Kathryn BarnettNashvilleLeiff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein Handles most of the work on 9 lawsuits filed against ConAgra Foods in the wake of Salmonella scandal. Lead trial lawyer in the declaratory judgment action against Georgia Farm Bureau to collect $80 million in the Tri-State Crematory litigation.

Charlie GayNashvilleAdams and Reese Lead medical malpractice trial counsel for the Ochsner Medical Institutions. Was retained to represent Michael Jackson in a sexual harassment case against the pop star (Bartucci v. Jackson). Relocated after Hurricane Katrina to firm's Nashville office. Works extensively in products liability and medical malpractice litigation.

Sid GilreathKnoxvilleGilreath & Associates Has tried cases in 10 states, winning multi-million dollar verdicts for his clients. Won a $ million jury verdict for a quadriplegic child in a minivan accident; a $3.9 million verdict for a paraplegic client in a case involving a school bus with faulty brakes.

J. Houston GordonMemphisJ. Houston Gordon Law Firm Successful litigator who fought hard for the state Supreme Court seat last year, but ultimately failed. Handled the 1997 NASCAR Caf— explosion case. Was in charge of appeals in Vietnam trial of Lt. William Calley Jr. Well-known for lenders liability case, Starnes v. First American National Bank.

David Randolph SmithNashvilleDavid Randolph Smith & Assoc. Author, Trial Advocacy in Tennessee. Represented families in a televised autopsies case. Head counsel for 17 families in 2003 fatal Nashville nursing home fire litigation, which was settled.

Cindy BarnettNashvilleAdams and Reese Expert in tax-exempt matters. Represents the Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund and the Metro Nashville Health and Educational Facilities Board. In addition to running the firm's Nashville office, regularly serves as bond counsel or issuer's counsel in complex transactions.

Mark MamantovKnoxvilleBass, Berry & Sims Managing partner at the firm's Knoxville office that he co-founded. Lead lawyer in tax increment financing of a downtown Knoxville theater complex, as part of a $12 million project including new market tax credits.

Charlie WrayNashvilleBass, Berry & Sims Helped Gaylord Entertainment push through statutes to fund $00 million expansion with help of some state taxes. Was bond counsel for Jackson Energy Authority on $0 million tax-exempt bond issue, and a new type of financing, believed to be first in the nation, which combines Fannie Mae modernization express loan program with other "mixed financing."

Ann CargileNashvilleBoult, Cummings, Conners & Berry Top real estate attorney in the region with an impressive client roster. Last year, closed some $200 million in real estate transactions, with deals in Alabama and Tennessee. National leasing counsel for Sun Microsystems. On the Tennessee Bar Association's committee revising the State's Condominium Act. Member, American College of Real Estate Lawyers.

Rick BeesonJohnson CityBrandt & Beeson Focuses solely on real estate, representing every major developer between Bristol and Sevierville, as well as the Johnson City Housing Authority. Gets referrals from major firms requiring local counsel.

Jim Haley IVChattanoogaMiller Martin Has handled hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate developments. Also represents banks. Behind $20 million financing by two Tennessee banks for a project in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Has done work for now-Sen. Bob Corker in his real estate pursuits and was a trustee of his blind trust.

Rob LiddonMemphisBaker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz Has handled military base closures and a plethora of other matters. Represents First Horizon and Premcor Refining Group. Highly skilled in multi-state lending transactions, credit financing and bank regulatory work.

Laurence M. PapelNashvilleBaker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz Focuses on general corporate matters and acquisition, disposition and development of commercial and residential real estate. Nashville Zoo board's legal counsel. 2007/2008 president of the Nashville Rotary Club. Highly skilled real estate attorney with a passion for development. Co-owner of Corner Partnership, whose top projects are Luxury Adelicia condos, and renovation of the Union Station Hotel.

John StemmlerMemphisBass, Berry & Sims Lead lawyer on multi-state, $121 million acquisition of a publicly-held storage REIT. Has closed hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions. Sought-after adviser on startups, investments and REITs. Represents Kemmons Wilson Cos. Joined Bass after 29 years with Burch, Porter & Johnson.

Gary M. BrownNashvilleBaker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & BerkowitzExpert in SEC compliance matters. Clients include CBRL Group and Pinnacle Financial Partners. Testified before a U.S. Senate subcommittee on using foreign tax shelter schemes to circumvent securities laws.

Jim CheekNashvilleBass, Berry & Sims Behind HCA's record-breaking leveraged buyout. Thoroughly connected on Wall Street. Former chair of legal advisory boards of both the NYSE and NASDAQ. Representing Genesco in its proposed, and increasingly contested, $1.5 billion merger with Finish Line. Among other clients are American Healthways, Thomas Nelson and Bright Horizons.

Chase ColeNashvilleWaller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis Experienced in all facets of securities work with focus on big public offerings. Key attorney on most HCA spinoffs. Clients include LifePoint ($200 million convertible subordinated note offering) and Province Healthcare ($150 million note offering). On ABA's negotiated acquisitions and federal securities regulation committees.

John GoodMemphisBass, Berry & Sims Represents numerous national underwriters in real estate capital markets industry. Behind Triangle Capital's $60 million IPO. Represented underwriters of Main Street Capital's $100 million IPO. Lead counsel to independent directors of Quandra Realty Trust.

Marlee MitchellNashvilleWaller Lansden Dortch & Davis Very experienced securities practitioner. Ran the securities group at Waller Lansden for several years. Expert in underwritten equity and debt public offerings, private placements, joint ventures and venture capital financings.

Tom SherrardNashvilleSherrard & Roe Highly skilled and well-connected attorney. Adjunct professor of law at Vanderbilt University Law School and Owen Graduate School of Management. Member of ABA's federal securities and commercial law committees.

Shep TateMemphisBass, Berry & Sims Continues to grow his broker/dealer practice, having recently represented HealthSpring, Coventry Health Care, Healthways, Iasis Healthcare and HCA in its $16-billion senior secured credit facilities provided by lenders led by Bank of America.

Mitch WalkerNashvilleBass, Berry & Sims Clients have included Genesco in merger with Finish Line. Other clients include Gaylord Entertainment Co. and Corrections Corporation of America. Represented Gaylord in its purchase of ResortQuest.

Harry SmithMountain CitySmith & Cockett Reclusive and hard-working lawyer is well-known for his work in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Has upwards of 60 cases per year, largely representing poor, disabled clients. Has second office in Kingsport next to the Social Security Administration's appeals office.

Dale AllenKnoxvilleWoolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter Represented management in Walter v. Nucleus Inc. in 1990, defining fair value in Tennessee. Was counsel in Tibbals Flooring v. Huddleston. First lieutenant, U.S. Army Special Forces.

William FonesMemphisBaker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz Does business in Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. Has handled federal, state and local tax controversies at the administrative level and in court. Went into private practice in 1981 after holding numerous posts with the IRS. Master of corporate and business planning and M&A deals.

Joe GibbsNashvilleBoult, Cummings, Conners & Berry Heads the firm's tax group, advising clients on tax consequences of real estate transactions and development. Has advised foreign nationals on the U.S. tax treatment of their U.S. investments.

Wayne KramerKnoxvilleKramer Rayson LLP With emphasis on ad valorem, sales and use tax matters, maintains an extensive tax practice. Represents clients before Tennessee Department of Revenue, Tennessee State Board of Equalization and other administrative bodies.

Mike SontagNashvilleBass, Berry & Sims Gained national renown for successfully litigating the J.C. Penney National Bank case, which was the first to challenge institution tax to out-of-state banks with no physical presence in Tennessee. Recent engagements include Qualcomm's refund claim and extension of tax exemptions for a mutual fund manager.

Charles TrostNashvilleWaller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis Key cog in firm's success relocating corporations to Tennessee. Helped tweak 1999 excise tax law imposing harsher rules on limited partnerships making the law more user-friendly than the original proposal.

Tom BucknerMemphisApperson, Crump & Maxwell Former tax counsel to Memphis Bar. Maintains a large practice primarily composed of high net worth individuals. Expert in family limited partnerships, estate planning and divorce.

Walter Lee DavisJohnson CitySole Practice President of the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. Foremost estate lawyer in the area. Eighth practitioner in Tennessee to be certified as Estate Planning Specialist by the Commission on CLE and Specialization. President, Estate Law Specialist Board, which covers 17 states.

James GoochNashvilleBass, Berry & Sims Handles tax matters for many of Nashville's wealthiest families. Former president, Tennessee Federal Tax Institute. Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Council. Trustee, Southern Federal Tax Institute.

Dan HolbrookKnoxvilleHolbrook, Peterson & Smith Fellow and state chair of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Authors a regular column on estate planning in the Tennessee Bar Journal. Winner of the TBA Justice Henry award for outstanding legal writing. Last year appointed as a Kentucky Colonel, an honorary title approved by that state's governor since 1813.

Bryan HowardNashvilleHoward & Mobley Well-regarded for his estate and business planning practice. Also handles trust and estate litigation, estate administration and taxation matters (both federal and state). Certified Estate Planning Specialist. Advises on business succession issues.

Steve McDanielMemphisWilliams, McDaniel, Wolfe & Womack Former president of the Memphis Estate Planning Council. In 200 presided over the 20,000-member National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. With help from Walter Lee Davis wrote the exam for the Estate Law Specialist Board (Tennessee CLE board).

Jeff MobleyNashvilleHoward & Mobley President, Nashville Estate Planning Council, 2001-2006. Chairs the probate committee of the Nashville Bar Association. Co-author of Pritchard on Wills and Estate in Tennessee. Formerly of Paulus and Dolan.

Mike YoppNashvilleWaller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis Expert in state and federal taxation, partnership and LLC formation. Frequent expert witness in tax cases. Founded and led Yopp & Sweeney prior to merging with Waller Lansden in 2000.

Henry WalkerNashvilleBoult, Cummings, Conners & Berry Knows TRA inside and out. Gained renown representing southeastern resellers opposing BellSouth's entry into long-distance service. A force in the state's utility regulation and utility property taxation. Expert in telecom and natural gas matters.

Chuck WelchNashvilleFarris, Matthews, Brannan, Bobango, Hellen & Dunlap The former Collierville assistant city attorney represented Charter Communications in its opposition to Jackson Energy Authority's application to provide telecom services. Registered lobbyist for Tennessee Land Title Association and Knox County.

Nathan BicksMemphisBurch, Porter & Johnson Has chaired legislative committees to draft development regulations and other functions as Collierville's city attorney. Has represented numerous private developers in Memphis and Shelby County. Also has extensive practice in white collar crime, healthcare fraud and class action.

John KingKnoxvilleLewis, King, Krieg & Waldrop Focuses on waste disposal, residential and commercial development and manufactured housing. Former chairman, Tennessee Housing Development Agency. Expert in zoning matters and contract disputes with the city, representing both government and business.

Jim MurphyNashvilleBoult, Cummings, Conners & Berry Sits on the University of Tennessee's Board of Trustees. Authored the 1992 revision to Eminent Domain in Tennessee, An Attorney's Guide. Represents public and private sector clients in complex zoning, condemnation, environmental law and other matters. Honed his craft during 18 years with the Nashville Metro Government's legal department.