Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, employment
Preeminent plaintiff employment firm.
- Fee structure
- Contingency
Sexually harassed at work in Nashville? You have rights — and a 300-day clock.
Sexual harassment is illegal under federal Title VII and the Tennessee Human Rights Act (THRA). Federal EFAA (2022) prohibits forced arbitration of sexual harassment/assault claims.
These 10 Nashville plaintiff firms specialize in sexual harassment, retaliation, and hostile-work-environment cases.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed published verdicts and settlements, peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Avvo), client review patterns, and bar association recognition. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, employment
Preeminent plaintiff employment firm.
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, civil rights
Brian Winfrey — tens of millions secured.
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, harassment
Top wage-and-hour and harassment practice.
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, retaliation
Robb Bigelow — Vanderbilt Law graduate.
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, employment plaintiff
Leading TN plaintiff-side employment firm.
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, class action
Established Nashville plaintiff employment.
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, civil rights
50+ years. Major Nashville plaintiffs' firm.
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, retaliation
Boutique Nashville plaintiff employment practice.
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, plaintiff
Established Nashville plaintiff practice.
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, plaintiff
Boutique Nashville plaintiff employment firm.
Tell us about your situation and we'll match you with vetted sexual harassment attorneys in Nashville. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Request Free Consultation →EEOC charge within 300 days. THRC: 180 days. Investigation, mediation. If no resolution, right-to-sue letter, then court. 12-24 months total.
Most work contingency (33-40%). Statutory fee-shifting in Title VII and THRA cases.
The legal directory you find on Google has thousands of Nashville sexual harassment firms. Most are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to avoid:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, dismissal, or visa approval, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior partner at intake, then never speak to them again. The case is handled by an unsupervised junior or a paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the retainer in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a sign of a volume mill, not a craftsperson's practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar association recognition. "We've helped thousands of clients" is marketing copy. Specific numbers, named cases, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. "Don't worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate Nashville lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what's covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
Most Nashville firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
Nashville is its own market. The procedure, the courts, and the strategy are city- and state-specific in ways that matter to your outcome.
Local courthouses matter. Davidson County Circuit Court at the Birch Building and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee have judges, calendars, and procedures that shape how cases move. A firm that knows the local courthouse has an advantage.
Filing deadlines are strict. Notice of Claim windows for cases against the City or County, Statute of Limitations periods, and pre-suit certification requirements vary by case type and are unforgiving. A missed deadline often means a lost case — full stop.
Local procedure rules matter. Each court has its own forms, motion practice, and judge preferences. The right Nashville firm will know not just the law, but the unwritten rules of the courthouse you'll be in.
Local plaintiffs/defendants do well in front of local juries. Verdict patterns vary by venue, and a trial-capable firm uses venue strategically.
Strongly advisable.
Usually need severe or pervasive conduct, but a single severe incident can suffice.
2022 federal law prohibiting forced arbitration.
Lost wages, emotional distress, punitive (capped under federal law).
THRA covers smaller employers. Damage caps tied to employer size.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many cases like mine have you taken to verdict in the last three years? The answer tells you everything. — The LawFirmSquare team