Jeffrey Zager focuses his practice on complex civil litigation and appellate matters. He represents individual and corporate clients across a wide range of industries in high-stakes disputes often involving significant financial and reputational risks.His experience includes handling complex business and commercial litigation, crisis management, catastrophic injury cases, class actions, and constitutional law.
Before entering private practice, Jeffrey served as a law clerk to the Honorable William J. Haynes, Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and the Honorable Thomas W. Brothers of the Davidson County Circuit Court in Nashville.
Outside of his legal practice, Jeffrey is deeply involved in community and professional leadership. In 2024, he was selected as a Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, recognizing his commitment to advancing diversity in the legal profession. He has served on the board of the Martha O’Bryan Center and previously chaired its junior board, NextUp. In addition, he was an inaugural board member of the Frist Art Museum’s Warhol Society.
Representative Experience
Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of a Texas-based financial services firm in breach of contract case where a hotel operator sought more than $1.3 million following cancellation of an annual conference during the coronavirus pandemic. Avantax Wealth Management, Inc. v. Marriott Hotel Services, Inc. 108 F.4th 407 (6th Cir. 2024)
- Obtained a $5 million jury trial verdict in a breach of contract case arising out of a $500 million acquisition. Thompson Research Group, LLC v. Winnebago Industries, Inc. (M.D. Tenn. 2021)
- Representation of former CEO of a major national museum in lawsuit asserting claims for breach of a separation agreement
- Obtained dismissal of all claims, including claims for fraud and violations of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, against a Kentucky-based livestock company
- Representation of medical practice against claims of breach of contract and unjust enrichment
- Representation of victim of mass shooting in claims against national restaurant chain
- Representation of one of the world’s largest manufacturers of air cargo containers in product liability and wrongful death lawsuit
- Successfully challenged the constitutionality of a provision of the Tennessee Health Care Liability Act. Willeford v. Klepper, 597 S.W.3d 454 (Tenn. 2020)
- Representation of Texas-based scrap metal recycler in breach of contract case against purchaser of 1,300 tons of scrap metal
- Obtained a $9 million jury trial verdict in a wrongful death case involving negligent failure to treat cardiac condition with implantation of an internal cardiac defibrillator. Patterson v. STHS Heart, LLC, Davidson County Circuit Court (2019)
- Representation of local restaurants in nuisance and trespass claims against developer and contractor of adjacent construction project
- Successfully argued before the Tennessee Supreme Court, resulting in a unanimous decision reversing the Court of Appeals below, in a case of first impression regarding the pro se filing of a wrongful death action. Beard v. Branson, 528 S.W.3d 487 (Tenn. 2017)
- Representation of international commercial airline against claims under the Montreal Convention
Professional & Civic Engagement
- American Bar Association
- Tennessee Bar Association
- Nashville Bar Association
- American Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Nashville Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Harry Phillips American Inn of Court, Member
- Martha O’Bryan Center
- Board of Directors, 2019-2022
- NextUp Junior Board, 2016-2022; Chair, 2019-2021
- Frist Art Museum, Warhol Society, Board Member, 2019-2022
- Colorado College Alumni Association Council (2023-Present)
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellow, 2024
Honors & Awards
- Recognized in Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch for Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation, 2021-Present
- Recognized as a Nashville Emerging Leaders Award Finalist in Legal Services, 2020
Thought Leadership
Publications
- "Keeping Internal Investigations Internal: A Cautionary Tale," Nashville Bar Journal, Spring 2026
