Assistant Information

Bernadette M Streveler

bernadette.streveler@wallerlaw.com (615) 850-8146

Broad experience in dispute resolution

Companies across a wide range of industries - including manufacturing, healthcare, construction and agriculture - turn to Jeff Smith for resolution of their commercial, construction or employment disputes, as well as his advice and counsel on corporate, contractual and employment matters.

Jeff has represented owners, architects, general contractors and sub-contractors in a number of construction disputes involving commercial properties, including convention centers, continuing care retirement communities, nuclear power plants, coal-fired power plants, and nursing homes.  In addition, he has represented designers in disputes arising out of design-build highway construction projects.

Employers rely on Jeff to defend them against discrimination claims based on sex, age, race, religion and disability; unfair competition claims, wrongful termination, wage/hour litigation and whistleblower litigation. He also provides proactive counseling on employment issues to management teams and human resources departments, and he has extensive experience drafting employment, severance, confidentiality and non-compete agreements for employers.

Jeff's commercial litigation practice includes the representation of public and private companies in the trial and appellate courts, as well as in arbitrations.  Jeff has extensive experience representing clients in dealer termination cases in state and federal court, and he has successfully obtained injunctive relief for clients preventing manufacturers from terminating dealer agreements. (See, Nacco Materials Handling Group, Inc. v. Toyota Materials Handling USA, Inc., 366 F.Supp.2d 597 (W.D. Tenn. 2004.)

Additionally, Jeff provides advice and counsel to schools from formation through operations.

Related Experience

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News & Insights

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  • Related Services
  • Education
    • J.D., The University of Mississippi School of Law, 1993
    • B.B.A., University of Mississippi, 1990
  • Bar Admissions
    • Tennessee
    • Arkansas
  • Court Admissions
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
    • All U.S. District Courts in Tennessee
    • Supreme Court of Tennessee
  • Recognitions
    • The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings)
      • Commercial Litigation, 2021-2023
      • Construction Law, 2021-2023
      • Health Care Law, 2023
      • Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2023
    • Memphis Business Quarterly
      • Recognized as a "Power Player" in Employment Law every year since 2010
    • Tennessee Justice Center
      • Named Pro Bono Attorney of the Year in 2011 for establishing a partnership between his former law firm, the University of Memphis School of Law, and the Tennessee Justice Center to serve low income families on TennCare
  • Professional Involvement
    • Member, American Bar Association Forum on Construction Appellate Practice Committee Commercial and Business Litigation Committee
    • Member, American Health Law Association
    • Alumnus, Leadership Memphis Executive Program, Class of 2011-2012
    • Former Member, Board of Advisors, Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce
  • Community Involvement
    • Lector, St. Michael’s Catholic Church
    • Former member, Board of Directors, Tennessee Justice Center

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