Douglas T. Bates III

Henry C. Leventis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Henry C., 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 Henry C. 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...

Mr. Palmer is an experienced litigator specializing in both employment litigation and general civil litigation in state and federal courts. His interest in litigation began early in his legal career when as a law student at Vanderbilt University, Mr. Palmer won the Harlan Dodson Moot Court Competition and was appointed to the position of Associate Justice of Vanderbilt’s Moot Court Board. Mr. Palmer began his career in 1988 as an associate and later a partner in a large general practice...

Mike Roberts has broad legal experience in a variety of business transactions, including loan transactions, the leasing and acquisition of real property, acquisition and disposition of private companies and venture capital transactions. The primary focus of his practice in recent years is the representation of lenders and borrowers in secured lending transactions. Mike also regularly acts as local counsel on multi-state loan transactions, advising on Tennessee indebtedness tax and providing l...

With over thirty years of experience in trial and appellate litigation, Donald has handled more than 400 appeals in state and federal courts, including over 20 cases in the Tennessee Supreme Court. Now focusing his practice primarily on appellate work and trial consulting, Mr. Capparella uses experience gained from serving as trial counsel in over 150 trials, many of them before a jury, to advise lawyers on the challenges they face at trial and to achieve the best possible outcomes at the app...

Mr. Beavers' practice focuses on counseling corporate clients regarding the protection and management of their intellectual property assets, especially patents and trademarks, both in the United States and internationally. Mr. Beavers has 30 years experience in the practice of intellectual property law. He served as General Counsel to Gibson Guitar Corp. from 1995 to 1997. He has filed and prosecuted over one thousand patents in the mechanical arts. Mr. Beavers' current practice is heavily fo...

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...

Kara is a member and Practice Group Leader for Butler Snow’s Labor and Employment group. She regularly advises clients in a variety of industries on employment law compliance. She has extensive employment litigation and agency experience in Tennessee and around the country.

Walter Neilsen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Walter, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Walter is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Travis Swearingen assists his clients with their most complex and high stakes legal problems. Travis is a trial lawyer with first chair experience representing clients in healthcare, drug and medical device, and construction litigation. Travis also represents leading healthcare institutions across Tennessee with their regulatory, licensure and Certificate of Need matters. Most recently, he has helped lead the defense of significant mass tort litigation for a Fortune 50 medical device manufact...