Woodbury, TN

Brock East

Brock East is a partner and one of the original founders of McCarter | East PLLC, which was established in 2009. Brock is a 2002 graduate of the University of Tennessee (University Honors) and received his law degree, with a focus in litigation, from the University of Memphis in 2005. After graduation, he began practicing law at one of the largest law firms in Memphis, Tennessee. In 2007, Brock moved back to his hometown of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Since his return, Brock has developed a practice focusing on the people and businesses of Middle Tennessee. A significant portion of Brock’s practice is dedicated to family law cases. These oftentimes range from highly contested divorces involving significant asset/debt division (which may include business valuations and/or dissolutions) to uncontested agreements. Other family law issues that are commonplace in Brock's practice involve custody disputes/emergencies, parental relocation issues, child support matters and issues of contempt. Additionally, Brock has extensive experience with civil litigation, including contract disputes, construction law issues and construction defect issues, as well as real property disputes/inverse condemnation cases. Brock is consistently referred cases from other business/real estate professionals throughout the Middle Tennessee area. Brock represents many businesses throughout Middle Tennessee, and beyond, with challenges ranging from contract negotiation to organizational disputes, risk management, collections, and employee-related litigation. Brock currently serves as legal counsel to the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. Lastly, Brock has been fortunate to represent a number of injured individuals that have needed his help/guidance and trusted him with their cases. Although he is selective about the personal injury cases he handles, Brock has had many significant successes that have led to multiple millions of dollars in recovery on behalf of his clientele. Brock’s love for the law and his genuine interest in helping others enables him to uniquely approach cases and he strives to reach the best possible outcome for each client. Brock is married to Jenny East, and they have three children. Brock is an active member of the Tennessee/Rutherford/Cannon County Bar Associations. He is also a graduate of Leadership Rutherford County. He and his family are members of First United Methodist Church. Brock enjoys coaching youth soccer in Murfreesboro, volunteering and serving on the Board of Directors with both Murfreesboro Young Life and the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.

Anthony Cain

Tony Cain joined McCarter | East, PLLC as an Associate Attorney in June of 2019. Tony grew up in Cannon County, Tennessee. After graduating from Cannon County High School, he enlisted in the United State Marine Corps where he served 4 years of active duty and 4 years of reserve duty. During his time in the Marine Corps, he was deployed to various locations throughout the world, including a combat tour to Iraq. For his service, Tony was awarded several medals and ribbons, and he was honorably discharged in 2008. Tony credits his service in the Marine Corps for his tremendous work ethic and discipline. He is accredited by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs to represent and assist veterans in submitting VA disability claims. After discharge from active duty, Tony worked as a railroad conductor for a Class I railroad. While in this capacity, he supervised the safe movement and security of trains. He was also an active member in the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART) Union where he participated in numerous disciplinary hearings. This experience gives him a unique perspective in solving labor and management disputes. After working in the railroad industry for several years, Tony decided to follow a lifelong dream and attend law school. He enrolled in the Nashville School of Law. During his third year of law school, he interned at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, where he assisted the office in the prosecution of federal criminal cases and representing the United States in civil cases. During his fourth year of law school, Tony was awarded John B. Downey, Jr. scholarship. He was also a member of the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court. Prior to joining McCarter | East, PLLC, Tony worked as the Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Royce Taylor of the Circuit Court of Rutherford and Cannon County, Part IV. During this time, he was able to gain experience working in the Circuit Court and routinely participated in jury trials of serious felony crimes and bench trials of various civil matters. Currently, Tony maintains a diverse civil litigation practice where he represents clients throughout Middle Tennessee in General Sessions, Circuit, Chancery, and Juvenile Court matters such as divorce, child custody, contract disputes, real property disputes, probate, and personal injury. He has tried cases throughout Middle Tennessee and is known for his thorough preparation and attention to detail. Additionally, Tony represents several local businesses and financial institutions. Tony also maintains a criminal law practice where he is known for his tenacity and zealous representation of his clients. He has represented clients accused of various crimes ranging from minor misdemeanors to murder. Tony is an active member of the Rutherford and Cannon County Bar Association, Disabled American Veterans, and American Legion Post 279. He is admitted to practice law in all Tennessee state courts and U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Tony is married to Stephanie Cain, and they have three (3) children. They attend The Experience Community Church of Cannon County. In his free time, Tony enjoys coaching basketball, reading, hunting, cooking, playing guitar, volunteering in the community and spending time outdoors with his family. He is also a diehard Indiana Hoosiers fan and routinely attends basketball and football games.

Gilbert W. McCarter, II

Bert McCarter is a founding partner of McCarter | East PLLC, which was established in July 2009. Bert graduated cum laude from the University of Tennessee in December 1996. While at the University of Tennessee Bert was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Prior to his time at the University of Tennessee, Bert attended the University of Tennessee Martin and Aquinas College where he played basketball until 1994. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Bert attended law school at the University of Dayton from 1997-1999. While at Dayton, he was on the prestigious Walter Rice Moot Court team. Bert transferred to Vanderbilt University and graduated from law school there in 2000. After graduating from law school, Bert served as law clerk for the Honorable Judge Don R. Ash of the Circuit Court for Rutherford County in 2000. In 2001, Bert joined the firm that would come to be known as Dotson, Dotson & McCarter in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He remained there until 2009 when he went on to become a founding member of McCarter | East PLLC. Bert began his practice of law focusing on the areas of domestic relations (i.e. divorce, custody, post-divorce, etc.), criminal defense, and personal injury. Bert has argued multiple times before the Court of Appeals and Criminal Court of Appeals. He has represented several individuals and businesses, both in the prosecution and defense of contractual litigation and personal injury issues. He has also worked on several high-profile domestic and criminal cases, achieving a track record of consistent results that work to the overall benefit of his clients. In 2011, Bert was appointed to the Judicial Nominating Commission by Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey. As a part of this commission, Bert works with the other members to make judicial nominations to the Tennessee appellate courts and the Tennessee Supreme Court when vacancies arise. Bert is honored and proud to serve the State of Tennessee in this capacity. In addition to his position on the Judicial Nominating Commission, Bert is an active member of the Tennessee Bar Association and the Rutherford/Cannon County Bar Associations. He has also assisted as a local businessman offering services for the development of gross motor skills, founded the 100 Club of Rutherford County, and serves on the Board of Directors and on the Advisory Council for CB&S Bank. Outside of work, Bert enjoys volunteer activities, golf, reading, and spending time with his children.

Benjamin Lewis

Ben joined McCarter East PLLC in January 2017 as an associate attorney and became a partner in February 2022. Although not originally from Middle Tennessee, he has developed a passion and love for Murfreesboro and the surrounding area. Originally from Paris, Kentucky, a small town near Lexington, Ben attended Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama for his undergraduate degree. He met his wife, Caroline, at Samford. She was born and raised in Murfreesboro, and they returned to her hometown to start and raise their family. After graduating from Samford in May 2013, Ben attended the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. During law school, he served on the Editorial Board of the University of Memphis Law Review as Senior Articles Editor, and his Note was chosen for publication in Volume 46 of the Law Review. He also received various accolades for his pro bono and classroom work, including the CALI Award for the top grade in Criminal Law, Administrative Law, and Food & Drug Law. Ben gained experience while in law school as an intern for the Honorable J. Steven Stafford of the Tennessee Court of Appeals and extern for the Honorable Sheryl H. Lipman of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. He also served throughout law school as a Graduate Research Assistant for Professor Eugene Shapiro, who primarily focused his research in the areas of constitutional law and criminal procedure. After graduating with his Juris Doctor, with honors, in May 2016 and sitting for the Bar Exam that summer, Ben worked as law clerk to the Honorable Royce D. Taylor of the Circuit Court of Rutherford County until joining McCarter East PLLC. Ben maintains a diverse practice and has successfully tried cases throughout Middle Tennessee. He has an established reputation as an advocate and prides himself on enthusiastically litigating cases on behalf of his clients. A significant portion of Ben’s practice focuses on family law, including divorces and child custody cases. He has extensive experience with civil litigation, including contract disputes, construction matters, real property disputes, and easement issues. Ben also maintains a healthy practice representing small- and medium-sized businesses in Middle Tennessee, both in day-to-day transactional matters and through litigation assistance. Another major area of practice includes personal injury litigation, and Ben has successfully represented injured individuals resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars recovered on behalf of his clients. In addition to litigating cases in Tennessee state and federal courts, Ben has brief and argued numerous cases before the Tennessee Court of Appeals. He enjoys the research and writing required for appellate work, and he is often referred appellate work from other attorneys throughout Middle Tennessee. Ben is an active member of the Tennessee/Rutherford/Cannon County Bar Associations and a graduate of the Leadership Rutherford program, class of 2020. He is admitted to practice law in all Tennessee states courts and both the U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Eastern Districts of Tennessee. When not practicing law, Ben enjoys spending time with his wife and two (2) children, and he is an active member of Calvary Baptist Church of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Ben volunteers and serves on the Board with Murfreesboro Young Life. He is also a fan of the Kentucky Wildcats and enjoys watching and playing basketball.

John G. Mitchell III

Mr. Mitchell, known to all as 'Jack', is a founder of the firm. He is admitted to practice in Tennessee and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. He graduated from Washington & Lee University with a B.S. in Business Administration in 1987 and received his J.D. from the University of Tennessee in 1990. Jack is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review RatedSM by Martindale-Hubbell®. He is a member of the Rutherford and Cannon County Bar Association, the TN Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and is a member of the TN Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and is a former member of its Board of Directors. He is also active in his community, where he is a member of the Murfreesboro Breakfast Rotary Club, and is a Past President and Board Chair of the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties. He also sits on the Advisory Board for the Rutherford County Recovery Courts Program. His practice is limited to criminal defense in State courts. He handles all misdemeanors and felonies, and has tried dozens of cases, ranging from DUI to First Degree Murder.

Bradley Stephens

Brad Stephens joined McCarter | East, PLLC as an Associate Attorney in August 2023. He is admitted to practice law in all Tennessee state courts and in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Since joining the firm, Brad has devoted his practice primarily to civil litigation, criminal defense, and family law representation. He has worked with clients throughout Middle Tennessee. Brad is proud to have advocated for local individuals and businesses both inside and outside of court. He has used resourcefulness and creativity to resolve civil disputes in his clients’ favor. Brad has also passionately defended numerous citizens charged with crimes ranging from minor misdemeanors to major felonies. His criminal defense experience includes successful advocacy before the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. And in highly personal disputes such as divorce and custody matters, Brad has used a level-headed approach to help clients obtain favorable results for them and their families. Brad has also drafted wills, contracts, leases, and business agreements for clients. Brad started at the firm following a judicial clerkship for the Honorable Howard W. Wilson, Chancellor for Cannon and Rutherford Counties. During this clerkship, he researched U.S. and Tennessee constitutional law to prepare for motion hearings, drafted orders and jury instructions, and assisted in conducting court. A wide range of criminal charges came before the court, from felonies such as arson and kidnapping to misdemeanors like driving under the influence and simple drug possession. Brad watched firsthand how these cases are argued and decided. While Brad’s clerkship focused on criminal law, he gained experience with civil law matters during his time at Belmont University College of Law. He interned with a local non-profit law firm, earning law school honors for his pro bono work. Brad also clerked for a metropolitan government, a federal agency, and an attorney practicing employment law. He was active within his class, serving as Managing Editor for the Belmont Entertainment Law Journal and as a peer mentor. Prior to his legal career, Brad was a professional sports journalist in his native Kentucky. He attended Western Kentucky University, serving as sports editor for the school’s award-winning college newspaper. Brad then covered high school and college sports and horse racing for various publications. He won awards for writing, photography, and page design. Brad has covered the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, college football bowl games, and six Kentucky Derbies. Brad is an active member of the Rutherford & Cannon County Bar Association. He is married to Stephanie, an elementary school teacher and lifelong Murfreesboro resident. They live in Murfreesboro with Luna, their Dalmatian. In his spare time, Brad enjoys spending time outside with Luna, trying local restaurants, travelling to concerts and sporting events, and following the Cincinnati Reds, Green Bay Packers, and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Kirstin Harper

Although originally from Clemson, SC, and a Clemson Tiger at heart, Kirstin is proud to call Middle Tennessee home. Kirstin moved to Tennessee with her family at a young age and later attended Middle Tennessee State University, graduating cum laude in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration on Marketing and Promotions. After her graduation from MTSU, Kirstin continued working in the marketing industry for almost 3 years before attending law school at the Mississippi College School of Law in 2011. While in law school, Kirstin was a member of Moot Court and served as the Public Relations Chair on the Moot Court Board. In 2012, she was a quarter finalist in the 2012 Closing Statement Competition, and an octo finalist in the 2012 Copeland Cook Taylor & Bush Appellate Advocacy Competition. She also served as Team Captain for the 2013 Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition Team. Additionally, Kirstin received the AMJUR Award for receiving the top grade in Criminal Law, Appellate Advocacy, and Pretrial. She was awarded a MC Law Academic Scholarship, Marie Upton Scholarship, MS Bar Family Law Scholarship, and the John B. Farese Memorial Trial Advocate Award. While in law school, Kirstin spent time working alongside professors, judges, and local Mississippi attorneys. She worked as a Legal Research Assistant and a Teacher’s Assistant in Criminal Law for Professor Matthew Steffey, a Legal Research Fellow in the Law Library of MC Law, and a Legal Volunteer at the Mission First Legal Aid Office in Jackson, Mississippi. She was also a Law Clerk for McNinch Law Office, PLLC in Brandon, Mississippi. Kirstin was also a Student Attorney admitted to limited practice in Mississippi for the Adoption Legal Clinic at MC Law. During her last semester of law school, Kirstin served as a Student Attorney admitted to the limited practice of law in Tennessee, working at the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. She also served as a Legal Extern for Chancellor Robert E. Corlew, III in the Rutherford County Chancery Court. Kirstin graduated magna cum laude with her Juris Doctor in May 2014. Following graduation and becoming licensed to practice law, she worked as an Associate Attorney for Pentecost, Glenn, Mauldin & York, PLLC in Jackson, Tennessee.