Thor Urness practices complex business litigation, including bet-the-company cases, intellectual property litigation and related counseling. Thor has served as lead trial counsel in commercial litigation that yielded two of Tennessee’s largest jury verdicts, for $26.5 million and $18.8 million, both in favor of his clients. Thor’s practice is generally divided equally between matters in Tennessee and elsewhere.
Thor Y. Urness
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2005 Awarded Practice Areas
Trade Secrets Law Commercial Litigation Litigation - Intellectual Property
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Nashville.
Awarded Practice Areas
Trade Secrets Law Commercial Litigation Litigation - Intellectual Property
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Nashville.
Biography
Locations
Languages
- English
Education
- Indiana University Bloomington, J.D., graduated 1988
- Indiana University Bloomington, B.A., graduated 1986
Bar Admissions
Affiliations
- American Bar Association - Member
- American Intellectual Property Law Association - Member
- Arts and Business Council of Greater Nashville, Board of Directors - Member
- FiftyForward Endowment, Board of Directors - Member
- International Trademark Association - Member
- Nashville Bar Association - Member
- Nashville Bar Foundation - Fellow
- Nashville Pro Bono Program, Board of Directors - Member
- Nashville Technology Council - Member
- Tennessee Bar Association - Member
- Tennessee Intellectual Property Law Association - Member
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Trade Secrets Law, Nashville (2026)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Trade Secrets Law
Special Focus:
- Intellectual Property
Awards:
- VerdictSearch, "100 Top Jury Verdicts," $26.5 million verdict against HCA subsidiary, 2004
- Nashville Business Journal, “Best of the Bar”
- Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review
- Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition, Business Litigation, 2008-2011
- Mid-South Super Lawyers
- Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial, 2005-2012 (Band 2—2010-2012; Band 3—2008-2009; Up-and-Coming—2005-2007)
- Benchmark Litigation
News & Media
Case History
Cases
- Other Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
- United States District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee
- United States District Court, Western District of Tennessee
- United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
- United States District Court, Western District of Michigan
- United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
Your browser is not fully compatible with our automatic printer friendly formatting.
Please use the print button to print this profile page.