HBS Attorneys Recognized in 2018 Mid-South Super Lawyers Magazine

In the 2018 edition of the Mid-South Super Lawyers magazine, the law firm of Hall Booth Smith (HBS) has been recognized for its outstanding legal work as seven of its attorneys are on the list of Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. The HBS Mid-South Super Lawyers are David Proctor of the Birmingham, AL office; Jennifer Harrison of the Memphis, TN office and Karl Braun of the Nashville, TN office. Four HBS attorneys are listed as Rising Stars: Andrew Knowlton and Rhett Owens of the Birmingham, AL office and Julia Kavanagh and Sarah Pazar Williams of the Memphis office. The list recognizes outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Lawyers recognizes no more than five percent of attorneys in each state.

HBS would like to congratulate the recipients of this year’s Super Lawyer and Rising Star awards. These honors recognize the outstanding legal work performed by HBS attorneys and bolster the firm’s reputation as one of the leading law firms in the Southeast.

Birmingham Partner David Proctor was recognized as a Super Lawyer for his outstanding work in personal injury medical malpractice defense. He has received this recognition since 2009. Mr. Proctor has over 30 years of trial experience, including defending physicians in medical malpractice actions, breach of warranty and fraud defense on behalf of automobile manufacturers, complex products liability cases, defending management in employment discrimination cases and EEOC matters, and consumer finance arbitration work in the financial services industry. He has tried dozens of jury trials to verdict in various state and federal courts in Alabama.

Memphis Partner Jennifer Harrison was also recognized as a Super Lawyer for her outstanding work in personal injury medical malpractice defense. Ms. Harrison’s medical background, serving as a cardiovascular ICU nurse and health and safety nurse, allows her to apply her personal experience to defense work in the healthcare field. With over 10 years of medical malpractice defense experience, she passionately represents healthcare practitioners. Ms. Harrison is a zealous and staunch advocate for healthcare practitioners.

Nashville Partner Karl Braun was recognized as a Super Lawyer for his exceptional work in intellectual property. He opened the Nashville office of HBS in 2002, developed the first entertainment practice at the firm, and now represents record companies, publishing companies, film and video production companies, entertainment conglomerates, artists, songwriters, producers, managers, agents, entertainment entrepreneurs and investors in all aspects of the entertainment industry. With deep knowledge of music catalogue acquisitions, Mr. Braun advises industry clients in all aspects of valuation, purchasing and exploiting music catalogues including through bankruptcy proceedings. He offers intellectual property valuation services for estate and gift tax planning purposes as well. Mr. Braun’s practice includes advising clients regarding the establishment and maintenance of various entities, including corporations, LLCs and partnerships. He represents artists in all facets of career development, nurturing and fostering independent sustainability.

Birmingham Partner Andrew Knowlton was recognized as a Rising Star for his work in personal injury medical malpractice defense. Mr. Knowlton focuses his litigation practice on the defense of physicians, nurses, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. His practice also encompasses the defense of other personal injury and wrongful death claims. Andrew is a member of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) Roundtable, the Defense Research Institute, the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, the Birmingham Bar Association, and an inaugural member of the Judge James Edwin Horton Inn of Court.

Rhett Owens is a Partner in the Birmingham office recognized as a Rising Star for his work in health care. This is the third year he has been recognized as a Rising Star. Mr. Owens regularly represents providers in a variety of medical malpractice actions, including actions before administrative and credentialing tribunals. He also regularly represents providers in a variety of aging services matters, including allegations of elder abuse and regulatory violations. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Society of Health Care Risk Management.

Memphis Of Counsel Julia Kavanagh was recognized as a Rising Star for her work in personal injury medical malpractice defense. She has been honored as a Rising Star since 2013. Ms. Kavanagh has extensive experience in healthcare liability.  She has represented a hospital system, nursing homes and long-term care facilities, physicians, and other healthcare providers in state and federal court.  She has also represented health care practitioners before professional boards. She is an active participant in the Memphis Bar Association, serving as Vice Chair of the CLE Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Young Lawyers’ Division.

Sarah Pazar Williams is an Associate in the Memphis office recognized as a Rising Star for her work in personal injury medical malpractice defense. She has diverse experience practicing health care liability, medical malpractice, nursing home and long-term care defense litigation. She has defended hospitals, nursing and long-term care facilities, physicians, and other medical professionals in state and federal court. Ms. Williams was recognized by the Tennessee Supreme Court as an Attorney for Justice in 2014 and 2015 and has served as the Chair of the Young Lawyer Committee with the Memphis Area Legal Services’ Campaign for Equal Justice since 2014.

Hall Booth Smith P.C. is a full-service law firm with 15 regional offices in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Since 1989, HBS has delivered quality legal services with a mission “to ethically and professionally serve our clients by providing the highest quality legal representation in a personally satisfying firm environment.” With over 200 attorneys and staff members, HBS provides the highest quality legal services to individuals, governmental bodies and agencies, and businesses of all sizes.