Columbia Appeals & Appellate Lawyers

Tom Shumate is the founder of Meridian Law, PLLC, which represents individuals and businesses across Tennessee in a variety of civil matters including business, contract, and employment litigation; disputes involving non-competition agreements and theft of trade secrets; insurance defense; personal injury and wrongful death actions; and probate cases. Mr. Shumate graduated with honors from Vanderbilt University in 1995 and from Notre Dame Law School in 1998. He has practiced in Nashville, Tennessee since that time. In 2011 and 2013, Mr. Shumate was selected as a “Rising Star” by the Mid-South edition of Super Lawyers Magazine. He...

Jonathan Turner is a former Virginia prosecutor and an experienced trial, criminal defense, DUI, and family law attorney. He has successfully handled a wide range of cases from DUI, drug offenses, probation violations, serious felonies like murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, thefts, misdemeanors, child support, child neglect, and child custody cases. As a criminal prosecutor, he tried thousands of criminal cases and was known as an aggressive trial attorney. In Tennessee, he has successfully defended clients from being convicted ranging from serious felonies like especially aggravated kidnapping to drug dealing, to all types of misdemeanors, to...

I am a Vanderbilt educated lawyer living in Nashville, Tennessee, and primarily practicing in the areas of Family and Employment Law (Plaintiff's side). I have been involved in litigation since 2007, with experience in complex litigation in federal courts. When I am not working, you can find me at a Preds game or watching the University of Louisville and Vanderbilt on tv.

Todd Cole, founder of Cole Law Group, has a diverse educational, business, and legal background that affords him a unique insight into the issues confronting our clients. He is recognized in the Nashville/Brentwood area for his outstanding academic background, keen mind, skillful representation, and dogged determination to serve his clients well. He is licensed to practice law in Tennessee, Florida, Minnesota, and the United States Middle District for the State of Tennessee. Todd received his Juris Doctor degree from Nova Southeastern University, where he was recipient of the Dean's Recognition Scholarship, granted the Book Award for Torts, acted as...

Bennett J. Wills is an attorney serving clients all across Tennessee. In 2014 he was awarded the Top 40 Under 40 award by the National Trial Lawyers Association and was awarded Super Lawyers 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Rising Star. Bennett's practice areas include civil and criminal appeals, business litigation, contract litigation, torts, consumer defense, real estate matters, and intellectual property.

Tarsila Crawford is an experienced Attorney at Widrig Law PLLC. She is dedicated to helping families with an array of legal issues. Her practice areas include Family Law, Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Contested Divorce, Divorce Basics, Father’s Visitation Rights, Juvenile Law, Legal Separation, Uncontested Divorce, and Annulment. Additionally, Mrs. Crawford handles Appeals, and is expanding her practice to include Immigration Law and Business Law cases. Mrs. Crawford recognizes the emotional aspect of legal matters and is committed to being accessible to clients. She is dedicated to diligent preparation and aggressive representation, while pursuing the best possible outcomes...

Liz served as a Senior Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Frank G. Clement, Jr. of the Tennessee Court of Appeals before transitioning into private practice with The Law Offices of John Day, P.C. Liz is a self-proclaimed “people person” who enjoys helping others using the law as a conduit. She enjoys listening to her clients, understanding what they are going through, then sharing their story with the courts so her client’s story is given a voice.

Liz has been a long-time Board Member of the Lawyers’ Association for Women (LAW), Marion Griffin Chapter, and currently serves as the President of...

Cody Galaher represents companies and individuals in litigation of state and federal matters primarily involving family, business, and appellate issues. Cody has wide-ranging and specialized litigation experience, both at the trial court and appellate levels, which he utilizes to obtain the very best possible outcome for his clients. Cody is experienced and has a reputation for obtaining great results for clients in divorce and custody matters.

Cody frequently helps clients form, govern, and operate their businesses and his distinct litigation expertise allows him to advise clients in avoiding and resolving potential disputes. In addition, Cody is also uniquely experienced in the...

The last thing you need to worry about during this time is whether your attorney is effectively representing you.

You are going through a difficult, confusing time.
You have a lot of questions. Your world has been turned upside down.

What are you going to do with your finances? What is going to happen to your children? What are you going to do financially after the divorce?

You need an attorney you can trust will listen to you and understand you

You need an attorney who has BEEN THERE HERSELF and also has years of experience in family...

J. Ross Pepper is an AV rated trial attorney with over 27 years of experience with litigation, arbitration and mediation. Mr. Pepper's trial, courtroom and deposition experience is extensive and benefits his clients incalculably. Mr. Pepper is the founding member of Pepper Law, PLC, a boutique litigation law firm which handles litigation matters in Nashville and throughout Tennessee.

Mr. Pepper has acted as lead counsel in a wide range of commercial, employment, probate, insurance, and real estate cases. Notably, Mr. Pepper acted as lead counsel in a nationwide class action involving the sale and marketing...

Attorney James L. Widrig, or more commonly known as “Jim Widrig”, was born in Upstate NY. in a small town called Yorkshire, NY. He went to college in east Tennessee at Carson-Newman College. After college Jim attended law school at Thomas M. Cooley in Lansing, Michigan.

Attorney Jim Widrig practices in all of Middle Tennessee and his main office is located in downtown Nashville. James Widrig founded the law office of Widrig Law PLLC in February of 2007 with the goal to fight for individuals during the most difficult times of their lives. In 2011 James L Widrig was voted one...

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Seamus received a bachelor's degree in Business and Political Science from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland and his law degree from Vanderbilt Law School here in Nashville. While at Vanderbilt, Seamus received several awards for leadership in the Nashville community, clinical work, and academic achievement. Seamus also served as Editor-in-Chief of Vanderbilt's environmental journal ELPAR and coauthored an article about environmental legal scholarship.

In between Trinity and Vanderbilt, Seamus spent several years managing, launching, and closing down restaurants throughout the Greater Philadelphia area, all while writing and performing music.

Prior to forming Music City Law in 2019 with David Goldman, Seamus spent...

Michelle Blaylock-Howser has been involved in the judicial system for over 12 years. She began her legal career with the law firm of Agee, Allen, Godwin, Morris and Laurenzi where she was paralegal to partner Lynn Agee and Susan Bradley. In 1998, she became employed as paralegal with the law office of Wilson and Bradley in the area of employment and personal injury law. In 1999, She accepted employment as a Judicial Assistant for the State of Tennessee under the Honorable Judge Don R. Ash and Honorable Judge J. Mark Rogers for 8 years. She worked full-time...

EDUCATION Harvard University (B.A., cum laude, 1975; Rhodes Scholar finalist); University of Texas at Austin (J.D., with honors, 1978). Order of the Coif. Texas Law Review, 1977-1978. EXPERIENCE Mr. Smith has been a trial attorney for 29 years. For the past nineteen years he has represented primarily individuals in plaintiff's personal injury litigation. In 2006 he obtained a record $7.2 million verdict in a wrongful death case in Warren County, Tennesee. He served as plaintiffs' counsel in the Tri-State Crematory class action litigation against Georgia Farm Bureau ($80 million judgment) and represented class members who received $36 million in settlements. He has been recognized...

John and his team work hard to provide the residents of Nashville, Franklin, and Brentwood with skilled representation in the areas of estate planning, business law, and taxation.

Michael is a trial lawyer and concentrates his practice on protecting the rights of people who are accused of all sorts of crimes. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 1979. In 1996, he was awarded his Juris Doctor degree from the Nashville School of Law. He was admitted to practice in 1997 and has been a member of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Nashville Bar Association since 1997. Michael has successfully assisted hundreds of clients in navigating the difficult court system. Michael has always concentrated his law...

Established in 1992, Farrar & Bates is a comprehensive litigation firm concentrating on trial and appellate practice in state and federal court, as well as administrative, arbitration, and mediation proceedings. The firm regularly defends Tennessee municipalities, municipal officers, and municipal employees in the practice areas of employment discrimination and retaliation, premises liability, general tort liability, workers’ compensation, wage and hour disputes, police liability, civil rights, land use, zoning and planning, contract disputes, and inverse condemnation. In addition, Farrar & Bates regularly consults with municipalities regarding the drafting of municipal ordinances and employment issues such as employee rights and the hiring, training, discipline,...

Edwards & Edwards is a small, family owned firm run by two attorneys, Michael Edwards and son Russell Edwards. Edwards & Edwards are skilled, experienced attorneys who handle a myriad of cases ranging from basic legal matters to complex situations. Edwards & Edwards has represented clients in Sumner, Robertson, and Davidson counties, as well as the surrounding Middle Tennessee area, for over 42 years. With the solid capability and proven track record of Edwards & Edwards, you are assured that your legal rights will be represented by top professionals. Russell Edwards has been with the Edwards & Edwards since...

Maximizing your compensation for injuries caused by someone else's wrongdoing is my top priority. Making you "whole" is not enough.

Brandon D. Fersten files lawsuits on behalf of individuals and small businesses that suffer serious physical or economic injuries due to someone else's negligence, recklessness or intentional conduct. Brandon successfully negotiates settlements on behalf of clients involving car accidents, slip and falls, negligent shootings, contract disputes, invasions of privacy, anti-wiretapping, consumer protection, prisoner rights, construction disputes and real estate disputes. Brandon will negotiate with insurance companies and opposing counsel on your behalf to ensure that you receive the compensation and relief...

Mr. Wright was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He attended Middle Tennessee State University (B.S., summa cum laude, 1977); the University of Tennessee (J.D., 1980). He was honored with the Order of the Coif and served on the Tennessee Law Review. Mr. Wright's father was a lawyer so he grew up working in his Dad's office. He is admitted to the United Supreme Court Bar as well as all Tennessee State and Federal Courts. He is also admitted before the Sixth Circuit and Fourth Circuit Bar as well as the U.S. Court of Claims. ...

A graduate from the George Washington University Law School (GW), Kent T. Jones is the Owner and Managing Partner of Jones & Associates PC. Kent's undergraduate work at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville was in English and Honors Political Science. At GW, Kent placed first as an oralist in the Mid-Atlantic Regionals of the Phillip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition and was appointed to be a Member of the GW Moot Court Board. Additionally, he served as President of the GW International Law Society, sponsoring speaker panels on international trade law, international criminal law, international...

Robert R. Kurtz is the founding lawyer of the Knoxville criminal defense law firm, Robert R. Kurtz, Attorney at Law. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1995, and his Juris Doctorate degree with honors from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2000. Mr. Kurtz is a member of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Knoxville Bar Association, and a Life Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Federal Defender Services of Eastern Tennessee,...

Experienced. Caring. Responsive. Andrew Roberto understands that you’re out of work, in pain, and just can’t afford to miss out on everything you are entitled to under the law.

A Knoxville native, Andrew graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law and before entering private practice, was a Workers' Compensation Specialist with the Tennessee Department of Labor. One of the founding partners of The Lawyers of Brown and Roberto, Andrew and his team have recovered more than $45 million for their clients.

See the difference having our team on your side can make for you. Your free consultation is...

Alex Winston has handled a variety of matters for the firm, including: Estate Planning (Wills, Trusts, Power of Attorney, etc.); Estate Administration (Probate); Business Transactions; Business Formation (LLC, Corporations, Partnerships, etc.); Debt Collection; Personal Injury; Landlord Tenant Disputes and Detainer Warrants; DUI; Simple Possession Casual Exchange; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Drugs: Manufacture, Sale, Delivery or Possession; Theft (misdemeanor and felony); Speeding; Texting While Driving; Seat Belt Violation; Lane Violation; Aggravated Assault; Domestic Assault; Vandalism; Shoplifting; Driving While Privilege Revoked or Suspended; Public Intoxication; Underage Consumption of Alcohol; Failure to Provide Evidence of Compliance with Financial Responsibility Law (Insurance Violation);...

Michael Rocco earned his J.D. from Albany Law School in 2006. He has interned for the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, in Brooklyn where he conducted legal research for the justices of the Court and readied opinions for publication. After being admitted to the New York State Bar in 2007, Mr. Rocco joined Neil H. Kupferman, Esq., P.C. in Brooklyn, New York, where he represented clients in multi-million dollar commercial and residential real estate transactions, represented both private and institutional mortgage lenders, and practiced general business law. In 2009 he moved to Tennessee where he was admitted...

Divorce and Family Law Attorney as well as a Rule 31 Supreme Court Listed Family and Civil Mediator. Over 10 years of family law experience. Mediation trainer and co-founder of Tennessee Mediation school, LLC.