Family Law

• Divorce
• Child Custody and Visitation

Criminal Law

• Theft
• Embezzlement
• Arson
  As trial counsel for several major national and international insurance and re-insurance carriers, the firm is well known and well respected for its expertise in the areas of tort litigation, professional liability, policy defense, fraud and arson. The firm represents EPLI, personal lines, commercial, specialty and excess carriers in all risks on behalf of insureds. The firm provides opinion letters for coverage, engages in declaratory judgment actions and protects the interests of carriers who have direct exposure under state or federal law.

Business and Corporate Law

• Business Disputes
  Allen Summers represents developers, builders, subcontractors, vendors and rental companies that provide services to one another in the residential construction field. The firm represents and assists various civil contracting entities that engage in private site work for residential subdivisions, and provides representation for contract disputes with municipalities, disputes arising from erosion control violations, and those disputes involving boundaries, encroachment and damages to adjacent sites and the work of others.
• Construction Contracts
  As construction contracts move away from commercial litigation in a court room setting, the lawyers of Allen Summers are well positioned and experienced in handling arbitration, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution situations. Its lawyers are formally trained and certified at both the state and federal level in mediation, and have engaged in ADR for many years, not only as an advocate for their client, but have provided mediation and neutral services to litigants in a variety of construction and contractual disputes.

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation
  "We enlisted the professional counsel of Allen Summers early in 2006 to help us address a long-standing issue with workers' compensation. Over the years we were unsuccessful in our attempts to get these costs under control. The attorneys of Allen Summers quickly grasped the depth of this issue and began providing us counsel to mitigate these costs. Moreover, their counsel has enabled us to begin to change a culture which has resulted in a significant cost reduction in this area and will be carried forward into the future." said Jim Ambrose, General Plant Manager of Kellogg's Memphis, Tennessee manufacturing facility.
• Wrongful Termination
  Mr. Allen is the author of "Collective Bargaining in the Public Sector" published by the American Bar Association BARRISTER, and is a frequent speaker at seminars given to companies and trade associations on "How to Avoid Unionization," "How to Defeat a Union Drive," "Avoiding (but, if necessary) Successfully Defending Discrimination and Wrongful Discharge Lawsuits," "Step By Step FMLA Compliance," "Employees, Independent Contractors and the Contingent Work Force," "Rightful Discharge, Effective Personnel Policies and Handbooks, and Painless Parting," "Workplace Violence," "Effective In House Investigations," and "Employment Terminations and Separation Agreements."
• Employment Discrimination
  N various labor and employment related matters including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act...
• Employment Contract
• Sexual Harassment

Property Law

• Premises Liability
  While in law school, Mr. Lebair was the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence and the CALI Award in Torts. Mr. Lebair also received a Dean’s Award for Best Memorandum in Legal Methods. Mr. Lebair additionally participated in both Moot Court and Mock Trial competitions while studying law at the University of Memphis. Mr. Lebair also authored a successful brief to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, reversing the decision of a Shelby County trial court while serving as a law clerk during law school. Mr. Lebair’s brief and the Tennessee Court of Appeal opinion based on the brief, helped define the issue of duty in premises liability cases in Tennessee. At Rhodes College, Mr. Lebair was inducted into the Sigma Iota Rho Honor Society for International Studies/Relations. Mr. Lebair also served as Marshall and Lieutenant Commander (Vice President) of the Epsilon Sigma Chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity at Rhodes College. Finally, Mr. Lebair was a member of the Rhodes College Rugby Football Club.
• Construction Litigation
  The construction lawyers at Allen Summers are well versed in drafting, negotiating and interpreting contracts that form the basis of the construction project. Construction insurance coverage issues are also areas in which the firm excels. When a client receives a reservation of rights notice from its carrier, we recommend that the client check first with counsel before assuming no coverage exists for the claim being made. The firm assists its clients in working with other parties to the construction contract to reach fair and amicable settlements that preserve the business relationship and allow for continued opportunities on new projects.
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
  Practice: Summers has an extensive background in construction, catastrophic injury defense, transportation and employment. He has an active practice in products liability, general liability issues, and professional negligence of engineers and appraisers. He represents Fortune 500 and other major corporations, including construction, transportation and manufacturing companies in a variety of litigation matters. He represents a major shopping center ownership group in matters of liability, contracts, leasing and landlord tenant disputes. He serves as major case counsel for one of the largest CGL carriers in the United States. Summers has lectured at the University of Tennessee for the Health Sciences on a variety of medical-legal issues, and also lectures on E-discovery and technology from time to time to various groups.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Darryl Gresham is certified by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization as a Rule 31 Mediator; James B. Summers is certified in Civil Pretrial Advocacy and as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in the following areas: Death Claims, Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Products Liability and Personal Injury.
• Medical Malpractice
  Professional liability law also comprises a substantial portion of the firm’s business. The firm is frequently retained in medical malpractice cases, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Similarly, the firm handles malpractice cases involving various professionals, including engineers, architects, real estate brokers, agents, appraisers and other licensed occupations.
• Auto Accidents

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  While in law school, Ms. Benton was the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Best Appellate Brief and the CALI Award for Academic Excellence in the subjects of Decedents’ Estates, Estate Planning, and Securities Regulation. Ms. Benton also served as the Business Manager of the Tennessee Journal of Practice and Procedure and was a member of the Environmental Law Club. Ms. Benton additionally participated in the U.S. Attorneys’ Office Externship Program and the Freshman and Advanced Moot Court Competitions. During her studies at the University of Memphis, Ms. Benton was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies.
• Wills
  Allen Summers is frequently engaged to draft wills and trusts, as well as general, limited and healthcare powers of attorney for its clients. The firm carefully examines the client's family history, background and financial circumstances, and drafts those documents that protect the interests of spouses, children and family members and which carry out the wishes of the client. The firm is always there to provide guidance and counsel to the heirs and beneficiaries, and works with trustees as needed to follow through on the client's desires.
• Trusts
• Power of Attorney
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy