Ryan D. Thomas

Phillip Cramer excels in monetizing claims, pursuing redress, and securing recoveries for plaintiffs in antitrust cases. He has assisted corporate claimants in obtaining recoveries exceeding $1 billion. He also handles high-impact civil rights actions to redress constitutional rights violations. A highly intelligent, out-of-the-box thinker, and creative problem-solver, Phil meshes book smarts and innovation with practicality, finding ways to approach cases that others may fail to see. Phil be...

John M. Farris is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice. John M., who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kevin Michael represents arrangers, agents, lenders and borrowers in connection with a variety of complex financing transactions, including term and revolving loan facilities, asset-based loan facilities, letter of credit facilities and subscription facilities. He handles the refinancing and restructuring of existing financing arrangements for a wide range of purposes and industries, including skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, ambulatory surgery centers and other healthcare faci...

Jay Campbell advises middle-market U.S., Canadian, and European companies with the acquisition and disposition of operating and financial assets. He represents clients in middle-market mergers and acquisitions and middle-market corporate finance, including corporate lending and corporate equity formation. He also advises clients on private equity offerings, equity recapitalizations, and other capital formation techniques. Jay represents both borrowers and lenders with lending transactions, in...

Tom Trent has experience in all areas of real estate transactions, including industrial development and economic incentives, leasing, corporate, joint venture, partnership and limited liability company law, and tax-exempt finance. Tom represents clients regionally and nationally, including major manufacturing companies, corporate users of commercial real estate, institutional investors, developers and lenders, and a number of foreign corporations. With more than 30 years of experience in real...

Joy B. Longnecker is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Health Care Law and Litigation - Health Care. Joy B., who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joy B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mary Ellen Morris has an AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and has represented countless clients in matters involving product liability , medical malpractice , wrongful death , and more. She has been admitted to practice in the state of Tennessee as well as in the U.S. District Courts for the Middle, Eastern, and Western District of Tennessee.

James Looper serves as Co-Managing Partner for our Nashville office. He is currently licensed in Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. In addition to being licensed in a number of states, James handles complex litigation as a part of the National Trial Counsel team across the country. James’ practice is centered on medical-related issues, complex litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and health care, and he has had numerous jury trials in multiple states. Prior to attending law school...

Rick Nickels is a member of the firm’s Tax and Trusts and Estates practice groups. Rick practices at the intersection of business, tax and estate planning. A significant portion of his practice involves advising private companies and their owners, directors and executives on an array of state and federal tax, governance and corporate matters. Rick regularly assists with matters ranging from early-stage structure and funding to mid-stage buyouts and divorces to late-stage exits. He has s...

Bill Norton focuses his practice in the business bankruptcy area, dealing in all aspects of bankruptcy cases, creditor rights and insolvency. He first became familiar with the bankruptcy law from his Dad who was a noted scholar and Bankruptcy Judge in Atlanta, Georgia. Bill went to Vanderbilt Law School intending to practice in bankruptcy law and has done so since 1984. Over more than 25 years of practice of bankruptcy and insolvency law, Bill has represented just about every kind of client i...