Lang Wiseman, former Deputy Governor & Chief Counsel to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, has joined Baker Donelson as a shareholder in the Firm's Advocacy Department.
Mr. Wiseman will practice from the Firm's offices in both Nashville, where he resides, and Memphis, where he practiced and lived before taking the Deputy Governor & Chief Counsel position in Nashville. Mr. Wiseman's practice is expected to focus extensively on his background and experience as a high-stakes litigator in a variety of subject matter areas, including business, financial services, and construction. He will also counsel and provide strategic advice on a wide range of economic public policy issues.
Buck Wellford, the Firm's Advocacy Chair, said, "Lang brings a tremendous amount of complex litigation skills and deep institutional governmental knowledge to the Firm. These skill sets fit well with several of our practice specialties, including business, complex tort, and construction litigation. With his wide circle of contacts throughout the state and his plan to maintain active practices in his hometown of Memphis as well as Nashville, Lang helps solidify our statewide litigation practice capabilities."
Brigid M. Carpenter, managing shareholder of the Firm's Nashville office, said, "We are delighted to welcome Lang to the Firm and believe he will be a great addition to our client growth strategy. He is a well-respected public servant and highly-qualified legal professional. With Lang's leadership we look forward to serving our clients in a number of industries in litigation, economic development, and public policy."
Mr. Wiseman's duties in state government included acting as a liaison between the Tennessee Governor's office, the legislature, and the various departments and agencies in state government. As Chief Counsel, Mr. Wiseman coordinated the legal affairs of the Executive Branch and advised the Governor on a variety of legal, political, and legislative matters.
Before his appointment as Deputy Governor & Chief Counsel to the Governor, Mr. Wiseman practiced law in Baker Donelson's Memphis office and was a founding partner at the Memphis law firm Wiseman Bray PLLC.
Bruce McMullen, managing shareholder of Baker Donelson's Memphis office, said, "We are very excited to have Lang rejoining Baker Donelson. His unique experience in both the public and private sectors, and his connections in Tennessee, particularly in Memphis, provide major benefits to our client base in both litigation and constantly changing public policy matters."
"I've spent my professional life in both the public and private sector, and I am excited to embark on this next phase of my career at Baker Donelson, where I have a lot of fond memories and maintain longstanding personal connections," said Mr. Wiseman. "After announcing my intention to step down from my position in state government, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted to do next and what firm offered the best platform to serve clients. I am excited about the opportunity to reconnect at Baker Donelson and equally enthusiastic about the Firm's level of talent and strategic plans, which are a great fit for me. It's a tremendous opportunity, and I look forward to partnering with the Firm's lawyers to advise our clients."
A graduate of the Harvard Law School, Mr. Wiseman has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® in Commercial Litigation and Government Relations, and is a member of the American, Tennessee and Memphis Bar Associations. He received his undergraduate degree summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, achieving the Top Graduate of the College of Business while serving as co-captain of the university's basketball team.