Hunter C. Branstetter

Hunter Branstetter helps clients favorably resolve thorny disputes, minimize the chance of future issues, and maximize success if problems do arise. His practice consists primarily of litigation; representing utilities, municipalities, and related entities; and certain aspects of business law.

His trial and dispute resolution experiences range widely from contract claims to civil rights, corporate disputes to commercial litigation, condemnation/eminent domain to construction, antitrust to administrative law, environmental law to employment issues, property rights to professional liability, and trade secrets to torts of all sorts. Hunter enjoys examining the facts in detail, developing evidence and crafting arguments to try a case to a judgment, and working to protect or—if necessary—overturn that judgement on appeal. In addition to handling his own appeals, Hunter is thrilled when he is retained in appellate matters where he was not trial counsel.

Hunter comprehensively represents a number of municipalities, utilities, and other governmental or quasi-governmental entities. In addition to serving as outside general counsel, he represents these sorts of clients in singular engagements, often related to service-area disputes, solid waste issues, or environmental claims.

Importing lessons learned from more than a decade of litigation, Hunter advises certain clients on corporate and general business matters. He also strives to maintain a meaningful pro-bono practice, takes pride in having an ongoing streak of annually receiving the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Attorney for Justice Pro Bono Service Award, and is particularly honored to have received the Tennessee Bar Association’s Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award in 2025 as part of the Sherrard Roe team representing the Covenant School parents.

A native Nashvillian, Hunter earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he was Development Editor for the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law, Content Editor for Obiter Dictum, and the president of its American Constitution Society chapter. He has since been on the board of the Nashville Lawyers chapter of ACS, including a multi-year term as president. He remains active in multiple bar organizations including previously co-chairing the Nashville Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, participating in the Tennessee Bar Association’s Leadership Law program, and currently serving as a delegate to the TBA Litigation Section’s Executive Council. He participates as a barrister in the Belmont University Law School Inn of Court and is honored to be a fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation.

Before joining the firm, Hunter clerked for the Honorable Bernice B. Donald of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. While in law school, he also worked as a summer law clerk for the late Judge Thomas A. Wiseman, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Between college and law school, Hunter was licensed as an EMT and served on the Davidson County Rescue Squad.

Hunter graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English from Washington & Lee University, which he attended on a Francis P. Gaines Honor Scholarship and where he received several awards for volunteer leadership including being named the John W. Elrod Unsung General of the Year his senior year. In 2019, Washington & Lee honored him with its Distinguished Young Alumni award.

Outside of the office, Hunter enjoys spending time with his wife, young daughter, and their golden retriever. He sits on the board of chatterbird, a nonprofit contemporary chamber orchestra, and is a legacy member of the Phoenix Club of Nashville. A long-time whitewater enthusiast, Hunter has served as a director for the American Canoe Association—the country’s oldest and largest paddle-sports organization and the National Governing Body for Olympic paddle sports—and still chairs the ACA’s Grievance Committee and Policy Review Committee. He is a multi-time member of the U.S. Freestyle Kayaking Team and has competed internationally, including placing ninth in the world in men’s squirt boating at the 2019 ICF Freestyle World Championship and placing fourth at the 2022 ICF Freestyle World Cup. Hunter also qualified as a member of the U.S. Team in 2021 and 2023.

Education

• Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D.
  • Content Editor, Obiter Dictum
  • Development Editor, Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law
  • President, American Constitution Society
• Washington & Lee University, B.A., magna cum laude
  • Distinguished Young Alumni Award
  • Francis P. Gaines Honor Scholarship
  • John W. Elrod Unsung General of the Year

Admissions

• Tennessee
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee

Recognition

• Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation and Utilities Law (2026)
• Best Lawyers in America® “One to Watch,” Alternative Dispute Resolution; Antitrust Law; Civil Rights Law; Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Real Estate (2021 – 2025)
• Tennessee Bar Association Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year Award (2025)
• Tennessee Supreme Court Attorneys for Justice Pro Bono Honor Roll (2017 – 2025)

Publications

• Hunter Branstetter, The Essence(s) of the Matter, Sherrard Roe Blog (February 26, 2015)

Speaking Engagements

• “Landfill Legal Updates: Expansion, Regional Plans, and Impact,” Tennessee County Attorneys’ Association (TCAA) Annual Conference (2025)
• “Landfill Legal Update: Expansion and Impact,” Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association Winter Seminar (2024)
• “Solid Waste Landfills in Middle Tennessee,” Tennessee Bar Association Environmental Law Forum (2023)
• “Condemnation: What Every Commissioner Should Know,” Tennessee Association of Utility Districts Business Conference (2021)
• “Crisis Management,” Tennessee Association of Utility Districts Leadership Conference (2015)

Professional Activities

• Barrister, Belmont University Law School Inn of Court
• Board Member, American Constitution Society, Nashville Lawyers’ Chapter (President 2015 – 2019, Advisory Board Liaison 2019 – present)
• Fellow, Nashville Bar Foundation
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Federal Practice Sections, Nashville Bar Association (ADR Committee Co-Chair, 2022 – 2023)
• Member, Young Lawyers Division and Continuing Legal Education Committee, Nashville Bar Association
• Member, Appellate Practice, Federal Practice, Labor and Employment Law, and Litigation Sections, Tennessee Bar Association (Litigation Section Middle TN Delegate, 2025 – present)
• Sustaining Member, Lawyer’s Association for Women
• Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law, Class of 2025

Civic Activities

• Board Member, chatterbird
• Board Member, American Canoe Association (Grievance Committee Chair, Policy Review Committee Chair)
• Board Member, Washington & Lee Nashville Alumni Chapter
• Life Member, American Whitewater
• Legacy Member, Phoenix Club of Nashville
• Member, Arts Board Matching Class, Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville (2015)
• Member, Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association
• Transit Citizen Leadership Academy (Class 27)