Theresa Critchfield

Merrill Nelson advises clients on a wide variety of corporate law matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital financing and general corporate contracting. Merrill has advised purchasers and sellers in business transactions in the manufacturing, healthcare, video production and industrial supply industries, among others. He has also counseled both founders and investors in negotiating private equity investments for startup and emerging companies. Additionall...

After graduating from law school, Jonathan D. Stewart joined Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell PLC in 2003 and became a partner in 2011. Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, he represents clients in Insurance Law, with a practice that includes insurance defense, arson and fraud defense, first-party insurance coverage, first-party litigation, and mediation services. Over the years, Jonathan’s work has concentrated primarily on first-party insurance coverage matters and related litigation. He...

Bobby Dann concentrates his practice on commercial real estate, commercial finance and troubled assets. From 1981 to 1995, he served as in-house investment counsel to a group of insurance companies in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, focusing on commercial real estate development, management and lending. He also served as lender’s counsel in the sales of mortgage pools, the acquisition and syndication of retirement facilities, and in workouts, foreclosures and interim operations of troubl...

David Spiller is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. David practices law in Chattanooga, Tennessee Best Lawyers has recognized David Spiller since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which David Spiller is held by other lawyers.

Mark Smith is a business and regulatory lawyer who focuses his practice on economic development, government relations and telecommunications and utility matters. Mark has been involved in numerous state and local tax incentive projects with capital investments ranging from less than $2 million to more than $1 billion. He also represents a wide range of clients before the Tennessee General Assembly and before various State agencies and local governmental entities. Mark serves as Assistant Gene...

John Bode concentrates his practice on labor relations and employment opportunity. For more than three decades, John has served as lead trial counsel in numerous cases before state and federal agencies and courts and the National Labor Relations Board. He has extensive experience representing many prominent national, regional and Tennessee employers in union organizing campaigns, collective bargaining, arbitrations, strikes, decertification petitions, wage and hour and other state and federal...

Laura F. Ketcham is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Finance Law and Commercial Transactions / UCC Law. Laura F. practices law in Chattanooga, Tennessee Best Lawyers has recognized Laura F. Ketcham since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Laura F. Ketcham is held by other lawyers.

Alison Bales Martin is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Commercial Litigation. Alison Bales practices law in Chattanooga, Tennessee Best Lawyers has recognized Alison Bales Martin since 2022. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Alison Bales Martin is held by other lawyers.

Jim concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial, industrial and planned unit real estate, and in banking. He has represented developers, lenders, landlords and tenants in a variety of complex and multi-state transactions, and continues to relish the enjoyment of resolving issues to close a transaction successfully. He has led teams on transactions as diverse as the financing of the acquisition and development of a 1,300-acre parcel in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and a $300 million corpora...

Tom Hayslett maintains a commercial practice that covers real estate transactions, business-to-business commercial agreements, commercial finance transactions and general business counsel to closely owned enterprises. Tom’s practice includes representing buyers, sellers, developers and owners of retail shopping centers, office buildings, hospitality properties, manufacturing and warehouse facilities, and residential developments; as well as representing manufacturers, processors, profes...