Atty. Brian L. Yoakum
Brian Yoakum's practice includes a wide range of complex commercial litigation in the areas of general and business law, premises liability defense, mass tort defense, contract and transactional disputes and business divorces among owners of all types of business entities. Mr.
Profile Summary
About Brian L. Yoakum at a glance
Brian L. Yoakum is a personal injury, business, and litigation attorney based in Memphis, Tennessee, practicing at Evans Petree PC. Educated at The University of Memphis (J.D., 2005) and Rhodes College (B.A., 2001). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Memphis, TN and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Brian Yoakum's practice includes a wide range of complex commercial litigation in the areas of general and business law, premises liability defense, mass tort defense, contract and transactional disputes and business divorces among owners of all types of business entities
- Mr. Yoakum regularly represents property owners and businesses such as restaurants, retail stores, and apartment communities in defense of lawsuits brought pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Housing Act, and the Neighborhood Preservation Act
- Mr. Yoakum also handles commercial tort actions such as procurement of breach of contract, tortious interference with business relations, interference with contracts and breach of restrictive covenants
- Mr. Yoakum is a shareholder at Evans Petree, having served on the firm’s Board of Directors as well as its Political Action Committee and marketing committee
- He is a member of the American, Tennessee, and Memphis Bar Associations
- He is a 2017 graduate of the Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law program (TBALL) and has been selected by Super Lawyers magazine as a Rising Star in the field of business litigation every year since 2014
- He was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2019 in the field of Commercial Litigation for the second year
- He has also been elected a Barrister in the Leo Bearman, Sr. Chapter of the American Inn of Court
- Mr. Yoakum has experience aggressively advocating the interests of his clients before state and federal trial courts, administrative bodies, the Tennessee Court of Appeals, and the U.S
- Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the Sixth Circuit
- In addition, Mr. Yoakum regularly resolves disputes to his clients' benefit through alternative dispute resolution vehicles, including negotiations, mediations, and arbitrations
- Mr. Yoakum is very active in the community as well
- He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association- Mid-South Chapter as well as a member of the Tennessee Advocacy Committee for the American Heart Association
- He is also a Director of the Touchdown Club of Memphis and the Red Acres Neighborhood Association
- Mr. Yoakum serves as Special Judge in the General Sessions Court of Shelby County, Tennessee
- He was also honored to serve on the Transition Team for Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, working with the Administrative Budget Committee
- He is also a former board member and ombudsman of Mid-South Spay & Neuter Services
Practice Areas Explained
Brian L. Yoakum's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Brian L. Yoakum handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Brian L. Yoakum is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in Tennessee →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Brian L. Yoakum is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Tennessee →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Brian L. Yoakum is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Tennessee →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Tennessee
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 andnue, 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.
Looking for additional Tennessee attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Memphis or all attorneys in Tennessee.
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