Areas of Practice
Commercial Law
Bankruptcy
Taxation
Corporate Matters

James R. Kelley has been associated with Neal & Harwell since 1990. He handles legal matters on behalf of corporate and individual clients throughout the United States and is recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America® for his work in bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights law.

Mr. Kelley is a contributing editor to Norton Bankruptcy Law and Practice and is the author of Corporations-Formation, The Law in Tennessee. He is a frequent speaker at bankruptcy and commercial law seminars throughout the United States.

Prior to joining Neal & Harwell, he was a partner @ Dearborn & Ewing.

Mr. Kelley graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1970 with a major in mathematics and minors in computer science and philosophy. Prior to entering law school, he was a systems analyst for Standard Oil of Ohio. He received a J.D. with distraction from Emory Law School in 1975 where he was a member of the Order of the Coif. In addition, he received an L.L.M. in Taxation in 1977 from Emory Law School.

Notable / Representative Clients

• American Hospitality Corporation
• Bank of America
• First Bank
• Gen Cap America, Inc.
• Guy Brown Management, LLC
• RegionsBank Corporate Trust
• Reliant Bank
• The Family Office, LLC
• Touchstone Medical Imaging, LLC
• Wells Fargo Bank

Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America® since 1989; recognized for his work in bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights law
• AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review,
  highest rating awarded
• Mid-South Super Lawyers since
• Best of the Bar, Nashville Business Journal
• Tennessee’s Best Lawyers, BusinessTN
• International Who’s Who of Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyers
• Chambers USA

Professional Associations

• Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy
• Fellow, Nashville Bar Foundation
• Member, American Bankruptcy Institute;
  former chair of Taxation Committee
• Member, Mid-South Commercial Law Institute;
  former director and president
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Tennessee Bar Association
• Member, Nashville Bar Association

Civic & Community Service

• Oasis Center, Past President & Member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors
• Nashville Cares, Past President & Member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors
• Greenways for Nashville, President & Member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors
• Richland West End Neighborhood Association, Past President
• Nashville Adult Literacy Council Spelling Bee, Past Sponsor
• Reliant Bank, Member of the Board of Directors