Atty. Thomas W. "Tom" Lawless
Thomas W. Lawless earned his JD in 1980 from the Nashville School of Law and was admitted to practice in Tennessee in 1981.
Profile Summary
About Thomas W. "Tom" Lawless at a glance
Thomas W. "Tom" Lawless is a business, bankruptcy, and litigation attorney based in Nashville, Tennessee, practicing at Lawless & Associates PC. Admitted to practice in Tennessee, Tennessee Bar Association and United States, Tennessee Bar Association. Educated at Nashville School of Law (J.D., 1981) and Middle Tennessee State University (BS, 1976). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Banking and Finance Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Banking and Finance (2026). Serands clients in Nashville, TN and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Thomas W. Lawless earned his JD in 1980 from the Nashville School of Law and was admitted to practice in Tennessee in 1981
- He is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Tennessee as well as the Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the United States Supreme Court
- He is a board certified Creditors’ Rights Law Specialist by the American Board of Certification and the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization as well as a Rule 31 Mediator by the Tennessee Commission on Alternative Dispute Resolution
- His practice includes representation of financial institutions and mortgage lenders in matters involving classified assets, workouts, extensive bankruptcy representation of creditors, collections, foreclosures, civil litigation and commercial and residential closings and documentation
- He is a member of the Nashville, Tennessee, American and International Bar Associations as well as a member of the Federal Circuit Bar Association
- He is the present Chairman of the Professionalism and Ethics Committee and is a member of the Bankruptcy Committee, Legislative Committee and the Judicial Selection Committee of the Nashville Bar Association and serves on the American Bar Association’s Small Firm Practice and Solo Attorney Committee and well as the Bankruptcy Committee
- He is a Fellow of the Tennessee and Nashville Bar Associations
- He is an active member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees and the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees
- He is involved in civic activities, participating as Chairman of the Davidson County Republican Party, serving as a Poll Officer for Davidson Country Election Commission, a past candidate for the 5th Congressional District Republican nomination for the U.S
- Congress and is active in the local Rotary Clubs
- He is active in the Dial-A-Lawyer Program of the Nashville Bar Association
- He was a founding member of the Nashville Chapter of the Federalist Society and served as its first President
- He is a member of the Republican National Lawyers Association
- He has been listed in the Nashville Business Journal’s “Best of the Bar 2004 through 2014.” He is listed in Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World
- He is listed in Martindale-Hubble as AV rated as well as being selected in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (in America) 2006 through 2014
- He has been listed in the Mid-South Super Lawyers 2006 through 2014
- He has been recognized and included in Best Lawyers in America
- He has also been recognized in Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2011 through 2015
- He is a frequent lecturer and has published numerous articles on creditor issues in the financial industry
- He is presently serving as the Judge of the City of Oak Hill, Tennessee, the former Chairman of the Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Oak Hill, TN, serves as the Chairman of the Tennessee Governor's Commission for Judicial Appointments, Secretary of the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct and Secretary of the Tennessee Election Finance Registry
- He is a member of the Board of the Wang Foundation for Sight Restoration
Practice Areas Explained
Thomas W. "Tom" Lawless's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Thomas W. "Tom" Lawless handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Thomas W. "Tom" Lawless is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Tennessee →
A bankruptcy attorney can help you eliminate debt, stop creditor harassment, and protect your home through Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.
Thomas W. "Tom" Lawless is one of 105,321 bankruptcy attorneys indexed nationally. Browse bankruptcy attorneys in Tennessee →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Thomas W. "Tom" Lawless 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 Nashville 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 Nashville or all attorneys in Tennessee.
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