Litigation - Environmental Litigation - Trusts and Estates Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Lisa K. Helton
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2019 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Lisa Helton’s practice areas include estate and trust litigation, appellate practice, general and commercial litigation, environmental litigation, landlord/tenant law, representation of homeowners and homeowner associations (HOAs) in HOA disputes, and IRS tax litigation and controversy. Lisa was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville for Trust and Estate Litigation and as the 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville for both Trust and Estate Litigation and Tax Litigation and Controversy. In addition to her law practice, Lisa serves as Professor of Rigorous Writing Exercise at Nashville School of Law.
Lisa graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 from The University of Tennessee, where she was admitted to the College Scholars program and deemed a top graduate in the College of Arts and Sciences: Social Sciences. In 2004, she received a J.D., magna cum laude, with a concentration in advocacy and dispute resolution, from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Lisa was a member of the Order of the Coif, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, president of UT Law Women and a member of the Tennessee Law Review. Prior to joining the firm, she served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable William C. Koch Jr., Tennessee Court of Appeals, Middle Section.
Overview
- The University of Tennessee, J.D., magna cum laude, graduated 2004
- The University of Tennessee, B.A., summa cum laude, graduated 2001
- Tennessee, Tennessee Bar Association, 2004
- American Bar Association - Member, Litigation, Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, and Tax Sections
- Adventure Science Center - Member, Board of Trustees
- Adventure Science Center - Young Leaders Council Board Intern (2017 – 2018)
- American Inns of Court, Harry Phillips Inn - Master of the Bench (present), Barrister (2010 – 2014); Associate Member (2005 – 2007)
- American Inns of Court, Harry Phillips Inn - Member, Executive Committee and Chair of the Membership Committee (present)
- Bellevue Harpeth Chamber of Commerce - Member
- Cheekwood Estate & Gardens - Member, Board of Trustees
- Cheekwood Estate & Gardens - Member, Outreach and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA) Committee
- Lawyers’ Association for Women - Member, Marion Griffin Chapter
- Nashville Bar Association - Chair and Co-chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (2018 – 2019)
- Nashville Bar Association - Co-chair, Appellate Practice Committee (2008 – 2009)
- Nashville Bar Association - Member
- Nashville Bar Association - Vice Chair, Appellate Practice Committee (2008)
- Nashville Bar Foundation - Fellow
- Nashville School of Law - Professor of Rigorous Writing Exercise (present)
- Nashville Shakespeare Festival - Vice-Chair (2011 – 2012), Secretary (2010 – 2011), Member, Board of Directors (2009 – 2012), Former Co-Chair of Volunteer and Educational Outreach Committee
- Tennessee Bar Association - Chair, CLE Committee (2019 – 2020)
- Tennessee Bar Association - Member, Appellate Practice and Litigation Sections
- Tennessee Bar Association - Member, Leadership Law (Class of 2016)
- Tennessee Bar Association - Secretary/Treasurer, Leadership Law Alumni Association (2020 – 2021)
- Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division - Member, Board of Directors, CLE Committee Vice Chair, and Middle Division CLE Captain (2014 – 2015)
- Tennessee Supreme Court - Participant, SCALES Project
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Tax Court
- Tennessee - Court of Appeals
- Tennessee, Tennessee Bar Association, 2004
- American Bar Association - Member, Litigation, Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, and Tax Sections
- Adventure Science Center - Member, Board of Trustees
- Adventure Science Center - Young Leaders Council Board Intern (2017 – 2018)
- American Inns of Court, Harry Phillips Inn - Master of the Bench (present), Barrister (2010 – 2014); Associate Member (2005 – 2007)
- American Inns of Court, Harry Phillips Inn - Member, Executive Committee and Chair of the Membership Committee (present)
- Bellevue Harpeth Chamber of Commerce - Member
- Cheekwood Estate & Gardens - Member, Board of Trustees
- Cheekwood Estate & Gardens - Member, Outreach and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA) Committee
- Lawyers’ Association for Women - Member, Marion Griffin Chapter
- Nashville Bar Association - Chair and Co-chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (2018 – 2019)
- Nashville Bar Association - Co-chair, Appellate Practice Committee (2008 – 2009)
- Nashville Bar Association - Member
- Nashville Bar Association - Vice Chair, Appellate Practice Committee (2008)
- Nashville Bar Foundation - Fellow
- Nashville School of Law - Professor of Rigorous Writing Exercise (present)
- Nashville Shakespeare Festival - Vice-Chair (2011 – 2012), Secretary (2010 – 2011), Member, Board of Directors (2009 – 2012), Former Co-Chair of Volunteer and Educational Outreach Committee
- Tennessee Bar Association - Chair, CLE Committee (2019 – 2020)
- Tennessee Bar Association - Member, Appellate Practice and Litigation Sections
- Tennessee Bar Association - Member, Leadership Law (Class of 2016)
- Tennessee Bar Association - Secretary/Treasurer, Leadership Law Alumni Association (2020 – 2021)
- Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division - Member, Board of Directors, CLE Committee Vice Chair, and Middle Division CLE Captain (2014 – 2015)
- Tennessee Supreme Court - Participant, SCALES Project
- The University of Tennessee, J.D., magna cum laude, graduated 2004
- The University of Tennessee, B.A., summa cum laude, graduated 2001
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Tax Court
- Tennessee - Court of Appeals
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Nashville (2025)
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Nashville (2023)
- Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Nashville (2023)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Litigation - Environmental
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Appellate Practice
- Litigation - Real Estate
- Tax Law
Awards:
Mid-South Super Lawyers, Estate & Trust Litigation, Environmental Litigation, General Litigation, Appellate (2020 – 2024)
Nashville Business Journal “Best of the Bar” (2023)
Mid-South Super Lawyers “Rising Star,” Estate and Trust Litigation (2012 – 2018)
Tennessee Supreme Court Attorneys for Justice Pro Bono Honor Roll (2021 – 2022)
Young Leaders Council Spring Class (2017)
American Society of Legal Advocates “Top 40 Litigation Lawyers Under 40 in the State of Tennessee” (2013 – 2016)
International Women’s Leadership Association “Woman of Outstanding Leadership” (2015)
Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division “Star of the Quarter” (2015)
Nashville Post “Law Leaders Rising” (2012)
University of Tennessee College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
- Member, Order of the Coif
- Member, Tennessee Law Review
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Phi Kappa Phi
- President, UT Law Women
News & Media
Insights
Additional Information
- Media Mention, Nashville Post
“It’s not surprising Lisa Helton graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee. And, it’s equally expected she would graduate magna cum laude from UT’s law school. All because sources familiar with Helton’s work repeatedly used words like ‘extremely intelligent,’ ‘smart,’ ‘very thorough’ and ‘good lawyer’ to describe her legal acumen and work.” – Nashville Post
- Speaking Engagements
- “Steering the Ship: Strategies for Navigating Conflict with Beneficiaries,” Tennessee Bankers Association Trust & Wealth Management Conference (2025)
- “Court of Appeals Boot Camp,” Tennessee Bar Association (2025)
- “Estates and Trusts in Tennessee: A Primer on Probate Proceedings and Practices,” Tennessee Judicial Conference (2025)
- “Choppy Waters: Strategies for Navigating Conflict Between Fiduciaries and Beneficiaries,” American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) Southern Regional Meeting (2025)
- “Landfill Legal Updates: Expansion, Regional Plans, and Impact,” Tennessee County Attorneys’ Association (TCAA) Annual Conference (2025)
- “Landfill Legal Update: Expansion and Impact,” Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association Winter Seminar (2024)
- “Shifting Landscapes: 21st Century Property Law,” panelist, Belmont Law Review Symposium on “Developing Tennessee: Balancing Modern Property Interests” (2022)
- “Tennessee Cemetery Law,” Bellevue Harpeth Historic Association (2017)
- “Discussion of Historic Cemeteries and Grave Removal Actions in Tennessee,” speaker and panelist, Tennessee Preservation Trust, Tennessee Historic Preservation Conference (2017)
- “Making the Most of Discovery: What You Don’t Know Can Come Back to Haunt You,” speaker and producer, Tennessee Bar Association (2015)
- “The Business of Lawyers: Professional Development for Today’s Attorneys,” producer, Tennessee Bar Association (2015)
- “Tennessee Real Estate Law Conference: Ethical Considerations in Real Estate Law,” Tennessee Attorney’s Memo (2015)
- “Tennessee Landlord and Tenant Law: Evictions, Court, and Litigation,” Tennessee Attorney’s Memo (2015)
- “Transactional Practice,” producer, Tennessee Bar Association (2014)
- “Inside Chambers: Demystifying the Judicial Clerkship Experience,” The Nashville Chapter and Vanderbilt University Law School Student Chapter of the American Constitution Society (2013)
- “Successfully Navigating the Appeals Process,” National Business Institute (2009)
- “The Role of Law Clerks in Appellate Procedure,” Nashville Bar Association, Appellate Practice Committee (2005)
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