Sarah Y. Sheppeard

Jason Legg joined the team at Garza Law in 2023. Cityview Magazine recognized Jason as a “Top Attorney” in Knoxville in seven practice areas for 2020, including Civil Litigation , Personal Injury ( automobile and motorcycle accidents), Product Liability , Workers’ Compensation , and Wrongful Death . He was also recognized in the practice area of Personal Injury in the 2015, 2016 and 2018 editions. Jason graduated from Mississippi College of Law with his Juris Doctor in 1997....

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...

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...

Betsy J. Beck is a Partner and a member of the Firm’s employment law team. Ms. Beck has spent her career litigating issues involving employment discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour and other compensation issues, and all other aspects of the employer-employee relationship both in federal or state court and in front of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Department of Labor (DOL), and various other state and federal administrative agencies. Business owners, in-house ...

Shannon Coleman Egle's extensive legal knowledge, coupled with a practical and responsive approach, allows her to help her clients achieve their business goals, which ultimately results in their businesses operating more smoothly and profitably. Her practice areas include healthcare regulation and transactions, general business consulting and transactions, as well as real estate acquisition and development and representation of individuals in civil tax controversies before both the IRS and th...

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.

Rick is a civil litigation attorney. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1987, at which time he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as a systems acquisition officer at the Ballistic Missile Organization at Norton Air Force Base until 1992 and last served as the Reentry Systems Launch Program Acquisition Logistics Manager. Upon separation from the Air Force as a captain, Rick attended t...

Kacie has a wide range of experience in real estate and corporate transactions, including representing both borrowers and lenders in real estate development transactions, commercial leasing and secured lending, as well as representing clients in corporate formations and corporate M&A. Kacie handles long term care transactions, including financing, leasing, acquisitions and dispositions of long-term care and seniors housing facilities. She has particular experience related to environmental...

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...

Thomas M. Hale is an experienced, skilled and effective trial and transactional lawyer who brings a wealth of knowledge to his clients in his practice areas of: Corporate and Transactional Employment and Labor Estate Planning, Administration and Trusts Local Government and Public Utilities Real Estate Professional Liability Litigation Commercial Corporate Municipal Land Use/Zoning He is a solution seeker and problem solver and works hard as an advocate for his clients in an honest, straight-f...