Forty attorneys from Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC have been ranked as leading practitioners in the recently released 2012 edition of Chambers USA, a highly regarded directory of America's leading lawyers for business. Of these attorneys, 11 attorneys were included in Band 1, the top tier in Chambers USA.

Chambers also recognized 17 of the Firm's practice areas as leading statewide practices, with six being ranked in Band 1. The Firm's health care practice was also ranked as a leading practice in the country.

Considered a cornerstone directory whose listings are given much weight among business leaders selecting legal counsel, Chambers USA ranks law firm practice areas and individual attorneys based on research conducted by the directory's team of researchers, including in-depth interviews with clients and attorneys.

Attorney Rankings

Band 1

• Banking and Finance (Regulatory): Steven J. Eisen (Tennessee) 
• Bankruptcy Litigation: E. Franklin Childress Jr. (Tennessee) 
• Corporate/Commercial: William S. Painter (Mississippi) 
• Corporate/Commercial (Gaming and Licensing): Dan M. McDaniel Jr. (Mississippi) 
• General Commercial Litigation: Leo Bearman Jr. (Tennessee); Walker W. "Bill" Jones III (Mississippi); and W. Scott Welch (Mississippi) 
• Health Care: Richard G. Cowart (Tennessee) 
• Health Care (Regulatory): Thomas E. Bartrum (Tennessee) 
• Medical Malpractice Defense Litigation: Buckner Wellford (Tennessee) 
• Robert C. Liddon Jr. (Tennessee)

Band 2 

• Banking and Finance: Steven J. Eisen (Tennessee) and Jackie Prester (Tennessee) 
• Corporate/Commercial: William S. Mendenhall (Mississippi)
• Corporate/Commercial (Municipal Finance): Jennifer Crowson (Mississippi) and Stephen Edds (Mississippi) 
• Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions: Matthew S. Heiter (Tennessee)
• Environment: Gary C. Shockley (Tennessee) and Robert M. Steele (Tennessee) 
• General Commercial Litigation: John S. Hicks (Tennessee) and William N. Reed (Mississippi) 
• Health Care: Ashby Q. Burks (Tennessee) 
• Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution: Susan Elizabeth McBee (Washington, D.C.) 
•  Labor and Employment: Brooks Eason (Mississippi); and Edward R. Young (Tennessee) 
•  Real Estate: Mary L. Aronov (Tennessee); Kenneth P. "Pete" Ezell Jr. (Tennessee); John A. Gupton III (Tennessee)

Band 3

• Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions: Robert J. DelPriore (Tennessee) 
• Environment: Michael T. Dawkins (Mississippi); and Gretchen Zmitrovich (Mississippi) 
• General Commercial Litigation: Barry W. Ford (Mississippi); Gary C. Shockley (Tennessee); and J. Carter Thompson Jr. (Mississippi) 
• Health Care: Philip S. McSween (Tennessee) 
• Labor and Employment: Jennifer P. Keller (Tennessee); Timothy B. McConnell (Tennessee); J. Randall Patterson (Mississippi); Steven H. Trent (Tennessee); and M. Kim Vance (Tennessee) 
• Real Estate: William S. Mendenhall (Mississippi); and David A. Rueff Jr. (Mississippi) 

Up and Coming 

• General Commercial Litigation: Sheryl Bey (Mississippi) 

Practice Group Rankings

Band 1

• Corporate/Commercial: Mississippi (includes Gaming and Licensing and Municipal Finance) 
• General Commercial Litigation: Mississippi  
•  Health Care: Tennessee (includes Regulatory) 
•  Real Estate: Tennessee

Band 2

• Banking and Finance: Tennessee (includes Regulatory) 
• Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions: Tennessee 
• Environment: Tennessee 
• General Commercial Litigation: Tennessee (includes Bankruptcy and Medical Malpractice Defense) Intellectual Property (Patent Prosecution): Washington, D.C.
• Labor and Employment: Tennessee 
• Real Estate: Mississippi

Band 3

• Environment: Mississippi
• Labor and Employment: Mississippi