Stephen K. Heard

Cornelius & Collins LLP

Memphis, Tennessee 37501

615-838-9403

Accident, Business, Commercial, Construction, Contract, Equine Disputes, Insurance, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Premises Liability, Product Liability, Property/Casualty, Real Estate, Slip & Fall, Toxic Tort, Wrongful Death


Stephen Heard joined the firm as Of Counsel August 24, 2015. Stephen practiced law with the firm of Stewart Estes & Donnell for almost 30 years and then with the firm of Dickinson Wright following its merger with Stewart Estes & Donnell. His practice focuses primarily on civil trial and appellate practice in State and Federal courts as well as the representation of small businesses and non-profit organizations.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Emory Law School, he has tried over 200 court of record lawsuits and argued 31 appeals. He has served as a lecturer and presenter in over 24 continuing legal education programs, most recently at the National Equine Law Conference on the subject of Non-Profit Law Issues for EquineTrade and Breed Associations; and on the subject of A Doping and Contamination Hearing.  Stephen has also recently presented a program at the 22nd Tennessee Worker’s Compensation Educational Conference on The Compensation Conundrum, Points of View of a Complicated Death Case. He has also served as faculty at the Defense Lawyers Trial Academy, sponsored by the International Association of Defense Counsel. Stephen is a member of the Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky Bar Associations.

He is a Rule 31 Mediator (since 2001). He is a member of the Nashville Bar Association, American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association, the International Association of Defense Counsel (Employment Law Committee Chairman from 1993 to 1995; Medical Malpractice Committee; Products Liability, Drug Device, and Biotechnology Committee), Tennessee Association of Construction Counsel, American College of Equine Attorneys, and Transportation Lawyers Association. He has twice been awarded Strathmore’s Who’s Who Professional of the Year Award (2007 and 2009).

He has also received the highest possible peer review rating in Legal Ability and Ethical Standards (AV, Preeminent), by Martindale Hubbell for the past 26 years. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers, Lawyers of Distinction, and Best Attorneys.

Education

  • University of North Carolina, B.A., 1976
  • Emory University School of Law, J.D., 1980

Bar Admissions

           Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky

Honors & Awards                                                                                                                                                                      

  • Who’s Who Professional of the Year in Law/Workers’ Compensation, 2007
  • Who’s Who Professional of the Year in Law/Workers’ Compensation, 2009
  • Martindale Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated for ethical standards and legal ability

Professional Associations

  • Rule 31 Mediator, Tennessee Supreme Court, ADR, 2001
  • Nashville Bar Association, Member
  • Tennessee Bar Association, Member
  • State Bar of Georgia, Member
  • Kentucky Bar Association, Member
  • American Bar Association, Member
  • Federal Bar Association, Member
  • Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association, Member
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
    • Employment Law Committee Chairman, 1983-1985
    • Member of Medical Malpractice Committee
    • Member of Products Liability, Drug Device, and Biotechnology Committee
  • The Defense Research and Trial Lawyers Association, Member
  • Tennessee Association of Construction Counsel, Founding Member
  • American College of Equine Attorneys. Founding Member
  • Transportation Lawyers Association, Member
  • Iroquois Steeplechase Race Committee (Executive Committee Member) of the Volunteer State Horseman’s Foundation, a 501(c)(3) entity benefiting the Monroe Carell Jr. Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital
  • Served on Board of Saddle Up! a 501(c)(3) corporation providing a riding program for physically and mentally challenged children. (Served as Co-Chair of the Capital Campaign that successfully raised funds to secure the organization a permanent facility and retire the mortgage on same)
511 Union Street, Suite 1500
Nashville, TN 37219

P: 615-838-9403
E: [email protected]