Bass, Berry & Sims is pleased to announce that 22 of its attorneys were recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America© 2026. Five attorneys were recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” in more than one category.
“Lawyer of the Year” accolades are reserved for one individual per practice area in each metropolitan region, based on the highest aggregate peer feedback. This designation represents a rare and distinguished honor.
Listed below are the lawyers that were honored as “Lawyer of the Year” from Bass, Berry & Sims, and the area of law and jurisdiction in which they were recognized.
- Michael A. Brady: Best Lawyers® 2026 Litigation – Securities “Lawyer of the Year” in Memphis
- Robert L. Brewer: Best Lawyers® 2026 Technology Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville and Privacy and Data Security Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- Steele Clayton IV: Best Lawyers® 2026 Litigation – Antitrust “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- John W. Dawson IV: Best Lawyers® 2026 Litigation – Environmental “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- Katie Day: Best Lawyers® 2026 Banking and Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- Felix R. Dowsley III: Best Lawyers® 2026 Commercial Transactions / UCC Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- Tim K. Garrett: Best Lawyers® 2026 Litigation – Labor and Employment “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville and Employment Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- Stephen J. Jasper: Best Lawyers® 2026 Litigation and Controversy – Tax “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- James Jenkins, Jr.: Best Lawyers® 2026 Corporate Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- Paul G. Jennings: Best Lawyers® 2026 Bankruptcy and Creditor Debor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville and Litigation – Bankruptcy “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- Howard H. Lamar III: Best Lawyers® 2026 Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville and Securities / Capital Markets Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- Russell A. Miller: Best Lawyers® 2026 Public Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- Allen Overby II: Best Lawyers® 2026 Securities Regulation “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- W. Brantley Phillips, Jr.: Best Lawyers® 2026 Litigation – Securities “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- Todd J. Rolapp: Best Lawyers® 2026 Corporate Governance Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville and Corporate Compliance Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- John S. Seehorn: Best Lawyers® 2026 Commercial Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- Mark Sheets: Best Lawyers® 2026 Real Estate Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- Danielle Sloane: Best Lawyers® 2026 Health Care Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- Blaine H. Smith: Best Lawyers® 2026 Litigation – Trusts and Estates “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- Richard R. Spore III: Best Lawyers® 2026 Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Memphis
- Stephen C. Taylor: Best Lawyers® 2026 Financial Services Regulation Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville
- David A. Thornton: Best Lawyers® 2026 Litigation – ERISA “Lawyer of the Year” in Memphis
Additional 2026 Best Lawyers® Recognitions
Bass, Berry & Sims attorneys were also recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2026 edition:
- 107 attorneys recognized in The Best Lawyers in America©
- 50 attorneys recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America
About Best Lawyers®
Best Lawyers® is an elite global network of legal professionals recognized through trusted, peer-reviewed distinction. For over four decades, the Purely Peer Review® methodology has upheld the principle that recognition should be earned through the opinions of fellow attorneys, not marketing influence or paid listings.
Each year, more than 13 million confidential evaluations are collected worldwide, contributing to one of the legal industry’s most rigorous and trusted vetting processes. Only about 5% of lawyers in the United States and 3% globally are recognized, reflecting the selectivity and credibility of the results. Proprietary safeguards are in place to reduce bias and uphold the accuracy of the peer feedback.
For the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, more than 26 million evaluations were analyzed. The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America recognitions were determined based on more than 5.4 million evaluations.
More information can be found on the Best Lawyers website.