Nicholas E. "Nick" Nester

Jim concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial, industrial and planned unit real estate, and in banking. He has represented developers, lenders, landlords and tenants in a variety of complex and multi-state transactions, and continues to relish the enjoyment of resolving issues to close a transaction successfully. He has led teams on transactions as diverse as the financing of the acquisition and development of a 1,300-acre parcel in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and a $300 million corpora...

Leah Gerbitz practices in the area of civil litigation with an emphasis on healthcare, data security and products liability. She manages diverse complex litigation matters, and she has tried multiple cases to verdict in state and federal courts. The matters she has handled include False Claims Act, fraud and abuse, HIPAA/HITECH, healthcare credentialing/peer review, healthcare risk management and general liability, data security and privacy, data breach response, product liability/mass tort d...

Tom Hayslett maintains a commercial practice that covers real estate transactions, business-to-business commercial agreements, commercial finance transactions and general business counsel to closely owned enterprises. Tom’s practice includes representing buyers, sellers, developers and owners of retail shopping centers, office buildings, hospitality properties, manufacturing and warehouse facilities, and residential developments; as well as representing manufacturers, processors, profes...

Doug Johnson concentrates his practice on trademarks, technology and patents and on intellectual property litigation. He negotiates software licensing and technology agreements for both technology companies and end users. Mr. Johnson also coordinates trademark prosecution and administration, patent prosecution and administration, patent portfolio strategies, and intellectual property litigation for companies with international brands primarily in the food, sports, carpet and consumer products...

Emily Horn’s experience as in-house legal counsel and as a certified public accountant enables her to truly understand her clients’ businesses and to offer them practical solutions. Emily advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, securities issuances and regulation, the use of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), commercial contracts, corporate governance, and general corporate matters. She has represented a variety of clients, including corporate ESOP sponsors, ESOP trustee...

Mr. Smith has a broad-based practice with emphasis in antitrust, business, healthcare, utility and telecommunications law. His extensive experience includes handling trial and appellate work in state and federal courts as well as regulatory, transactional and legislative assignments for clients in each of these sectors. Mr. Smith has more than forty years’ experience in assisting individuals and business clients with all aspects of their legal representation. He serves as outside counse...

David Spiller is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law. David, who practices law in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Laura F. Ketcham is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Transactions / UCC Law. Laura F., who practices law in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Laura F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Thomas practices out of the firm’s Chattanooga office and assists and represents individuals, businesses, and insurance companies in a variety of civil matters. He has been with the firm for many years and has been a member since 2009. Thomas attended the University of Georgia and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993. He then earned his Juris Doctorate from the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University in 1997. While in law school, Thomas was named to the Dean’s L...

William G. Trumpeter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Arbitration, Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. William G., who practices law in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been recognized since 1993. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.