Atty. Barbara B. Lapides
Barbara B. Lapides has practiced law in Memphis, Tennessee for more than 25 years and is an attorney with Harris Shelton PLLC .
Municipal Law Attorney · Serving Memphis, TN · 41+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Barbara B. Lapides at a Glance
Barbara B. Lapides is a government attorney based in Memphis, Tennessee, practicing at Harris Shelton PLLC. They have 41+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1985. Admitted to practice in Tennessee, Tennessee Bar Association (1985). Educated at University of Memphis (J.D., 1985) and University of Memphis (B.A., 1966). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Municipal Law (2026), Lawyer of the Year — Municipal Law (Memphis) (2024), and Lawyer of the Year — Municipal Law (Memphis) (2021). Serves clients in Memphis, TN and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Barbara B. Lapides
- Barbara B. Lapides has practiced law in Memphis, Tennessee for more than 25 years and is an attorney with Harris Shelton PLLC. She represents clients in matters involving real estate transactions, business matters, and Municipal Law throughout the greater Memphis area
- Her practice includes advising businesses, developers, property owners, and municipalities on a wide range of legal and regulatory issues
- Ms. Lapides has extensive experience handling real estate and business transactions, including the acquisition and disposition of businesses, negotiation and drafting of purchase agreements, leasing matters, financing arrangements, and foreclosure issues involving real property
- She also assists clients seeking payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) arrangements and regularly works on matters related to the sale, purchase, financing, and leasing of commercial and other real estate interests
- In addition to her transactional work, Ms. Lapides represents several municipalities in the greater Memphis region
- Her Municipal Law practice includes advising local governments on legal, operational, and regulatory matters that affect their communities
- Ms. Lapides joined Harris Shelton PLLC in 2008 when Hanover, Walsh, Jalenak & Blair PLLC combined with the firm
- Through her years in practice, she has remained actively involved in the Memphis community
- She currently serves on the board of Concerts International and has previously served on the boards of Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region, Theatre Memphis, and Leadership Memphis
- Ms. Lapides is a member of the Memphis Bar Association, the Shelby County Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the Association of Women Attorneys, and the Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women
Practice Areas Explained
Barbara B. Lapides's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Barbara B. Lapides handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Memphis.
Government & Administrative Law in Memphis
Attorneys for administrative law, agency hearings, government contracts, licensing, and public benefits.
Barbara B. Lapides is one of 131,162 government attorneys indexed nationally. Browse government attorneys in Tennessee →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Memphis
Practicing law in Tennessee. Legal matters in Tennessee are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Memphis are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Tennessee state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Tennessee brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Tennessee courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Memphis Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Memphis-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Tennessee attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Memphis or all attorneys in Tennessee.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Memphis Choose Barbara B. Lapides
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Barbara B. Lapides's practice in the field of government.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Barbara B. Lapides brings 41+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Focused Government Practice
Concentrating on government means Barbara B. Lapides's knowledge of relevant statutes, case law, and procedural nuances stays current — unlike generalist practices that spread attention across unrelated fields.
Local Presence in Memphis
A Memphis-based practice means Barbara B. Lapides attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
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