Reuben N. "Buddy" Pelot IV

Taylor A. Williams received his undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Tennessee, graduating with honors. He received his law degree from The University of Tennessee College of Law in 2009, graduating with high honors. In law school, Taylor’s case commentary was published in school’s business law journal. Since joining the firm, Taylor has over ten years of complex litigation practice, focusing on commercial disputes and defense of products liability actions in ...

Rick Powers graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1975 and was Order of the Coif. He has more than 40 years of general civil trial practice experience with more than 350 jury trials. His practice areas now primarily include health care liability for hospitals, nursing homes, and physicians; insurance defense in trucking, automobile, and homeowners’ cases; and other commercial litigation. Over the last five years, Mr. Powers has successfully tried five ...

Jim Wright was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Jim’s father was a lawyer so he grew up working in his Dad’s office. He attended Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee College of Law, was honored with the Order of the Coif and served on the Tennessee Law Review. He is admitted to the United Supreme Court Bar as well as all Tennessee State and Federal Courts. Jim is also admitted before the Sixth Circuit and Fourth Circuit Bar as well as the U.S. Court of...

Jay Mader focuses on employment and business litigation. His employment law practice includes cases involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation with claims relating to age, gender, race, disability, and whistleblower allegations. He also handles wage and hour and FMLA litigation. Jay’s experience in business litigation includes cases involving breach of contract and fiduciary duty, fraud and misrepresentation, consumer protection, and other business torts. In addition to litig...

Brandon D. Fersten is the owner of Barnes & Fersten, PLLC, a Knoxville, Tennessee law firm dedicated to criminal defense, including general criminal matters, DUI / DWI defense, and juvenile defense. Brandon regularly appears in General Sessions Court, Criminal Court, and Juvenile Court throughout East Tennessee, where he represents individuals facing misdemeanor and felony charges. His practice includes defending clients through negotiations, hearings, bench trials, and jury trials. Brand...

Bill Vines was admitted to the courts of the State of Tennessee and the United States District Court for the Eastern District in 1966. He is admitted to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and in 1972 was admitted to the United States Supreme Court. He is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 listed mediator both in state and federal co...

Charles G. Taylor III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Charles G., who practices law in Knoxville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Charles G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephen Ross Johnson is a partner with Ritchie, Dillard, Davies and Johnson, PC in Knoxville, and is a criminal defense trial and appellate attorney. Mr. Johnson has defended criminal cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States, ranging from complex white-collar financial crimes to death penalty cases. Mr. Johnson has argued or briefed cases before the Supreme Court of the United States; the Supreme Court of Tennessee; the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Six...

Jack Burgin has a diverse legal practice, primarily advising and defending employers on a variety of labor and employee benefit related topics and on representing and advising government contractors about costs and labor issues. Jack's advice and litigation practice focuses on Representing and advising employers on all types of employment discrimination issues, including questions relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Representing and advising plan administrators and plan sponsors ...

Wade Davies has tried complex cases for over thirty years. In August 2025, he was sworn in as President of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He has served on the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee and now represents attorneys in matters before the Board. Mr. Davies has concentrated on state and federal investigations and criminal trials throughout his career. Mr. Davies graduated first in his class from the University of Tennessee Colle...