Chris Whitson’s practice covers the areas of corporate, commercial, sports and entertainment, venture capital, banking and securities. His primary concentration lies in general corporate representation with an emphasis on financings, mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions. Mr. Whitson was formerly the head of the firm’s corporate practice area and was also the firm’s past recruiting chairman.

Mr. Whitson was also formerly Councilman for the 23rd District for the Government of Nashville and Davidson County, which is comprised of Belle Meade, Hillwood, West Meade, the St. Henry’s area and a portion of Bellevue. Mr. Whitson was elected Councilman in August of 2003 and served until September 2005. Mr. Whitson was a member of the Budget & Finance Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, Chairman of the Charter Revision Committee, and a member of the Public Safety Committee. Mr. Whitson is currently a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals for the Government of Nashville and Davidson County, having been appointed by Mayor and confirmed by the Metro Council in April 2008, with his term scheduled to expire in 2011.

Mr. Whitson is a graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School and was a member of the Vanderbilt Law Review, on which he served as special projects editor. Mr. Whitson received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina.

Between 1990 and 1997, Mr. Whitson served as vice president and secretary of Whitson Lumber Company, where his responsibilities included both operations and legal counsel.

Mr. Whitson has acted as corporate counsel to numerous small, medium, and large companies. However, his most recent, extensive experience has been in the representation of professional sports franchises. From 1998 through December of 2007, Mr. Whitson acted as lead counsel to the Nashville Predators, a franchise in the National Hockey League. Mr. Whitson assisted the Predators in numerous financings and in the negotiation of every major contract entered into by the Predators during this time. During 2007, Mr. Whitson acted as lead counsel in the sale of the Predators to a group of local investors, closing the transaction in December 2007.

Beginning in the fall of 2007, Mr. Whitson acted as lead counsel to a group of investors, who purchased the Minnesota Wild, another franchise in the National Hockey League. The closings for the financing and acquisition of the Minnesota Wild occurred in April of 2008. Mr. Whitson has continued to assist the Minnesota Wild with respect to corporate matters since the closing of the acquisition.

With respect to other representative transactions upon which Mr. Whitson has acted as lead counsel, Mr. Whitson has recently assisted clients in the sale of companies specializing in (i) the sale of automobile insurance, (ii) physical and electronic patient billing and payment services, (iii) residential title insurance services (a large regional multi-state operator). Mr. Whitson has also recently represented clients in the acquisition of companies specializing in (i) the sale and maintenance of industrial electrical supplies, (ii) the sale and maintenance of security equipment, and (iii) restaurant management.

Mr. Whitson has also represented numerous clients in venture capital, senior debt, and mezzanine debt financing transactions.

Professional and Civic Activities and Awards

• Woodward/White "The Best Lawyers in America" (corporate) 2007-2011
• Member of the Board of Zoning Appeals for the Government of Nashville and Davidson County, having been appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Metro Council in April 2008 (term scheduled to expire in 2011)
• Hearing Committee Member, Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, 2008-Present; appointed to three year term by the Tennessee Supreme Court
• Fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation
• Member Tennessee and Nashville Bar Associations
• Director of Nashville Bank and Trust, elected by shareholders in 2008
• Member of the Board of Directors of the Harpeth Hall School (5-12 Girls Preparatory School)
• Member of the Board of Directors Board of Directors of and former Membership Chairman of the Exchange Club of Nashville
• Former Metro Councilman for the Government of Nashville and Davidson County, 2003-2005
• Former Member of the Board of Directors and Secretary of Harding Academy (K-8 Grammar School)
• Former Member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of St. George’s Kindergarten 
• Former Member of the Board of Directors for the Nashville Chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation
• Former Member of the Belle Meade Plantation Board of Directors
  
  

Home | Contact Information | Disclaimer | Sitemap

424 Church Street Suite 2000 Nashville, TN 37219 Phone: 615-742-4200 Fax: 615-742-4539