BHAMM litigators have a reputation for being fully prepared whenever they enter the courtroom. Preparation requires gathering and a thorough analysis of the applicable facts, study of the law applicable to those facts, and preparation of a compelling presentation of the pertinent facts and law to a judge or jury.

Our litigators are zealous advocates of our clients’ interests, who regularly try cases in federal and state courts in west Tennessee, northern Mississippi and eastern Arkansas, and who regularly appear before federal and state appellate courts. BHAMM litigators are also experienced in argument before local, state and federal administrative and regulatory agencies and arbitration panels. BHAMM litigators are also frequently called upon to take over, resolve or prevent litigation, and those who frequently litigate possess the knowledge and experience to conclude difficult disputes.

Our specialty is commercial litigation, including complex business litigation. Our areas of emphasis include breach of contract, intellectual property, employment, ERISA, construction, premises liability, insurance, property and title insurance, healthcare, bankruptcy, tax and general civil litigation. BHAMM has been called upon to represent some of the country’s best known companies, high net worth individuals, as well as the disadvantaged, in the prosecution or defense of legal matters, including sophisticated litigation.

Because litigation places substantial demands on our clients, in expense, time and other resources, we endeavor at the outset to agree with our clients on the goals to be achieved by litigation. Our attorneys concentrate on winning by preparation, because preparation to take the case to trial and prevail at trial will best achieve our client’s objective, whether the objective is summary judgment, a favorable settlement, or a judgment following a trial on the merits.

BHAMM’s attorneys serve clients from a diverse base of real estate endeavors. Our lawyers have handled matters ranging from the acquisition and sale of residential real estate to complex financing of projects, including Freddie Mac credit enhancement lines of credit. Over the years, BHAMM’s real estate lawyers have handled matters in over 30 States, including financings over $1 billion and client acquisitions in the hundreds of millions in recent years. As part of its client services, BHAMM has represented lenders, servicers and borrowers in work-out and other creditor’s rights matters calling upon BHAMM’s team of real estate, lending, bankruptcy, tax and trial lawyers. BHAMM’s lawyers have placed hundreds of millions of dollars in title insurance, as well as serving as examining attorneys for national title insurance companies and providing advice and recommendation for title insurance underwriting. In addition to acquisition, sale and mortgage based financing, BHAMM has engaged in real estate related matters including equity formation, commercial leasing, land use and development, amenity subdivisions, shopping centers, warehouse, hotel/hospitality, agricultural use, foreclosure, bankruptcy and work-outs. BHAMM has proudly joined with the largest law firms in serving as local counsel on transactions and title matters and in rendering sophisticated opinion letters in connection therewith.

BHAMM’s tax lawyers have graduate Masters in Law (tax) degrees from New York University and the University of Florida. Our lawyers are engaged in almost every aspect of tax law serving the needs of the individual as well as business clients from business and estate planning to general corporate taxation, state and local tax, employee benefits, executive compensation, tax accounting, business organizations and tax related disputes and litigation.

BHAMM serves its clients by representing both employers and employees. Employers have the benefit of BHAMM experience in the recommendation and development of personnel policy and related handbooks. Further, our lawyers provide both traditional and innovative guidance to employers in those matters which may challenge the modern work place, including claims of wrongful discharge, breach of employment contract , discrimination and suits arising from covenants not to compete and to solicit and covenants in protection of proprietary information.

Our attorneys represent clients in matters before State and federal agencies, including the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, National Labor Relations Board, Federal Wage and Hour Office, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

Among BHAMM’s attorneys is a recipient of board certification in both business and consumer bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification and the Tennessee Commission on CLE and Specialization. Our law firm’s services include: creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, insolvency, work outs, secured and unsecured creditor representation, bankruptcy related planning and general commercial law.

BHAMM clients access the law firm’s depth of knowledge when the need arises for business planning and solutions to business issues and challenges. Among our clients are buyers and sellers of businesses, borrowers and institutional lenders, start-up businesses and established business institutions.

Special among its services to its clients is practice before the Probate Courts which includes probate and administration of decedents and conservatorship estates. Regular practice in the Courts on probate and probate related matters brings to our clients expertise in all related areas as well as a keen familiarity with local rules. Our probate attorneys provide experienced representation in a variety of probate matters, including estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and probate litigation.

Those services include:

• Will contests and disputes
• Settling a family member's estate, including payment of debts, liquidation of assets, distribution to heirs and filing of tax returns
• Gaining court approval to control finances and for personal care of an incapacitated parent or child, or making arrangements for the future care of an underage child or disabled adult 
• Litigation involving trust disputes, or the appointment of a guardian or conservator.

Our attorneys provide experienced representation of physicians, hospitals and managed care organizations on a local and regional basis. BHAMM’s healthcare lawyers regularly render advice regarding governmental regulations, licensing, antitrust and fraud and abuse issues, and other legal matters unique to the health care industry.

BHAMM attorneys represent locally-based national and state-chartered banks in transactions and render advice on matters including mortgage and asset lending issues, obligations of directors and officers, foreclosure, secured transactions, general UCC matters, bankruptcy and litigation.

We are experienced in professional liability claims involving accountants, health care professionals, and corporate directors and officers, as well as fidelity bond claims.

Our estate planning attorneys take a personal interest in the needs of our clients and their families. We provide experienced estate planning services ranging from simple wills and trusts to comprehensive estate plans. Our goal is to make sure our clients’ wishes are carried out. We draft instruments designed to bypass probate, set aside assets, minimize estate taxes and control distribution of property to our client’s beneficiaries:

• Wills to govern the distribution of assets
• Durable powers of attorney to handle financial affairs
• Medical powers of attorney
• Health care directives (living will) regarding life support measures
• Family Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies
• Grantor retained annuity trusts
• Irrevocable life insurance trusts
• Revocable trusts
• Special needs trusts for a disabled child or vulnerable adult
• Charity trusts and charitable remainder trusts
• Spendthrift trusts to protect assets from creditors

Our professional services generally are billed based on hourly rates reflecting the experience of individual lawyers. Other fee arrangements, such as a stated fee for particular services, contingency or task-based billing may be appropriate in other circumstances. We are happy to discuss any questions relating to our charges. All fee agreements will be fully documented.

The complex nature of today's business world often requires counsel and representation in additional areas in which our lawyers have experience. Among these additional areas are such varied disciplines as administrative law, arbitration and mediation, computer hardware and software contracts, family law, antitrust, trade regulation and trade association matters. As new needs for legal assistance arise, Bourland, Heflin, Alvarez, Minor & Matthews, PLC moves quickly to equip its lawyers to meet those needs.