Knoxville Business Law & Commercial Litigation Attorney
If you need help with a business legal matter in Knoxville, Tennessee, Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, is here for you with practical legal advice and professional representation to resolve your matter in or out of court. Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC is a full-service, general practice Knoxville law firm with a focus on Small Business/Commercial Disputes, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Construction-related representation, Real Estate, and Civil Litigation. Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, provides strategic and capable representation in any Knoxville business, commercial or corporate legal matter. We have experience in business entity formation, negotiating and drafting contracts, consulting on construction and development projects, and managing transactions from commercial leases to mergers and acquisitions.
Our firm is also available to represent you in a business or commercial dispute. Count on Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, to protect your rights and promote your interests in any business negotiation, litigation, mediation, arbitration, trial or appeal. Whether you need the advice of trusted counsel on a confidential matter, technical assistance to guide you through a business transaction, or aggressive and effective representation to achieve your goals in a legal dispute, you can count on Knoxville business law & commercial litigation attorneys at Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, to meet your needs.
Hometown Roots and Over 100 Years of Legal Experience
The firm’s founders and principal attorneys, Dallas T. Reynolds, III, Michael K. Atkins, E. Michael Brezina, III, and Keith D. Stewart, are long-time Knoxville residents. Combined, they offer clients over 100 years of legal experience. Call or email Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, today for help with your Knoxville legal matter.
Tennessee Business & Commercial Litigation
Running a business in Knoxville, Tennessee, comes with various legal challenges. From entity formation to disputes between shareholders, businesses often encounter complex legal issues requiring strategic guidance. At Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, we provide experienced legal representation for businesses facing commercial litigation. Whether you are dealing with a contract dispute, business tort, or ownership disagreement, our team is committed to protecting your interests and helping your business thrive.
Business Torts
Business torts refer to wrongful actions that cause financial harm to a business. These claims often arise when one party interferes with another’s business operations, causing economic damage. Common business torts include:
- Fraud – Deceptive business practices, false statements, or intentional misrepresentation leading to financial loss.
- Tortious Interference – When a third party intentionally disrupts a contractual or business relationship.
- Defamation (Libel/Slander) – False statements that harm a business’s reputation.
- Unfair Competition – Dishonest practices such as misappropriation of trade secrets or false advertising.
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty – When business partners, executives, or board members act against the company’s best interests for personal gain.
At Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, we help businesses pursue claims against those engaging in wrongful conduct. Whether your business has been harmed by fraudulent actions or unfair business practices, our legal team is prepared to fight for you.
Entity Formation
Choosing the right business entity is crucial for legal protection and financial success. Knoxville entrepreneurs must consider tax implications, liability exposure, and governance structure when forming a business. The most common business entities include:
- Sole Proprietorship – A simple structure with personal liability for business debts.
- Partnerships – General and limited partnerships allow multiple owners but require clear agreements to avoid disputes.
- Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) – Popular for small businesses due to flexible management and liability protection.
- Corporations (C-Corps & S-Corps) – Provide strong liability protection but require more regulatory compliance.
At Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, we guide business owners through the formation process, ensuring their entity selection aligns with their goals. From drafting bylaws and operating agreements to filing necessary documents, we provide comprehensive legal support.
Contract Drafting & Negotiation
Contracts are the foundation of business transactions, defining rights and obligations between parties. Poorly drafted contracts often lead to disputes, financial loss, and litigation. Our firm assists with:
- Business Purchase Agreements – Contracts governing the sale of a business, assets, or shares.
- Employment Agreements – Defining terms for employees, including non-compete clauses and confidentiality agreements.
- Partnership & Shareholder Agreements – Outlining the rights, responsibilities, and exit strategies for business owners.
- Vendor & Supplier Contracts – Ensuring favorable terms and protecting against breaches.
- Lease Agreements – Negotiating commercial property leases for business operations.
Our attorneys at Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC provide meticulous contract drafting and negotiation services. We ensure your contracts protect your interests and minimize the risk of future disputes.
LLC/Corporate Disputes
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) and corporations in Knoxville frequently face internal conflicts. Disputes may arise between members, directors, or officers regarding:
- Breach of Operating Agreements – When a member fails to follow agreed-upon terms.
- Misuse of Business Funds – Financial mismanagement or fraudulent activities within the company.
- Voting Rights & Decision – Making Authority – Conflicts over control and business direction.
- Buyout & Dissolution Disputes – Disagreements when a business owner exits or dissolves the company.
These disputes can quickly escalate, disrupting operations and profitability. Our firm helps businesses resolve conflicts efficiently, whether through negotiation, mediation, or litigation. We protect our clients’ interests and work toward solutions that preserve business stability.
Member/Shareholder Disputes
Ownership conflicts often arise in businesses with multiple stakeholders. Shareholders and LLC members may disagree on company management, profit distribution, or strategic decisions. Common issues include:
- Minority Shareholder Oppression – When majority owners exclude or mistreat minority shareholders.
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty – When directors or members act against the company’s best interests.
- Dividend & Profit Disputes – Disagreements over financial distributions.
- Buy-Sell Agreement Violations – Conflicts regarding ownership transfer or valuation.
At Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, we handle shareholder and member disputes with precision. Whether negotiating a resolution or pursuing litigation, we protect our clients from unfair business practices and financial harm.
Additional Business Litigation Matters
Beyond the primary areas of business litigation, our firm also assists Knoxville businesses with:
- Breach of Contract Cases – Enforcing agreements and seeking damages for contract violations.
- Non-Compete & Trade Secret Disputes – Protecting businesses from unfair competition and intellectual property theft.
- Partnership Disputes – Resolving conflicts between business partners.
- Debt Collection & Creditor Disputes – Assisting businesses in recovering outstanding debts.
- Franchise Disputes – Legal conflicts between franchisors and franchisees.
We understand that business litigation can disrupt operations and profitability. Our firm provides strategic legal representation to protect business interests while seeking efficient resolutions.
Knoxville Business & Commercial Litigation FAQs
What types of business disputes commonly lead to litigation in Knoxville?
Business disputes often involve contract breaches, business torts, shareholder disagreements, partnership disputes, and intellectual property issues. Other common cases include employment conflicts, non-compete violations, and business fraud.
How can a Knoxville business protect itself from litigation?
Businesses can reduce litigation risks by having well-drafted contracts, clear company policies, and legal compliance measures. Regular legal reviews, proper documentation, and dispute resolution clauses in agreements can also help prevent costly lawsuits.
What should I do if my business is being sued?
If your business is facing a lawsuit, contact an experienced business litigation attorney immediately. Preserve all relevant documents, avoid discussing the case publicly, and follow your lawyer’s guidance on responding to the claim.
How can contract disputes be resolved without going to court?
Many contract disputes can be resolved through mediation or arbitration. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods allow businesses to settle conflicts more efficiently and cost-effectively than litigation. However, litigation may be necessary if negotiations fail.
What are business torts, and how do they affect companies in Knoxville?
Business torts are wrongful actions that cause financial harm to a business. These include fraud, tortious interference, defamation, and misrepresentation. Businesses suffering losses due to another party’s misconduct can file a legal claim to seek damages.
What happens in a shareholder or member dispute in Knoxville?
Shareholder and LLC member disputes often arise over decision-making, profit distribution, and breaches of fiduciary duty. Legal action may be required to resolve conflicts, enforce agreements, or remove problematic members from the business.
How does Tennessee law handle non-compete agreements?
Tennessee enforces non-compete agreements but only if they are reasonable in scope, duration, and geographic area. Courts evaluate whether the restrictions are necessary to protect legitimate business interests without imposing undue hardship on the employee.
Can a business sue for breach of fiduciary duty?
Yes, if a business partner, executive, or board member violates their duty to act in the company’s best interest, the business can sue for damages. Common breaches include self-dealing, misusing company funds, or failing to disclose conflicts of interest.
What is the role of a business litigation attorney in Knoxville?
A business litigation attorney represents companies in disputes, contract negotiations, and legal proceedings. They help businesses navigate lawsuits, draft agreements, protect intellectual property, and enforce contractual rights.
How can Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC help my Knoxville business with litigation?
Our firm provides strategic legal counsel for business disputes, contract issues, and corporate conflicts. We offer litigation defense, negotiation, and alternative dispute resolution services to protect our clients’ interests while minimizing financial and operational risks.
How Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC Can Help
At Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, we are dedicated to providing Knoxville businesses with top-tier legal representation. Our experienced business litigation attorneys offer:
Strategic Legal Counsel – We help businesses proactively prevent disputes through strong legal agreements and policies.
Aggressive Representation – When litigation is necessary, we fight tirelessly to protect our clients’ interests.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) – We explore mediation and arbitration to resolve conflicts cost-effectively.
Industry-Specific Expertise – Our attorneys have experience across various industries, including healthcare, real estate, manufacturing, and technology.
Whether you are forming a business, drafting contracts, or facing a complex dispute, Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC is here to help. Contact our Knoxville business litigation team today to discuss your legal needs.
Expertise in Knoxville Medical Malpractice Cases
Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, has particular expertise in the fields of medical malpractice, including hospital malpractice, nursing home malpractice, assisted living facility negligence and other Tennessee health care liability actions. Medical Malpractice cases are factually and legally complex and require a great deal of effort and attention to resolve. The medical field is highly specialized and technical, and it takes special skill to understand the applicable Standard of Care in a medical setting and determine whether a patient’s harm resulted from a medical provider’s failure to meet that reasonable standard. For most of his legal career, Michael Brezina was a highly-rated top defense lawyer.
Now at Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, Michael uses the skills and knowledge he gained from working on the defense side to help injured plaintiffs get the care and compensation they need. Keith D. Stewart also has extensive areas and experience in the HCLA arena, with a proven track record of outstanding results for clients over the course of his 30-year-plus-career. With Michael’s inside knowledge of how insurance companies evaluate, litigate, defend and settle claims, and Keith’s experience and style, Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina & Stewart, PLLC, is perfectly positioned to protect your rights, see that you are treated fairly and achieve the results you deserve. Also, the firm works closely with J. Tucker Montgomery, JD, MD, an attorney and Physician who is one of the region’s most highly respected and experienced attorneys handling Tennessee health care liability claims. Michael and Keith frequently consult Dr. Montgomery to help assess and work up potential health care liability claims. From surgical errors to misdiagnosis to lack of informed consent or malpractice, Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, is ready to take on the negligent doctor or hospital that caused harm to you or your family.
Knox County and East Tennessee Personal Injury
When you suffer a serious injury because of somebody else’s negligence, it’s only right for them to pay for your medical bills and compensate you for your pain and suffering, the time you missed from work, and other legal damages that result from the accident. That’s why individuals and businesses cover their cars and premises with liability insurance. Unfortunately, insurance companies have something else in mind when it comes to paying claims. With years of experience on the defense side of injury claims, we know all the insurance company tricks for denying liability or devaluing a claim, and we know how to negotiate or litigate a result that gets you the compensation you need and deserve after being hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault. Call Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, to fight for you!
Call Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, if you have suffered any Knoxville or East Tennessee motor vehicle accident, motorcycle, tractor-trailer accident, boating or jet ski accident, slip & fall, or any other personal injury in Knoxville or East Tennessee.
Hometown General Law Practice Serving Knoxville Residents in All Areas of Law
Feel free to call on Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, for trusted legal advice whenever you have a legal question and could use the advice of an experienced and knowledgeable attorney. We handle civil trials and appeals in all legal matters, and we can help you with all of your estate planning and probate needs, including drafting wills and estate plans and powers of attorney for any need.
Serving Throughout Knoxville
- Downtown Knoxville
- Old City
- Sequoyah Hills
- West Hills
- Fourth & Gill
- Fountain City
- Bearden
- Rocky Hill
- Northshore
- South Knoxville
- Hardin Valley
- Cedar Bluff
- Holston Hills
- Inskip
- Karns
Let Our Experience Work for You. Call Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, Today.
Call Reynolds, Atkins, Brezina, & Stewart, PLLC, today at 865-500-3121 for a free consultation on your Knoxville small business/commercial matter, medical malpractice, personal injury, construction, or other legal matter. Our Knoxville business attorneys offer a variety of reasonable and affordable fee structures, including contingency fees in appropriate cases where we advance all costs associated with your case and only charge a fee if we are successful on your behalf.
