Erica V. Penley

Will Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Will, 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 Will is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bill Harbison works primarily in the areas of corporate law and trusts and estates. He also handles litigation in those same practice categories. A cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, Bill received his bachelor’s degree with highest honors in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Chris Whitson’s practice covers the areas of corporate, commercial, sports and entertainment, financings, executive employment, and land use planning. His primary concentration lies in general corporate representation with an emphasis on financings, mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions. He has acted as corporate counsel to numerous small, medium and large companies in commercial spaces ranging from charter schools to investment banking to automotive parts. However, ...

Jeff Buschmann regularly advises clients involved in complex business transactions. He concentrates his practice on the corporate and securities law aspects of such transactions. He counsels public and private clients on corporate governance issues and advises on matters such as strategic mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures; private equity and venture capital investments; debt and equity restructurings; leveraged buyouts; SEC reporting requirements; and public and private ...

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...

Stuart is a Senior Member in the Nashville office of Stites & Harbison and a member of the firm's Business Services Group. He has experience in a wide variety of corporate transactions, including domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs and divestitures, joint ventures and strategic investments. His experience includes M&A transactions in various industry groups, including telecommunications, healthcare services, retail and distribution and manufacturing. Stuart's c...

Steven Connor is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Steven, 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 Steven is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Elisa M. Harris is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Elisa M., 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 Elisa M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Farringer is a trial lawyer focusing on complex business and commercial litigation. He practices in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate level and before administrative agencies. John is also experienced with all forms of alternative dispute resolution, regularly advises clients regarding litigation avoidance and assessment, and is listed as a Rule 31 General Civil Mediator. With over two decades of experience, John has litigated many high-stakes and high-profile matt...

Henry Walker focuses his practice on state utility regulation with emphasis in the fields of telecommunications, wastewater services, pipelines and natural gas. He represents utility clients in proceedings before state public service commission throughout the southeast. Prior to joining Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Henry was the General Counsel for the Tennessee Public Service Commission for 13 years. He also worked for the United States Department of Justice and as an Assistant District Att...