Frantz, McConnell & Seymour

What Frantz, McConnell & Seymour does

Frantz, McConnell & Seymour, LLP is a Knoxville, Tennessee-based law firm that has practiced continuously since 1902 (under its current name since 1920), serving individual and corporate clients throughout East Tennessee. The firm operates from a single office in the Bank of America Building in downtown Knoxville and offers 25 distinct practice areas spanning litigation (business and commercial, general civil, personal injury, products liability, toxic exposure, ERISA), transactional work (corporate, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, construction), regulatory and advisory services (bankruptcy, tax, zoning and land use, mines and minerals), and individual client matters (estate planning, family law, workers' compensation). Its 15 named attorneys include eight partners and associates with credentials including Best Lawyers recognition, Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent ratings, and admission to the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Tax Court, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The firm generates revenue through professional legal service fees billed to clients on a case-by-case basis, using hourly rates, flat fees, or contingency arrangements depending on matter type. Client acquisition is primarily referral-driven — from other attorneys needing local counsel, existing institutional clients, and the firm's long-standing regional reputation — supplemented by content marketing through three topical blogs (employment law, estate planning, and land use) and social media presence on Facebook and LinkedIn. The firm represents a diversified customer base across at least a dozen industries including banking, real estate development, construction, healthcare, mining, hospitality, transportation, and alcoholic beverage production, alongside individual clients in personal legal matters.

The firm is privately held as a Tennessee limited liability partnership, with no parent company, private equity investment, or external funding. Beverly D. Nelms serves as managing partner. The firm's competitive position rests on over 120 years of continuous regional presence, trial law recognition by the Tennessee Jury Verdict Reporter since 2006, and the integration of multiple specialty practices under a single East Tennessee roof, including niche capabilities such as Rule 31 listed mediation and title insurance defense.

Name

Frantz, McConnell & Seymour

Legal name

Frantz, McConnell & Seymour, LLP

Website

https://fmsllp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Frantz, McConnell & Seymour is a Knoxville-based law firm founded in 1902 offering 25 practice areas — including litigation, corporate law, real estate, bankruptcy, and estate planning — to individual and business clients across East Tennessee through 15 named attorneys.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Injury & Insurance Defense (BPAHAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) & Securities Law (BPAHAAAI), Product Liability & Recall (FSAJAGAG)

Keywords

• Business litigation services
• Estate planning legal
• Real estate law
• Bankruptcy legal counsel
• Employment law practice

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Fees: The firm generates revenue through professional legal service fees charged to clients for representation in various practice areas including litigation, corporate law, real estate, employment law, estate planning, and more. Fee structures likely include hourly billing, flat fees for specific services, and potentially contingency fees for certain litigation matters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Frantz, McConnell & Seymour, LLP is a full-service East Tennessee law firm providing 25 distinct legal service offerings across civil and business law. The firm represents individuals, families, and businesses in litigation, transactional, and advisory matters, with attorneys practicing in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies throughout the region. Revenue is generated through professional legal service fees via hourly rates, flat fees, and contingency arrangements.

Product overview

Frantz, McConnell & Seymour, LLP is a full-service East Tennessee law firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of legal services rather than a unified software product. The firm provides 25 distinct legal service offerings across civil and business law, including litigation, transactional, and advisory practices. The service portfolio spans arbitration and mediation, bankruptcy, business and commercial litigation, corporate law, construction law, employment law, estate planning, family law, insurance, personal injury, products liability, real estate, tax, workers' compensation, and zoning/land use. Attorneys practice in state and federal courts throughout Tennessee and appear before administrative agencies. The firm has been serving clients since 1902.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arbitration & Mediation Alternative dispute resolution services in which attorneys represent clients in mediation and arbitration proceedings, with several attorneys listed as Rule 31 Mediators under Tennessee Supreme Court Rules.
• Bankruptcy Creditor representation and bankruptcy law services including Chapter 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcies, recovery and collection actions, and adversary proceedings.
• Business and Commercial Litigation Comprehensive business litigation services covering contract disputes, shareholder derivative suits, business fraud, corporate and partnership issues, and transactional disputes.
• Business Transactions & Corporate Law Corporate counsel services including entity formation, business acquisitions, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance.
• Conservatorship & Guardianship Legal representation for guardians and conservators in Tennessee courts and assistance for those seeking to claim abuse by guardians or conservators.
• Construction Law Construction industry legal services covering defect claims, delay claims, contract disputes, and mechanic's liens for contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals.
• ERISA / Employee Welfare Benefits Complex litigation concerning employee welfare benefits plans governed by ERISA, including health, disability, and life insurance claims.
• Family Law Family law matters including alimony, child custody, child support, divorce, guardianship, paternity, and property division.
• General Civil Litigation Civil litigation representation in federal and state courts in East and Middle Tennessee, including jury and non-jury trials and motion practice.
• Insurance Insurance carrier and self-insurer representation in policy claims, coverage matters, and declaratory judgment actions for liability, property, and professional malpractice.
• Labor & Employment Employment law services for employers and employees covering discrimination, wage and hour issues, FMLA, employment contracts, and workplace policies.
• Litigation, Trial and Appellate Civil litigation at trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts; recognized as one of the most prolific trial law firms in Tennessee since 2006.
• Local Counsel Partnership with out-of-state attorneys to serve their clients locally in any practice area in East Tennessee.
• Mines & Minerals Mining, oil and gas industry legal services including acquisition, lease, sale of mineral interests, quarry permitting, and mergers.
• Personal-Injury Litigation Representation for injured individuals in personal injury lawsuits and defense of persons sued for personal injuries in automobile, workplace, and premises liability cases.
• Private Client Services Estate planning services including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, business succession planning, and probate administration for individuals and families.
• Products Liability Representation for product manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in defective-product litigation involving strict liability, breach of warranty, and negligence claims.
• Real Estate Complete real estate transaction services including negotiations, closings, title review, lease preparation, zoning matters, and foreclosure representation.
• Small Business Legal services for small and mid-sized businesses covering contracts, employment matters, litigation, real estate, bankruptcy, and business formation and dissolution.
• Tax Tax planning, return preparation assistance, audit representation, and tax litigation at federal and state levels including the U.S. Tax Court.
• Title Insurance Defense Representation for title insurance companies and insureds in resolving title disputes and clearing title to property.
• Toxic Exposure Litigation Complex toxic exposure litigation concerning materials including asbestos, representing manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in liability claims.
• Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning and Probate Estate planning and wealth preservation services including will drafting, trust agreements, powers of attorney, advance directives, and probate administration.
• Workers' Compensation Workers' compensation representation for employers, insurers, and self-insured employers including risk reduction, cost containment, and litigation.
• Zoning, Land Use, Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs Government negotiation and regulatory representation for rezoning, plat approvals, variances, permits, and appearances before planning commissions and zoning appeals boards.

Quantifiable outcome

• One of the most prolific trial law firms in Tennessee since 2006
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Knoxville Transit AuthorityminorOthersThe firm has long served as counsel to the Knoxville Transit Authority, providing legal representation in regulatory matters, contracts, and other transportation-related legal issues.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Arnett, Draper & Hagood: Knoxville-based firm of similar scale serving individuals and businesses across litigation, real estate, and corporate matters—overlapping client base and practice areas with FMS in East Tennessee.
• Woolf McClane: Long-established Knoxville law firm with a similar full-service orientation including litigation, family law, and business representation. Directly competes in the same Knoxville mid-market segment.
• Kramer Rayson LLP: Knoxville-based mid-size firm offering business, employment, healthcare, and litigation services—competing head-to-head with FMS in the East Tennessee mid-market and business-client segment.
• Sherrard Roe: Nashville-based firm with comparable full-service mid-market offering and overlapping practice areas in litigation, corporate, and real estate—competes for Tennessee-based clients willing to engage firms outside East Tennessee.
• Lewis, King, Krieg & Waldrop: Knoxville-headquartered firm of similar vintage and full-service orientation, with comparable practice areas including litigation, real estate, and business transactions.
• Egerton McAfee Armistead & Davis: Knoxville litigation and insurance defense firm with comparable focus on civil litigation, insurance, and tort defense—directly competing for insurer panel work and commercial defense matters.
• Kennerly, Montgomery & Finley: A Knoxville-based full-service law firm of comparable size, with overlapping practice areas in litigation, business law, real estate, and employment. Directly competes for the same East Tennessee corporate and individual clients.

Broad incumbents

• Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz: Large, multi-office Tennessee-based law firm with deep regional presence. Competes for the same corporate, banking, and litigation matters, though offers a substantially wider service portfolio than FMS.
• Miller & Martin: Larger Chattanooga-headquartered firm with offices across the Southeast, providing a broader suite of services that overlaps with many FMS practice areas including litigation, corporate, labor, and real estate.

Regional players

• Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel: Chattanooga-based full-service firm of similar size, with overlapping practice areas including business, litigation, real estate, and employment—competes for the broader East/Middle Tennessee market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FrantzMcConnellSeymourLlp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/frantz-mcconnell-&-seymour-llp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Frantz, McConnell & Seymour