Thomas Thagard IV

A former federal prosecutor and CIA political analyst, Alex Little brings unparalleled experience to complex criminal defense, government investigations, and high-stakes litigation. His unique background combines sophisticated trial advocacy, international diplomacy, and strategic crisis management—enabling him to navigate cases that extend beyond traditional legal boundaries. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney in two federal districts, Alex led multi-agency teams in national security and wh...

After graduating from Vanderbilt University School of Law, Luther Wright, Jr. began his career with a respected general practice firm in the litigation section. He spent the first several years of his legal career practicing in the general litigation area before joining the Labor & Employment team. He has significant experience in the areas of labor and employment law, corporate business litigation and class action lawsuits. He typically represents management in all forms of employment di...

Mike Vetter is an AV-rated trial lawyer and a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 General Civil Mediator in Spicer Rudstrom’s Nashville office . He is the Chair of the firm’s Products Liability Group, and his practice is also concentrated in property and casualty litigation, construction litigation, insurance coverage, bad faith, auto and uninsured motorist litigation, and premises liability. Mike is licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, California, and Missouri. A cum laude gr...

Ed Reynolds Davies, Jr. has been practicing law in Nashville and throughout Tennessee since 1983. Before entering private practice, Mr. Davies served as a law clerk to the Honorable L. Clure Morton, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee from 1982-1983. Since entering private practice, Mr. Davies has concentrated his practice on civil litigation primarily focusing on medical malpractice/healthcare liability cases for physicians, other healthcare provide...

Jennifer S. Rusie is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Jennifer S., who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jennifer S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

HOWARD B. JACKSON is a Member of the Knoxville, Tennessee office of the firm, which he joined in 2001. His practice includes substantial experience with labor law, employment litigation, including both discrimination cases of all kinds and employee restrictive agreements, frequent training and counseling of employers on a wide variety of employment law issues, and commercial litigation. Howard graduated from Georgia Tech in 1983, with a B.S. in Industrial Management, from Duke University in 1...

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...

Mark Smith’s clients include hospitals, doctors and other health care providers throughout the state of Tennessee. He handles the defense of medical negligence claims and suits involving allegations of wrongful death and catastrophic injuries with the potential for significant financial exposure. Other practice areas include general, commercial, estate and appellate litigation, as well as high-exposure plaintiff’s personal injury cases. Mark has practiced law 32 years, including m...

Austin McMullen approaches his clients’ projects with a zeal to discover creative solutions to their problems. For Austin, the difficult and complex issues prove to be the most interesting and drive him to figure out all the contours of the law to help his clients. Focusing his practice on bankruptcy law, government relations, and commercial litigation, Austin represents creditors and Chapter 11 debtors; candidates in election contests; and clients involved in federal, state and local p...

John Titus has extensive experience in public and private offerings of debt and equity securities, proxy contests and tender offers, corporate mergers and acquisitions, and corporate financing transactions for businesses in a variety of industries, including health care, financial institutions, manufacturing, technology, hospitality services and others. He frequently functions as general counsel to his clients, advising on all aspects of corporate, securities and business law matters. He advi...