Timothy W. "Tim" Smith

Rick Nickels is a member of the firm’s Tax and Trusts and Estates practice groups. Rick practices at the intersection of business, tax and estate planning. A significant portion of his practice involves advising private companies and their owners, directors and executives on an array of state and federal tax, governance and corporate matters. Rick regularly assists with matters ranging from early-stage structure and funding to mid-stage buyouts and divorces to late-stage exits. He has s...

Margaret L. Behm has earned the reputation as the go-to person in 45 years of representing clients and forging coalitions for change. After beginning her legal career in 1976 at Legal Services if Middle Tennessee, Inc., Behm and Marietta Shipley in 1980 founded Shipley and Behm, the city's first all-woman law firm. “Back then, women just weren’t taken seriously as business owners or lawyers,” Behm says. “I wanted to run my own business and demonstrate that women could ...

Mary Ellen Morris has an AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and has represented countless clients in matters involving product liability , medical malpractice , wrongful death , and more. She has been admitted to practice in the state of Tennessee as well as in the U.S. District Courts for the Middle, Eastern, and Western District of Tennessee.

Michael B. Bressman is Of Counsel with the firm. Additionally, he serves as Professor of the Practice of Law at Vanderbilt Law School, where he has taught a variety of courses such as Contracts, the Law of Cyberspace, and Art Law. Michael directs the law school’s clerkship program, which supports students and graduates applying for post-graduation judicial clerkships. With a career spanning more than 25 years in premier law firms, as in-house corporate counsel, and as a professor at one...

Stephanie serves clients in the healthcare industry on an array of regulatory, operational, and transactional matters. She regularly assists hospitals, healthcare systems, and other provider types with mergers and acquisitions, particularly in connection with the complex licensure and regulatory questions that can arise in the context of a transaction. Stephanie also advises healthcare clients on Medicare and Medicaid certification, compliance, and payment matters, as well as out-of-network b...

Chris Cardwell is a trial lawyer in GSRM’s Litigation and Labor and Employment practice groups. He serves on the firm’s management, marketing and staff committees, and leads the Litigation and Labor and Employment practice groups. Chris represents life sciences, healthcare, railroad and transportation, and entertainment companies in complex commercial, employment, and intellectual property lawsuits.

Mark Stamelos represents businesses on their employment issues, including trade secret, non-compete and restrictive covenant disputes as well as defending employers against harassment, discrimination and retaliation claims. A stickler for responsiveness, Mark likes to visit businesses, study their processes, see the facilities and learn how people do their jobs. He has particular expertise helping clients protect their trade secrets and other valuable business interests. In addition, he provi...

David J. White is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Finance Law, Public Finance Law and Real Estate Law. David J., who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic a...

Talbott Ottinger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Finance Law and Real Estate Law. Talbott, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Talbott is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

William Kenneth Marlow is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Governance Law, Health Care Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. William Kenneth, who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William Kenneth is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.