience, with particular focus on homicide cases. His work obtaining a new trial for and exoneration of Raynella Dossett Leath was featured on CBS’s 48 Hours ( July 14, 2018, Season 30, Episode 54 ). He is dedicated to the cause of indigent defense. He has successfully argued cases before the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and the Tennessee Supreme Court and defended citizens ...

Al Holifield is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Litigation - ERISA. Al, who practices law in Knoxville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Al is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jay Mader focuses on employment and business litigation. His employment law practice includes cases involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation with claims relating to age, gender, race, disability, and whistleblower allegations. He also handles wage and hour and FMLA litigation. Jay’s experience in business litigation includes cases involving breach of contract and fiduciary duty, fraud and misrepresentation, consumer protection, and other business torts. In addition to litig...

Emily L. Herman-Thompson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Emily L., who practices law in Knoxville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Emily L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.