Michael L. Russell

John R. Tarpley, a shareholder in our Nashville office, has been involved in complex litigation in the areas of transportation, tort, product liability, and a wide range of insurance-related matters in both state and federal courts. Mr. Tarpley has established himself as one of the pre-eminent lawyers who represent commercial transportation companies and their employees in Tennessee and nationwide. He has successfully defended trucking companies in both state and federal courts and at mediati...

Heather Wright helps advises clients regarding risk management through insurance, including litigation of coverage issues when necessary. She helps policyholders maximize insurance recovery under a variety of commercial insurance policies, including property, general liability, professional liability, directors and officers, and cyber liability policies. In addition, she represents commercial property owners and asset managers, as well as real estate developers and general contractors, in the...

Beth Moore is a corporate and transaction lawyer with over 30 years of experience in the areas of corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and general corporate and securities law. Clients in a wide range of industries value her experience and counsel with respect to strategic and operational issues. Beth regularly represents buyers and sellers with capital market transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financings, joint ventures and other strategi...

Will Smith is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Real Estate Law. Will practices law in Nashville, Tennessee Best Lawyers has recognized Will Smith since 2024. 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 Will Smith is held by other lawyers.

Phil Welty is currently serving as GSRM’s managing partner and is a member of GSRM’s Litigation and Real Estate Sections. His practice focuses on the representation of lenders, title companies, commercial landlords and property managers, developers, contractors, and other businesses and individuals in litigation and resolution of a broad range of lending, consumer financial, real property transactions, title, construction, and other commercial matters. Phil handles matters for cli...

Thor Urness practices complex business litigation, including bet-the-company cases, intellectual property litigation and related counseling. Thor has served as lead trial counsel in commercial litigation that yielded two of Tennessee’s largest jury verdicts, for $26.5 million and $18.8 million, both in favor of his clients. Thor’s practice is generally divided equally between matters in Tennessee and elsewhere.

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...

Mr. Palmer is an experienced litigator specializing in both employment litigation and general civil litigation in state and federal courts. His interest in litigation began early in his legal career when as a law student at Vanderbilt University, Mr. Palmer won the Harlan Dodson Moot Court Competition and was appointed to the position of Associate Justice of Vanderbilt’s Moot Court Board. Mr. Palmer began his career in 1988 as an associate and later a partner in a large general practice...

Cornell Kennedy is an experienced healthcare and corporate attorney who provides counsel tailored to the unique needs of specialty practitioners, such as dentists, veterinarians, and chiropractors, as well as to other general corporate clients he represents. Cornell appreciates that healthcare is not a monolithic industry and understands that effective representation requires understanding the nuanced business and legal challenges that vary across the broad healthcare landscape. In his health...

Jon Harris is a trusted counselor to employers in all aspects of their labor and employment law needs. He also spends a significant amount of his practice defending companies in data privacy class actions. Jon has gained repeated recognition for his responsiveness and problem-solving prowess. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, Jon tailors solutions to a client’s business needs and risk tolerance. Jon is known as a strategic advisor and zealous advocate in employment matters, incl...