Aubrey Harwell and Trey Harwell Join Adams & Reese

Legendary litigators move “bet the company” practice to AmLaw 200 firm

(NASHVILLE, TN) – Adams & Reese continues its growth in Nashville with the addition of Aubrey Harwell and Trey Harwell. They will be joined by a group of attorneys from the Neal & Harwell firm, which Aubrey Harwell co-founded in 1971. Trey Harwell will lead a new Crisis Management practice team at Adams & Reese.

“The Harwell brand has been a staple in the Nashville legal community and beyond for over 50 years. We are honored to welcome Aubrey and Trey as they bring their practices to Adams & Reese,” said Managing Partner Gif Thornton. “This strategic acquisition perfectly aligns with our growth trajectory and commitment to expanding within our markets, especially Nashville. It positions Adams & Reese as a first-in-class leader in bet-the-company litigation, crisis management, and white-collar defense. Not only are we enhancing our capabilities, but our new colleagues can better serve their longstanding clients across our firm’s footprint.”

For more than 50 years, Aubrey Harwell has practiced at the national level in the white-collar criminal defense space. He has been defense counsel in cases ranging from Ford Pinto to Atmos Energy to 49ers’ owner Eddie DeBartolo. In addition, he has represented Bridgestone Americas, TVA, and Vanderbilt University. Aubrey will serve as White-Collar Criminal Defense practice team leader. A key civic leader for decades, Aubrey has served on the boards of Meharry Medical College, Nashville School of Law, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, and the Boy Scouts of America National Council, among many others.

“It’s been a rewarding 50 years. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a remarkable legacy and work with outstanding fellow partners along the way. I am truly energized and excited to continue my career at Adams & Reese, which I’ve long respected and admired as a growing, distinguished law firm throughout the Southeast,” said Aubrey Harwell. “I look forward to this next chapter.”

For close to 30 years, Trey Harwell has represented clients in high-profile crisis management and significant corporate matters, including Pilot Flying J, Bridgestone Americas, Atmos Energy, Nashville Electric Service, and Cellular Performance Institute. Trey served as Chair of the Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, and in the community, he is an Officer and Executive Committee Member of the Middle Tennessee Council for Scouting America. Trey is a former President of the Nashville Bar Association.

“Joining Adams & Reese feels like a natural evolution for my crisis management practice and our team,” said Trey Harwell. “Their national platform and expansive geographic reach and broad resources offer an exciting new landscape to serve our clients and collaborate with a talented team across the country.”

The Harwells are joined, initially, by former Neal & Harwell associates Olivia Arboneaux and Elizabeth Tirrill.

Meet Our New A&R Attorneys

Aubrey B. Harwell Jr. has more than 50 years of experience as lead counsel in high-stakes, white-collar criminal defense and high-profile, crisis management cases that have garnered national media attention. Aubrey’s clients include top private corporate clients, and prominent public officials, including judges, governors, congressmen, state senators, mayors, and state attorneys general. Aubrey has demonstrated a strong commitment to civic and community engagement through leadership roles across various organizations in Tennessee, impacting various sectors, including education, healthcare, youth development, and arts and culture. Meharry Medical College, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee are a few of the organizations that Aubrey has led throughout his career.

Trey Harwell has close to 30 years of experience in crisis management, providing strategic counsel to clients across the country. In addition to crisis management, Trey represents clients in complex civil litigation, white-collar criminal defense, business and corporate law, corporate compliance, public utilities and eminent domain, products liability and mass torts, and professional liability. Trey is the Past President of the Nashville Bar Association. He is a Fellow of the Nashville Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, American Bar Association, and Litigation Counsel of America.

Olivia R. Arboneaux represents clients across a wide range of legal areas in which business and regulatory issues converge, including complex business litigation, entertainment law litigation, and intellectual property matters. Olivia is an active member of the Nashville Junior League and Lawyers’ Association for Women – Marion Griffin Chapter.

Elizabeth Tirrill represents clients in corporate law matters, complex business litigation, intellectual property litigation, and across a wide range of legal areas in which business and regulatory issues converge. A Nashville native, Elizabeth is active in the Nashville community, volunteering with the Harpeth Hall Head’s Young Alumnae Council.

About Adams & Reese: Founded in 1951, Adams & Reese is one of the largest law firms in the nation and is included among the AmLaw 200, NLJ 500, and Law360 Top 400 firms. Adams & Reese has more than 320 attorneys and advisors across 10 states (Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas) and Washington, DC.