Philip M. "Phil" Kirkpatrick

Leader of the firm’s Government Compliance & Investigations group, Chris Sabis recognizes that merely “responding” to governmental inquiries, enforcement actions, and litigation is often insufficient to protect his clients’ interests. Rather, he understands that efficient resolutions and positive outcomes in such matters are products of thoughtful and proactive approaches and the ability to take the initiative in addressing the concerns and issues that draw regulat...

Leslie Goff Sanders is the Managing Partner of Barton’s Nashville office. She assists employers in all areas of labor and employment law, with a particular focus on day-to-day counseling, litigation, trade secrets and non-competition, and executive compensation. Leslie's philosophy is to understand the client’s business, not just the employment laws. By understanding the nature of her client’s business and their goals, she can better advise them on how to successfully naviga...

M. Reid Estes, Jr. is the Practice Group Chair for the South Region Labor & Employment Practice. He has nearly 40 years of experience as a trial lawyer and has served as trial counsel for numerous Fortune 500 and smaller companies in the restaurant, hospitality, retail, manufacturing, construction, health care, and other industry sectors, and during his career has handled nearly every conceivable type of case from tort claims, to theft of trade secret, covenant and contract breach, commer...

As one of only a very few private practitioners in the country who have served as a state solicitor general, Andrée Blumstein brings to her general business and civil law practice a wealth of experience, particularly in appellate litigation. Before returning to private practice, she served from 2014 to 2024 as Tennessee’s Solicitor General. In that position, she was in charge of all the State’s appellate litigation in all state and federal courts in the country, including t...

David Patrick Wright is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. David Patrick, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David Patrick is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Robert focuses his practice on mergers, acquisitions, real estate development and finance.

Tonya Williams Scharf is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law, Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Tonya Williams, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tonya Williams is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James R. Kelley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy and Tax Law. James R., who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 1989. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Harrison is licensed and practices in both Texas and Tennessee. He is Board certified as a labor and employment law specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. His practice is devoted exclusively to the representation of employers in matters of personnel policies and practices, labor and employment litigation, wage-hour compliance and other workplace issues. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Baylor University, Mr. Harrison attended the University of Virginia School of Law and focuse...

Craig’s practice focuses exclusively on labor relations and employment law on behalf of employers and management. His practice regularly includes Title VII and other employment discrimination litigation, FLSA and state wage and hour litigation, trade secrets and non-competition disputes, collective bargaining issues, and alternative dispute resolution. Craig’s recent experience includes obtaining dismissals of lawsuits alleging race discrimination, gender discrimination, retaliato...