Stephen K. Heard

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...

J. Chase Cole is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. J. Chase, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which J. Chase is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Travis Swearingen assists his clients with their most complex and high stakes legal problems. Travis is a trial lawyer with first chair experience representing clients in healthcare, drug and medical device, and construction litigation. Travis also represents leading healthcare institutions across Tennessee with their regulatory, licensure and Certificate of Need matters. Most recently, he has helped lead the defense of significant mass tort litigation for a Fortune 50 medical device manufact...

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

Stuart is a litigation attorney with over 30 years of experience. He has tried hundreds of cases in both state and federal court. Some of his noteworthy victories have been featured in local, state and national publications. Stuart is also listed as a Supreme Court Rule 31 Family Law Mediator. Following law school, Stuart was a judicial clerk for the Honorable Samuel L. Lewis, Court of Appeals for the State of Tennessee. This experience allowed Stuart to work on and author significant portion...

M. Kimberly Stagg, of counsel in Dickinson Wright’s Nashville office, focuses her practice on automotive distressed supplier and contract negotiations. Kim has significant experience in preparing and negotiating production and non-production purchasing contracts, managing disputes under those contracts and addressing distressed supplier issues that are unique to just-in-time supply chain situations. She also is active in supporting certified minority businesses through formation and the...

John's practice exercises his extensive experience in the deployment and recovery of debt and equity capital and in commercial law. His practice includes business formations, acquisitions and dispositions, distressed asset investing, private equity transactions, mezzanine lending, commercial lending, creditor's rights, loan workouts and recoveries, lender liability, securitizations, the Uniform Commercial Code, and commercial law generally. John’s practice spans a wide range of differen...

Thomas H. Lee is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice. Thomas H., who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Catie Lane Bailey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice. Catie Lane, 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 Catie Lane is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jeffrey Zager is an attorney at Neal & Harwell who focuses his practice on complex civil litigation and appeals. Jeffrey represents plaintiffs and defendants in high stakes litigation in a variety of industries and legal areas, including complex business disputes, catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims, class actions, and constitutional litigation. He was included in the 2021 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation and Medical Malpractic...