Service to clients and to the profession of law is the reason for the existence of the law firm of Arnett, Draper & Hagood.

The shared mission of everyone at Arnett, Draper & Hagood is to provide clients with courteous, responsive and proactive legal service of the highest quality. We understand our clients need legal guidance to achieve their individual and business goals and to solve their legal problems. To meet this need, we know that we must be our clients' partners. To that end, the firm is committed to learning about our clients and their legal and business needs. In addition to assisting clients with immediate legal problems, we proactively assist client efforts to comply with and utilize to their best fair advantage the ever changing state and federal laws and administrative rules and regulations. The firm's clients appreciate the truth of the simple adage, "forewarned is forearmed."

Arnett, Draper & Hagood lawyers prepare clients for trial and try their lawsuits. The firm works with clients to effectively and efficiently plan and execute individual and business transactions. Whether a lawsuit, business, personal or estate matter, the firm stresses preparation and keeping the client informed.

The firm holds the conviction that the best legal results, whether achieved in court or through negotiation, occur when lawyer and client work together with the view that no conclusion of any client matter will be influenced by a lack of preparedness. Teamwork with the client, creative thinking and an emphasis on preparation assure that when cases are tried or when alternative methods of resolution are employed, the results are fair and based upon applicable legal principles and rational business analysis.

The litigation skill and experience of the firm's lawyers is broad. The firm's attorneys conduct trial practice in matters including aviation law, commercial law, corporate law, drug and medical device and hospital law, employment discrimination and employment law, ERISA law, estate law, insurance law, labor law, medical and professional malpractice law, personal injury law, products liability law, wills and trusts law, workers' compensation law and wrongful death law.

Arnett, Draper & Hagood's transactional lawyers assist the firm's clients with a multitude of business transaction matters, the formation of businesses, the sale and acquisition of businesses, estate and tax planning, the preparation of wills and trust agreements and a wide variety of other personal and business matters involving legal and financial implications for our clients.

Several of the firm's members work as mediators. Five of Arnett, Draper & Hagood's attorneys are qualified "Rule 31 Mediators" under the rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Tennessee and two are also Certified Mediators for the United States Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

To maintain a level of superior client service, the lawyers of Arnett, Draper & Hagood concentrate on what we do best for our clients. The firm and its lawyers, however, are open to developing new practice areas in response to the requirements of our clients. The firm continually works to identify areas in which it can be of more service to its clients and to develop expertise to provide those services.

Arnett, Draper & Hagood was established on February 14,1954 by Foster D. Arnett. The firm is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, the largest metropolitan area in the eastern portion of the state. Knoxville is the county seat of Knox County and the headquarters of both the Knox County Chancery and Circuit Courts. Additionally, Knoxville is the headquarters for the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. In short, our firm is located in the heart of the East Tennessee federal and state judicial systems.

Over the years, Arnett, Draper & Hagood has enjoyed the privilege of providing counsel to many prominent local, regional and national business and insurance concerns. Additionally, representation of individuals has always been and remains a valued and vital aspect of the firm's practice.

In addition to the important work of our clients, Arnett, Draper & Hagood's attorneys give of their time and talent to fulfill their individual and the firm's responsibilities to work for the betterment of the community and the profession of law. Historically, the firm's lawyers have served on local and national boards of charitable entities. The firm's attorneys place emphasis on pro bono and volunteer services. Our lawyers are regularly involved in community legal aid and charitable projects.

The firm has also earned the distinction of being listed in Martindale-Hubbell's Bar Registry of Pre-Eminent Lawyers. This publication is limited to only the most distinguished law practices, those who have achieved an "AV" rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. The "A" signifies the highest level of legal ability, while the "V" denotes "very high" adherence to the professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability and diligence.

In conclusion, the philosophy of Arnett, Draper & Hagood in serving our clients is both simple and effective. We strive to become partners with our clients. Our lawyers place a premium on listening to the client and learning the client's philosophy and goals. We understand and meet our clients' needs for prompt responsiveness in all communications. We provide clients with our best objective professional analysis and assist clients to achieve their stated goals within the bounds of applicable law.