William D. Edwards

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...

Beecher A. Bartlett, Jr. is a highly effective trial lawyer with over 30 years of experience. He focuses his practice in the areas of Litigation, Insurance, Personal Injury and Labor and Employment. He strives to create reasonable expectations for his clients in the resolution of their legal matters, which ultimately helps minimize the stress and anxiety that many clients experience. Mr. Bartlett is committed to providing and honest assessment of each matter by engaging in early dispute inter...

Mr. Fraser has provided many years of defense litigation for clients in various areas, including general liability, premises and products liability, employment, insurance disputes and professional errors and omissions claims. He has successfully litigated matters ranging from complex, multiple-party suits in products liability, wrongful death and subrogation matters. He is an Equity Member of the firm located in the firm's Knoxville office and also serves as the firm's Managing Member.

Rockforde D. King is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Individuals, Employment Law - Management, Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Litigation - Labor and Employment, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Rockforde D....

Bill Vines was admitted to the courts of the State of Tennessee and the United States District Court for the Eastern District in 1966. He is admitted to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and in 1972 was admitted to the United States Supreme Court. He is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 listed mediator both in state and federal co...

P. Newman Bankston is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. P. Newman, who practices law in Knoxville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which P. Newman is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Rachel Park Hurt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law, Litigation - Health Care, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Rachel Park, who practices law in Knoxville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Rachel Park is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Steve has over 35 years of experience working with a broad cross-section of industries and management teams in his practice areas of Employment and Labor, Corporate and Transactional and Sports Law. He provides sound and practical legal advice to his clients and proactively interacts with management teams in some of the most critical aspects of their businesses. He has provided numerous management training and civic group presentations on employment and sports law issues. He also serves as a ...

Rick is a civil litigation attorney. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1987, at which time he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as a systems acquisition officer at the Ballistic Missile Organization at Norton Air Force Base until 1992 and last served as the Reentry Systems Launch Program Acquisition Logistics Manager. Upon separation from the Air Force as a captain, Rick attended t...

Edward (“Ward”) Phillips has a wealth of knowledge and trial experience in his practice areas of Labor and Employment Law. Ward represents management exclusively in all areas of employment and labor relations, including state and federal employment litigation and in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Department of Labor, and the National Labor Relations Board. He is a forceful, effective litigator. Ward has been describ...