Thomas A. "Tom" Kulaga

Warren Gooch received his undergraduate degree firm The University of Tennessee with high honors and has practiced law with the firm of Kramer Rayson LLP since completing his legal education at the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1977. He established the firm's health law practice in 1987 and has extensive experience in health care law, including regulatory, administrative, litigation and transactional matters. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Associatio...

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...

Jack Burgin has a diverse legal practice, primarily advising and defending employers on a variety of labor and employee benefit related topics and on representing and advising government contractors about costs and labor issues. Jack's advice and litigation practice focuses on Representing and advising employers on all types of employment discrimination issues, including questions relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Representing and advising plan administrators and plan sponsors ...

Glenn R. Walter, a shareholder of Lewis Thomason, has a varied litigation-based practice. Mr. Walter regularly handles matters related to the defense of accountants, accounting firms, and lawyers in professional liability matters. He also has extensive experience as lead counsel in the areas of insurance defense, product liability, insurance coverage, personal injury, healthcare liability, transportation, agri-business liability defense, workers’ compensation, and general tort litigatio...

Jonathan Cooper offers decades of experience, unsurpassed personal attention, and zealous representation to his clients. He focuses his practice exclusively in the area of criminal defense, representing citizens accused of crimes in both state and federal courts. His experience of successful representation encompasses the entire spectrum of the criminal justice system, from DUI to homicide, and from narcotics possession to white collar offenses. Jonathan is a career long member of the Knoxvil...

Paul Whitt is a shareholder in the firm’s Knoxville office whose practice focuses on construction law and complex litigation. He represents contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, design professionals, and owners in matters spanning industrial, commercial, and residential projects. Paul advises clients across every phase of the construction process—from contract formation through project closeout and, when necessary, dispute resolution. He regularly handles high-stakes matters inv...

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...

Rodney A. Fields, managing shareholder of the Knoxville office, joined Lewis Thomason in 1991. He is Chairman of the firm’s Board of Directors and manages the firm’s Business Practice Group. Mr. Fields divides his practice between litigation and transactional work. His practice focuses primarily in the areas of business law, commercial litigation, bankruptcy and casualty defense litigation. Mr. Fields also serves as legal counsel to multiple local motor vehicle dealerships and nat...

Emily L. Herman-Thompson is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Emily L. practices law in Knoxville, Tennessee Best Lawyers has recognized Emily L. Herman-Thompson since 2024. 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 ...

Al Holifield is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Litigation - ERISA. Al practices law in Knoxville, Tennessee Best Lawyers has recognized Al Holifield since 2021. 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 Al Holifield is held by other lawyers.