William L Harbison

Corporate law

Trusts and estates

Private wealth law

Commercial litigation

Trusts and estates litigation

Private wealth litigation

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).

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

“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

Past Member, Nashville Metropolitan Planning Commission

Harvard Law School, J.D, cum laude

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., with highest honors

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 – 2026); Commercial Litigation (2006 – 2026); Elder Law (2013 – 2026); Litigation – Trusts and Estates (2011 – 2026); Trusts and Estates (2001 – 2026)

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)