Heather Wright is a Shareholder in the Firm’s Nashville office and a member of the Litigation and Insurance Law practice groups. Ms. Wright helps a broad variety of commercial clients identify operational risks and manage risk through insurance.

She helps policyholders maximize insurance recovery under a variety of commercial insurance policies, including property, general liability, professional liability, directors and officers, and cyber liability policies. In addition, she represents commercial property owners and asset managers, as well as real estate developers and general contractors, in the negotiation of insurance and indemnity provisions in purchase and sale agreements, debt service agreements, leases, management agreements, and construction contracts.

Ms. Wright also provides regulatory and compliance advice to lenders and mortgage servicers regarding compliance with the Flood Disaster Protection Act as well as litigation involving alleged violations of security agreements and other contracts in matters involving property insurance on secured property.

Awards and Honors

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, 2022 -2025
  • Benchmark Litigation
    • “Future Star,” Tennessee, 2015-2016, 2018-2021, 2023-2024
    • “Litigation Star,” Tennessee, 2017
  • Mid–South Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2021-2024
  • Honored as an “Attorney for Justice” by the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission, 2022

Professional Involvement

  • American Bankers Association, Flood Working Group
  • Mortgage Bankers Association, Servicer Council; Insurance Stakeholder Committee
  • National Flood Association, Lender Committee, Legislative Committee
  • School of Mortgage Banking I, School of Mortgage Banking II
  • Obtained coverage under Owner’s Controlled Insurance Program for defense of defective work claims asserted by owner against general contractor
  • Negotiated resolution of property damage claim to obtain replacement cost value for loss despite initial offer to pay only actual cash value
  • Negotiated resolution of business interruption claim for lost rent based on projected stabilized rental rates
  • Obtained coverage for multi-state construction defect litigation including allocation across multiple policy years and primary and excess general liability policies
  • Managed notice and claims process and payment of defense expenses with errors and omissions insurer for multiple nationwide class actions
  • Revised general contractor form subcontract and developed system for contractor to track subcontractor insurance coverage and ensure additional insured coverage for general contractor
  • Obtained title insurance coverage for unidentified utility lines impacting development of property
  • Negotiated manuscript policy provisions of directors and officers to ensure most favorable policy terms for insured
  • Negotiated procurement of tail policies and escrow agreements to replace expiring claims made professional liability policies in acquisition of assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities
  • Assist lenders in preparation for Flood Disaster Protection Act regulator examinations
  • Developed process for regional bank to utilize in review of private flood insurance policies
  • Assist regional banks in updating loss draft policies and procedures
  • Assist regional bank in ensuring compliance with Flood Disaster Protection Act in commercial loan documents
  • Assist lead lender in participated debt facility in developing Flood Disaster Protection Act policies and procedures

Ms. Wright earned her J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law where she was Order of the Coif, an Executive Editor of the Wake Forest Law Review, and a member of the Moot Court Board. She earned her B.A. with a double major in Philosophy, with honors, and Political Science from Sewanee, The University of the South.

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
  • Renewal House, Board Member
  • Nashville Conflict Resolution Center, Board Member, Executive Committee-Secretary
  • Ensworth School Parent Association