Margaret Z. Smith
As a member of the firm’s Product Liability, Toxic Tort and Environmental Litigation Group, Margaret Smith focuses her practice on drug and device litigation, general litigation and product liability litigation. She has experience as national representation of highway product manufacturer in product liability and person injury claims. Smith completed her undergraduate education at the University […]
Nils B. (Burt) Snell
Burt is a trial lawyer who focuses on representing the needs of pharmaceutical and medical device companies, especially in the context of complex product liability matters. He is experienced in defending federal MDLs, state court-coordinated litigation, U.S. and foreign class actions, as well as individual plaintiff cases. He served as lead or co-lead trial counsel […]
Kendra Lyons Steele
Kendra is a member of Butler Snow’s Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare group. She focuses on the representation and defense of manufacturers in complex products liability litigation in state and federal courts, with an emphasis on prescription drugs, medical devices and chemicals. She also advises clients on healthcare regulatory matters, such as contracting, physician self-referral […]
Kari L. Sutherland
Kari is a trial attorney and focuses her practice on pharmaceutical and medical device product liability litigation. She represents clients in significant personal injury actions in courtrooms across the country. In 2022, she served as lead trial counsel for Johnson & Johnson in the District of Arizona and won a unanimous defense verdict after a jury […]
Jennifer A. Svilar
Jennifer is a member of Butler Snow’s Commercial Litigation group. Prior to joining Butler Snow, Jennifer served as a Signals Intelligence Analyst in the U.S. Army and worked as a Senior Intelligence Analyst, Target Analyst Reporter, and Deputy Division Chief at the National Security Agency. She is a member of the Tennessee and Memphis Bar […]
Travis B. Swearingen
Travis is a trial lawyer with first-chair experience representing clients in healthcare, product liability and construction litigation. Most recently, he has assisted in the defense of significant mass tort litigation for several Fortune 250 companies, tried multi-million dollar disputes for three of the largest hospital systems in Tennessee, and successfully defended multiple healthcare liability cases […]
Phillip S. Sykes
Phillip Sykes focuses his practice on commercial, professional liability, and product liability litigation. His practice has taken him coast to coast with court appearances from California to New York. Phillip has been recognized by Chambers USA for his work in general litigation and The Best Lawyers in America® for nine categories. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. He is […]
Rockney S. Taveau
Rock is a member of the firm’s Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare group and focuses his practice on representing pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers. He has represented clients in many aspects of mass tort MDLs, with a particular focus on discovery. Rock has experience in advising clients on all aspects of electronic discovery, including overseeing […]
Andrew D. Tharp
Andrew Tharp has extensive litigation experience, having sat first or second chair in more than 35 trials. He represents individuals and companies, from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies, in high stakes litigation. Andrew is a trial lawyer who has been recognized by Super Lawyers® as a Mid-South Rising Star. He has tried numerous cases to verdict, […]
Adelee E. Traylor
Adelee Traylor is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology Group. She focuses her practice on counseling companies and research institutions in connection with domestic and international technology acquisition, licensing, intellectual property protection and technology commercialization activities. She also prosecutes patents in diverse technology areas. She was selected as one of Nashville’s 2019 […]
J. Paul Varner
Paul Varner has over thirty years’ experience managing tax issues for clients. He is well versed in tax controversy matters and tax planning. Paul is also a Certified Public Accountant. His work has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® and Mid-South Super Lawyers®. He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, is a Fellow of the American College […]
Caroline D. Walker
Caroline is a member of Butler Snow’s Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Group, as well as its Products, Catastrophic & Industrial Litigation Group. She has broad experience defending drug and medical device manufacturers in federal and state courts across the country, in all stages of litigation. Best Lawyers in America® selected her as one of […]