Samuel D. Payne

Ryan practices complex commercial litigation. Among other high-stakes business disputes, Ryan has recently litigated covenants not to compete and trade secrets, commercial real estate transactions, contract disputes, business torts, and shareholder and corporate-governance issues. In 2024, Ryan was named the “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville for Real Estate Litigation. Ryan’s practice includes antitrust litigation, in which he represents large corporate clients in courts aro...

Philip F. Head is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Project Finance Law and Real Estate Law. Philip F., who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Philip F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

George H. Cate, III, focuses his practice in civil litigation, crisis management, and representing corporations and individuals in connection with government and internal investigations. His civil litigation experience includes matters arising from a broad range of commercial and business transactions, misappropriation of trade secrets and other intellectual property disputes, non-competition and related business tort litigation, disputes under the False Claims Act, insurance litigation, bank...

Nora Liggett is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Nora, 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 Nora is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Patrick Witherington is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Patrick, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patrick is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jeff Buschmann regularly advises clients involved in complex business transactions. He concentrates his practice on the corporate and securities law aspects of such transactions. He counsels public and private clients on corporate governance issues and advises on matters such as strategic mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures; private equity and venture capital investments; debt and equity restructurings; leveraged buyouts; SEC reporting requirements; and public and private ...

Ryan D. Levy is the managing shareholder at Patterson Intellectual Property Law and co-chairs the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. He is an accomplished litigation attorney focusing on complex patent disputes in a variety of technologies, including industrial and automotive machinery, chemical, medical devices, and software ranging from web-based protocols to automated detection systems. Ryan has a wide range of litigation experience before federal district courts, the U.S. Internation...

Gayle Malone, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Gayle, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 1997. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gayle is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sharon O. “Sheri” Jacobs concentrates her practice in the areas of Environmental Law and Administrative Law. Sheri has administrative, environmental law, environmental litigation experience at the federal, state and local levels, as well as with administrative agencies. This experience includes matters associated with sustainability, solid and hazardous waste, Brownfield redevelopment, underground storage tanks, water pollution, environmental citizen suits, Superfund remediation p...

Dan is a member of the Health Law Practice and represents providers on certificate of need, licensing, certification and transactional matters. His practice also includes insurance regulation and regulatory issues affecting agriculture.