John Romero

Van East represents clients on matters involving closely held business entities, including formations, conversions, mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, as well as restructuring ownership and control. He has represented clients in purchasing and selling a variety of businesses, including home-building, real estate development, manufacturing, and restaurant entities. Van routinely organizes limited liability companies, corporations and partnerships for a variety of business purposes, includ...

Taylor K. Wirth is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Taylor K. practices law in Nashville, Tennessee Best Lawyers has recognized Taylor K. Wirth since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Taylor K. Wirth is held by other lawyers.

Lela M. Hollabaugh has served as the lead trial lawyer in more than a dozen jury trials, as well as more than two dozen bench trials, arbitrations and administrative hearings. She advises leading natural gas pipeline companies on issues involving location, land acquisition, construction and operations. Hollabaugh serves as lead counsel for several pipeline projects in the southeast involving more than 200 lawsuits. She also represents leading pharmaceutical, medical device and other manufactu...

David G. Thompson is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Corporate Law. David G. practices law in Nashville, Tennessee Best Lawyers has recognized David G. Thompson since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which David G. Thompson is held by ot...

Jim has extensive experience advising clients in general corporate and contractual matters, mergers and acquisitions, and financing transactions.

Scott Hickman practices in the areas of employment law and business dispute resolution. His practice primarily involves assisting businesses involved in litigation or other dispute resolution, often representing employers in employment matters, as well as assisting and advising them on day-to-day employee relations. Mr. Hickman graduated from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he was the senior managing editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review and was a member of the Vanderbilt Moot Court Boa...

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...

David N. Garst, B.Arch., J.D., is a shareholder in the Lewis Thomason Nashville office, where he serves a pivotal role as the chair of the Construction Law Practice Group and on the firm’s Board of Directors. Mr. Garst’s legal practice is focused on general construction law, with emphases on architects’, engineers’ and surveyors’ professional liability, construction defect litigation, design and construction contract negotiation, and professional discipline. With...

Benjamin P. Lemly is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Employment Law - Management. Benjamin P. practices law in Nashville, Tennessee Best Lawyers has recognized Benjamin P. Lemly since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Benjamin P. Lemly is held by other lawyers.

M. Clark Spoden is recognized in Tennessee as a Specialist in Civil Trial and Pre-Trial Advocacy as Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Clark is a Charter Fellow in the American College of Board Certified Attorneys, (2015) and has received recognition in The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2010-2022), Litigation-Construction (2011-2022), Litigation-Environmental (2011-2022), Litigation-Labor and Employment (2011-2022), and in the Top 100 in Tennessee Super ...