William R. O’Bryan, ...

William R.

O’Bryan, Jr.

Overview

Bill is a member of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group. His practice is focused on the resolution of business disputes, commercial litigation, creditor rights, bankruptcy and restructuring matters.

Industry

Experience

  • Successfully defended $16.8 million avoidance action in Rocin Liquidation Estate v. Comdata Network, Inc. d/b/a Comdata Corporation, Adv. Proc. No. 04-12-1244, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.
  • Represented Comdata in appellate litigation resulting in seminal decision on attorney-client and work-product privileges. Boyd v. Comdata Network, Inc., 88 S.W.3d 203 (Tenn. App. 2002).
  • Successfully pursued jury trial to $1.5 million verdict piercing corporate veil and imposing judgment debt on sole shareholder.
  • Successfully represented automotive dealer against manufacturer concerning manufacturer’s efforts to reduce size of dealer network.
  • Successfully represented commodity supplier in enforcing long-term supply contract.
  • Successfully represented large fundraising company in litigation involving contract, securities and employment issues.
  • Successfully represented large behavioral health provider against MCO.
  • Represented lead bank in workout, potential foreclosure and receivership proceedings.
  • Successfully represented will beneficiaries against surviving spouse on claim of undue influence.
  • Served as mediator in business litigation, creditors’ rights and bankruptcy cases.
  • Successfully argued to Tennessee Supreme Court for reversal of errant grant of summary judgment in construction lien case.

Distinctions

  • Martindale-Hubbell®
    • AV® – Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, 1998-2022
  • Super Lawyers®
    • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2006, 2008-2013, 2015-2020
  • Best Lawyers in America®
    • Litigation – Bankruptcy, 2011-2025
    • Commercial Litigation, 2006-2025
    • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 1993-2025

Bar Admissions

  • Tennessee, 1977
  • U.S. District Courts
    • Tennessee: Eastern, Middle, Western
  • U.S. Court of Appeals
    • 6th Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Tax Court

Education

  • Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., 1977
  • Wabash College, A.B., magna cum laude, 1974
    • Phi Beta Kappa

Associations

  • Tennessee Bar Association
  • Nashville Bar Association
    • Bankruptcy Committee
      • Chair, 1989
  • Turnaround Management Association (TMA)
  • Mid-South Commercial Law Institute
    • Board of Directors, 2013-2017, 1988-1996
  • Nashville Bar Foundation
  • Dominican Campus
    • Endowment Committee
  • John Marshall American Inn of Court
    • Member
    • Board Member

Papers, Presentations & Publications

  • Moderator, “Valuation in Bankruptcy:  Theory and Practice – Who? What? When? Why?” Mid-South Commercial Law Institute, 2016.
  • Co-Presenter, "Ethics for In-House Counsel, Adapting to a Changing World: A CLE for In-House Counsel (November 2014).
  • Presenter, "Recording Time, Billing & Writing Bills Clients Will Pay," Tennessee Bar Association, 2010.
  • Presenter, "Business Torts in Tennessee," Duties of Officers and Directors and Deepening Insolvency, Lorman Education Services, 2005.
  • Presenter, "Trial Practice," Observations and Tips Regarding Jury Issues, Focus: Commercial Issue Tried to a Jury, Nashville Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, 2005.
  • Presenter, "Basic Bankruptcy Litigation in Tennessee," National Business Institute, 1989, 1990, 2001, 2003, 2004.
  • Presenter, "Advanced Real Estate Remedies," Law Seminars International, 2003.

William R.

O’Bryan, Jr.

Overview

Bill is a member of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group. His practice is focused on the resolution of business disputes, commercial litigation, creditor rights, bankruptcy and restructuring matters.

Industry

Experience

  • Successfully defended $16.8 million avoidance action in Rocin Liquidation Estate v. Comdata Network, Inc. d/b/a Comdata Corporation, Adv. Proc. No. 04-12-1244, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.
  • Represented Comdata in appellate litigation resulting in seminal decision on attorney-client and work-product privileges. Boyd v. Comdata Network, Inc., 88 S.W.3d 203 (Tenn. App. 2002).
  • Successfully pursued jury trial to $1.5 million verdict piercing corporate veil and imposing judgment debt on sole shareholder.
  • Successfully represented automotive dealer against manufacturer concerning manufacturer’s efforts to reduce size of dealer network.
  • Successfully represented commodity supplier in enforcing long-term supply contract.
  • Successfully represented large fundraising company in litigation involving contract, securities and employment issues.
  • Successfully represented large behavioral health provider against MCO.
  • Represented lead bank in workout, potential foreclosure and receivership proceedings.
  • Successfully represented will beneficiaries against surviving spouse on claim of undue influence.
  • Served as mediator in business litigation, creditors’ rights and bankruptcy cases.
  • Successfully argued to Tennessee Supreme Court for reversal of errant grant of summary judgment in construction lien case.

Distinctions

  • Martindale-Hubbell®
    • AV® – Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, 1998-2022
  • Super Lawyers®
    • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2006, 2008-2013, 2015-2020
  • Best Lawyers in America®
    • Litigation – Bankruptcy, 2011-2025
    • Commercial Litigation, 2006-2025
    • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 1993-2025

Bar Admissions

  • Tennessee, 1977
  • U.S. District Courts
    • Tennessee: Eastern, Middle, Western
  • U.S. Court of Appeals
    • 6th Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Tax Court

Education

  • Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., 1977
  • Wabash College, A.B., magna cum laude, 1974
    • Phi Beta Kappa

Associations

  • Tennessee Bar Association
  • Nashville Bar Association
    • Bankruptcy Committee
      • Chair, 1989
  • Turnaround Management Association (TMA)
  • Mid-South Commercial Law Institute
    • Board of Directors, 2013-2017, 1988-1996
  • Nashville Bar Foundation
  • Dominican Campus
    • Endowment Committee
  • John Marshall American Inn of Court
    • Member
    • Board Member

Papers, Presentations & Publications

  • Moderator, “Valuation in Bankruptcy:  Theory and Practice – Who? What? When? Why?” Mid-South Commercial Law Institute, 2016.
  • Co-Presenter, "Ethics for In-House Counsel, Adapting to a Changing World: A CLE for In-House Counsel (November 2014).
  • Presenter, "Recording Time, Billing & Writing Bills Clients Will Pay," Tennessee Bar Association, 2010.
  • Presenter, "Business Torts in Tennessee," Duties of Officers and Directors and Deepening Insolvency, Lorman Education Services, 2005.
  • Presenter, "Trial Practice," Observations and Tips Regarding Jury Issues, Focus: Commercial Issue Tried to a Jury, Nashville Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, 2005.
  • Presenter, "Basic Bankruptcy Litigation in Tennessee," National Business Institute, 1989, 1990, 2001, 2003, 2004.
  • Presenter, "Advanced Real Estate Remedies," Law Seminars International, 2003.