Heather Gwinn is the Managing Partner of the Firm’s Nashville office. She handles a broad spectrum of commercial litigation claims on behalf of small and medium-sized businesses, public and private entities, and Fortune 500 companies against single plaintiff and class and collective actions. She has significant experience defending organizations and companies against whom claims of highly sensitive wrongdoing are alleged, including physical and sexual assaults. She routinely defends malpractice and professional liability claims against individuals in a wide range of industries, including insurance agents and brokers, accountants, attorneys, and directors/officers, and various general and commercial litigation claims, including product liability claims and alleged violations of Sections 1981 and 1983. She has particular expertise in the healthcare, hospitality, technology, construction, and cannabis industries.
Healthcare
Heather has defended healthcare providers, including physician practices, medical spas and aestheticians, pediatric and adult home health providers, mental health professionals, skilled nursing and long-term care facilities, and long-term acute care and assisted living facilities against alleged violations of employment practices, claims of violations of professional standards of care, including negligence, wrongful death, physical and sexual abuse, and violations of consumer protection act claims. In addition, she has handled premises liability claims on behalf of these providers.
Construction
Heather represents national residential and commercial builders, real estate agents and brokers, insurance agents and brokers, property managers/developers, architects, engineers, and contractors, defending them against claims of construction defect and toxic tort, violations of the standard of care, non-compliance with ADA public accommodation regulations, and lien enforcement. In addition, she has defended construction industry employers in collective actions, alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and claims alleging violations of non-solicitation and non-competition agreements.
Hospitality
Heather advises and represents hotel and restaurant employers, defending against claims of wage and hour violations and alleged violations of employment practices.
Technology
Heather regularly represents software developers and IT consulting companies in theft of trade secrets claims, alleged violations of the standard of care, and various breach of contract claims, including alleged violations of non-solicitation and non-competition agreements.
Cannabis
Heather advises and represents employers in the cannabis industry regarding employer-employee relations and alleged violations of employment practices.
Admissions
- Colorado
- Florida
- Kentucky
- Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court, Middle, Eastern, and Western Districts of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
Memberships
- American Bar Association, Law Practice Management Section Board Member (2008-2009)
- Tennessee Bar Association
- Nashville Bar Association
- Kentucky Bar Association
- Colorado Bar Association
- Denver Bar Association
- Florida Bar Association
Community Involvement
Heather is a member of the Williamson County Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Board of Directors, and she and her family support Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, the Nashville Zoo, the Denver Zoo, and various other arts and conservation organizations. She has served as a Guardian ad Litem for more than 400 at-risk children in the states of Colorado and Florida. She also previously served as a member of the Board of Directors for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Colorado.