Davidson French

Joy B. Longnecker is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Health Care Law and Litigation - Health Care. Joy B., who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joy B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joseph Watson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law and Litigation - Construction. Joseph, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joseph is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Derek Crownover is a recognized leader in the music, entertainment, sports and media industries, counseling publishing companies, independent record labels, singers and songwriters who own their copyrights, and music publishing administration companies on licensing, liability matters and related litigation. He also counsels clients on recording agreements, employment agreements, LLC funding deals, real estate deals, asset purchase agreements and trusts and estates matters. In addition to his ...

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...

Alex Dugan regularly represents financial services and mortgage company clients with compliance matters, including risk management and remediation, state investigations, regulatory compliance, and operational implementation of legal guidelines. Alex’s practice focuses on the bankruptcy compliance and regulatory concerns that her clients face. She is also a member of the firm's Auto Finance and Payment Systems industry teams. With this experience and perspective, Alex provides daily guid...

Gary L. Montle is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Patent Law and Trade Secrets Law. Gary L., 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 Gary L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Vincent B. Lillegard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Vincent B., who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Vincent B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brent Hannafan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Individuals and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Brent, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brent is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ryan practices complex commercial litigation. Among other high-stakes business disputes, he has recently litigated covenants not to compete and trade secrets, commercial real estate transactions, contract disputes, business torts, and shareholder and corporate-governance issues. In 2025, Ryan was named the “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville for real estate litigation. Ryan’s practice includes antitrust litigation, in which he represents large corporate clients in courts aroun...

Sam Lipshie practices in the areas of entertainment, music, intellectual property and commercial litigation and dispute resolution. He also has extensive experience in connection with the acquisition and disposition of media, broadcast and other intellectual property. Sam has practiced before Tennessee trial and appellate courts, as well as federal, district and appellate courts in many states. He has handled copyright, royalty (publishers, producers and talent) and intellectual property liti...