A Dedicated Group of Knoxville Full Service Attorneys
Lawyers who provide friendly and effective legal guidance
With years of experience in a variety of practice areas, the Knoxville attorneys at Howard & Howard, P.C. are dedicated to solving the legal problems of businesses and individuals across our community. Our team has a broad range of skills covering many different areas, and we are skilled litigators who are adept at finding favorable solutions for our clients, both in and out of the courtroom.
Lewis S. Howard, Jr.
Lewis S. Howard, Jr. is the Founder and Managing Partner of Howard & Howard and was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on January 1, 1959. Mr. Howard graduated from the University of Tennessee, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in 1982. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama in 1985. While at Cumberland School of Law, Mr. Howard studied international and commercial law at Cambridge University, England and was a member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. He was one of the first and youngest attorneys in Tennessee to be certified as a Civil Trial Specialist and was certified for over 10 years as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He serves as General Counsel/CEO and a Director of Windrock Land Company, a publicly traded land development and natural resource company which operates the largest privately owned Off-Highway Vehicle Park in the country. Mr. Howard’s primary practice involves general civil litigation, real estate, and business law.
Mr. Howard is married with two daughters, enjoys outdoor sports and activities, is a certified scuba diver and bareboat captain. He competed for over 20 years in endurance and triathlon events, including the Ironman Triathlon, and remains an avid cyclist.
- Real estate
- Business law
- Litigation
Litigation Percentage:
- 50% of practice devoted to litigation
Bar Associations:
- Tennessee, 1985
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee, 1985
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Tennessee, 1985
- U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee, 1985
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1985
Education:
- J.D., Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, 1985
- B.A., University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1982
- Honors: Phi Delta Phi
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Knoxville Bar Association
- Tennessee Bar Association
Representative Cases:
- Gibbons v. Bennett, Tenn. Ct. App. 2021
- Keck v. Meek, 2018 Tenn. App. LEXIS 370, 2018 WL 3199220
Nat’l Parks Resort Lodge Corp. v. Perfetto, 2018 Tenn. App. LEXIS 296, 2018 WL 2411590- Coal Creek Co. v. Anderson Cty., 546 S.W.3d 87, 2017 Tenn. App. LEXIS 668, 2017 WL 4457589
- Huddleston v. Harper, 2015 Tenn. App. LEXIS 519
- In re Estate of Kirbus, 2015 Tenn. App. LEXIS 702, 2015 WL 5157058
- Wright v. Dixon (Tenn. Ct. App. 2012)
- Covered Bridge Resort on Waldens Creek, LLC v. Johnson, Murrell & Associates, P.C. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2012)
- Cameron General Contractors, Inc. v. Kingston Pike, LLC (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010)
- Richard L. Hollow, Trustee, et al., v. Michael L. Ingram, et al (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010)
- Leedy v. The Realty Store, Inc., et al. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010)
- Abouelata v. Davis (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006)
- Rice v. Andrew Johnson Bank, 2005 Tenn. App. LEXIS 177, 2005 WL 711973
- Brown v. Gutierrez, 2004 WL 2086308 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004)
- Osborne v. Mountain Life Ins. Co., 130 S.W.3d 769 (Tenn. 2004)
- Anderson v. Wilder (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003)
- Davis v. Estate of Flynn, ex rel. Poole, 2002 WL 31174229 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002)
- Omohundro v. Harrison, 2000 WL 1877495 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000)
- Davis v. Flynn, 2000 WL 807613 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000)
- Justus v. Mountain Life Ins, Co., 1999 WL 894194 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999)
- Ruth v. Cove Creek, 1999 WL 172644 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999)
- Norton v. Mountain Life Ins. Co., 1999 WL 172649 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999)
- Canonie Energy, Inc. v. Tennessee Energy Pipeline and Storage Co., 1998 WL 334438 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998)
- Conley v. McDonnell, 1988 Tenn. App. LEXIS 488
- Perry v. Flatford, 1997 WL 44438 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997)
- Horton v. Mountain Life Ins. Co., 1996 WL 585281 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1996)
- Gatlinburg Summit Horizontal Property Regime Council of Co-Owners v. Jarvis, 1995 Tenn. App. LEXIS 13, 1995 WL 10343
- Hudson v. Head, 1995 Tenn. App. LEXIS 606
- Clark v. Cochran, 1995 Tenn. App. LEXIS 563, 1995 WL 507794
- Bales v. FMP Dev. Corp., 1994 Tenn. App. LEXIS 194, 1994 WL 116068
- Scandlyn v. McDill Columbus Corp., 895 S.W.2d 342 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1994)
- Ford v. Knoxville, 1991 Tenn. App. LEXIS 785, 1991 WL 192502
- Anderson County v. Coal Creek Mining & Mfg. Co., 1988 Tenn. App. LEXIS 875, 1988 WL 138921
- Southern Industrial Banking Corp. v. Foster, 809 F.2d 329 (6th Cir. 1987) (6th Circuit Ct. App. 1987)
Dallis H. Howard
Dallis H. Howard was born in Atlanta, Georgia and grew up in Opelika, Alabama. She graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. degree in 1982 and received her J.D. from Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama in 1985. While at Cumberland School of Law, Mrs. Howard studied international and commercial law at Cambridge University in England and was a member of Phi Delta Phi international legal fraternity. Prior to joining Howard & Howard, P.C., she helped found two local bank trust departments and was a Vice President with SunTrust Bank in the Trust and Investment Division. She focuses her practice in the areas of entertainment law, contracts, estate planning, trusts, probate
Mrs. Howard is married and has two daughters. She is a co-founder and serves on the board of directors of Adopt a Golden Knoxville, Inc., a regional Golden Retriever rescue.
- Entertainment Law
- Contracts
- Estate planning
- Probate
- Trusts
- Real estate
Bar Admissions:
- Tennessee, 1985
Education:
- J.D. Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama, 1985
- B.S. Auburn University, 1982
- Knoxville Bar Association
- Tennessee Bar Association
Tax, Probate & Trust Law Sections
Past Employment Positions:
- SunTrust Bank, Trust and Investment Division, A.V.P. & Compliance Officer
- First Knoxville Bank, Trust Division, A.V.P. & Trust Officer
- Baptist Hospital, Director of Risk Management
- Home Federal Bank, Trust Division, Trust Administrative Officer
Joshua B. Bishop
Joshua B. Bishop is a partner of the firm with extensive experience in all aspects of real estate transactions. He routinely represents developers and investors with respect to the acquisition, development, leasing, management and disposition of real property. Over the years, Mr. Bishop has developed extensive knowledge of the construction industry and has also assisted clients with a variety of tax increment financing transactions. Additionally, Mr. Bishop has represented both landlords and tenants with respect to the leasing of shopping centers, industrial properties, office buildings and mixed-use developments. He also handles various types of lending and financing transactions representing real estate developers as well as local, regional and national financial institutions. Mr. Bishop is also a licensed title agent in the State of Tennessee.
Mr. Bishop was born and raised in Cleveland, Tennessee. He graduated from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga with a B.A. degree in 2000 and received his J.D. from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis in 2004 where he was a member of The University of Memphis Law Review. He is married and has one daughter and one son.
- Business Law
- Real Estate Development
Bar Admissions:
- Tennessee, 2004
- J.D., Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, University of Memphis, 2004
- B.A., University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, 2000
Past Employment Positions:
- Shumacker, Witt, Gaither & Whitaker, P.C., Associate
Matthew W. Sherrod
Matt W. Sherrod, born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a Partner of Howard & Howard, P.C. Mr. Sherrod graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee, where he was Phi Beta Kappa, earning a Bachelor of Arts. He was heavily involved in both academic and extracurricular organizations during his time at Tennessee. Upon graduation from the University of Tennessee, Mr. Sherrod attended law school at the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity, the recipient of the Professor Walton W. Garrett Scholarship, and the president of the student body during his final year of school. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2008.
Mr. Sherrod is a member of the Hamilton Burnett Inn of Court-American Inns of Court, and of both the Knoxville and Tennessee Bar Associations, where he serves on various committees within such organizations. Additionally, Mr. Sherrod serves as the managing partner of WTS Capital Partners, a real estate and general investment company.
Mr. Sherrod’s practice primarily focuses on general business and corporate transactions and related matters, mergers and acquisitions, real estate development, construction and associated financing, the representation of institutional lenders in financing transactions, entertainment related matters, along with estate/trust planning and probate administration for individuals. Mr. Sherrod also serves as “outside” general counsel for various clients and provides advice on a variety of business issues.
Mr. Sherrod and his wife, Liz, have a son and a daughter that keep them busy on a daily basis. His hobbies include a multitude of outdoor sports, skiing, boating, the lake, music, golf
- General Corporate and Business Matters
- Real Estate Development
- Institutional Financing
- Estate Planning
Bar Admissions:
- Tennessee, 2008
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 2010
- J.D., Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, University of Memphis, 2008
- B.A., History/General Business, University of Tennessee, magna cum laude, 2004
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Tennessee Bar Association
- Knoxville Bar Association
- Knoxville Barrister’s Executive Committee
- Barrister Member, Hamilton Burnett Inn of Court
– Represented regional senior living housing provider in the acquisition, development, and financing of multiple facilities across multiple states.
– Represented regional developer in development and financing of multiple public-private medical office buildings/health care facilities across multiple states.
– Represented regional apartment developer on multiple apartment project developments and associated financing.
– Organized and continue to provide general counsel to national private investment fund.
– Represented developer on multi-level financing project and subsequent sale to national REIT.
– Represented national insurance brokerage throughout its acquisition by merger with another national financial investment group.
– Represented national television production company in the start-up of a multitude of subsidiary production companies.
– Represented national restaurant group in the creation of multiple subsidiary companies to own and operate multiple restaurant locations in the southeast.
– Represented Tennessee based natural resources provider in reduction in multiple tax assessments on real property.
– Represented Tennessee based insurance agency throughout its acquisition by a national insurance and affiliated services company.
– Organized and provide general counsel to numerous development groups, joint ventures, limited liability companies, partnerships, and various other business entities.
– Represented and negotiated numerous commercial leases for various real estate development companies and property management groups.
– Represented numerous development companies throughout the acquisition, financing, construction, and closing of various real estate projects.
Erin J. Wallen
Erin J. Wallen was born in Kingsport, Tennessee. Mrs. Wallen graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. She received her Juris Doctor degree with high honors from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2010. While in law school, Mrs. Wallen served as a member of Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law and as a volunteer for the College of Law’s pro bono Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Ms. Wallen focuses her practice in the areas of general civil litigation, real estate, and business law.
In her spare time, Mrs. Wallen enjoys spending time with her young daughter and pursuing her hobbies which include traveling, photography, and outdoor activities.
- Business Law
- Litigation
- Real Estate
Education:
- University of Tennessee College of Law, Knoxville, Tennessee, 2010
J.D.- Honors: Magna Cum Laude
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 2007
B.A.- Honors: Summa Cum Laude
- Major: Psychology; Spanish
Nat’l Coal, LLC v. Galloway, 2016 Tenn. App. LEXIS 52 (Tenn. Ct. App. Jan. 29, 2016)
Published Works:
- Income earned outside of the state by a nondomiciliary subsidiary corporation as a result of the parent corporation’s redemption of outstanding stock held by the subsidiary is not taxable under the Tennessee Excise Tax Law unless the two entities share a unitary business relationship, 11 Transactions 267, Spring, 2010
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Knoxville Bar Association
- Tennessee Bar Association
- East Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women
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