Commercial Litigation
William J. "Jay" Harbison II
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2026 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
William “Jay” Harbison II is a member of the firm’s litigation practice, counseling clients on various business disputes and commercial matters.
Jay is recognized by Best Lawyers in America® “Ones to Watch,” 2025 for Civil Rights Law, Commercial Litigation and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants. Prior to joining the firm, Jay was a partner at the Nashville law firm Neal & Harwell, where he represented both plaintiffs and defendants and advised clients on a variety of complex legal issues, with an emphasis on First Amendment litigation.
He earned his J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee College of Law and went on to clerk for the Honorable Gilbert S. Merritt, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He graduated with a degree in English and Theater from Middlebury College.
Jay currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Nashville Bar Association, is a member of the Executive Committee for the Tennessee Bar Association’s Communications Law Section, and is a member of the American Bar Association’s Communications Law Forum.
Overview
- The University of Tennessee, J.D., graduated 2014
- Tennessee, Tennessee Bar Association, 2014
- American Bar Association - Member, Communications Law Forum
- Nashville Bar Association - Member, Board of Directors
- Nashville Bar Association - Member, Young Lawyers Division
- Nashville Bar Foundation - Fellow
- Nashville Bar Foundation - Member, Leadership Forum (Class of 2022)
- Tennessee Bar Association - Member, Appellate Practice, Communications Law, and Litigation Sections
- Tennessee Bar Association - Member, Executive Committee, Communications Law Section
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
- United States Court of Appeals
- Tennessee, Tennessee Bar Association, 2014
- American Bar Association - Member, Communications Law Forum
- Nashville Bar Association - Member, Board of Directors
- Nashville Bar Association - Member, Young Lawyers Division
- Nashville Bar Foundation - Fellow
- Nashville Bar Foundation - Member, Leadership Forum (Class of 2022)
- Tennessee Bar Association - Member, Appellate Practice, Communications Law, and Litigation Sections
- Tennessee Bar Association - Member, Executive Committee, Communications Law Section
- The University of Tennessee, J.D., graduated 2014
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
- United States Court of Appeals
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Commercial Litigation
Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America from 2021-2025 for work in:
- Civil Rights Law - 2025
- Commercial Litigation - 2025
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants - 2025
- Civil Rights Law - 2024
- Commercial Litigation - 2024
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants - 2024
- Civil Rights Law - 2023
- Commercial Litigation - 2023
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants - 2023
- Civil Rights Law - 2022
- Commercial Litigation - 2022
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants - 2022
- Civil Rights Law - 2021
- Commercial Litigation - 2021
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants - 2021
Awards:
- Mid-South Super Lawyers, “Rising Star,” Business Litigation (2022-2024)
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