Our Team

5 / 5.0
Peer Rating
Independently conducted by Martindale

John W. Beard

Founding and Senior Managing Partner

John practices primarily in the fields of business and corporate law, contract law, mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate transactions, estate planning and estate and trust administration. With an undergraduate degree in accounting, he is well suited to advise businesses about their varying needs. He spends most of his time advising business owners on everything from starting and growing their business, to selling it or developing an internal succession plan. He has handled numerous multi-million dollar transactions. During law school, he received the American Jurisprudence Awards in Estate Planning, Evidence and Creditors’ Rights.

Practice Areas

Business and Corporate Law;
Contract Law;
Mergers and Acquisitions;
Commercial Real Estate Transactions;
Estate Planning;
Estate and Trust Administration

Admitted

Tennessee, 1978
Georgia, 1979

Education

J.D., The University of Tennessee,
1978, Order of the Coif
B.S., The University of Tennessee,
1975, with high honors, degree in
accounting

Professional Associations

Chattanooga Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
State Bar of Georgia
AV Martindale Hubbell Peer Rating
Chattanooga Tax Practitioners
(past president)
Estate Planning Council of Chattanooga

Civic and Charitable Activities

Chattanooga Rotary Club (past secretary)
Leadership Chattanooga (past president of
Alumni Association)
Past board member of Greater
Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
Past board member of Fairyland Club
Past board member of Hamilton County
Chapter of University of
Tennessee National Alumni Association
Past National Vice President of University of
Tennessee Alumni Association
United Way of Chattanooga (leadership
positions)