Luther Wright, Jr.

Luther Wright, Jr.

Nashville, TN recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2014
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC

317 Best Lawyers awards

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Employment Law - Management Litigation - Labor and Employment

Biography

After graduating from Vanderbilt University School of Law, Luther Wright, Jr. began his career with a respected general practice firm in the litigation section. He spent the first several years of his legal career practicing in the general litigation area before joining the Labor & Employment team. He has significant experience in the areas of labor and employment law, corporate business litigation and class action lawsuits. He typically represents management in all forms of employment discrimination litigation, including litigation based on wrongful discharge, employee assaults on supervisors, Fair Labor Standards Act claims and independent contractor disputes.
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC

317 Best Lawyers awards

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC logo

Overview

  • Vanderbilt University, J.D., graduated 1995
  • Middle Tennessee State University, BS, graduated 1992

  • Tennessee, Tennessee Bar Association

  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Memphis Bar Association - non-resident member
  • Napier-Looby Bar Association - Member
  • Nashville Bar Association - Member
  • Nashville Bar Foundation - Fellow
  • National Bar Association - Member
  • Tennessee Bar Association - Member
  • Tennessee Bar Foundation - Fellow
  • Tennessee, Tennessee Bar Association
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Memphis Bar Association - non-resident member
  • Napier-Looby Bar Association - Member
  • Nashville Bar Association - Member
  • Nashville Bar Foundation - Fellow
  • National Bar Association - Member
  • Tennessee Bar Association - Member
  • Tennessee Bar Foundation - Fellow
  • Vanderbilt University, J.D., graduated 1995
  • Middle Tennessee State University, BS, graduated 1992

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
Awards:
  • MTSU, African-American Alumni Award (2006)
  • Nashville Business Journal, Best of the Bar (2008)
  • AV preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell

Case History

Cases
  • Experience
Luther has experience representing banks, national gaming companies, automotive companies, government contractors, hospitals, restaurants, retail establishments, closely held businesses and entertainment companies in employment and business litigation. He has represented clients in litigation based on federal and state anti-discrimination laws, state tort litigation, personal injury matters involving commercial vehicles, claims under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, class action and multi-plaintiff litigation. He has practiced before Tennessee trial courts throughout the State of Tennessee, Federal District Courts in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Tennessee and Wisconsin, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Eleventh Circuits. A highly evaluated public speaker, Luther has spoken before numerous industry groups, professional associations and clients across the country on topics ranging from implementation of employee discipline to the Employee Free Choice Act. His 1995 Law Review Article, Who’s Black, Who’s White and Who Cares: Reconceptualizing the United States’ Definition of Race and Racial Classifications, 48 Vand. L. R.513 (1995) has been excerpted in more than 10 books and continues to be cited in scholarly publications and textbooks.
  • Other Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth and Eleventh Circuits
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas
  • U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

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