Baker Donelson continues to grow its newest location, adding Tracy E. Tomlin as shareholder in its Charlotte, North Carolina, office. Mr. Tomlin was formerly a partner at Nelson Mullins, where he served as the managing partner of that firm's Charlotte office for 20 of his 25 years there.
Mr. Tomlin, who joins as a member of the Firm's Complex Litigation and Class Actions Group, focuses his practice on general litigation, product liability, toxic torts, premises liability, and business litigation. He has a wealth of experience in the mass tort arena, having served a number of high-profile clients for over 35 years in the defense of asbestos and talc cases. He is credited with successfully trying a high volume of those cases in state and federal courts in North Carolina and Florida, as well as negotiating thousands of settlements for clients throughout the country. Mr. Tomlin has also assisted with developing litigation and negotiation management systems and strategies at the state, regional, and national levels for his clients.
Fred M. Wood Jr., managing shareholder of Baker Donelson's Charlotte office, said, "As Baker Donelson continues to build our presence here in Charlotte, we're extremely fortunate to welcome an attorney of Tracy's caliber to our team. He brings more than 35 years of experience and an outstanding reputation as a skillful litigator and strategist. His practice is a strong complement to our existing litigation capabilities, and his track record of leadership, recruiting, and developing talent is a perfect fit for Baker Donelson's growth objectives. I look forward to working with him to expand our representation of clients in Charlotte and beyond."
Licensed in both North Carolina and Florida, Mr. Tomlin is a member of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. He is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants and was named the 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" in Charlotte, N.C. for Mass Tort/Class Actions – Defendants.
"Joining Baker Donelson not only offered me access to a collaborative firm environment that will better serve my clients, it also presented an opportunity to play an integral role in the Firm's growing presence in the Carolinas," said Mr. Tomlin. "I'm extremely impressed with Baker Donelson. Their infrastructure and culture are perfectly positioned for significant growth, and, of particular interest to me, they are invested in the development of their young lawyers, and they have developed resources and pathways for their success in developing clients, serving clients, and becoming tomorrow's leaders of the Firm. I am also impressed by the commitment Baker Donelson is showing to this region. I would not have joined them otherwise. I am truly excited to be here and eager to contribute to the Firm's strategic vision here."
Baker Donelson launched its Charlotte location in March of this year with the addition of six shareholders. This marked the Firm's third new location in the Carolinas in less than three years, following the October 2021 launch of its first North Carolina location in Raleigh/Research Triangle and the September 2022 addition of a location in Charleston, South Carolina. The Firm has had a location in Columbia, South Carolina, since 2016.