William L. Harbison

Bill Harbison works primarily in the areas of corporate law and trusts and estates. He also handles litigation in those same practice categories.

A cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, Bill received his bachelor’s degree with highest honors in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Bill has been ranked Band 1 by Chambers USA for his work in Litigation and by the Chambers High Net Worth Guide for his work in Private Wealth Law. Best Lawyers in America® has consistently listed Bill in the areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Elder Law; Litigation – Trusts and Estates, and Trusts and Estates. He has also been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® as a “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville for Bet-the-Company Litigation, Elder Law, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, and Trusts and Estates.

Bill is a Fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).

Education

• Harvard Law School, J.D, cum laude
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., with highest honors

Admissions

• Supreme Court of the United States
• Tennessee
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

Recognition

• ACLU Bill of Rights Award (2015)
• Attorney at Law Magazine “Attorney of the Month” (December 2015)
• Benchmark Litigation “Litigation Star,” Appellate, Commercial, Trusts and Estates (2014 – 2026)
• Best Lawyers in America®, Bet-the-Company Litigation (2007 – 2027), Commercial Litigation (2006 – 2027), Elder Law (2013 – 2027), Litigation – Trusts and Estates (2011 – 2027), Trusts and Estates (2001 – 2027)
• Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year,” Nashville, Bet-the-Company Litigation (2014, 2017)
• Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year,” Nashville, Elder Law (2019)
• Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year,” Nashville, Litigation – Trusts and Estates (2013, 2015, 2024)
• Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year,” Nashville, Trusts and Estates (2011, 2018, 2024)
• Business TN Magazine “150 Best Lawyers” (2010)
• Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial (2006 – 2026)
• Chambers USA High Net Worth Guide, Private Wealth Law (2022 – 2026)
• Legal 500, US City Elite – Nashville, Commercial Disputes (2026)
• Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
• Mid-South Super Lawyers, Estate and Trust Litigation, Business Litigation (2006 – 2025)
• Mid-South Super Lawyers “Top 50: Nashville Super Lawyers” (2012 – 2014, 2017, 2019, 2021 – 2025)
• Mid-South Super Lawyers “Top 100: Tennessee Super Lawyers” (2006 – 2014, 2019, 2021 – 2025)
• Nashville Bar Association John C. Tune Public Service Award (2017)
• Nashville Business Journal “Best of The Bar” (2008 – 2009, 2011 – 2015)
• Nashville Scene “Nashvillian of the Year” (2015)
• Nashville School of Law Faculty & Community Service Honoree (2024)
• Tennessee Bar Association Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year Award (2012, 2025)
• Tennessee Bar Association Joseph W. Henry Award (1985)
• Tennessee Supreme Court Attorneys for Justice Honor Roll (2015 – 2017, 2020 – 2023)
• The Best Attorneys Network, Commercial/Business Litigation and Wills (2007 – 2008)
• The Best of the U.S. LLC, Trusts and Estates, Tax Law and Commercial Litigation (2006 – 2008)

Publications

• “President’s Perspective: Last Lines,” Tennessee Bar Journal, Vol. 52, No. 6, June 2016
• “This Mentor Relationship Withstood the Test of Time,” Tennessee Bar Journal, Vol. 52, No. 5, May 2016
• “Competition Can Be Beneficial, But Also Corrosive,” Tennessee Bar Journal, Vol. 52, No. 4, April 2016
• “Remembering Justice Scalia,” Tennessee Bar Journal, Vol. 52, No. 3, March 2016
• “Contempt Case Helped Develop Due Process Concept,” Tennessee Bar Journal, Vol. 52, No. 2, February 2016
• “Access to Justice Is Part of ‘Thinking Like a Lawyer’,” Tennessee Bar Journal, Vol. 52, No. 1, January 2016
• “Evolving Legal Markets” Tennessee Bar Journal, Vol. 51, No. 12, December 2015
• “History Shows 1881 Was a Very Important Year” Tennessee Bar Journal, Vol. 51, No. 11, November 2015
• “A Speech on Appreciation” Tennessee Bar Journal, Vol. 51, No. 10, October 2015
• “A Speech on Tolerance” Tennessee Bar Journal, Vol. 51, No. 9, September 2015
• “President’s Perspective: Generation Gaps” Tennessee Bar Journal, Vol. 51, No. 8, August 2015
• “Publicly and Privately, Lawyers Champion Justice for Others” Tennessee Bar Journal, Vol. 51, No. 7, July 2015

Professional Activities

• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
• Fellow, Nashville Bar Foundation
• Fellow, Tennessee Bar Foundation
• Former General Counsel to the Tennessee Bar Association
• Hearing Panel Member, Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility
• Lecturer for the Tennessee and Nashville Bar Associations
• Member, Civil Rights & Social Justice, Litigation, and Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Sections, American Bar Association
• Member, Estate Planning and Probate and Litigation Sections, Tennessee Bar Association
• Member, Nashville Bar Association
• Member, Tennessee Supreme Court Board of Law Examiners
• Member and Past President, Nashville Estate Planning Council
• Past President, Nashville Bar Association
• Past President, Nashville Bar Foundation (2002-2006)
• Past President, Tennessee Bar Association
• Selected by the Tennessee Supreme Court to serve on the Board of Professional Responsibility Advisory Committee

Civic Activities

• Past Member, Nashville Metropolitan Planning Commission