Bryan Echols Joins Thompson Burton as Partner


Nashville-Area Law Firm Adds 20th Attorney and Eyes Expansion Thompson Burton PLLC is pleased to announce that seasoned lawyer, Bryan Echols, will join the firm as a partner beginning in April. He will continue to focus his practice on commercial real estate, land use, and lending. Echols was most recently an attorney at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP where he built on his reputation handling challenging annexation, zoning and land-use applications in Franklin and Williamson County. “Bryan represents everything we look for in a potential partner,” said founding partner Walt Burton. “Skill, passion, experience, a team-player attitude, and more. He is going to be a great addition to Thompson Burton.” “Thompson Burton’s model is the future of law firms,” said Echols. “The firm’s culture is ideal for attorneys focused on excelling at work and in their personal lives. That’s rare, and exactly what I was looking for at this […]

Continue Reading

TB Profile: Meet Justin Campbell


In this edition of the TB Profile, we introduce you to Justin Campbell, who joined Thompson Burton three years ago and specializes in bankruptcy and creditor rights. When did you know that you wanted to be a lawyer? I liked government and civics all the way back to high school. Being a lawyer seemed to be the next logical step. My grandfather also really wanted me to do something that required a graduate degree. How did you choose bankruptcy as your area of practice? It started my last year in law school when I took a Ch. 11 seminar. The subject matter satisfied my interest in being a lawyer, and it was based in numbers. You have a set number of assets and liabilities. It’s a lot like putting a puzzle together. I thought I wanted to work for the U.S. Attorney’s office early in law school. But then I […]

Continue Reading

Five Things to Know Before Signing a Prenup


By John J. Hollins Jr., Prenuptial agreements get a bad rap as they are sometimes referred to as “divorce agreements.” People see them as a prediction that a marriage will fail or as insurance in case it does. What prenups acknowledge is that one or both parties brings significant assets — or the potential of future inherited assets — to the marriage. Both parties have the right to protect those assets in case something unexpected happens. As a family lawyer, I write prenups most often for younger couples where one or both has significant family wealth, and for older couples who are each financially well established on their own. With wedding season in full swing, here are five important things to keep in mind with any prenup. 1) Never sign a prenup without your family lawyer reviewing it. It is important that you hire a family attorney who is familiar with all […]

Continue Reading

Thompson Burton Attorney Appointed To Board of Appeals by Gov. Haslam


Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed Thompson Burton attorney Jennifer Lankford to the Tennessee Board of Appeals, which hears complaints brought by preferred state employees appealing a demotion, suspension or termination. Lankford, who focuses on employment law, was the only attorney appointed to the Board of Appeals this year. “I am honored by Governor Haslam’s appointment and the opportunity to serve the state of Tennessee,” said Lankford. “The Board of Appeals plays an important role deciding disputes between state agencies and their employees. My expertise in employment law serves me well as a Board member.” The Board of Appeals is the third and final step in the administrative appeal procedure provided for preferred service employees. Preferred employees first appeal decisions to the appointing agency, then to the Tennessee Commissioner of Human Resources, before presenting their case to the Board. “Walt and I are proud of Jennifer’s appointment,” said co-founder Kevin Thompson. […]

Continue Reading

Equifax Cybersecurity Breach — What You Need To Know


By Thomas Ritter of Thompson Burton, PLLC The news that credit reporting agency Equifax suffered a data breach of sizable proportions (a projected 143 million people affected) set the information security community abuzz. The irony was not lost on anyone: One of the three main credit reporting agencies largely in charge of identity theft notification and prevention, Equifax’s loss of sensitive information now acts as a gateway into the future proliferation of widespread identity fraud. Although details continue to slowly emerge, here’s what we currently know, what’s important for you to know, and my suggestions on preventative measures and next steps. WHAT HAPPENED? Criminals gained access into Equifax’s internal system through a vulnerability in the company’s website software beginning in mid-May, and remained inside the system until late July. The perpetrators gained access to a variety of sensitive personally identifiable information, which includes (but may not be the entire scope […]

Continue Reading