Swafford Law was founded in 2009 by Tara Swafford, following nearly a decade as a litigation partner at one of Nashville’s largest law firms. Since then, the firm has grown into a trusted litigation practice known for combining sophisticated legal strategy with the personal attention of a boutique firm.
At Swafford Law, we tackle our clients’ problems with individualized attention, expertise, and tenacity. Our focus is civil and employment litigation, and we’re proud to represent a wide range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses to individual professionals in their field.
Bigger isn’t always better. At Swafford Law, you get experienced litigators who have handled matters for some of the largest companies in Tennessee — without the bureaucracy of a large firm. That means:
Tara has tried numerous jury and bench trials and regularly handles arbitrations, mediations, and administrative hearings. Her practice spans:
Wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and non-compete disputes
Business disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, and contract matters
Intellectual property and trade secret litigation
Over her career, Tara has represented a wide range of clients: from a police officer facing retaliation to a Fortune 100 company in a vendor dispute, from a private school in a highly publicized case to the victim of prolonged sexual harassment, and many businesses and individuals in between. What they all have in common is her commitment: connecting with each client and advocating for them with tremendous grit and diligence.
Tara graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee and earned her law degree at Case Western Reserve University, where she served as a law review editor and graduated at the top of her class. She clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit before practicing at two of Tennessee’s largest firms, ultimately becoming a litigation partner at Bass, Berry & Sims. She founded Swafford Law in 2009. She is a member of the Standing Committee for the Local Rules for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Outside the office, Tara enjoys gardening, running, spending time with her three sons, and rooting on the Atlanta Braves. She has served on the board of AGAPE for a decade, including three years as board president, and has held multiple terms as president of her homeowners’ association. Tara has been repeatedly recognized as a Best Lawyer and Super Lawyer.
She represents both employees and employers in state and federal court, handling cases involving:
Title VII, the FLSA, ADA, ADEA, Pregnancy Discrimination, and Equal Pay Act claims
Trade secrets, non-competes, and employment contract disputes
Betsy has tried jury cases, handled administrative hearings, and successfully mediated numerous matters for her clients. Her recent work includes winning summary judgment for an employer in an ADA lawsuit and successfully defending that victory before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, as well as securing a successful outcome for the children of an employee who was murdered on the job due to inadequate workplace safety measures.
Betsy and her husband have two daughters. A native Kentuckian, she’s a devoted runner, an enthusiastic cook, and loves hosting friends and family — and, of course, cheering on the Wildcats.
Employment and business litigation
State and federal
+10 years
Lee has handled a variety of work and business litigation throughout the state, including:
Vehicle liability defense in the motor carrier industry
Nationally recognized practice in defense of juvenile products
State-wide practices in Tennessee and Kentucky in long-term care cases
Lee’s practice is focused in the areas of transportation, construction, education and healthcare litigation. He has extensive experience in tort litigation involving issues related to personal injury and expert witness testimony. In addition, Lee has been active his entire career in education, having served for over 40 years on boards and committees of non-profit education institutions.
A native of Nashville, Lee is an Eagle Scout who is active in his community. His varied experiences include writing for The Tennessean and The Nashville Banner while an English major in college. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment is being married to his wife Gail for over 49 years. They have been blessed with three children and six grandchildren. They spend their free time following the escapades of the grandkids along with boating, fishing, hiking, and reading historical works and novels.
Reach out today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward resolving your legal matter.