Hudson Chastain

Brandon is an employment lawyer and mediator. He advises clients in the boardroom, and he represents them in the courtroom. Half of his practice is devoted to serving as an outside general counsel for large and small businesses, colleges and universities, and religious institutions, advising them on human resource policies, employment laws, and litigation avoidance. The other half of his practice is spent litigating employment-related issues, such as discrimination, harassment, retaliation, w...

Adam Rust is a shareholder in the firm’s Knoxville office and represents individuals and businesses in a diverse range of legal matters. He handles lawsuits involving the areas of commercial litigation, employment law, transportation and construction. He also focuses upon the formation and advising of business entities, providing counsel to limited liability companies, partnerships and corporations throughout Tennessee. Additionally, he spends a significant amount of time representing p...

Brandon D. Fersten is the owner of Barnes & Fersten, PLLC, a Knoxville, Tennessee law firm dedicated to criminal defense, including general criminal matters, DUI / DWI defense, and juvenile defense. Brandon regularly appears in General Sessions Court, Criminal Court, and Juvenile Court throughout East Tennessee, where he represents individuals facing misdemeanor and felony charges. His practice includes defending clients through negotiations, hearings, bench trials, and jury trials. Brand...

Jeff Thompson is a shareholder in the firm’s Knoxville office. He has tried over 70 jury trials to verdict in state and federal courts. Mr. Thompson focuses on healthcare liability, products liability, and the defense of public officials and governmental entities. He is admitted to practice in all Federal and State courts in Tennessee, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Jeff Thompson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(...

Daniel T. Swanson represents clients on matters pertaining to medical malpractice defense, healthcare law, correctional healthcare defense, regulatory enforcement defense, False Claims Act defense, provider-payer disputes, billing audit appeals, business litigation, cybersecurity, and HIPAA issues. Mr. Swanson’s practice is provider focused. He represents physicians, physician groups and other provider organizations at trial, arbitration, and mediation. He helps clients navigate increas...

John W. Elder received his undergraduate degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 2000. He received his law degree, with high honors, from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2003 and joined Paine Bickers in August of the same year. Since joining the firm, he has represented numerous individuals and entities on local, regional and national levels in all types of complex civil litigation. John is a 2007 graduate of IADC Trial Academy and a 2010 graduate of the Tennessee Bar A...

Mikel Towe is a shareholder in the firm’s Knoxville office and joined the office in 2013 after graduation from law school. Mr. Towe graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law and devotes his practice to civil litigation focusing primarily in the areas of insurance litigation involving automobile and trucking accidents, products liability, commercial liability, general liability, as well as insurance coverage and claims litigation. Mr. Towe handles matters in both state an...

Robyn Jarvis Askew is a shareholder in Lewis Thomason's Knoxville office, focusing on comprehensive real estate, corporate, and business law in Tennessee and other regions of the United States. Robyn represents corporations, joint ventures, partnerships, and limited liability companies in various aspects of entity formation, financing, and operations. Her experience spans multiple industries, with a particular focus on the preparation, review, and negotiation of complex commercial contracts. ...

Paul Whitt is a shareholder in the firm’s Knoxville office whose practice focuses on construction law and complex litigation. He represents contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, design professionals, and owners in matters spanning industrial, commercial, and residential projects. Paul advises clients across every phase of the construction process—from contract formation through project closeout and, when necessary, dispute resolution. He regularly handles high-stakes matters inv...

Will Carver is an AV rated, extremely knowledgeable, experienced and hard-working litigation attorney who values the relationships he builds with his clients and their businesses. He is a creative problem solver who diligently focuses on understanding his clients' goals, challenges and opportunities and provides his clients effective and efficient representation. His primary areas of practice are Litigation, Employment and Labor, small business advice, and Local Government and Public Utilitie...