John loved practicing law and mentoring younger lawyers. He had a great influence on many of our people over the years. We will miss him. - Gif Thornton, Managing Partner
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague, friend, and long-time litigator, John L. Chambers on November 25, 2017. John was a trusted advisor and mentor to many, influencing so very many lives, both personally and professionally. He will be deeply missed, but warmly remembered by everyone who knew John.
John had a long, distinguished legal career and practiced out of the firm's Nashville office as a member of the Litigation Practice Group and Commercial Dispute Practice Team. His practice included significant real estate law, corporate work, securities, tax, as well as substantial business, class action, and reorganization litigation.
John's litigation experience also included a variety of federal and state court matters, which included antitrust litigation, particularly involving bid rigging in the highway industry and, more recently, advising in trucking fuel card anti-trust litigation and defense of accounting firms in securities-related proceedings, acting as Special Master under court appointment in contested dissolution cases, and other complex situations.
In real estate, John represented developers who pioneered condominium projects in middle Tennessee, developers or lenders - both construction and permanent - of a number of shopping centers and two hotels in Tennessee; land acquisition and building of fast food outlets for sale and leaseback by a fast food franchisor; negotiation of termination of 135 commercial leases in over 20 states; legal oversight of the sale of 100 commercial buildings in Florida; legal oversight of a
Along with practicing law, John had also served as CEO of a public corporation, Chair of a national chain of destination RV resorts and a publicly traded fast food corporation, as well as active governance of heavy construction and development companies. Prior to his legal practice, John served in the U.S. Navy, ending his service as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserve.
In the professional legal community, John was Secretary/Treasurer of the Nashville Bar Association from 1969-1970, Director in 2001-2003 and First Vice President in 2003. He was President-Elect of the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society and a member of its Board of Directors. John was an active member of the Tennessee and American Bar Associations, and its sections on taxation, real property, and probate and trust law. He was also a member of the American Judicature Society. John served as an Adjunct Professor of Management in the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University, lecturing in the area of Property Law for Business Students.
John was highly recognized throughout his career and was AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell, recognized by Best Lawyers® (by BL Rankings, LLC) in Arbitration, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Commercial Litigation, Bankruptcy Litigation, Construction Litigation and Real Estate, and was named as a “Lawyer of the Year” (by BL Rankings, LLC) in Real Estate Litigation in 2012.
John graduated from Princeton University in 1957 and received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1960.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to John’s wife, Susan, family