Family Law

• Divorce
  Since joining Hunter, Smith & Davis in 2010, Mr. Creech focuses his practice on adoption, divorce, child support, child custody, post-divorce modifications, appeals, criminal law, personal injury, and general civil litigation.
• Child Support
• Child Custody and Visitation
  Hunter, Smith & Davis, LLP represent clients in a variety of domestic relations matters, including: divorce, alimony/spousal support, equitable division of property, child custody… Read more
• Adoption
• Paternity
• Premarital Agreement
• Guardianship
  A guardianship is a legal relationship that applies to minor children or incompetent adults (the “ward†). The guardian is assigned by a court or otherwise named to oversee the living arrangements and health-related needs of the ward. A conservatorship is a similar legal relationship in which a guardian or a protector is appointed by a judge to manage the financial affairs and/or daily life of another (the “conservatee†) due to physical, mental, or age-related limitations.
• Spousal Support

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  Jason Creech has practiced law in Tennessee from Memphis to Mountain City. From 2000 to 2007, his practice focused exclusively on family law cases in the Memphis area and the Tennessee Court of Appeals Western District. Mr. Creech had a general practice in Northeast Tennessee between 2007 and 2010, with an emphasis on criminal law, general civil litigation, and family law.
• Arson
  Arson and Fraud – We represent insurance companies in arson and fraud cases for the regional area spanning from Nashville, Tennessee, to Roanoke, Virginia. The attorneys handling these cases maintain excellent relationships with state fire marshals and other local law enforcement officers who provide valuable assistance in case investigations and presentation of the defense at trial.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  Certification as a specialist in Tennessee is not currently available in the following areas: bond financing, commercial financing, corporate law, securities, employee benefits, environmental, family law, government relations, healthcare, intellectual property, international, labor and employment, music and entertainment, real estate, taxation and telecommunications. All material contained in this website is copyrighted by or licensed to the law firm of Hunter, Smith & Davis, LLP.
• Mergers and Acquisitions
  Mr. Powers represents and advises clients in a broad range of corporate and transactional matters, ranging from mergers and acquisitions to business formations and reorganizations. His transactional experience includes the acquisition and sale of medical practice groups, the representation of local hospital systems in the negotiation of medical provider service contracts, and practice acquisitions.
• Business Formation
• Business Disputes
  Ms. Mickel also teaches business law in the Master of Accounting online program at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Outside work, she enjoys traveling with her husband, Zach, and cheering on the Tar Heels.
• Business Transactions
  Laura M. Mickel focuses her practice on corporate and business transactions and commercial real estate, including drafting and negotiating contracts, purchase agreements, and leases and advising clients on business entity formation and structuring.
• Limited Liability Companies
  Hunter, Smith & Davis, LLP provides advice regarding the chartering and organization of corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and general partnerships. We draft the organizational and substantive documents and agreements relating to entity formation. We also regularly advise clients on corporate governance issues, corporate tax matters, minority shareholder disputes, and corporate maintenance and record retention policies.
• Trade Secrets
• Intellectual Property
  Intellectual Property – Our firm has been involved in significant intellectual property litigation, particularly in the area of patent infringement cases. We have represented clients both in the prosecution of patent infringement cases and in the defense of such claims. Our substantial courtroom experience is a valuable asset in protecting the interests of our clients in the cases which are often the subject of highly technical information and evidence.
• Antitrust

Employment Law

• Wrongful Termination
  Mr. Darden defends employers and their Employment Practices Liability Insurance carriers (if applicable) in lawsuits and before administrative agencies in disputes involving employment practices liability. Such cases involve claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, wage and hour entitlement, and workplace safety.
• Employment Discrimination
  Employers of all sizes in a variety of industries seek Joseph Harvey’s representation and advice in labor and employment matters arising under state and federal law, including the National Labor Relations Act, Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act, Equal Pay Act, Drug Free Workplace Act, and Tennessee Human Rights Act.
• Employment Contract
  Hunter, Smith & Davis, LLP offers a full range of transactional services for corporate clients, from the initial stages of organization and capitalization to the ultimate sale or disposition of these businesses. Our corporate and employment attorneys can assist you in structuring appropriate employment agreements and employee benefit programs including stock option plans, deferred compensation plans, and non-compete agreements.
• Employment Litigation
  Clients are aggressively defended in the state, federal, and appellate courts on various employment disputes. Mr. Darden represents clients in labor and employment administrative matters before state and federal agencies, including...
• Non-compete Agreement

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Prior to joining Hunter, Smith & Davis, Ms. Mickel practiced business transactional and commercial real estate law in Cary, North Carolina. Prior to attending law school, she worked for several years in publishing and finance.
• Premises Liability
  Premises Liability – Retail, industrial, health care, manufacturing, and municipal groups are among the types of property owners we represent in premises liability lawsuits. These matters have been defended successfully on liability and causation issues. Death, loss of limbs, and lesser injuries have been the subject of some of the cases the firm has successfully handled. We utilize engineers, architects, accident reconstruction, and human factors experts when warranted by the facts of the case.
• Construction Litigation
  Mark Dessauer has 35 years of experience as a commercial and business lawyer. His trial and appellate practice includes federal and state antitrust claims, shareholder disputes (including corporate valuation issues), breach of contract, fraud, lender liability, business torts, lease disputes, construction disputes, real estate issues, and miscellaneous litigation.
• Real Estate Transactions
  Marcy Walker attended law school after a successful career as a real estate paralegal concentrating on commercial real estate transactions. Using her real estate knowledge, she also launched a commercial real estate consulting service. Ms. Walker gained experience in real estate markets across the country, including Florida, Tennessee, and California, before returning to Johnson City in 1996.
• Land Use and Zoning
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
• Property Damage
  Products Liability – We defend manufacturers in personal injury and property damage claims arising from the use of a wide variety of products, including automobiles, construction equipment, surgical and other medical devices, farm equipment, pharmaceuticals, toys, industrial equipment, ladders, and lawn equipment. Many of these matters were successfully tried to a jury decision. The firm works closely with manufacturers to gain an in-depth understanding of the product to prepare a successful defense.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. The firm is currently recognized in Tier 1 for Insurance Law and Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants in the Tri-Cities, Tennessee region.
• Medical Malpractice
  Medical Malpractice – We regularly represent physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgery centers, psychologists, advanced practice nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, dentists, laser centers, and cancer centers in matters involving health care services. In client satisfaction surveys, the firm has received the highest ratings from our health care clients. Moreover, most of the medical malpractice cases handled by our firm are resolved in favor of our client without any payment to the plaintiff. Our attorneys become educated about the relevant medical issues in each case, in an effort to achieve the best goal for our client.
• Auto Accidents

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  The Tennessee estate planning and administration attorneys at Hunter, Smith & Davis, LLP help individuals and families protect their futures.
• Wills
  Living Wills are a declaration of how far an individual wishes his or her physician and hospital to go in prolonging life by artificial means if there is no reasonable expectation of recovery from an illness. The condition must be terminal, although death need not be imminent.
• Trusts
  The term “pour-over†simply means that the Will pours probate property into a revocable living trust. The Will is the appropriate document to designate guardians for any minor children. A Will is exposed to the probate process. A Will may be amended or changed through the execution of a codicil. As an example, assets may have inadvertently been left in the name of the testator or testatrix, or assets may intentionally have been left outside the trust.
• Power of Attorney
  This power of attorney is separate from the regular durable power of attorney (POA) because Tennessee has adopted specific legislation recognizing this type of power of attorney and setting forth certain requirements for their execution. Hunter, Smith & Davis, LLP helps individuals and their families protect their ability to make crucial medical decisions with the preparation of official HCPOA documents.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
  Tennessee law requires that we inform you that this website constitutes an advertisement. Certifications of specialization are available to Tennessee attorneys in the areas of civil trial, criminal trial, business bankruptcy, consumer bankruptcy, creditor’s rights, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, accounting malpractice, elder law, and estate planning. The listing of related practice areas does not constitute or imply a representation of certification of specialization.
• Foreclosure
  National and regional financial institutions as well as local community banks, financial institutions, and bank holding companies turn to Hunter, Smith & Davis, LLP for legal counsel. Our services include commercial loan transactions, foreclosures, liquidations and workouts, representation of lenders in bankruptcy proceedings, regulatory issues under the Bank Holding Company Act, FDIC compliance, and capital enhancements through debt or equity offerings.
• Tax Law
  Under requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Service, you should be aware that, if any advice concerning one or more United States tax issues is contained in or described in this website, such advice is not intended to be used and cannot be used for the purpose of (1) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code, or (2) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or tax-related matter addressed herein.