Samuel C. Doak

John W. Elder received his undergraduate degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 2000. He received his law degree, with high honors, from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2003 and joined Paine Bickers in August of the same year. Since joining the firm, he has represented numerous individuals and entities on local, regional and national levels in all types of complex civil litigation. John is a 2007 graduate of IADC Trial Academy and a 2010 graduate of the Tennessee Bar A...

Andrew Firkins is an associate with Spicer Rudstrom PLLC. Born in New York City, and growing up in the suburbs of New Jersey, he went on to attend Manhattan College where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history. After graduating he began working at a law firm in Hackensack, New Jersey where he managed the office filing system and provided paralegal support. Having gained invaluable experience in the legal field, and wanting to put his passion for writing to good use, he decided...

Brandon is an employment lawyer and mediator. He advises clients in the boardroom, and he represents them in the courtroom. Half of his practice is devoted to serving as an outside general counsel for large and small businesses, colleges and universities, and religious institutions, advising them on human resource policies, employment laws, and litigation avoidance. The other half of his practice is spent litigating employment-related issues, such as discrimination, harassment, retaliation, w...

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.

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 ...

Edward (“Ward”) Phillips has a wealth of knowledge and trial experience in his practice areas of Labor and Employment Law. Ward represents management exclusively in all areas of employment and labor relations, including state and federal employment litigation and in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Department of Labor, and the National Labor Relations Board. He is a forceful, effective litigator. Ward has been describ...

Michael J. King currently serves as managing partner for the firm. He graduated from Syracuse University with a B.A. in mathematics and political science. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, with a deferred service commitment to attend law school. Mike obtained his law degree from The University of Tennessee College of Law in 1992. He then served for four years in the United States Air Force as a Judge Advocate. He is licensed in Tennessee ...

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...

Beecher A. Bartlett, Jr. is a highly effective trial lawyer with over 30 years of experience. He focuses his practice in the areas of Litigation, Insurance, Personal Injury and Labor and Employment. He strives to create reasonable expectations for his clients in the resolution of their legal matters, which ultimately helps minimize the stress and anxiety that many clients experience. Mr. Bartlett is committed to providing and honest assessment of each matter by engaging in early dispute inter...

Jackson G. Kramer, a highly skilled, knowledgeable and trusted counselor who has over 33 years of legal experience, concentrates his practice in the areas of Corporate and Transactional, Real Estate, Estate Planning, Administration and Trusts, and Local Government and Public Utilities. He is a strong but reasonable advocate for his clients. His primary goal is to help his clients solve their legal issues and achieve their overall objectives while simultaneously protecting their best interests.