EVANS | PETREE P C - Key Persons
Aaron Nash focuses his practice on the representation of creditors in both consumer and commercial matters on local, regional and national scales. Aaron's experience includes working in bankruptcy matters in Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 cases (including automatic stay relief issues, treatment in reorganization plan issues, lien avoidance and preference defense work, and claims litigation); general commercial litigation; general consumer finance litigation (including actions to recover collateral and defending Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, Federal Fair Debt Collections Act, Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and RESPA claims); and protecting creditors' rights in forfeiture actions against property seized in criminal investigations.
Aaron's experience and practical approach allows him to provide efficient, cost effective solutions for lending institutions seeking to limit their losses.
Aaron is admitted to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, Maine, the United States District Courts for the Western, Eastern and Middle Districts of Tennessee, the United States District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Kentucky, all the bankruptcy courts for Tennessee, Kentucky, Maine, and Indiana, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, the United States District Courts of Maine, and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Aaron is also a member of the Tennessee and Kentucky Bar Associations and a member of the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees (NACTT).
Mr. Nash was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the field of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. This is his fifth year in a row for inclusion.
Andrew (Andy) J. Gille is an associate engaged primarily in the practice of transactional law, and particularly the acquisition and sale of real estate, contract and contract law, commercial mortgage-secured
Andy Raines understands that clients need effective representation to ensure that their property taxes are fair and equitable. He knows that property taxes are a significant, and often burdensome, expense
Drew Raines is exclusively dedicated to the representation of taxpayers through the property tax appeal process. His background in the fine arts allows him to approach the law from a
Ashby Scott understands that her clients' needs change with the ebb and flow of economic times and she works to assist in all of their commercial real estate projects. She
Bert Echols concentrates his practice on the representation of creditors in consumer and commercial bankruptcy matters locally and throughout the state of Florida. Bert's experience includes protecting creditors' rights in bankruptcy, including automatic stay issues, plan treatment, lien avoidance actions, and defending claims of preferential transfers. Bert further represents creditors in general consumer finance litigation, including replevin actions to recover property, seizures and forfeitures, and disputes involving statutory liens.
Bert is admitted to practice in the state courts of Tennessee and Florida. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Districts Courts for the Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, and all of the Bankruptcy Courts in each of these districts.
Bert currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Bankruptcy Section of the Memphis Bar Association.
Blake W. Bourland concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate law, business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, commercial leasing, and qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs). Mr. Bourland started practicing law
Job Titles:
- Operations Coordinator of the Property Tax Group
Brad Duffy is the Operations Coordinator of the Property Tax Group. His focus is on operational aspects of property tax law with an emphasis on process accuracy and efficiency. He assists in the development and implementation of processes designed to provide superior client service and satisfaction. Mr. Duffy attended Crichton College, where he received a Bachelor's of Business Administration with a Minor in Business Finance in 2009, and joined Evans Petree in 2010.
Practice Areas
Property Tax
Brian is an associate whose practice focuses on business and commercial litigation, business transactions, contract disputes, First Amendment issues, privacy and defamation concerns, employment and labor law, estate planning, and
Brian Yoakum's practice includes a wide range of complex commercial litigation in the areas of general and business law, premises liability defense, mass tort defense, contract and transactional disputes and business divorces among owners of all types of business entities. Mr. Yoakum regularly represents property owners and businesses such as restaurants, retail stores, and apartment communities in defense of lawsuits brought pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Housing Act, and the Neighborhood Preservation Act. Mr. Yoakum also handles commercial tort actions such as procurement of breach of contract, tortious interference with business relations, interference with contracts and breach of restrictive covenants.
Mr. Yoakum is a shareholder at Evans Petree, having served on the firm's Board of Directors as well as its Political Action Committee and marketing committee. He is a member of the American, Tennessee, and Memphis Bar Associations. He was recently selected as a Fellow of the Memphis Bar Foundation. He is a 2017 graduate of the Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law program (TBALL) and has been selected by Super Lawyers magazine as a Rising Star in the field of business litigation every year since 2014. He was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the fields of Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants for the fifth year. He has also been elected a Barrister in the Leo Bearman, Sr. Chapter of the American Inn of Court.
Mr. Yoakum has experience aggressively advocating the interests of his clients before state and federal trial courts, administrative bodies, the Tennessee Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the Sixth Circuit. In addition, Mr. Yoakum regularly resolves disputes to his clients' benefit through alternative dispute resolution vehicles, including negotiations, mediations, and arbitrations.
Mr. Yoakum is very active in the community as well. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association- Mid-South Chapter as well as Advocacy Chair for the American Heart Association. He is also a Director of the Touchdown Club of Memphis and the Red Acres Neighborhood Association. Mr. Yoakum serves as Special Judge in the General Sessions Court of Shelby County, Tennessee. He was also honored to serve on the Transition Team for Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, working with the Administrative Budget Committee. He is also a former board member and ombudsman of Mid-South Spay & Neuter Services.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Member of the Memphis Bar Association Board of Governors
- Professionals
C. Michael Adams, Jr., CPA, concentrates his practice primarily in the areas of estate planning, taxation, wills and trusts, and probate administration. Mr. Adams began providing tax and accounting advice to clients in 1990 as a tax accountant and has practiced law since 1998.
He is one of only eight attorneys in Memphis who are certified as an Estate Planning Specialist under the rules established by the Tennessee Supreme Court. He routinely advises clients on matters of estate tax and income tax planning, asset protection, special needs trusts, probate avoidance, and probate and trust administration. He is a frequent lecturer on these topics to legal, accounting and financial professionals in the greater Memphis area and has been featured in The Memphis Business Journal and The Memphis Daily News discussing estate planning. He has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Memphis School of Law.
Mr. Adams is a member of the Memphis Bar Association Board of Governors, is president elect of the Estate Law Specialist Board, on the board of the Memphis Allied Professionals Conference, and is the Memphis Alumni Chapter President of Spring Hill College. He has been named a Fellow of the Memphis Bar Foundation, is a member of both the Memphis and Tennessee Bar Associations, the Estate Planning Council of Memphis, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, and the Tennessee Society of CPA's.
Mr. Adams was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the field of Trusts and Estates. This is his second year of inclusion. He is also past chair of the Estate Planning and Probate Section of the Memphis Bar Association and past president of the Memphis Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals. He is a member of Christ United Methodist Church and is an avid runner who enjoys long trail runs with his two rescue dogs.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Member of Evans Petree 's Property
- Member of Evans Petree 's Property Tax Group
Caren Beth Nichol is a member of Evans Petree's Property Tax Group where she litigates commercial property tax appeals before state boards of equalization and state courts.
From 2017-2018 she served as President of Evans Petree PC, a full-service law firm founded in 1907 that has grown to include 49 attorneys. Prior to being elected President, Caren served as the firm's Secretary, as a Director for over 15 years, and as Chair of the Marketing Committee and Litigation Practice Group. When elected President, she became the first female Chief Executive Officer of a major law firm in Memphis. Under her leadership, the firm added numerous attorneys, opened its Oxford location, revamped its marketing, and moved its headquarters.
Caren's professional recognitions include the Sam A. Myar, Jr. Memorial Award for service to the community and the Bar Association, inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in Litigation and Controversy-Tax and Commercial Litigation for the ninth year, and recognition by Super Lawyers as one of the top 50 Women Lawyers in the Mid-South. She was also chosen as a finalist in the Memphis Business Journal's 2016 Best of the Bar Awards and was recently included in the Memphis Business Journal's Super Women in Business. She was also named the Best Lawyers 2020 Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Memphis.
Caren has served as a mentor for the Memphis Business Journal Mentoring Monday program, acted as the legal correspondent for Fox 13 News, and was appointed by the Mayor to the Beale Street Tourism Development Authority.
Until recently, Caren was very active with the Children's Museum of Memphis, serving as a member of the Board of Directors, a Member of the Executive Committee, and as Treasurer. Additionally, Caren was the Project Coordinator for the Facing History project for the Memphis Bar Association, acted as a volunteer coordinator for Habitat for Humanity, and served on the Grant Committee for the Memphis Bar Association. Currently, Caren is heavily involved in efforts to renovate the University of Memphis natatorium, helping to raise $10 million of the $13 million needed for the project as well as being instrumental in forming a partnership among the University of Memphis, Memphis Tiger Swimming, Splash Mid-South, YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South and the Rose Foundation to develop an aquatics center to be named for the late Memphis businessman and philanthropist, Mike Rose.
Mr. Cavagnaro represents management in state and federal courts in all aspects of labor and employment law, as well as before numerous government agencies. His clientele ranges from small companies
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Shareholder
- Member of Both the Tennessee
Dan Robinson entered private law practice in 1987. Since inception, his clients have primarily been closely held business owners and family holding companies. In recent years, the proliferation of single- and multi-family offices has become an area of client concentration. Mr. Robinson's practice is primarily focused on business transactions and private client services. His transactional practice includes operating companies across multiple industries and geographic regions.
Mr. Robinson is the leader of the firm's Private Client practice group. In that role, he assists private families domestically and abroad with their unique requirements. Client relationships tend to be holistic, with an emphasis on identifying multiple professional resources for each client. Typical mandates include:
Business and commercial transactions
Mergers and acquisitions
Private placements of securities
Alternative strategies asset managers
Executive compensation and benefits (privately held companies)
Early stage venture capital transactions
Middle market private equity transactions
Private client services
Single- and multi-family offices
Family owned and controlled businesses
AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, Mr. Robinson is a member of both the Tennessee and Memphis Bar Associations. He was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the field of Corporate Law for the fifth year. Mr. Robinson serves on the firm's Board of Directors.
Danielle M. Woods focuses her practice on estate planning, probate, and personal litigation, assisting clients with estate administrations, wills and trusts, residential real estate issues, guardianships for minors, conservatorships for adults
David Porteous' primary areas of practice are commercial real estate and mergers and acquisitions. He also practices in the areas of commercial lending, general corporate law, residential real estate, construction
David Scruggs has represented taxpayers in appeals in numerous states and before local and state boards of equalization. He has also represented taxpayers in litigation before state and federal courts. He was co-counsel in the landmark Memphis Bank & Trust Co. v. Garner property tax case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He was also recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the fields of Administrative/Regulatory Law, Litigation and Controversy- Tax, and Tax Law for the seventh year. He has also been named the the Best Lawyers 2022 Administrative/Regulatory Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Memphis as well as the Best Lawyers 2021 Litigation and Controversy-Tax "Lawyer of the Year" in Memphis.
Mr. Scruggs is a frequent speaker at seminars on property taxation and wrote "Ad Valorem Taxation of Agricultural Land in Tennessee," Memphis State University Law Review, Vol. 4, No. 1, Fall 1973. Mr. Scruggs is also a certified public accountant.
David Cocke has served as counsel for secured creditors, debtors, unsecured creditors committees, and bankruptcy trustees in both business liquidations and reorganizations, and he has litigated many complex business cases in federal, state and bankruptcy courts. This extensive experience gives him a unique ability to serve his clients' bankruptcy and litigation needs. Mr. Cocke practices in the areas of commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and election law.
He was honored by Super Lawyers in the fields of business litigation, bankruptcy and creditors' rights. He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Mr. Cocke was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the field of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law for the sixteenth year.
Mr. Cocke is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Western, Eastern and Middle Districts of Tennessee, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, the bankruptcy courts in each of these districts, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits.
David L. Bourland's practice focuses primarily on estate planning (including probate and trust administration), estate and gift taxation, and business law. Boasting a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) in taxation,
Diane D. Dunn has been in accounting since 1982. Ms. Dunn's areas of expertise in the Property Tax Group include personal property compliance, management services, and coordination of appeals of property outside of Shelby County, Tennessee. Ms. Dunn came to Evans Petree in 2006 after working as an Accounting Procurement Specialist in manufacturing. Ms. Dunn has a keen eye for detail, and this assists her in maintaining accurate property information, filing business personal property schedules, preparing management reports, and auditing and approving real and personal property tax bills.
Practice Areas
Property Tax
Donald (Don) E. Bourland had practiced with Bourland Heflin, PLC and its predecessors for his entire legal career beginning in 1974, concentrating on commercial real estate, business law, title insurance,
unique perspective and mine previously unexplored possibilities in the seemingly limited world of property tax rules.
Mr. Raines received a B.F.A. from Memphis College of Art in 2007 with dual emphases in photography and printmaking, and a minor in art history. In 2008, he graduated from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, where he was instrumental in the formation of the Law School Art Review Trustees (LSART), a student organization created to facilitate and manage the law school's art collection and display, for which he served as president during the 2010-11 year.
Mr. Raines has been involved with the Property Tax Group since the late 1990s, when he first began working as a clerk. He also clerked for Chicago property tax firm Fisk Kart Katz & Regan, Ltd.
Mr. Raines has successfully negotiated settlement agreements with various assessors, argued cases before several County Boards of Equalization, the Tennessee State Board of Equalization, and the Assessment Appeals Commission, and guided taxpayers through the exemption, greenbelt, and payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) application processes.
Mr. Raines was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the field of Tax Law for the fourth year. He was also named the Best Lawyers 2019 Tax Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Memphis.
Woods Weathersby is experienced in all areas of real estate transactions, including acquisitions, development, tax incentives, and leasing. He has handled complex commercial transactions across the country and has structured
Elizabeth Friary practices in the areas of employee benefits, estate planning, corporate law and other tax-related matters.
She advises public pension plans, businesses and nonprofit organizations in all aspects of
For more than 20 years, Beth Stengel has represented a diverse mix of owners, contractors, suppliers, design professionals and sureties. She has counseled clients through various facets of the construction
Evans Petree is a full service law firm where we treat challenges in a comprehensive manner particular to each client seeking our counsel. To us, success is achieved by evaluating client goals, then vetting solutions amongst our diverse in-house experts, whose ultimate success is intertwined with that of the client.
Mr. Carney's practice is grounded in federal, state, and local tax codes and regulations. He works directly with clients in employee benefits, tax planning, and estate planning. He understands the
Mr. Steffens has been selected by Mid-South Super Lawyers magazine to the Rising Stars list in the field of real estate law for the last 5 years and was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the field of Real Estate Law for the fifth year.
Harley Steffens' practice, though focused in real estate, has included general corporate transactions, health care, and securities matters. Harley represents commercial real estate developers, public and private corporations, investment companies, family offices, and lending institutions including state and national banks and insurance companies. Development clients include local, regional, and national developers, as well as landlord and tenants in retail, industrial, and office leases. A transactional lawyer, Harley is licensed in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, and his areas of practice include, but are not limited to:
Jack F. Heflin is an experienced associate whose practice focuses on litigation, business transactions and planning, commercial arbitration, real property transactions and disputes, and estate planning and administration. Jack has
Jacob Zweig has served as counsel for secured creditors and unsecured creditors in both consumer and business bankruptcy cases and litigation throughout the United States. His creditor bankruptcy experience includes protecting, preserving and enforcing creditors' rights in bankruptcy, including issues relating to the automatic stay, discharge injunction, reaffirmation, claim treatment, and lien avoidance and preferential transfers. He has been involved in a number of successful appeals involving interpretation of the Bankruptcy Code revisions of 2005. He has further represented creditors in connection with replevin actions, seizures and forfeitures, consumer credit and protection laws and commercial codes.
Jacob graduated from the University of Memphis in 1998 with a B.S. in biology. He was awarded his law degree from the University of Memphis in 2001, where he was a member of The Law Review. He is a member of the Memphis Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, Mississippi Bar, Colorado Bar Association, North Carolina State Bar, and West Virginia State Bar.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Member of the Memphis Bar Association
Steve King is a business and civil litigation attorney with more than 25 years of experience. He has been consistently successful in reaching favorable settlements and judgments in all types of plaintiff's litigation. He has significant courtroom experience and demonstrated strong negotiating skills, which aid him in producing desirable outcomes both in settlements and the courtroom. He has served as lead counsel in many cases, including automobile accidents, wrongful death, nursing home abuse, contract disputes, divorce, civil rights violations, defective computer software claims, and workers' compensation.
As a defense attorney, Mr. King provides in-depth counsel, dedication to client needs, and the ability to achieve the best outcome for his clients. He has successfully represented many clients in cases involving substantial economic claims. Mr. King assists business owners during each stage of their business's life, including corporate organizational matters and counsel with respect to drafting contracts. He is skilled in resolving business disputes through alternative dispute resolution or issues of fraud, misuse of intellectual property, and consumer claims.
Mr. King is a member of the Memphis Bar Association. He served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Tennessee Department of Education, Special Education, from 1990 to 2007. He was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the field of Commercial Litigation. This is his second year of inclusion.
Jennifer L. Sneed focuses her practice on estate planning, probate, and personal litigation. Among the many legal matters Jennifer assists clients with are estate administrations, wills and trusts, residential real
Job Titles:
- Tennessee Registered Agent
Jerry Sanders represents taxpayers at the administrative levels on real estate. Mr. Sanders has extensive experience in property tax appeals, successfully representing taxpayers for over 25 years.
Mr. Sanders, a Tennessee Registered Agent, is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and has achieved the CMI designation from the Institute for Professionals in Taxation, where he has been an active member since 1990. He has also been a member of the International Association of Assessing Officers for over 25 years. He is a Texas Senior Property Tax Consultant and holds a Tennessee real estate broker's license. Prior to his association with Evans Petree in 2009, he was Real Estate Tax Director for a major hotel and gaming company, specializing in the valuation of hospitality properties throughout the United States.
Practice Areas
Property Tax
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Leader of the Corporate Law
- Leader of the Corporate Law Practice Group
- Member of the Memphis
Joel Sklar is the leader of the Corporate Law practice group. Joel strives to bring a constructive and imaginative outlook to business transactions, believing that clients require practical solutions, not just legal analyses of their issues. He regularly works with clients who have diverse needs and budgets. He knows how to accommodate simple transactions efficiently as well as those that have a significant degree of sophistication.
Joel has extensive experience representing clients in transactions involving:
Mergers and asset and stock acquisitions
Private placement of securities
Start-up/emerging company issues
Venture capital financing
Entity formation, corporate organization/structuring of new businesses
Secured financings
Joint ventures and strategic alliances
Franchise work for both the franchisor and franchisee
Joel is a member of the Memphis, Tennessee, Texas, and American Bar Associations. He was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the fields of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies/Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, and Securities/Capital Markets Law for the tenth year. He was also named the Best Lawyers 2020 Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) "Lawyer of the Year" in Memphis. Active civically, he has served on the Alumni Board of Memphis University School and is a past president of the Memphis Jewish Federation.
John Willet focuses his practice in the areas of construction, fidelity and surety, business law, litigation and alternative dispute resolution. He represents owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, architects and engineers throughout the construction process, including entity formation, licensing and registration, identification and management of risks, contracting, claims management and dispute resolution. Mr. Willet has been a frequent lecturer, and has contributed to publications on construction law issues.
In the area of fidelity and surety law, Mr. Willet represents clients in connection with all types of bonds, including performance, payment, fidelity and various miscellaneous surety bonds. He assists owners, contractors and subcontractors with all types of bonding matters. Additionally, Mr. Willet represents sureties in pre-default investigations, project completion negotiations, ratification and takeover agreements and all facets of default.
Mr. Willet has represented clients in highly complex subrogation claims particular to the construction industry and has assisted insurers in pursuing claims against contractors, subcontractors, design professionals and other insurers to recover losses sustained as a result of design defects, construction defects and breaches of agreement. In addition to Mr. Willet's construction law and surety practice, he represents clients in commercial matters and business litigation, providing services including contract drafting and negotiation, claims identification and resolution, business litigation, mediation and arbitration. Mr. Willet has substantial experience in complex construction and business litigation matters as well as representing clients before regulatory boards. He mediates construction and business disputes and is listed by the Tennessee Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission as a Rule 31 civil mediator.
Mr. Willet also practices in the area of commercial insurance defense and represents insurers and insureds in the areas of construction and design defects, property, commercial liability, and toxic torts. Mr. Willet has substantial experience with assisting insurers and clients with casualty emergency response and has handled numerous Legionnaire's Disease outbreak cases.
Mr. Willet was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the fields of Construction Law and Litigation- Construction for the fifth year. Mr. Willet has recently achieved an AV® Preeminent™ Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®. The Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Preeminent™ Rating is the highest possible rating for an attorney for both ethical standards and legal ability. In November of 2021, Mr. Willet was also elected to serve as the President of the Tennessee Association of Construction Counsel, which is an attorney-only organization focused on serving the needs of Tennessee attorneys with practices related to the construction industry.
Mr. Murrah's practice is concentrated primarily in estate planning, probate, federal transfer taxation, estate and trust administration, and federal income taxation. He advises clients on all elements of wealth transmittal
John J. Heflin, III is a seasoned attorney focusing on business and commercial litigation cases and serving as chair of the firm's litigation practice. With more than 40 years of experience preparing and trying bench and jury trials in both state and federal trial courts, as well as in briefing and arguing appeals before state and federal appellate courts, John adeptly guides complex commercial disputes to resolution, whether by negotiation, litigation, arbitration, or mediation.
John is a certified and experienced mediator and is frequently retained by other lawyers to mediate business disputes. However, when litigation is the preferred or inescapable course of action, John has aggressively and assertively litigated and arbitrated claims involving breach of contract, business tort claims, insurance coverage disputes, intellectual property rights, unfair competition, misappropriation of and/or protection of trade secrets, securities regulation and securities fraud, defamation and trade libel, construction, environmental, ERISA, employment disputes including employee restrictive covenants, professional liability claims, premises liability claims, trust and estate claims, and disputes arising out of the purchase, sale, dissolution, or control of businesses.
John's community involvement includes: Member, Second Presbyterian Church; Vestry, Calvary Episcopal Church (early 1990s); Member, Downtown Memphis Rotary Club (1984-present), and past Chairman, Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
John McQuiston is an experienced commercial litigator and is general counsel to two e-commerce companies. He has been named as one of the top 100 lawyers in Tennessee and one of the 15 best business litigators in Memphis. AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, he is listed in the prestigious publication The Best Lawyers In America for the 29th year for commercial litigation. Mr. McQuiston was named the Best Lawyers 2016 Litigation-Banking and Finance Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Memphis. He has also been selected to the Mid-South Super Lawyers list since 2006.
He has gone on to successfully argue cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, the Tennessee Supreme Court, and in state and federal Courts of Appeals.
Mr. McQuiston is a mediator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He is a former director of the Memphis Bar Association, former chairman of the Tennessee Bar Section on Antitrust and Business Torts, and is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Job Titles:
- President
- Back to All Professionals
Joseph Getz leads the Construction and Surety Law Practice Group and has focused his practice exclusively on construction and surety bond contract claims for more than 25 years. He has worked extensively in a variety of areas including contract negotiations, insurance requirements, surety bonding issues, LEED certification, CPM scheduling and delay analysis claims, change orders, defective and nonconforming work, differing site conditions, warranty issues, mechanics and materialmen's lien claims and project close-out issues. Mr. Getz has represented a wide range of clients in the construction industry and representation experience has ranged across a variety of projects including multipurpose sports arenas, public university facilities, residential and commercial developments, government facilities, hotels, industrial and process manufacturing, design build industrial contracting and development, and distribution.
Mr. Getz has handled construction disputes at all levels of trial and appellate litigation as well as in mediation, arbitration and other ADR procedures. Mr. Getz holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been a Super Lawyer in the field of construction law for fourteen consecutive years. Mr. Getz is a member of the National Bond Claims Association.
Mr. Getz was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the fields of Construction Law and Construction Litigation for the fifteenth year. He has also been named the Best Lawyers Construction Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Memphis in 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2021. He was chosen as a finalist in the Memphis Business Journal's 2019 Best of the Bar Awards. Mr. Getz serves as President of Evans Petree PC.
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- Shareholder
- Member of the Tennessee
Clay is a member of the Tennessee, Mississippi and Memphis Bar Associations. He is a member of the 2012 Memphis Business Journal's Top 40 Under 40 Class. He has been selected to the Mid-South Super Lawyers list since 2013 and has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America since 2016. Clay is married to Suzanne Culpepper, a local artist and realtor, and they have two children. Clay and his wife are active in the Down syndrome/special needs community and are members of Fellowship Memphis Church.
Clay Culpepper serves as counsel for a number of businesses and aggressively advocates for injured individuals. Clay has litigated cases from Tennessee to California, in federal and state courts, in front of both juries and judges. Clay represents and counsels clients in various actions, including, but not limited to:
Mr. Wohlfarth concentrates his practice on estate planning and the drafting of wills and trusts, specifically addressing issues related to federal and state estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes as well
M. Matthew Thornton's practice focuses on probate, trusts, and estate law, handling routine planning and administration, as well as more complex litigation matters. Drawing upon his broad experience and mediation training, Matthew is also a Tennessee Supreme Court Listed Rule 31 Mediator. He has successfully represented clients in negotiating disputes, mediation, and civil trials when negotiation fails to achieve his clients' desired results. He previously served on the Executive Council of the Tennessee Bar Association's Estate Planning & Probate Section and he has been an active participant in the shaping of new developments related to Tennessee estate law.
Matthew frequently speaks on probate law to other lawyers and community groups at venues across Tennessee and, upon request of the probate judges, occasionally serves as a substitute judge in Probate Court. He frequently offers pro bono legal advice and assistance to local charities. When he's not in the office, Matthew enjoys outdoor activities with his family and fishing.
Job Titles:
- Association, Secretary, 2001
- Association, Treasurer, 2002
- Law Specialist
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Co - Leader of the Labor
Mike Marshall is the co-leader of the Labor and Employment section and uses his experience in other arenas to reach solutions and resolutions to his clients' disputes. When no resolution is possible, Mike is a zealous advocate in the courtroom.
Mike also has extensive experience in litigating and resolving employment matters and other business-related disputes. He is a frequent speaker on employment-related topics. He has also received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell for his legal ability and ethics. In addition, Mike was the lead attorney in a case brought by the Memphis City Schools against the City of Memphis and obtained a $57 million verdict for education funding. He has successfully defended many employment and business-related lawsuits to successful conclusions.
Mr. Marshall was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the fields of Litigation- Labor and Employment and Employment Law- Management for the fifth year. He has also been selected to the Mid-South Super Lawyers list every year since 2015.
Mr. Marshall graduated from the University of California and Southern Methodist University School of Law. He is a member of the American, Tennessee, and Memphis Bar Associations. He is admitted to practice law in Tennessee and Texas. Mr. Marshall has also served as the general counsel for the Memphis City Schools, and is the general counsel for the Shelby County Emergency Communications District and for Lausanne Collegiate School. He is active in his church, the Church of the Holy Apostles, where he serves as its chancellor. Mr. Marshall serves as Vice President of the firm's Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations of the Property Tax Group
Nancy Hunt is the Director of Operations of the Property Tax Group. She represents taxpayers at the administrative levels on both real estate and personal property. Ms. Hunt has extensive experience in both Personal Property Appraisal and Property Tax Appeals, successfully representing taxpayers for over 32 years.
Ms. Hunt is a Tennessee Registered Agent and is responsible for all properties outside of Shelby County Tennessee. Ms. Hunt works as a liaison between the taxpayers, Evans Petree Property Tax Group and the Assessor's offices throughout the State of Tennessee.
Ms. Hunt attended the University of Chattanooga and graduated with honors. She attended Woodrow Wilson College of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctorate. She is an Associate Member of the Appraisal Institute and a past member of The American Society of Appraisers. In addition to representing taxpayers in the appeal process, Ms. Hunt designs property tax management and compliance systems.
Practice Areas
Property Tax
Job Titles:
- Controller of the Property Tax Group
Naren Ravinootala is the Controller of the Property Tax Group and, with his extensive experience in the fields of finance and accounting, manages the Banking, Billing and Refund Department for
Paul Edwards represents real estate developers, investors, family corporations, and lending institutions. Mr. Edwards's main focus is transactional work, concentrating on corporate and real estate law.
Phyllis O. Whitaker has been in accounting since 1982. Ms. Whitaker's areas of expertise in the Property Tax Group include being the Senior Financial Analyst, PILOT lease interpretation, value analysis and budgeting. She is also responsible for the Fiscal Impact Compliance Reports required by the State of Tennessee for our PILOT clients. Ms. Whitaker came to Evans Petree in 2009 from the field of finance where she worked as a development accounting manager. Her main background experience has been in real estate and includes corporate, property and development accounting. She has also managed budgets for substantial retail development projects.
Practice Areas
Property Tax
Mark Field's clients value his strong listening and problem-solving skills and his ability to marshal technology to efficiently and effectively meet their needs. Mr. Field is especially effective in representing U.S. and foreign-based clients who have intellectual property that is a strategic business asset, in assisting clients with their information management needs, and in helping his clients form and maintain strong contractual relationships. He often functions as general counsel to his clients and has an extensive global network that enables him to utilize the skills of attorneys from both inside and outside his firm to form effective project teams.
Mr. Field advises a diverse range of clients, from high-tech companies and clinical research organizations. He handles domestic and international business matters that include, among other things, U.S. investments and market entry, supply chain, internet business, software, information management, data mining, intellectual property, and contractual and regulatory compliance matters. He regularly manages disputes and assists trial counsel with strategy development, discovery management, witness preparation, and motions. The rich diversity of his experience includes representing businesses that range in size from Fortune 500 multinationals to single-owner start-ups.
Mr. Field is a past co-chair of the American Bar Association Section of International Law's Information Services and Technology and Data Protection Committee, and is a member of Canada Law and China Law Committees. He is also a member of the ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law. He was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the field of Corporate Law. This is his second year of inclusion.
Regan S. Steepleton is an associate attorney who focuses her practice on construction, commercial litigation, estate planning, and business transactions. Regan has experience working on both residential and commercial construction
Richard Hunt is the Director, Commercial & Industrial of the Property Tax Group. He represents taxpayers at the state and local levels. Mr. Hunt has extensive experience in both commercial property appraisal and property tax appeals, successfully saving taxpayers millions of dollars every year.
Mr. Hunt is a Tennessee Registered Agent, and he is responsible for all of the Property Tax Group's commercial properties in the State of Tennessee. Mr. Hunt works with taxpayers in formulating the correct commercial real estate tax strategy in over 90 counties. He also negotiates his clients' value positions with tax assessors throughout the State of Tennessee.
Prior to joining Evans Petree, Mr. Hunt was the Managing Partner for a large regional accounting consulting firm. He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is an Associate Member of the Appraisal Institute and a Certified Commercial Cost Estimator.
Practice Areas
Property Tax
Robert Fehse concentrates his practice on representing corporate lenders in both bankruptcy and civil litigation matters on local, regional and national scales. His clients range from Fortune 50 and 500 corporations to small banks and landlords. Robert's experience includes recovering collateral for secured creditors, protecting the rights of lenders in all bankruptcy chapters, as well as defending creditors in civil lawsuits ranging from forfeitures to consumer credit and protection laws. Robert works with clients who have diverse needs and budgets, and he knows how to handle their matters both efficiently and cost-effectively.
Since graduating from law school, Robert has spent most of his time working in both Federal and State courts across the southern region of the country, and he helped to bring the Creditor's Rights/Insolvency practice group to Evans | Petree.
Robert is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Middle Districts of Tennessee, the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Middle and Southern District of Alabama, the U.S. District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Arkansas, and the bankruptcy courts in each of these districts. Robert is also admitted in Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas and Alabama state courts. Mr. Fehse serves on the firm's Board of Directors.
Robert (Bob) J. Pinstein's practice and experience encompasses acquisition and sale of real estate and businesses and includes mortgage-secured transactions, general business, lending law, general corporate contracts, real estate financing
Scott B. Peatross' practice focuses exclusively on probate law, which includes wills, trusts, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and litigation related to that area. He represents clients ranging from Memphis area families
Mr. Kitai practices in corporate, transactional, and business law. His practice concentration is in drafting and reviewing contracts, company restructuring, and transactions involving closely held businesses.
Tommie A. Baird concentrates her practice in the areas of Banking/Commercial Lending, Corporate Law, and Litigation/Dispute Resolution.
Ms. Baird is a 2010 graduate of The University of Mississippi School of Law, where she served as the Associate Articles Editor of The Mississippi Law Journal and a Member of the Moot Court Board.
She was recently selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in the fields of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Banking and Finance Law, and Corporate Law for the second year.
Tyler Tollison is an associate who focuses his practice on real estate, corporate law and business transactions. Tyler represents owners and investors in a wide range of commercial real estate
Kerby Bowling has practiced labor and employment law exclusively since 1980.
After graduating from law school, Mr. Bowling began waging his own campaigns against organized labor. The principles and the
Lytle Nichol has extensive experience advising clients in federal taxation, probate matters, and general corporate law. He provides tax planning advice to both individuals and large corporations. A graduate of
Will Raines practices in the area of property tax law. He has worked with Evans Petree's Property Tax Group in various positions on and off since 2008. He joined the
Bill Nichol concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, the drafting of wills and trusts, and probate and estate administration. He also has been involved in succession planning