Phil Elbert is a senior partner with nearly 40 years of experience. He has tried numerous cases, most often as plaintiffs’ counsel, and recovered many millions of dollars for his clients. He has argued multiple cases on appeal in both federal and state courts, including a number of significant cases decided in the federal Courts of Appeals and by the Tennessee Supreme Court. He served as lead counsel for the plaintiff/appellant before the United States Supreme Court in Maracich, et al. v. Spears, et al., 133 S.Ct. 2191 (June 17, 2013), and prosecuted the case to a successful conclusion on remand to the lower courts. Other lawyers regularly seek his advice in difficult legal matters and turn to him when they need representation, and he is well known as a tenacious advocate for justice and his clients’ rights. Phil is also admitted to practice in Kentucky.

Phil is a frequent speaker at legal seminars on a variety of topics including Motion Practice to Win Your Case and The State of Pre-emption in Products Liability Practice for the Tennessee Bar Association, Trucking Litigation and D.O.T. Regulations in Tennessee for Lorman Educational Services, Recent Developments in Tennessee Law for Barristers’ CLE Seminar Series, along with Strategies for Working with Evidence at Trial and Ethics, Evidence and Experts for the National Business Institute.

His personal interests include reading, cycling and fishing
Professional & Civic Affiliations
  • American Bar Association – Member
  • Tennessee Bar Association – Member
  • Nashville Bar Association – Fellow; Past Chairman – Federal Court Committee
  • Tennessee Board of Law Examiners – District Investigating Committee
  • Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association – Board of Governors
  • Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association – Board of Directors
  • Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association – Circle of Advocates
  • Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association – Lawyers Involved for Tennessee (LIFT)
  • American Association for Justice and Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association – Member
  • National and Tennessee Associations of Criminal Defense Lawyers – Member
  • Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association – Voluntary state senate liaison advocating for health care accountability and patient rights in proposed legislation
  • Rocketship Education/Rocketship Public Schools – Member, Nashville Board
  • Trinity Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee – Elder
  • The Best Lawyers in America® 2023-2024 – Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs & Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
  • 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers
Education
  • Vanderbilt University Law School, 1981, J.D.; Director of the Civil Justice Program of the Legal Aid Society
  • Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 1978, B.S., History and Economics with Honors