Joanie Abernathy

As an experienced estate planning attorney and business counselor, Carla Lovell understands that the matters she handles involve more than just dollars and cents. Carla’s sophisticated yet practical tax and estate planning, charitable planning, and business succession guidance help individuals, families, and business owners protect a lifetime of hard work and lay the foundation for a secure future. She provides clarity for fiduciaries and beneficiaries who must navigate complex trust an...

Mark Smith’s clients include hospitals, doctors and other health care providers throughout the state of Tennessee. He handles the defense of medical negligence claims and suits involving allegations of wrongful death and catastrophic injuries with the potential for significant financial exposure. Other practice areas include general, commercial, estate and appellate litigation, as well as high-exposure plaintiff’s personal injury cases. Mark has practiced law 32 years, including m...

Nora Liggett is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Nora, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nora is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Ben practices within the Regulatory and Government Practice Group focusing on general insurance and captive insurance matters.

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

William Lyon Chadwick, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. William Lyon, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William Lyon is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jim focuses his practice on representing public and private sector clients in complex matters involving zoning, condemnation, economic incentives, elections, telecommunications, municipal law, environmental law and commercial real estate. He assists clients in landfill development, obtaining economic incentives from state and local governments, locating cell towers, condemnations, election challenges, rezonings, annexation disputes and procurement challenges. Jim practiced for 18 years in the...

Elizabeth Washko is the Managing Shareholder of the Nashville office. Ms. Washko represents management in a wide variety of employment litigation matters, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, FMLA, FLSA, wrongful termination, breach of contract, and covenant not to compete cases. Ms. Washko has served as lead counsel in jury trials in both state and federal courts. In addition to her litigation experience, Ms. Washko also conducts training on employment issues, drafts and review...

Carolyn Wenzel represents companies, tax-exempt organizations, families and individuals in the areas of governance, tax, advocacy, estate and trust administration and estate planning. She regularly counsels nonprofit entities and tax-exempt organizations, including public charities, private foundations, trade and professional associations, and religious and educational organizations in the areas of formation, investment decision-making, endowment fund establishment and modification, governanc...