Frances Perkins

With a singular professional background, exceptional academic record, and solid base of legal experience, Frances Perkins joined the firm in 2023. Her practice focuses primarily on business and commercial litigation, in particular on real estate and land use issues, and construction disputes. Frances counsels her clients through the entire life cycle of litigation from assessing the viability of claims, advising on settlement or litigation strategies, drafting and initiating suit or responding thereto, conducting discovery, drafting and arguing dispositive motions, and proceeding to trial. Frances balances her commercial litigation work with pro bono matters, and finds this work uniquely satisfying.

Prior to her legal career, Frances spent almost 15 years working in the international fine art and design sector, where she built collections, organized exhibitions, and advised clients. In this role, she developed a strong relationship of trust with her clients, as evidence by the fact that these clients now turn to her for legal advice in matters ranging from contractual disputes to succession planning. Frances has deep roots in all aspects of the art world from auction houses, to private advising, to operating a gallery, to working with institutions for loans, bequests, and acquisitions. The insights gained from these experiences uniquely position Frances to offer legal insights into the complicated machinations of the art market.

Frances was featured in a special section of the Nashville Post titled “The Journey” in 2023. Reserved for professionals who follow a sui generis path, the piece highlighted the first 15 years of her career spent in the international fine art space. Frances describes how she was drawn into practicing law following her move to Nashville and the similarities and differences between working in the art world and being an attorney.

A magna cum laude graduate of Brown University, Frances received her Bachelor of Arts in History of Art and Architecture. She earned her law degree from Belmont University College of Law, where she received a full academic scholarship and also graduated magna cum laude. While in law school, Frances worked at the firm as a Summer Associate. She clerked for the Honorable W. Neal McBrayer of the Tennessee Court of Appeals, served as Executive Articles Editor for the Belmont Law Review, and worked as a research assistant to Lynn Zehrt.

Frances was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  She attended high school in Dorset, England, and lived in Paris for seven years after college.  She is the mother of a vivacious toddler, and runs an independent record label with her husband.

Education

• Belmont University College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
  • Executive Articles Editor, Belmont Law Review
  • Research Assistant to Lynn Zehrt, Associate Professor of Law
  • Recipient of the Cali Award for excellence in six areas: civil procedure, legal research and writing, advanced legal research, copyright, secured transactions and employment discrimination
  • Member of Dean’s List every semester
• Brown University, B.A., magna cum laude

Admissions

• Tennessee

Recognition

• Tennessee Supreme Court Attorneys for Justice Pro Bono Honor Roll (2023)

Professional Activities

• Member, Lawyers’ Association for Women, Marion Griffin Chapter
• Member, Nashville Bar Association
• Member, Tennessee Bar Association’s Young Lawyers’ Division