I have been practicing law for 51 years. I am a divorce-court lawyer and my practice is limited to family law. This means I have tried, mediated and settled many divorce cases. Now ninety-five percent of my divorce cases are settled in mediation.

I founded the firm in 1976 with John W. Wagster. Since that time, we have aspired to a tradition of excellence at our law firm. Everyone in this firm cares deeply for the people we represent. After all these years it is still a pleasure for me to come to the office every day because of the quality work we do, and the affection and respect we have for our clients.

I went to undergraduate and law school at Vanderbilt where I was Phi Beta Kappa and a member of the Law Review. I graduated from Vanderbilt Law School in 1957, "the Famous Class of '57" which included Jim Neal, Al Abbey, Judge Thomas Higgins, George Barrett and John J. Hooker, Jr. See article. I became a prosecutor for the City of Nashville from 1961 to1963. I was then an assistant district attorney for Davidson County, Tennessee from 1963 through 1969.

Since starting private practice in 1970, I have been blessed to be recognized by my peers.I have been listed in The Best Lawyers in America from its first publication date. I am listed in Martindale Hubbell with an AV rating (which is their highest rating). I have been listed in Best of the Bar of the Nashville Business Journal. I am a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. I was president of the Nashville Bar Association in 1974. I have memberships in the Nashville Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Association for Justice and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association. While most of my family law cases now are settled through mediation, I have tried hundreds of cases. When it comes to fighting for your rights, there is no one in Nashville with more experience than me or better suited to protect you.

It is this experience that has resulted in numerous high profile clients. I have represented Sara Evans, Trisha Yearwood, Lee Ann Womack and Mary Alice Goldsboro in divorce cases, to name a few.

On the personal side, I have lived in Nashville, Tennessee all my life and my family has been here since before the Civil War. I graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy in 1951. My wife, Carol Sue, was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She and I have been married for 50 years. We have three children. John Jr., who is a member of the firm, my daughter, Laura, who lives in Miami and my daughter, Carol, who is the manager of Chico's in Greenhills. We have four grandchildren and two little white dogs, Sam and Sally, that we dearly love. We have been members of the First Presbyterian Church of Nashville where I have served as both a deacon and an elder and seen that all of my children have been raised in that church. We tend to pass the rest of our weekend cheering for the Titans, Vanderbilt and Auburn in my family.

Additionally, in 2002, I started writing some poetry, and I have written 187 poems since then. Several poems and an article about me and my poems are included in this website.

If you would like to talk about your case, please give me a call.