NEAL & HARWELL - Key Persons
Aubrey B. Harwell Jr. focuses his practice on major commercial litigation, white-collar criminal defense and crisis management. Through the years he has been involved in many cases receiving national attention. He has been counsel for numerous public officials including judges, governors, congressmen, state senators, mayors and state attorneys general. For the last several years, he has represented Pilot Flying J, the sixth largest private company in the country, regarding a myriad of issues arising out of the execution of a search warrant on the corporate offices in Knoxville, Tennessee by approximately 100 Federal agents in April 2013.
He represented former San Francisco 49'ers owner, Eddie DeBartolo, in numerous matters, including a completed federal criminal case involving former Governor Edwin Edwards of Louisiana, and in regard to a Presidential Pardon.
Mr. Harwell has tried dozens of major cases across the country for substantial clients including, Pfizer, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, Bridgestone Americas, Rheem Manufacturing Company, CNA Insurance Company, and others. He was named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Southeastern Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has received the General Counsel Award from Bridgestone, Lifetime Achievement, Best of the Bar Award, and numerous other awards and recognitions. Mr. Harwell is a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society.
Mr. Harwell serves on the Board of Ingram Industries, the Advisory Board of FCA Venture Capital Funds, is a former board member of Piedmont Natural Gas, and holds the Chair of Excellence in Free Enterprise in the Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University. He serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Nashville School of Law and is involved in numerous other nonprofits.
Mr. Harwell has authored or co-authored several legal publications and is a frequent speaker at seminars and symposiums throughout the United States.
Job Titles:
- Inc. - past President & Steering Committee Member
Ben Aaron assists clients with a variety of legal issues, including complicated commercial disputes, premises-liability matters, real estate partnership transactions, and personal injury matters. Ben is included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Criminal Defense: General Practice, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs.
Ben received his J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law, graduating first in his class. Ben lives in Franklin, TN with his wife, Kayla, and their daughter, Caroline.
Callie Hinson is a graduate of Belmont University College of Law. Her practice focuses on domestic law including, but not limited to, divorce, child custody, child support, prenuptial agreements, and adoptions. Callie also has experience in insurance defense, premises liability, appeals and contract disputes.
During law school, Callie served under Judge Phillip Robinson in the Third Circuit Court for Davidson County, Tennessee. She also worked with the Tennessee Attorney General's Office and the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. She devoted a substantial portion of her time to pro bono matters and was a member of the Legal Aid Society. For the past several years, Callie has been named an Attorney for Justice for dedicating over 50 hours of pro bono service.
Callie currently serves, or has previously served, on the board of the Lawyers' Association for Women Marion Griffin Chapter, Nashville Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the Young Leaders Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. She is also a member of Harry Phillips American Inn of Court.
Callie graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Her interests include UT sports, golfing and enjoying outdoor activities with her dog, Rosie.
Charles Barrett joined Neal & Harwell in September 2015. He works as a civil litigator in state and federal courts across the country. His practice focuses on personal injury cases, antitrust and consumer class actions, and False Claims Act claims, but he has also represented large multinational corporations in commercial disputes.
Away from the office, Charles spends time with his wife, Elizabeth, and their five children. He has served on the board of directors of the Martha O'Bryan Center, one of Nashville's oldest and most well respected nonprofits for the underprivileged.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Fellow for Social Entrepreneurship
Dani Bhadare-Valente ("buh-dair vuh-lent") is an associate attorney at Neal & Harwell whose practice focuses on complex business litigation and entertainment litigation.
Dani earned her J.D. from Belmont University College of Law. During law school, Dani received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in LIC II and served as President of the Belmont Law Board of Advocates. Her article, "Whose Beat is it Anyway? Giving Power Back to Artists in Digital Sampling and Copyright" was published in Volume III of the Belmont Entertainment Law Journal. She participated in Neal & Harwell's Summer Associate Program for two years prior to joining the firm and also served as Extern for the Attorney's General Office in Nashville, TN. Prior to law school, Dani earned a Bachelor in Arts in International Relations from the University of Virginia, where she was named to the Dean's List and received the Peace Corps Preparatory Certification.
Dani is a Fellow for Social Entrepreneurship project in Dominica. She has lived in Algarve, Portugal where she learned Portuguese. Living in Music City, Dani has also been able to share her gift as a songwriter.
David G. Thompson is a Member of Neal & Harwell, PLC. He represents clients in a variety of matters often serving as outside general counsel. Particular practice areas include banking and creditor's rights, commercial matters, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, real estate, estate planning and probate. His clients are located nationwide.
David's practice is designed to meet the needs of his clients in an efficient and expedient manner with a focus on client advocacy and resolving conflicts.
Job Titles:
- Society of Tennessee - Member & past Chairman, Board of Trustees
Elizabeth is an associate in the firm's litigation group. Her practice focuses on complex business litigation, intellectual property litigation and trademark portfolio management.
Elizabeth earned her J.D. from Belmont University College of Law, where she served as Digital Editor for the Belmont Entertainment Law Journal. Elizabeth was also a member of Belmont's Moot Court team and worked as a Student Ambassador. During law school, Elizabeth did a fall clerkship for the Honorable Eli Richardson of the United States District Court of the Middle District of Tennessee. She also gained experience during two years of Neal & Harwell's Summer Associate Program. Prior to law school, Elizabeth graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and minor in Legal Studies from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). Elizabeth received the Provost Scholarship and was a member of the flagship chapter of Delta Gamma at Ole Miss.
Elizabeth is a Nashville native and graduate of Harpeth Hall (Class of 2016). She is a member of the Nashville Symphony Crescendo Club and Harpeth Hall Head's Young Alumnae Council. She is passionate about travel and fashion and has a unique collection of foreign Vogue magazines. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her French Bulldog, Butter.
Jim Sanders joined Neal & Harwell in 1978 and is one of the Firm's most experienced Members. He serves on the Firm's Executive Committee. Jim is among a select group of lawyers nationwide to whom clients, both corporations and individuals, turn in significant investigations and trials. He has tried cases all over the country, many of which lasted months. This experience in these types of cases is rare in the legal profession and usually involves leading a team of lawyers from other firms and in-house counsel.
Jim has been recognized in a number of "best lawyers" lists, but the most significant recognition, in his opinion, is being inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1997. The College's Fellows are chosen by invitation only and Fellowship is limited to one percent of the total lawyer population of the state in which the lawyer practices. He has been a participant for the past few years in the Forum on Corporate Enforcement | Cambridge Forums.
Among Jim's notable trials are The Twilight Zone trial (representing Director John Landis) and the Exxon Valdez trial in Alaska. In both, Jim served as co-counsel with the late James F. Neal. Others include two trials in Baltimore County, Maryland, representing ExxonMobil in a gasoline line leak that involved hundreds of plaintiffs. In addition to the normal media coverage, Jim's role, examination of witnesses, and arguments in these cases are mentioned in the following books:
James G. Thomas joined Neal & Harwell in 1982 and is now an emeritus member of the Firm. He has experience in a broad range of civil and criminal litigation matters, with an emphasis on federal criminal defense work. Jim also has extensive appellate experience in both the federal and state courts.
In 2018, Jim was recognized as "Best of the Bar" in the area of criminal law by the Nashville Business Journal. He is also recognized by Best Lawyers® 2022 for Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. His experience includes extensive capital defense litigation on a pro bono basis.
Jim Kelley has been associated with Neal & Harwell since 1990. He handles legal matters on behalf of corporate and individual clients throughout the United States. His practice focuses on bankruptcy and reorganization, creditors' rights, bankruptcy litigation and taxation. Jim is a Fellow for the American College of Bankruptcy and is recognized by Best Lawyers© 2025 for his work in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy, and Tax Law.
Jim's service extends beyond the firm, as he has been a long-time volunteer and leader for numerous civic and professional organizations, including: Nashville CARES, Past President and Board of Directors; Oasis Center, Past President and Board of Directors; Family and Children's Service, Board of Directors and Past President; OZ Arts Nashville, Member of Board of Trustees; Greenways for Nashville, Past President; and American Bankruptcy Institute, Member and Past Chair of Taxation Committee. Jim has received numerous recognitions for his dedication and service to the non-profit community including the first Nashville CARES Iris Buhl Philanthropy Award.
Jeffrey Zager is a Member of Neal & Harwell and serves on the firm's Executive Committee. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation and appeals. Jeffrey represents clients in high stakes litigation in a variety of industries and legal areas, including complex business disputes, catastrophic injury, class actions, and constitutional litigation. He is included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation.
Jeffrey earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School. Prior to joining Neal & Harwell, Jeffrey served as a law clerk for Judge William J. Haynes, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and Judge Thomas W. Brothers of the Davidson County Circuit Court in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jeffrey's service extends beyond the law firm, as he was selected as a 2024 Fellow for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. He is also a past Board Member of the Martha O'Bryan Center and past Chair of its junior board, NextUp. Jeffrey was also an inaugural Board Member of the Frist Art Museum's Warhol Society. Jeffrey was named a 2020 Nashville Emerging Leaders Award Finalist in the Legal Services Industry.
John Quinn's practice is in the defense of all aspects of civil litigation, including commercial, professional negligence, personal injury, products liability, employment and insurance litigation. He has extensive trial experience and has conducted more than 50 trials in both state and federal courts, as well as arbitrations in Tennessee and Europe. John is recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants.
John earned his J.D. at Vanderbilt University Law School. He holds a B.A. in political science and a B.A. in history from Southern Methodist University. He is a member of the Nashville and Tennessee Bar Associations, the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association, the Defense Research Institute, and the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, where he currently serves as a vice chair on the admissions committee and meeting sites committee. John is also a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
He is a Member of the Alternative Dispute, Appellate Law, Commercial Litigation, Employment Practices & Workplace Liability, Law Practice Management, Premises and Security Liability, Professional Liability, Transportation, Trial Tactics, and Practice and Procedures Sections of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. He is the past Chair of the Law Practice Management Section and the former state representative for Tennessee.
Kendra E. Samson joined Neal & Harwell in 1997. She has focused her practice on general civil litigation and employment law, representing both employees and employers. Her employment law practice focuses on litigation and advising employers on a variety of issues, such as employee handbooks and wage and hour compensation issues.
Kendra is admitted to practice in the state courts of Tennessee and Kentucky, the United States District Courts for the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Tennessee and the Western and Eastern Districts of Kentucky, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Firm
- of Counsel Rule 31 Mediator
Lisa Paige Binder has been a member of the firm since 2007, having practiced law in Jackson, Mississippi for more than 20 years before joining Neal & Harwell. During her career, Lisa has participated in more than 25 jury trials and in excess of 100 domestic trials. She successfully defended state and federal prosecutions, obtained multi-million dollar personal injury jury verdicts and has maneuvered hundreds of domestic clients through the trials and tribulations of separation and divorce. In addition to having a wide range of experience in litigation, including family law, Lisa is certified as a Rule 31 Mediator.
Lisa served as a court appointed mediator in Mississippi prior to coming to Nashville. After coming to Nashville in 2007, she has helped Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee attorneys and their clients obtain agreed upon Marital Dissolution Agreements and Parenting Plans through mediation in order to avoid the expense and emotional turmoil of a trial. With over 40 years of experience in domestic litigation, she has the experience and ability to relate to parties that is required in order to guide them into a civilized resolution of domestic proceedings. Her practice is now focused on family law mediation.
Lisa's personal interests include art and music.
Marc McNamee is a Nashville native and has been a member of Neal & Harwell, PLC since 1990. Marc's practice focuses on commercial bankruptcy litigation, corporate disputes and workouts, real estate, banking and complex probate matters.
His personal interests include duck hunting and contract bridge.
Mariam Stockton is a Member at Neal & Harwell, PLC and serves on the firm's Executive Committee. She is an experienced litigator and trial attorney who represents a diverse range of clients - from artists, producers, and entertainers to major corporations. Mariam has tried cases in federal and state courts ranging from entertainment disputes to wrongful death matters. Her experience includes all aspects of civil litigation, internal investigations, and white-collar criminal defense. She is instrumental in cases involving large-volume e-Discovery and prepared her LL.M. thesis on the topic.
Mariam is included in The Best Lawyers in America 2024 list for her work in Commercial Litigation. She serves in multiple leadership roles within the firm. She was a 2019 Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, an organization comprised of corporate counsel and private practice attorneys dedicated to creating a more open and diverse legal profession. Mariam is also an active member of the Lawyers' Association for Women and serves on the board of directors.
Job Titles:
- Director of Community Relations & Client Development
Job Titles:
- of Counsel Rule 31 Listed Mediator
Retired Judge Monte D. Watkins is an attorney at Neal & Harwell, PLC. He is an approved Rule 31 Listed Mediator by the Tennessee Supreme Court's Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission. Monte was previously appointed to the court by former Governor Phil Bredesen in 2003 where he served as judge for Division V of the Tennessee 20th Judicial District Criminal Court. Prior to his judicial appointment, Monte practiced law for 19 years as a sole practitioner with an emphasis on criminal defense, probate law and real estate. Monte received his J.D. from North Carolina Central University and earned his Bachelor of Science and Master's degrees in Psychology from Tennessee State University.
During his career, Monte has been named a Life Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Past President and Life Member of the Napier-Looby Bar Association; Life Member of the National Bar Association; Life Member of the National Bar Institute; Fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation; Fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation; Fellow of the Napier-Looby Bar Foundation; a Master in the American Inn of Court; Life Member of the Tennessee State University Alumni Association; and Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.
Morgan L. Burkett is an associate in the firm's transactional group. She is admitted to practice law in Tennessee and Florida. Morgan is also licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Morgan earned her J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law. During law school, she served as Executive Editor of the Tennessee Law Review. She gained legal experience as an intern for Florida's Office of the State Attorney Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. She also received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in State and Local Tax. Prior to law school, Morgan earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Accounting from the University of Florida.
Morgan's interests include spending time with family, her dog Harley and reading.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Phoenix Club of Nashville
Nathan Sanders is a Neal & Harwell attorney whose practice focuses on appellate matters, a broad array of civil litigation disputes, and white-collar criminal cases. He is recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America 2025 for Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Securities. Nathan also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to pro bono matters and has been recognized multiple times as an Attorney for Justice by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Prior to joining Neal & Harwell, Nathan was an associate with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York, where he assisted with commercial and securities litigation disputes. Nathan earned his J.D. and graduated Order of the Coif from Vanderbilt University Law School. After law school, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Karen LeCraft Henderson of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Nathan is an active member of the Phoenix Club of Nashville, a non-profit organization focused on improving the lives of underserved youth in Middle Tennessee. He is originally from Nashville and his wife, Rachel, is the co-founder of a start-up company based in the city.
Job Titles:
- Member of Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
Philip Irwin has been with Neal & Harwell since 1986, and the primary focus of Phil's practice is civil litigation.
Phil handles a wide variety of commercial litigation in the State of Tennessee and across the nation. He has represented commercial lenders in numerous receivership proceedings and has extensive experience in defending eminent domain actions. Phil has both defended and prosecuted major products liability actions to successful conclusion. Over the course of more than twenty years, Phil has defended dozens of actions on behalf of a major U.S. automobile manufacturer. His practice further includes the navigation and, where necessary, litigation of complex intra-company disputes among business partners, members and shareholders. His ability to navigate the legal process for his clients is exceptional, and he works closely with his clients to provide them with the information and guidance needed to make informed decisions.
Phil Elbert is a senior partner with nearly 40 years of experience. He has tried numerous cases, most often as plaintiffs' counsel, and recovered many millions of dollars for his clients. He has argued multiple cases on appeal in both federal and state courts, including a number of significant cases decided in the federal Courts of Appeals and by the Tennessee Supreme Court. He served as lead counsel for the plaintiff/appellant before the United States Supreme Court in Maracich, et al. v. Spears, et al., 133 S.Ct. 2191 (June 17, 2013), and prosecuted the case to a successful conclusion on remand to the lower courts. Other lawyers regularly seek his advice in difficult legal matters and turn to him when they need representation, and he is well known as a tenacious advocate for justice and his clients' rights. Phil is also admitted to practice in Kentucky.
Phil is a frequent speaker at legal seminars on a variety of topics including Motion Practice to Win Your Case and The State of Pre-emption in Products Liability Practice for the Tennessee Bar Association, Trucking Litigation and D.O.T. Regulations in Tennessee for Lorman Educational Services, Recent Developments in Tennessee Law for Barristers' CLE Seminar Series, along with Strategies for Working with Evidence at Trial and Ethics, Evidence and Experts for the National Business Institute.
His personal interests include reading, cycling and fishing
Ronald G. Harris is Managing Partner at Neal & Harwell, PLC. His principal area of practice is civil litigation, with a substantial part of his practice devoted to commercial and business disputes.
Ron has over forty years of trial experience, having appeared in numerous federal and state courts. His litigation experience includes libel and defamation cases, product liability matters, bad faith and other insurance coverage cases, business torts, non-competition litigation, contractual disputes, construction disputes and employment issues. Ron is recognized by Best Lawyers® 2025 for First Amendment Law and Corporate Compliance Law. Through his years of representing media members and private citizens, he has been a zealous advocate for First Amendment freedoms.
Job Titles:
- Director of Human Resources
Simon Levitsky is an associate in the firm's litigation group. His practice focuses on catastrophic personal injury and civil litigation. He is admitted to practice law in Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas.
Simon earned his J.D. from Tulane University of Law, where he received a certificate in Maritime Law and CALI Excellence Award in Pre-trial Litigation Practice and Strategy. Prior to law school, he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Job Titles:
- Lawyers Association - Member
Job Titles:
- Nashville, Tennessee - Elder
Bill Ramsey joined Neal & Harwell in 1981. The primary focus of his practice is complex civil and criminal litigation. He also has a significant entertainment law practice representing high-profile artists and entertainers. In addition, he represents several music business managers, financial managers, talent agents, publishers, and labels in a variety of litigation matters. Bill is a true advocate for his clients and routinely receives the most desired results - many of which cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality reasons. In recognition of his work, Bill is named as one of Billboard's 2024 Top Music Lawyers.
Bill has always been interested in technical issues and applies that experience to the practice of law. He and his friend, Philip Hampton, started the "Bill and Phil Show." They travel to various organizations and trade shows to share the latest tech gadgets for work and entertainment. They also write a monthly article for the Nashville Bar Journal and many other legal publications. Bill is the recipient of the 2024 David Rutherford Award, which is given to the Nashville Bar Association Fellow who exemplifies professionalism, charitable contribution in the legal field and in the community as a whole, and the spirit of collegiality among the bench and bar.
Bill owns and operates his family's farm in Viola, Tennessee, where he was born and raised. He applies the wisdom he learned from his father and other farmers to all aspects of his life, including the practice of law.