John L. Farringer

Commercial litigation

John Farringer is a trial lawyer focusing on complex business and commercial litigation. He practices in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate level and before administrative agencies. John is also experienced with all forms of alternative dispute resolution, regularly advises clients regarding litigation avoidance and assessment, and is listed as a Rule 31 General Civil Mediator.

With over two decades of experience, John has litigated many high-stakes and high-profile matters, both individually and as co-counsel with national firms. He has represented every type of business entity as well as individual officers and directors in a variety of matters, including securities litigation, shareholder actions, class actions, banking litigation, real estate litigation, tort and business tort actions, covenants not to compete/trade secrets, response to governmental subpoenas and investigations, contract disputes, boundary and land use disputes, nonprofit corporation act compliance, and civil rights actions.

John is the President-Elect of the Tennessee Bar Association. He is a past Chair of the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission. John began his legal career by clerking for the Honorable Thomas A. Wiseman, Jr., Senior United States District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee.

President-Elect, Tennessee Bar Association

Past Chair and Member, Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission

Past Chair, Tennessee Bar Association Access to Justice Committee

Member, Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law, Class of 2011

Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Member, Litigation Section, American Bar Association

Member, Litigation Section, Tennessee Bar Association

Member, Nashville Bar Association

Pro bono work, including prevailing in a case before the Tennessee Supreme Court

John Farringer, Nothing Lasts Forever: Expiration and Extension of Judgments in Tennessee, Sherrard Roe Blog (March 31, 2022)

“The Competency Conundrum: Problems Courts Have Faced in Applying Different Standards for Competency to be Executed” 54 Vand. L. Rev. 2441 (2001)

Member, Richland-West End Neighborhood Association Board of Directors

Parishioner, Cathedral of the Incarnation

Past Board Member, Economic Club

Past President and Board Member, Raising Resilience (formerly known as The Family Center)

Represented independent board members of public company in defense of shareholder litigation arising from merger transaction

Represented public company in successfully opposing injunctive relief arising out of disputes under an operating agreement

Represented selling shareholders of a logistics company in defense of a multi-million dollar claim arising out of alleged breaches of representations and warranties in the underlying stock purchase agreement

Represented public company seeking to invoke a material adverse condition clause to terminate a merger agreement with another public company

Represented majority owner of private company producing and distributing wine in dispute amongst members arising out of sale of the company

Represented bank in defending against claims of business entity related to loan agreements

Represented bank and nursing home in commercial construction disputes

Represented a law firm in defense of a civil rights claim brought by individual against whom a judgment was obtained in a prior lawsuit

Represented a law firm in defense of claims for fraud based on litigation conduct in a prior lawsuit

Represented technology company in dispute with local municipality regarding rights of way and fees

Represented aeronautics company in dispute brought by losing bidder in a request for proposal process

Represented a university in defending the decisions of the city council and administrative boards regarding a lease arrangement between the city and the university

Represented a private elementary school in overturning the decisions of administrative boards to revoke various land use permits previously issued to the school

Represented organization defending its property rights in boundary dispute

Represented individual in obtaining 1940 Chinese Bonds in the possession of a company who had claimed it would sell them

Represented nursing home company in contractual disputes with management company and pharmaceutical provider

Represented NHL hockey team in dispute over a naming rights agreement with a public company

Represented bail bonding company in enforcing contractual rights and in defending against tort claims

Represented individuals both in seeking and opposing conservatorships

Represented through a jury trial an immigrant shackled while in labor and in the custody of the city government

Represented the Tennessee plaintiffs in the case consolidated with other cases that resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court’s Obergefell opinion

Vanderbilt University, J.D.

Washington and Lee University, B.A., magna cum laude

Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated

Chambers USA: Litigation (2022 – 2026)

Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year,” Nashville, Litigation – Banking and Finance (2021, 2024, 2026)

Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year,” Nashville, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning (2023, 2026)

Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year,” Nashville, Litigation – Securities (2023)

Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2016 – 2026); Litigation – Banking and Finance (2020 – 2026); Litigation – Land Use and Zoning (2022 – 2026); Litigation – Real Estate (2026); Litigation – Securities (2021 – 2026)

Legal 500, US City Elite – Nashville, Commercial Disputes (2026)

Mid-South Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, Civil Litigation, General Litigation (2013 – 2025)

Mid-South Super Lawyers “Rising Star” (2011 – 2012)

Mid-South Super Lawyers “Top 100: Tennessee Super Lawyers” (2024 – 2025)

Benchmark Litigation “Future Star,” Appellate, Commercial, Securities (2014 – 2026)

Benchmark Litigation “Under 40 Hot List” (2016 – 2017)

Nashville Business Journal “Best of The Bar” (2016, 2023)

Nashville Bar Foundation’s Fellows Program, Class of 2020

Tennessee Bar Association’s President’s Award for work as Chair of Medical-Legal Partnership Working Group (2015)

Tennessee Bar Association’s President’s Award for work to improve the system for indigent representation in Tennessee (2025)

Tennessee Bar Association’s Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Award (2012)

ACLU Bill of Rights Award (2015)

Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow

Tennessee Supreme Court Attorneys for Justice Pro Bono Honor Roll (2015 – 2016, 2018 – 2019, 2023, 2025)