Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight
Practice focus: Employment plaintiff, civil rights, whistleblower
One of country's preeminent plaintiff-side employment firms. Leigh Anne St. Charles — Top 40 Under 40 TN.
- Fee structure
- Contingency
Fired for the wrong reason in Nashville? Tennessee is at-will, but illegal firings are still illegal.
Tennessee is at-will, but the Tennessee Human Rights Act (THRA), Tennessee Disability Act (TDA), and federal Title VII, ADA, ADEA, and FMLA create powerful worker protections. The Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC) and federal EEOC both handle discrimination charges.
These 10 Nashville plaintiff-side employment firms know THRA, the EEOC, and the federal courts.
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: Employment plaintiff, civil rights, whistleblower
One of country's preeminent plaintiff-side employment firms. Leigh Anne St. Charles — Top 40 Under 40 TN.
Practice focus: Wrongful termination, retaliation, civil rights
Brian Winfrey — tens of millions secured for clients in employment civil rights cases.
Practice focus: Wage/hour, discrimination, sexual harassment
Top wage-and-hour lawyer in U.S. Significant collective- and class-action experience.
Practice focus: Wrongful termination, harassment, retaliation
Robb Bigelow — Vanderbilt Law graduate, former federal law clerk.
Practice focus: Plaintiff employment, wrongful termination
Leading TN plaintiff-side employment law firm.
Practice focus: Employment, class action
Established Nashville plaintiff employment and class action practice.
Practice focus: Plaintiff employment, civil rights
50+ years. Major Nashville plaintiffs' firm.
Practice focus: Plaintiff employment, retaliation
Boutique Nashville plaintiff employment practice.
Practice focus: Plaintiff employment, immigration overlap
Established Nashville plaintiff practice.
Practice focus: Plaintiff employment
Boutique Nashville plaintiff employment firm.
Tell us about your situation and we'll match you with vetted wrongful termination attorneys in Nashville. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Request Free Consultation →EEOC charge filed within 300 days. THRC charge within 180 days. Cases settle in 12-24 months.
Most plaintiff firms work on contingency (33-40%). Statutory fee-shifting in Title VII and THRA cases.
The legal directory you find on Google has thousands of Nashville wrongful termination 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.
EEOC: 300 days. THRC: 180 days.
Tennessee Human Rights Act — broader coverage than Title VII (covers smaller employers).
Lost wages, emotional distress, punitive damages, attorney fees. THRA has caps tied to employer size.
Separate claim, often worth more than underlying discrimination.
TN recognizes Sabine Pilot–style claims for refusing illegal acts.
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