Charles W. Ferguson

A partner based in our Nashville office, Kenneth S. Byrd is an experienced trial attorney at Lieff Cabraser, obtaining several large jury trial verdicts against Big Tobacco over the past several years. He received the Tennessee Association for Justice’s 2015 Paladin Award for his successful litigation against cigarette manufacturers R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Philip Morris USA Inc., and Lorillard Tobacco Company in Florida federal courts. The Paladin Award is TAJ’s highest hon...

Mr. Frazier represents management in the area of labor and employment law with an emphasis on employment litigation including collective actions under the FLSA and the ADEA. Mr. Frazier has been counsel in over 20 jury trials in both state and federal courts, and he has experience trying collective actions in federal court before a jury and in an arbitration setting. Mr. Frazier has also handled over 30 arbitrations arising under collective bargaining agreements. Mr. Frazier is active in civi...

Judge Kevin Sharp is the Managing Partner of Sanford Heisler Sharp’s Nashville office. He joined the firm after serving as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee from May 2011 through April 2017, including service from 2014 to 2017 as the court’s Chief Judge. In his judicial role, Judge Sharp handled many high-profile cases, including Young v. Giles County Board of Education, granting an injunction against school officials who prevented a student f...

Philip D. Irwin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Philip D., who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Philip D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kendra Samson is a partner in Barton’s Nashville office. Kendra advises clients on how to avoid costly litigation, with a practice focused on employment law and commercial litigation. She believes the most effective legal counsel begins with building strong relationships—taking the time to understand a client’s business, their people, and their unique challenges. By investing in that knowledge, Kendra is able to craft practical, business-focused strategies that aim to resolv...

Stephen Montgomery practices in the areas of commercial transactions, bankruptcy, commercial real estate, estate planning and civil litigation. He represents businesses with regard to entity formation, contract drafting, purchasing and selling assets and ownership interests, and resolving business disputes. His experience includes: representing lenders in complex commercial lending transactions, workouts and foreclosures, representing secured creditors in bankruptcy, drafting estate planning ...

Gerald Mace is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Commercial Finance Law. Gerald, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2005. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gerald is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Beth Evans Vessel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Antitrust Law, Health Care Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Beth Evans, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Beth Evans is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chuck Mataya has developed a focused practice of litigation and counseling in various areas of labor and employment law, including the defense of class, collective individual actions in both state and federal courts. Chuck acts as a lead counsel for prominent employers throughout the United States in the counsel and defense of employment and labor claims, including claims of wrongful discharge, breach of an employment contract, illegal discrimination under the various federal and state laws, ...

Sharon O. “Sheri” Jacobs concentrates her practice in the areas of Environmental Law and Administrative Law. Sheri has administrative, environmental law, environmental litigation experience at the federal, state and local levels, as well as with administrative agencies. This experience includes matters associated with sustainability, solid and hazardous waste, Brownfield redevelopment, underground storage tanks, water pollution, environmental citizen suits, Superfund remediation p...