John S. Golwen
John Golwen focuses his practice on business litigation and advises a wide variety of businesses including healthcare, hospitality, financial, retail, service, and manufacturing companies. He also routinely represents business owners, management and directors in various disputes.
As a seasoned trial lawyer and chair of the firm’s Business Disputes Practice Group, John sees litigation strategy as inherently tied to risk management, problem solving and strategic planning. He regularly represents parties as counsel in settlement negotiations, judicial settlement conferences, class actions and trials. During his 30-year career, John has represented clients in all types of contractual and transactional disputes, including business divorces among owners of all types of business entities; commercial torts such as procurement of breach of contract, tortious interference with business relations, interference with contracts, misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of restrictive covenants.
Memberships
American Health Law Association (AHLA)
Memphis Bar Foundation — Fellow
Memphis Bar Association
Memphis Downtown Mobility Authority Board (2016-2021)
Literacy and Learning Center of Highlands Inc. (North Carolina) — Board of Directors (2021)
Transition Team for Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland — Committee on Poverty and Child Hunger
Emmanuel Center — Board of Directors (2015-2021)
Pure Youth Athletic Alliance, Inc. — Chairman of the Board (2016-2019); Board Member (2016-present)
Chickasaw Country Club — President (2020)
Regional One Health Foundation — Board Member (2013-2015)
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, Inc. — Central Board of Directors (1999-2010); Steak & Burger Event, Chair (2001)
Oakhaven Boys & Girls Club — Chairman of the Board (2012-2016)
The Phoenix Club — President (1996)
Representative Experience
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Successful representation of an individual in the Northern District of Georgia in a securities fraud suit arising from an investment group that funded entertainment events
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Represented Roadlink Transportation (a subsidiary of Flying J Inc.) in a breach of contract lawsuit that arose from the sale of an aircraft to an individual
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Represented four outside directors in a lawsuit brought by the FDIC against the officers and directors of Community Bank of Arizona (the Bank) and in a declaratory judgment action by the Bank’s D&O carrier
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Represented AutoZone in a patent infringement case and were granted summary judgment of non-infringement
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Represented a national pharmacy chain in a matter involving the theft of prescription drugs by a managing pharmacist
Publications
Past Events
Media Mentions & Firm News
Accolades
Memphis Business Journal “Best of the Bar” (2022)
Best Lawyers® — Memphis Arbitration “Lawyer of the Year” (2017); Memphis Litigation: Securities “Lawyer of the Year” (2013)
The Best Lawyers in America© — Arbitration; Commercial Litigation; Litigation: Banking and Finance; Litigation: Securities (2010-2023)
Tennessee Supreme Court — Attorney for Justice (2021)
Mid-South Super Lawyers (2013-2022)
The Phoenix Club — Mednikow Award
Tennessee Commission on Alternative Dispute Resolution — Rule 31 Mediator
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit — Law Clerk (1990)
Washington & Lee Law Review — Editor
Washington & Lee Mock Trial Team — Captain
Education
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Washington and Lee University School of Law - J.D., 1990
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The College of William & Mary - B.A., 1986
Admissions
- Arkansas, 2022
- Mississippi, 2013
- Tennessee, 1990
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Mississippi
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Attorney for Justice
