Robert F. Chapski

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Robert F. Chapski: Attorney with Lewis Thomason, P.C.
Attorney Awards
  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating
About Attorney Awards

Biography

Bob Chapski is a shareholder and a Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator in the firm’s Nashville office. He is chair of the firm’s Product Liability Practice Group and serves on the firm’s Board of Directors.

Mr. Chapski regularly represents businesses and individuals and is experienced in a variety of litigation-related practice fields including product liability, tort, commercial/business litigation and employment law. He often serves as local counsel to global law firms, advising attorneys and national clients in complex, high-exposure federal and state court matters. Having two decades of experience working directly with manufacturers, expert witnesses and other nationally prominent attorneys across the country, he has in-depth knowledge to assist clients and other attorneys throughout courts in Tennessee.

Mr. Chapski has also served as both lead trial counsel and appellate counsel, and his jury trial experience includes product liability matters as well as other tort and business litigation matters. He frequently speaks on topics related to business and product liability litigation and, in addition to various bar memberships, he is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel and the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC).

Mr. Chapski has been honored by Best Lawyers, Mid-South Super Lawyers and has an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He was selected by Who’s Who Legal (WWL) as being among the world’s highest-ranking lawyers as part of the 2022 edition of WWL: Product Liability Defense 2022. He is a proud graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Tennessee College of Law, graduating first in his class at both institutions.

PROFESSIONAL HONORS AND ACTIVITIES

•Named Leading Product Liability Lawyer of the Year 2024 - Tennessee by Acquisition International
•Named the The Best Lawyers in America 2023 and 2026 Mass Tort Litigation; Class Actions - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
•fellow, Nashville Bar Foundation
•Selected by Who’s Who Legal as one of the world’s highest-ranking lawyers in Product Liability Defense (2022 -2024); Listed in Who’s Who Legal - Lexology
•Graduated first in his class from The University of Notre Dame
•Graduated first in his class from The University of Tennessee College of Law
•Member, Phi Beta Kappa
•Member, Order of the Coif
•ALFA International Steering Committee for Business Litigation and Product Liability practice groups
•Sustaining Member of The Product Liability Advisory Council, Inc. (PLAC)
•Elite Lawyer of the South (American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell), 2017
•Top Rated Lawyer in Mass Torts (American Lawyer Media)
•Top Rated Lawyer in Commercial Litigation (Litigation Fall 2012/American Lawyer Media)
•Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2017 - present
•Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2012-2016
•Named to The Best Lawyers in America , Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
•Young Leaders Council (Class 63)
•AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

See more ›

Areas of Practice (6)

  • Business & Commercial
  • Corporate
  • Mediation
  • Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Product Liability
  • Toxic Tort

Education & Credentials

University Attended:
University of Notre Dame, B.A., summa cum laude, 1999
Law School Attended:
University of Tennessee College of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 2002
Year of First Admission:
2002
Admission:
2002, Tennessee; U. S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit; U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; U. S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee; U. S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee; U. S. Supreme Court; U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
Memberships:

AFFILIATIONS

• ALFA International

• Catholic Business League

• Defense Research Institute

• International Association of Defense Counsel

• Nashville Bar Association

• Rotary Club of Nashville

• Tennessee Bar Association

• Tennessee Bar Foundation

Reported Cases:
Representative Experience: Served as national coordinating co-counsel as well as local/regional counsel for multiple major automotive manufacturers in product liability litigation.; Served as trial co-counsel defending a major automotive manufacturer in a case arising from a crash, resulting in quadriplegic to a passenger, where the claim was that the vehicle accelerated on its own.; Defended and advised financial services, lending, and consumer credit companies in a variety of commercial and litigation-related matters.; Served as lead trial counsel defending an office furniture sales company in a commercial dispute with another office furniture sales company involving alleged contractual interference with a former employee who had a non-compete agreement.; Successfully defended homeowners on appeal in a real property land dispute where trespassing neighbors claimed they had a right of way (easement) to cross through clients' property.; Obtained summary judgment and dismissal on behalf of a respirator (mask) manufacturer in a matter involving silica exposure (Walker v. Moldex Metric, Inc., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 80959 (E.D. Tenn. July 25, 2011)).; Obtained summary judgment (upheld on appeal) on behalf of a financing company on an equipment finance lease contract and obtained a judgment in excess of $75, 000, including attorney's fees, on behalf of client.; Successfully defended a financial services company in a consumer credit federal lawsuit that was dismissed with prejudice at the trial court level and affirmed by the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, Massachusetts (Azubuko v. MBNA America Bank, 396 F. Supp. 2d 1, 7 (D. Mass. 2005)).; Defended a vegetable produce broker in a massive food liability matter related to a Hepatitis A outbreak, which resulted in over 40 personal injury and wrongful death claims.; Served as co-lead trial counsel in a two-week state court jury trial involving tort, breach of contract and consumer protection related claims.; Served as appellate co-counsel in a federal court jury trial involving civil rights claims.
ISLN:
917092211

Peer Reviews

4.9/5.0 (21 reviews)
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rating Badge

  • Legal Knowledge

    4.9/5.0

  • Analytical Capability

    4.9/5.0

  • Judgment

    4.9/5.0

  • Communication

    4.9/5.0

  • Legal Experience

    4.7/5.0
Peer reviews submitted prior to 2008 are not displayed.

Client Reviews Write a Review

Location

Video Call Options

  • Zoom

Contact Robert F. Chapski

Contact Information:

615-259-1389  Fax

www.lewisthomason.com/attorneys/robert-f-chapski

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