John Day has been working as a lawyer in the Nashville market since the early 1980s, witnessing sweeping changes as national law firms have increased their presence in the city.Â
John Day
Photo: Mary Craven Dawkins
A native of small-town Wisconsin who obtained his law degree from the University of North Carolina, Day came to Nashville upon the recommendation of his college professor, who highlighted the area’s then-low-profile le gal market and political prominence as the state capitol.Â
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qmx? `hg`[ 96 ;@:?65 H92E H2D E96? q@F=E[ rF>>:?8D[ r@??6CD 2?5 q6CCJ W?@H qC25=6J pC2?E q@F=E rF>>:?8DX[ 2E H9:49 96 H@C<65 7@C >@C6 E92? `` J62CD 367@C6 6I:E:?8 E96 7:C> E@ @A6? 9:D @H? A6CD@?2= :?;FCJ AC24E:46[ H9:49 96 4@?E:?F6D E@ @A6C2E6]Â k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qmx? ~4E@36C[ s2J H2D ?2>65 AC6D:56?E @7 E96 p>6C:42? r@==686 @7 %C:2= {2HJ6CD] w6 C646?E=J DA@<6 H:E9 E96k^DA2?m k6>m!@DEk^6>m kDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm23@FE E96 C@=6 2?5 9:D @3D6CG2E:@?D @7 E96 492?8:?8 G:6H @7 E96 =@42= =682= :?5FDECJ]Â k^DA2?mk^Am
k9b 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m*@F’G6 366? :? E96 }2D9G:==6 >2C<6E 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6] x? H92E H2JD 92G6 J@F D66? E96 =682= =2?5D42A6 96C6 492?86n k^DA2?mk^9bm
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mxE 92D 492?865 5C2>2E:42==J] ~?6 E9:?8 E92E 92AA6?D ?@H E92E H2D G:CEF2==J F?962C5 @7 cc J62CD 28@ H2D =2HJ6CD 492?8:?8 =2H 7:C>D 7C@> @?6 3:8 7:C> E@ 2?@E96C 3:8 7:C>] ~7 4@FCD6[ 7C@> E:>6 E@ E:>6[ D@>63@5J H@F=5 =62G6 2 =2H 7:C> 2?5 DE2CE E96:C @H? 7:C>] %92E’D H92E x 5:5] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`QmxE D66>D =:<6 6G6CJ y2?F2CJ E96C6VD 2 D9F77=6 @7 A2CE?6CD H:E9 D@>63@5J 8@:?8 D@>6H96C6 27E6C E96 J62C\6?5 3@?FD] xEVD ;FDE 2? 6?E:C6=J 5:776C6?E >2C<6E[ 2?5 E9@D6 =2HJ6CD H9@ 92G6 2 8@@5 3@@< @7 3FD:?6DD ?@H 2C6 24E:G6=J D@F89E @FE 3J 4@>A6E:?8 =2H 7:C>D[ 6:E96C :?\DE2E6 7:C>D @C @FE\@7\DE2E6 7:C>D[ 9@A:?8 E@ A=2?E E96 7=28 :? }2D9G:==6] %92E >@3:=:EJ :D D@>6E9:?8 E92E D:>A=J 5:5 ?@E 6I:DE cc J62CD 28@]Â k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm%96 D64@?5 >2;@C 492?86 :D E96 :?7=FI @7 @FE\@7\DE2E6 =2H 7:C>D 4@>:?8 :?E@ E96 }2D9G:==6 >2C<6E] %96 8C@HE9 :? E96 =682= :?5FDECJ 92D ;FDE 366? 5C2>2E:4[ 4@FA=65 H:E9 @FE\@7\DE2E6 7:C>D E92E 5:5?VE 6G6? <?@H H96C6 }2D9G:==6 H2D] x 42? >2<6 2 4@>7@CE23=6 8F6DD E92E E96 ?F>36C @7 =2HJ6CD :? }2D9G:==6 92D 5@F3=65[ @C >2J36 6G6? >@C6 E92? 5@F3=65[ :? E96 =2DE c_ J62CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9b 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m(92E :D J@FC C@=6 2D AC6D:56?E @7 E96 p>6C:42? r@==686 @7 %C:2= {2HJ6CDn k^DA2?mk^9bm
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%96C6VD D6G6C2= C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D] x AC6D:56 @G6C 2== >66E:?8D[ 2?5 x’> D@CE @7 E96 =625 @? 6G6CJ @?6 @7 @FC 4@>>:EE66D] (6 92G6 df DE2E6 2?5 AC@G:?46 492AE6CD E9C@F89@FE E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 r2?252] x 5@?VE 92G6 2 G@E6 @? 2?J @7 E9@D6[ 3FE :EVD D@CE @7 >J C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ[ F=E:>2E6=J[ E92E E9@D6 492AE6CD 2C6 5@:?8 H92E E96J D9@F=5 36 5@:?8] (6 92G6 cb H92E H6 42== 86?6C2= 4@>>:EE66D H96C6 H6 4@?5F4E E96 H@C< @7 E96 4@==686] xV> :?G@=G65 :? DFA6CG:D:?8 E96:C H@C<] xV> 2? 6I\@77:4:@ >6>36C @7 2== E9@D6 4@>>:EE66D[ 3FE xV> ECJ:?8 E@ D96A96C5 E96> 2=@?8 2?5 >2<6 DFC6 E96JVC6 5@:?8 H92E H6 92G6 2D<65 E96> E@ 5@] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?muC@> E:>6 E@ E:>6[ xV> 42==65 FA@? E@ :DDF6 AF3=:4 DE2E6>6?ED @C DA62< E@ E96 >65:2 23@FE E96 :DDF6D H6 42C6 23@FE[ H9:49 2C6 ;F5:4:2= :?56A6?56?46 2?5 ;F5:4:2= D276EJ[ E96 CF=6 @7 =2H 2?5 2446DD E@ ;FDE:46] $@ >J ;@3 :D E@[ H:E9 E96 2DD:DE2?46 @7 E96 6I64FE:G6 4@>>:EE66 2?5 E96 3@2C5[ <66A @FC 7:?86C @? E96 AF=D6 @7 H92EVD 8@:?8 @? 2?5 E96? 36 AC6A2C65 E@ DA62< 23@FE :EÂ k^DA2?m2E 2AAC@AC:2E6 E:>6D]Â k^Am
k9b 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m*@F >6?E:@?65 ;F5:4:2= :?56A6?56?46] w@H 5@6D E96 pr%{ G:6H E96 C@=6 @7 E9:D :? E96 &]$]n k^DA2?mk^9bm
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qmx? @FC G:6H[ E96 7@F?5:?8 A6@A=6 @7 E9:D 4@F?ECJ 8@E :E C:89E H96? E96J 36=:6G65 E92E @FC 8@G6C?>6?E D9@F=5 7F?4E:@? H:E9 2? 6I64FE:G6 3C2?49[ 2 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 3C2?49 2?5 2 ;F5:4:2= 3C2?49 — 2?5 E96? 6249 @7 E9@D6 E9C66 3C2?496D D9@F=5 92G6 6BF2= A@H6C] }@H[ @3G:@FD=J :E :D?VE 2=H2JD E96 >@DE 677:4:6?E H2J E@ 5@ E9:?8D] qFE E96J 6?G:D:@?65 E92E 2D 2 A@H6C 4964<[ 36=:6G:?8 E92E 56DA:E6 E96 :?677:4:6?4:6D 2E H92E E96J 925 4C62E65[ :? E96 =@?8 CF?[ E9C66 6BF2= 3C2?496D @7 8@G6C?>6?E H@F=5 36 :? E96 36DE :?E6C6DE @7 E96 A6@A=6] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qmx?56A6?56?46 @7 E96 ;F5:4:2CJ — 2?5 H92E H6 >62? 3J E92E :D E96 23:=:EJ @7 ;F586D E@ 7F=7:== E96:C C@=6D F?56C E96 r@?DE:EFE:@? H:E9@FE 762C @7 36:?8 F?56C>:?65 24E:G6=J 3J E96 r@?8C6DD @C 3J E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[ 2?5 H:E9@FE 762C 7@C E96:C @H? D276EJ H96? E96JVC6 @FE E96C6 5@:?8 E96:C ;@3D] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm$@ 7@C :?DE2?46[ 2 ;F586 92D 2 C:89E E@ 6IA64E E92E E96:C @C56CD H:== 36 7@==@H65] !6@A=6 92G6 E96 C:89E E@ 2? 2AA62= :7 E96J 5@?VE =:<6 2 ;F586VD 564:D:@?[ 3FE 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J[ E96 564:D:@? @7 E96 4@FCE >FDE 36 7@==@H65[ 3642FD6 E92EVD H92E :?56A6?56?46 @7 E96 ;F5:4:2CJ >62?D[ :? A2CE[ E92E E96:C C@=6 :D C64@8?:K65 2?5 C6DA64E65] p?5 E92E E96J 5@ D@ H:E9@FE 92G:?8 E@ H@CCJ 23@FE 86EE:?8 D9@E @C @E96CH:D6 <:==65 @G6C :E] (6 2C6 2=2C>65 2E E96 ?F>36C @7 E9C62ED 282:?DE ;F586D] %96JVC6 :?4C62D:?8 6IA@?6?E:2==J] %96C6 92G6 366? >FC56CD[ 2?5 E92E :D 2=2C>:?8 E@ FD] $@ H6 DA62< @FE 23@FE E92E]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9b 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2? 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`QmpC6 E96C6 2?J DA64:7:4 E9C62ED E@ ;F5:4:2= :?56A6?56?46 E96 pr%{ :D D66:?8n k^DA2?mk^9bm
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m(6 92G6 2=>@DE ?@?DE@A 244FD2E:@?D >256 282:?DE ;F586D E92E E96J 2C6 4C@@<65[ E92E E96J 2C6 H:=5=J =:36C2= @C H:=5=J 4@?D6CG2E:G6[ E92E E96J G@E6 4@?D:DE6?E 2=H2JD H:E9 E96 A@=:E:42= A2CEJ E92E ?@>:?2E65 E96> E@ E96:C @77:46[ E92E E96J 92G6 5:DC682C565 E96 =2H] p== E9@D6 2C6 2EE24<D @? 2? :?56A6?56?E ;F5:4:2CJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%96D6 2C6 4@>>6?ED >256 3J D>2CE A6@A=6] xV> E2=<:?8
23@FE =6256CD H9@ >2<6
E9@D6 <:?5 @7 244FD2E:@?D 282:?DE ;F586D] %9@D6 244FD2E:@?D EC:4<=6 5@H? E@ @C5:?2CJ 4:E:K6?D 2?5 3C:?8 5:DC6DA64E E@ E96 ;F5:4:2CJ] xEVD :?2AAC@AC:2E6 2?5 H96? H6 D66 :E[ H6 42== :E @FE] (6 42== :E @FE[ C682C5=6DD @7 E96 A2CEJ
H9@VD 5@:?8 :E] $@ H6 92G6 4@?56>?65 46CE2:?
H@C5D @7 !C6D:56?E ,s@?2=5. %CF>A] (6VG6 4@?56>?65 E96
H@C5D @7 $6?2E6 |2;@C:EJ {6256C[ 2E E96 E:>6[ r9F4< $49F>6C] (6VG6 4@?56>?65
H@C5D @7 ,r2=:7@C?:2 v@G]. v2G:? }6HD@>] xE’D D@>6E9:?8 H6VC6 G6CJ[ G6CJ D6C:@FD
23@FE 2?5 >@?:E@C 2== E96 E:>6]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9b 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?ms@ J@F E9:?< H6’C6 D66:?8 >@C6 A2CE:D2?D9:AD :? E96 4@FCEDn k^DA2?mk^9bm
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mx E9:?< H6VC6 92G:?8 A6@A=6 2DDF>:?8 E92E 3642FD6 E96 ;F586 CF=6D E9:D H2J @C E92E H2J[ E96JVC6 36:?8 A2CE:D2?] qFE ?@[ x 5@?VE E9:?< H6VC6 D66:?8 2?J >@C6 A2CE:D2?D9:A]Â Â k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mxE >2J 36 2 724E E92E 2 ;F586 H2D 2AA@:?E65 3J 2 s6>@4C2E] xE >2J 36 2 724E E92E 2 ;F586 H2D 2AA@:?E65 3J 2 #6AF3=:42?] %92E 5@6D?VE ?646DD2C:=J >62? E92E E9@D6 ;F586D 2C6 8@:?8 E@ H2=< :? =@4<DE6A H:E9 E96 A6CD@? H9@ 2AA@:?E65 E96>]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mx? 724E[ :7 J@F =@@< 2E >2?J 24E:@?D 3J >2?J[ >2?J ;F586D @G6C E96 =2DE ?:?6 >@?E9D[ J@F H:== D66 ;F586D 2AA@:?E65 3J #6AF3=:42?D E2<:?8 A@D:E:@?D :?4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 E96 #6AF3=:42? 25>:?:DEC2E:@?] *@F H:== D66 ;F586D 2AA@:?E65 3J s6>@4C2ED H9@ E2<6 A@D:E:@?D 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?] xE’D 3642FD6 E96D6 ;F586D 2C6[ :? >J @A:?:@?[ 5@:?8 E96 36DE E96J 42? E@ 7@==@H E96 =2H 2D E96J A6C46:G6 :E 32D65 @? E96 724ED E96J 2C6 AC6D6?E65] %96J 2C6 ?@E =@@<:?8 2E :E E9C@F89 2 A@=:E:42= =6?D] %96J 2C6 =@@<:?8 2E :E 2D :?56A6?56?E 2C3:E6CD @7 E96 ECFE9 H9@ 2C6 2EE6>AE:?8 E@ 567:?6 E96 =2H 32D65 @? DE2EFE6D 2?5 DE2EFE@CJ 4@?DECF4E:@? 2?5 @E96C E9:?8D] %92EVD E96 H2J :E H@C<D] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%96 :562 E92E 6G6CJ D:?8=6 ;F586 :D 8@:?8 E@ 7@==@H E96 A@=:E:42= =625 @7 E96 2AA@:?E6C E@ E92E A@D:E:@?[ E92EVD ;FDE :?4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 >J 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 :?4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 E96 6IA6C:6?46 @7 E96 d[f__ =2HJ6CD E92E @FC @C82?:K2E:@? C6AC6D6?ED]k^DA2?mk^Am
