Baker Donelson announced that 261 of its attorneys have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
Thirty-one of the Firm's attorneys were also recognized by Best Lawyers as "Lawyers of the Year," a designation given to a select group of individuals in high-profile specialties in large legal communities. Only a single attorney in each specialty in each community is honored.
"In addition to the individual attorneys recognized, Baker Donelson is top-listed in the nation in nine practice areas: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Litigation – Construction, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Non-Profit/Charities Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants and Transportation Law," officials said.
Baker Donelson is also the top-listed firm in Tennessee, with 130 of its attorneys listed in the 2017 edition of Best Lawyers, including the following 21 Chattanooga attorneys:
- Kenneth C. Beckman: Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Public Finance Law, Real Estate Law, Securitization and Structured Finance Law
- Joe A. Conner: Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Energy Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate
- Robert C. Divine: Immigration Law
- Richard D. Faulkner Jr.: Real Estate Law
- Richard B. Gossett: Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation – Real Estate
- Russell W. Gray: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Carl E. Hartley: Corporate Law, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Non-Profit/Charities Law, Tax Law
- Thomas O. Helton: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
- Cameron S. Hill: Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
- Micheline K. Johnson: Copyright Law, Entertainment Law – Motion Pictures and Television, Patent Law, Trademark Law
- Misty S. Kelley: Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
- James H. Levine: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Virginia C. Love: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Trusts and Estates
Joshua Powers: Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- K. Stephen Powers: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, Transportation Law
- Susan Elliott Rich: Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law, Securitization and Structured Finance Law
- William E. Robinson: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Ross I. Schram III: Real Estate Law
- Louann P. Smith: Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Public Finance Law, Securitization and Structured Finance Law
- Jerry Stauffer: Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law
- Philip B. Whitaker: Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Law, Trusts and Estates
Four of the Firm's Chattanooga attorneys were also named Best Lawyers' 2017 "Lawyers of the Year":
- Kenneth C. Beckman, Chattanooga Mergers and Acquisitions Law "Lawyer of the Year"
- K. Stephen Powers, Chattanooga Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants "Lawyer of the Year"
- Susan E. Rich, Chattanooga Real Estate Law "Lawyer of the Year"
- William E. Robinson, Chattanooga Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law "Lawyer of the Year"