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J. Richard  Lodge
Member
Nashville
P:(615) 742-6254
F:(615) 742-2754
E-mail J. Richard Lodge
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Education
Vanderbilt University - J.D., 1974
University of the South - B.A., 1971

Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1974

Memberships
Nashville and Tennessee Bar Associations
Board of Regents – University of the South at Sewanee

Honors & Distinctions
Listed in: Best Lawyers®; Lawdragon 3000 Leading Lawyers in America; Nashville Medical News InCharge Healthcare 2012; Nashville Post’s Power 100; Nashville Post "Nashville's 101 Top Lawyers" 2011 
Named one of the best 150 lawyers in Tennessee by Business Tennessee
Best Lawyers’ 2011 Nashville Administrative Lawyer of the Year
Member, Willis and Knight, 1977-1985
Legislative Director, Staff of U.S. Senator Jim Sasser, 1977-1978
Assistant Attorney General, State of Tennessee, 1974-1976



Dick is practice leader of the firm’s Administrative & Government Advocacy Group. He has advocated for the firm’s clients with state government agencies for over twenty years. He is a registered lobbyist for business interests including financial institutions, healthcare providers, higher education, utilities, nuclear industry services and distilled spirits. Dick also acts for clients interested in state government contracts.

Lobbying Services: Dick represents business interests before the Tennessee General Assembly and the executive branch departments, agencies and commissions of Tennessee government. A current list of his clients may be found on the Tennessee Ethics Commission Web site.

Advocacy Before Tennessee Government Officials: Dick represents clients with interests affected by state officials. This practice ranges from response to inquiries from the Tennessee Attorney General to negotiating economic incentive arrangements with appropriate state agencies, to advocating for healthcare organizations before the Health Services and Development Agency.

State Purchasing and Contracting: Dick represents businesses that do or seek to do business with the state of Tennessee. He gives advice about the state’s procedures for requests for proposals and invitations to bid. He also represents the firm’s clients in procurement protest proceedings.

Utilities and Education: Dick represents electric power cooperatives and other cooperative forms of business. He also represents both proprietary and nonprofit educational institutions.

Representative Matters include:
  • Legislative representation of hospitality company to enact $80 million tax increment financing bill;
  • Legislative representation of electric cooperatives on broadband deployment, corporate governance and utility issues;
  • State contracting advice for entities contracting with TennCare, Tennessee’s Medicaid program;
  • McCarthy v. Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corp., 466 F.3d399 (6th Circuit. 2006) [Tennessee electric cooperatives: payment of patronage refunds]
  • Lanier Worldwide v. State of Tennessee, 2007 Tenn. App. Lexis 225 (2007) [successful defense of contract award to client]

In addition, he provides counsel to non-profit entities including electric cooperatives and supports the firm’s economic development and business relocation practice.

Dick is former chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party and served as Legislative Director for United States Senator Jim Sasser.