TENNESSEE

Ben Crump

Tallahassee, FL

Listed amongst the Most Influential People of 2021 by TIME100, Ebony Magazine’s Power 100 Most Influential African Americans, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers, and the 2014 NNPA Newsmaker of the Year, Attorney Ben Crump is referred to as Black America’s Attorney General. Through a steadfast dedication to justice and service, renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Benjamin Crump has established himself as one of the nation’s foremost lawyers and advocates for social justice. His legal acumen has ensured that those marginalized in American society are protected by their nation’s contract with its constituency. He is the founder and principal owner of Ben Crump Law. Crump’s tireless advocacy has led to legislation preventing excessive force and developing implicit bias training and policies. He has represented families in several high-profile civil rights cases including Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Stephon Clark. He also represented victims in the Holtzclaw Oklahoma City Police rape case and worked on the Robbie Tolan excessive police force case. More recently, he represented the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, the residents of Flint, Michigan, who were affected by the poisoned water of the Flint River, as well as the family of Henrietta Lacks in a landmark reparations case. Crump has helped reach historic settlements and verdicts for families that have faced injustices, including a $411 million verdict for Duane Washington, a $641 million settlement for Flint, Michigan, a $27 million settlement for George Floyd's family, a $12 million settlement for Breonna Taylor's family, and over $200 million in banking while Black cases. Crump is the President of the National Civil Rights Trial Lawyers Association and previously served as President of the National Bar Association. He was the first African-American to chair the Florida State University College of Law Board of Directors and is the founder and director of the Benjamin Crump Social Justice Institute. In 2023, the College of Law at St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida, became the Benjamin L. Crump College of Law. He has been recognized with the NAACP Thurgood Marshall Award, the SCLC Martin Luther King Servant Leader Award, the American Association for Justice Johnnie Cochran Award, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Eleanor Roosevelt Medallion for Service. He hosted legal docudramas and served as executive producer and writer for a documentary. He is a frequent contributor to MSNBC, CNN, and USA Today. Crump’s book, published in October 2019, Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People, reflects on the landmark cases he has battled, and how discrimination in the courthouse devastates real families and communities. Crump graduated from Florida State University and received his law degree from FSU College of Law. He is married to Dr. Genae Angelique Crump.

Michael L. Goldberg

Atlanta, GA

Michael L. Goldberg is a partner at Fried Goldberg LLC, representing victims of catastrophic personal injuries or wrongful death, primarily in trucking and commercial vehicle accidents. He has been lead counsel on 15 cases with multi-million dollar verdicts and was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2013.

Throughout his career, managing partner Merrida Coxwell has developed a reputation as a fierce critic of social and legal injustice. He has accepted many criminal cases that others shunned and believes in providing aggressive legal representation. He has distinguished himself in personal injury law with significant verdicts, including a $144 million product liability case and a $2.1 million civil rights case. His criminal defense work has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for over ten consecutive years and Super Lawyers of the Deep South. He is also an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for skill and ethical conduct. He represented 18 death penalty clients and successfully defended two major alleged drug conspiracies in Federal Court.

Taylor King

Little Rock, AR

Taylor King is the founding attorney of Taylor King Law, practicing for over 30 years since opening the firm in 1994. He received degrees in political science and history from Ouachita Baptist University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas. He is proud to work alongside his children, Austin and Maggie, and enjoys spending time with family and his golden retriever, Honey.

Don Donati

Memphis, TN

Don Donati is the founding attorney of Donati Law, PLLC, known for his ethical and honest approach to legal representation. He handles personal injury, employment law, and veterans' benefits cases. He has significant trial experience, including appearing before the United States Supreme Court. He earned his J.D. from the University of Tennessee in 1975 and a B.A. from Memphis State University in 1971. He is licensed in Tennessee, the Tennessee Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court, and various federal circuit and district courts. He has received numerous awards, including being recognized as a 'Power Player' by MBQ: Inside Memphis Business, 'Memphis Lawyer of the Year' by The Best Lawyers in America, and a 'Top 100 Lawyer' by Mid-South Super Lawyers.

B. Tyler Brooks

Greensboro, NC

B. Tyler Brooks is the principal attorney at Law Office of B. Tyler Brooks, PLLC. He represents clients in constitutional law and civil rights cases, as well as commercial and employment litigation. He has extensive experience trying cases, arguing appeals, and handling private arbitration. Before founding his firm, he practiced civil litigation focusing on wrongful death, personal injury, and employment law, and also worked in financial services and bankruptcy law. He has served as an Adjunct Professor and Instructor of Business Law. Tyler has been recognized as a 'Rising Star' and 'SuperLawyer' by SuperLawers for multiple years and is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He is admitted to practice law in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Michigan.