Adam M. Priest
Adam M. Priest is a partner in the firm whose practice is firmly grounded in the courtroom, where he has built a reputation as a skilled and trusted advocate for his clients. A Knoxville native, Mr. Priest earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance, summa cum laude, from The University of Tennessee in 1995, followed by his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from The University of Tennessee College of Law in 1999. He was admitted to the Tennessee Bar that same year and is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Tennessee.
Mr. Priest’s academic excellence and commitment to the profession have been recognized throughout his career. He is a member of the prestigious Order of the Coif, the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the Knoxville Bar Foundation, and the Tennessee Bar Foundation. From 2005-2015, he served as an adjunct professor in the Advocacy Program at The University of Tennessee College of Law and was a member of the Advisory Board for the College of Law’s Advocacy Clinic, reflecting his dedication to mentoring the next generation of trial lawyers.
Peer recognition has consistently placed Mr. Priest among the top attorneys in East Tennessee. He holds an AV Preeminent
rating from Martindale‑Hubbell—the highest distinction awarded for legal ability and ethical standards—and has been repeatedly recognized by Knoxville-area attorneys and judges as one of Knoxville’s Top Attorneys in Cityview magazine. Mr. Priest was named to the Mid‑South Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in 2012 and has been selected as a Mid‑South Super Lawyer each year since 2013.
rating from Martindale‑Hubbell—the highest distinction awarded for legal ability and ethical standards—and has been repeatedly recognized by Knoxville-area attorneys and judges as one of Knoxville’s Top Attorneys in Cityview magazine. Mr. Priest was named to the Mid‑South Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in 2012 and has been selected as a Mid‑South Super Lawyer each year since 2013.Mr. Priest’s practice emphasizes litigation and trial advocacy, with a primary focus on representing plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death cases and representing clients in family law and domestic relations cases. In this latter field, Mr. Priest guides clients through some of life’s most difficult and personal challenges with honesty and professionalism. In addition to litigation, Mr. Priest frequently participates in mediations and is a Rule 31 Listed Mediator by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Based in Knox County, Mr. Priest represents clients throughout East Tennessee and has handled cases across the Tennessee when needed. A regular speaker in continuing legal education programs, he has lectured for the Knoxville Bar Association and the National Business Institute on topics involving personal injury and family law.
Outside the practice of law, Mr. Priest is married to his wife, Kristi, and has two daughters, Kate and Annie. He enjoys snow skiing, spending time on the lake, and playing golf. An instrument-rated private pilot, Mr. Priest also enjoys flying his Beechcraft Bonanza, both in support of his law practice and for family adventures.
Practice Areas
- Courtroom and Litigation
- Personal Injury
- Defective Products
- Wrongful Death
- Divorce and Family Law
Education
- University of Tennessee College of Law, Knoxville, Tennessee
- J.D. – 1999
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Honors: Order of the Coif, 1999
- Honors: Member, Advisory Board, Advocacy Clinic
- The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
- B.S. – 1995
- Honors: summa cum laude
- Major: Finance
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee, 1999
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee, 1999
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee
Honors
- Voted One of “Knoxville’s Top Attorneys” in a Survey of Lawyers and Judges, City View Magazine, 2010-present
- Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Stars List
- Awarded the AV Designation by Martindale-Hubbell Via Rigorous Peer Review
- Mid-South Super Lawyer
- 2022 Awards with City View Magazine -Family Law/Divorce/Child Support -Nursing Home Liability -Plaintiff -Personal Injury-Auto -Plaintiff -Personal Injury-Motorcycle -Plaintiff -Product Liability -Plaintiff
Classes/Seminars
- Adjunct Professor, Advocacy Program, The University of Tennessee College of Law, 2005 to Present
Representative Cases
- Crippen v Campbell, 2007 WL 2768076, 2007, Tenn. Ct. App
- Elrod v. Elrod, 2004 WL 66683, 2004, Tenn. Ct. App.
- Morristown Firefighters Ass’n v. City of Morristown, 2001 WL 274114, 2001, Tenn.Ct.App.
Professional Associations
- Knoxville Bar Association, Member, 1999
- Tennessee Bar Association, Member
- Tennessee Association for Justice, Member
- America Association of Justice, Member
- Hamilton Burnett American Inn of Court, Member
- Order of the Coif, Member
- Advisory Board, The University of Tennessee College of Law’s Advocacy Clinic, Member
Current Employment Positions
- Partner, 2006