Three attorneys at Chattanooga-based law firm Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel — William P. Aiken, Richard W. Bethea and William H. Pickering — have been recognized as 2013 Client Service All-Stars by BTI Consulting Group. BTI named Mr. Aiken, Mr. Bethea and Mr. Pickering as three of an elite group of 307 lawyers nationwide included in the All-Star team. They were the only lawyers based in Tennessee to receive this honor and make Chambliss one of only 23 firms in the nation to have three or more All-Stars.
Mr. Pickering was also honored as a Client Service MVP and was one of only six lawyers in the country named as an All-Star for three years a row. This marks the second consecutive year that Aiken has received All-Star status.
The BTI Client Service All-Stars List is the only independently researched, client-driven ranking of attorneys. Client Service All-Stars are nominated exclusively by corporate counsel with Fortune 1000 companies and other large corporations. Attorneys are selected for their exceptional commitment to client service, considering the lawyer’s client focus, understanding of the client's business, outstanding results, outsized value and legal skills. With self-nominations forbidden, the only way to receive the honor of an All-Star ranking is to be nominated by a client in an unprompted manner. BTI conducted more than 240 individual interviews with corporate counsel in developing the All-Star list.
Mr. Aiken was recognized by BTI for his work in commercial contracts and business transactions. His practice includes commercial contracts and business transactions, corporate and securities law, and mergers and acquisitions for clients in several business and manufacturing sectors. Mr. Aiken is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and has been honored by that publication as the Chattanooga Corporate Lawyer of the Year.
Mr. Bethea was recognized for his work in product liability defense. He focuses his practice on the trial of complex business cases, with particular emphasis on product liability defense, manufacturers' risk prevention, patent infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, commercial and consumer finance claims. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Product Liability and other complex litigation.
Mr. Pickering was recognized for his work in labor and employment law. He is labor counsel for some of the area's largest manufacturers and has been lead counsel in complex business and employment litigation in several states. Pickering is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Labor and Employment Law.
BTI’s announcement comes on the heels of Chambliss being ranked among the top 100 firms nationwide on The BTI Client Service A-Team. The A-Team delineation, which Chambliss has been awarded for three consecutive years, highlights the firm’s commitment to providing superior service to clients.
“We are grateful to our clients and greatly appreciate the opportunity to be a part of their legal teams,” said Dana Perry, president and managing shareholder of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel. “It is rewarding to receive this honor because it is based exclusively on client nominations and confirms our approach of providing value-added service based on an understanding of our clients’ business needs. This honor sets our firm apart on a statewide and national level for our commitment to client service.”
Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel serves as counsel for regional, national, and international businesses, financial institutions, local governments and nonprofit organizations. The firm's major practice areas include manufacturing, business and commercial transactions, labor and employment, automotive, corporate, construction, health care, banking and finance, real estate, intellectual property, non-profit, bankruptcy and creditors' rights, environmental, taxation and all aspects of litigation.