Faculty Profile: Thomas Lawless

Thomas W. Lawless earned his JD in 1980 from the Nashville School of Law and was admitted to practice in Tennessee in 1981. He is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Tennessee, as well as the Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. He is a board certified Creditors' Rights Law Specialist by the American Board of Certification and the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization as well as a Rule 31 Mediator by the Tennessee Commission on Alternative Dispute Resolution. His practice includes representation of financial institutions and mortgage lenders in matters involving classified assets, workouts, extensive bankruptcy representation of creditors, collections, foreclosures, civil litigation and commercial and residential closings and documentation. He is a member of the Nashville, Tennessee, American and International Bar Associations as well as a member of the Federal Circuit Bar Association. He is the present Chairman of the Professionalism and Ethics Committee and is a member of the Bankruptcy Committee, Legislative Committee and the Judicial Selection Committee of the Nashville Bar Association and serves on the American Bar Association's Small Firm Practice and Solo Attorney Committee and well as the Bankruptcy Committee. He is a Fellow of the Tennessee and Nashville Bar Associations. He is an active member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees and the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees. He is involved in civic activities, participating as Chairman of the Davidson County Republican Party, serving as a Poll Officer for Davidson Country Election Commission, a past candidate for the 5th Congressional District Republican nomination for the U.S. Congress and is active in the local Rotary Clubs. He  is active in the Dial-A-Lawyer Program of the Nashville Bar Association. He was a founding member of the Nashville Chapter of the Federalist Society and served as its first President. He is a member of the Republican National Lawyers Association. He has been listed in the Nashville Business Journal's "Best of the Bar 2004 through 2011." He is listed in Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. He is listed in Martindale-Hubble as AV rated as well as being selected in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (in America) 2006 through 2011. He has been listed in the Mid-South Super Lawyers 2006 through 2010. He has been recognized and included in Best Lawyers in America. He has also been recognized in Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2011. He is a frequent lecturer and has published numerous articles on creditor issues in the financial industry. He is presently serving as the Chairman of the City of Oak Hill Board of Zoning Appeals, as the Vice Chairman of the Tennessee Judicial Nominating Commission and Treasurer of the Tennesseans Concerned for Fair Courts. He is a member of the Board of the Wang Foundation for Sight Restoration.