Jeff’s practice is focused on complex civil, securities and class action litigation and the representation of clients in connection with governmental investigations and regulatory proceedings.
A native of Dyersburg, Tennessee, Jeff received a B.A. from Harvard University and graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law. During law school, Jeff served as the editor-in-chief of the Virginia Law Review. Upon graduation, he received the Thomas Marshall Miller Prize, awarded to an outstanding member of the graduating class. He also received the Roy H. and Mary Claiborne Ritter Prize and was elected to the Order of the Coif and the Raven Society. Prior to joining the firm, Jeff served as a law clerk to Judge Gilbert Merritt of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Jeff is actively involved in the community. He serves as the co-chair of the Metro Nashville Public Schools’ working group to transform high school education and is one of the founding board members of East End Prep, a charter elementary school. He has served as an education policy adviser to Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. In connection with his work in public education, he received the PENCIL Foundation’s Volunteer of the Year award for 2010-11. Jeff is also the vice-chair of the board of directors and Chair of the Finance Committee for the Metropolitan Transit Authority. He is a veteran of Al Gore’s presidential campaign and Harold Ford, Jr.’s campaign for U.S. Senate and remains active in state and local politics. In 2011, Jeff was selected as one of the “Forty Under 40” honorees by the Nashville Business Journal.
Nashville Bar Association
Tennessee Association
American Bar Association
Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee (Metro Government of Nashville & Davidson County, Tennessee)
American Health Law Association (AHLA)
Represented CBS Broadcasting, Inc. and NBCUniversal, Inc. in an antitrust class action lawsuit filed on behalf of current and former college athletes, resulting in the federal court granting our clients’ motion to dismiss
Represented Northrup Grumman in its negotiations with the state of Tennessee to terminate a contract for development and implementation of a computer system to determine eligibility for Tennessee’s Medicaid program known as TennCare
Coordinated Telecheck’s follow-up responses to the civil investigative demand by the FTC
Counseled Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. in its three successful defenses against proxy contests initiated by Biglari Holdings Inc. and Sardar Biglari
Lead counsel for King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its board of directors in shareholder class actions
Defended eFunds against a class action lawsuit that alleged willful violations of the FCRA
Represented Genesco Inc. in connection with the negotiation of a merger agreement and subsequent litigation for Genesco to be acquired by Finish Line
Nashville Post “In Charge” — Government/Politics Sector (2019-2022)
Mid-South Super Lawyers “Rising Star” (2013-2017)
Nashville Post “Law Leaders Rising” (2012)
Nashville Business Journal “Forty Under 40” (2011)
Virginia Law Review — Editor-in-Chief (2003-2004)
Thomas Marshall Miller Prize
Roy H. and Mary Claiborne Ritter Prize (2004)
Law Clerk to Hon. Gilbert S. Merritt, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (2004-2005)