Distinctions
· The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation
· AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell
· Mid-South Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation
· Pro Bono Service Award, Memphis Area Legal Services, 2006
· Star of the Year Award, American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, 2005, 2007
· Top 40 Under 40, Memphis Business Journal, 2003
· President's Award, Tennessee Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, 2002
· Board of Advisors, Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce
Associations
· American Bar Association
- Managing Director, Litigation Section
- Assembly Speaker, 2005-07
· Tennessee Bar Association
- President, 2011
- President, 2005-06
- Board of Governors
-- CLE and Membership Committees
· Mississippi Bar Association
· Memphis Bar Association
- Access to Justice Committee
· American Bar Foundation
- Fellow
· Memphis Bar Foundation
- Fellow
· Tennessee Bar Foundation
- Fellow
Legal Experience
· Won defense verdict in Chattanooga, TN construction arbitration. Nixon v B & W and Rogers Manufacturing Corp., AAA Arbitration.
· Won commercial plaintiff's jury verdict in unfair business practices case in Arkansas. Curtis Lumber Company, Inc. v Louisiana Pacific Corporation, Civil Action No. 2:08-cv-1007 (E.D. Ark.)
· Won favorable award in a breach of contract arbitration in San Antonio, TX. HR Acquisition of San Antonio v Behavioral Health Systems, private arbitration.
· Won defense verdict in breach of contract case in Memphis, TN. Mechanics Laundry v McKesson, Civil Action No. 08-2256.
· Won summary judgment for a lessee in a commercial finance lease case. Gaia Leasing v Wendelta, Civil Action No. 09-1067 (D. Minn.)
· Experienced in commercial disputes including those involving breach of contract and usurpation of corporate opportunities including representation of a national professional management company with arbitration disputes in Ohio, Washington, D.C., Georgia, Florida and Puerto Rico.
· Experienced litigating franchise and distribution disputes including representation of a distributor of cottonseed in an international arbitration concerning distribution of cottonseed in Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey and Spain.
· Experienced with insurance coverage disputes including representation of insurance companies in officers and directors liability disputes.
· Experienced in product liability cases for a wide variety of local and national manufacturers of products including automobiles, consumer electronics, medical implants and machinery including allegations of fire loss.
· Experienced in disputes concerning ownership or control of closely held businesses.
· Experienced in cases involving unfair competition including trade secrets, trademarks, breaches of the duty of loyalty, tortious interference and unfair or deceptive acts of practices.
Papers, Presentations & Publications
· Author, "Picking Judges: Existing System Has Served Tennesseans Well," Chattanooga, Sunday, February 19, 2012.
· Author, "Business Gets a Big Boost in the 2011 Legislative Session," Memphis Business Journal, 2011.
· Co-Author, "Recession Triggers Increased Risk of Employee Trade Secret Theft," Pointe Innovation, 2011.
· Author, "Theoretical Reverse Engineering," ABA Section of Litigation Business Torts Journal, Spring 2008.
· Co-Author, "Tennessee Law Protects both Consumers, Businesses from Unfair Practices," Memphis Business Journal, June 13, 2008.
· Author, "It Adds Up: Class Action Residual Funds Support Pro Bono Efforts," Tennessee Bar Journal, March 2009.
· Author, "Preserving Electronic Evidence: How Closely Should a Tennessee Court Follow Zubulake?" Tennessee Bar Journal, April 2005.
· Author, "The Constitutional Limits on Punitive Damages: The U.S. Supreme Court's Punitive Damages Jurisprudence and its Impact on Hodges v S.C. Toof & Company," Tennessee Bar Journal, December 2003.
· Author, "The E-Sign Act: A Move in the Right Direction and a Boost for E-Commerce," Tennessee Bar Journal, February 2001.
· Presenter, "Business Torts 101: Covenants Not-to-Compete," Tennessee Bar Association, 2007-09.
· Presenter, "Business Torts 101: Trade Secrets," Tennessee Bar Association, 2008-09.
· Presenter, "Business Torts 101: The Duty of Loyalty," Tennessee Bar Association, 2008.
· Presenter, "Effective Writing for Attorneys," Tennessee Bar Association, 2009-10.
· Presenter, "Business Torts 101: Tortious Interference," Tennessee Bar Association, 2008-10.
· Author,"Picking Judges: Existing System Has Served Tennesseans Well" Chattanooga, Sunday, February 19, 2012.