Janet S. Hayes and Benjamin W. Jones, shareholders in Lewis Thomason’s Knoxville office, have been inducted as Fellows of the Knoxville Bar Foundation. Fellows are chosen based on their devoted and distinguished service to the legal profession and the administration of justice and their adherence to the highest standards of professional ethics and personal conduct.
Janet Hayes’ practice is focused on employment and appellate law. She is an advocate for employers and businesses across the state. Hayes has successfully defended all types of employment claims including sexual harassment, retaliatory discharge, discrimination, workers’ compensation, invasion of privacy, wage/hour claims and denial of benefits. She has argued multiple issues in each of Tennessee’s appellate courts, including the Supreme Court of Tennessee. With over 20 years of litigation experience, Hayes now devotes most of her time developing employment contracts to provide legal compliance while enhancing business success. Employers frequently call upon her to conduct formal investigation of employee complaints and allegations of internal wrongdoing. Her investigations have included allegations of sexual harassment, age discrimination, embezzlement, misappropriation of time, abuse of leave policies, and generalized claims of mismanagement and unprofessional conduct. Among Hayes’ many accomplishments she has been named Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year in Knoxville twice, Named to Best Lawyers in America®, Named a Cityview Magazine “Top Attorney” for nine years, Named one of Knoxville’s “40 Under 40”, Member of Order of the Coif, ALFA International Employment Law Steering Committee, and the American, Tennessee, and Knoxville Bar Associations.
Ben Jones’ practice primarily concentrates on personal injury, insurance, and casualty defense in civil litigation with a primary emphasis in the areas of hospitality litigation, amusement litigation, commercial vehicle/automobile litigation, professional liability, and general tort defense. Jones has defended wrongful death and other catastrophic injury cases and has extensive trial experience in courts throughout East Tennessee. Among Jones’ many accomplishments he has been named The Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year in Knoxville, Named to The Best Lawyers in America®, Named a Cityview Top Attorney, Board of Governors, Tennessee Bar Association, Graduate, Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Taskforce, Outreach to Young Lawyers, Member ALFA International Transportation and Hospitality practice groups, Member, National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association, Member, of ALFA International, the American, Knoxville, and Tennessee Bar Association