About Linda W. Knight
Linda Whitlow Knight focuses her practice on bankruptcy and commercial law, litigation and general business counseling. Her experience includes the filing and reorganization of corporations, the avoidance of certain lawsuits and other adversary proceedings, the appointment of receivers and the sale of real estate in bankruptcy and reorganizations of businesses. In bankruptcy cases, she represents businesses and creditors of both individuals and businesses, creditors committees, creditors committees, and the trustees who manage and administer the assets.
Linda is able to help businesses file for bankruptcy by negotiating and negotiating workouts of business debts and debt compositions, if necessary, without going to court. Linda works with creditors and borrowers to find alternative ways to file for bankruptcy that result in cost savings and that, in certain situations, are more advantageous for preserving assets and preserving the client's commercial viability. Linda has assisted both banks and borrowers in renegotiating debts and covenants, as well as working out payment plans with vendors. She has helped clients in restructuring their businesses. Linda has successfully participated in mediations in bankruptcy and commercial disputes.
Linda has successfully litigated many contested matters involving bankruptcy cases, including requests for plan confirmation, claim objections, requests for money or property protection, and has successfully defended adversary proceedings, including appeals. She assists businesses in structuring financial agreements and evaluating claims by other parties. Linda also deals with real estate, the Uniform Commercial Code, state taxes, civil rights, trusts, landlord-tenant law and banking.
Linda has represented clients in sectors that include retail, technology, manufacturing, agribusiness, automotive and transportation, entertainment and hospitality, real estate and health care.
She has represented clients in other jurisdictions in non-bankruptcy matters, such as state and federal laws relating to estates and trusts, government bonds and election law.
Linda was a founding member of the Tennessee Ethics Commission, an independent government oversight committee appointed by the Speaker of the Tennessee House. She chairs the Tennessee Ethics Commission, which governs issues such as lobbying, public disclosures by state officials and other related issues. Linda also has broad experience working under the Tennessee Public Meetings Act, the Tennessee Open Records Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. She served as a member of the Tennessee Economic Council on Women from 1998 to 2004 and was its Secretary for the entire time.
Linda has developed and delivered numerous continuing legal education programs. Linda served as a law clerk to the Hon. Justice Frank F. Sullivan. She participated in the preparation of many Supreme Court opinions. Drowota. As a law clerk to Justice Frank F. Rielly, she participated in the preparation of Supreme Court opinions. Linda was an associate for four years at the law firm of Balch & Bingham LLP in Birmingham, Alabama. Linda is a member of the legal honor society Phi Beta Kappa.
Linda and her husband, a judge, have two daughters who are also attorneys.
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Education
Cumberland School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1976 (Cumberland Law Review; Moot Court Board; Winner, Appellate Moot Court Competition; Recipient, Six American Jurisprudence Book Awards; Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges; Curia Honoris; Phi Delta Phi Fraternity; Academic Standards Committee)Vanderbilt University, B.A., cum laude, 1971Sweet Briar College, 1967-1969University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, summer 1970Lambuth College (now University of Memphis Lambuth), Jackson, Tennessee, summer 1968
Associations Members
American Bar Association- Member, Sections on Litigation (Bankruptcy & Insolvency Litigation Committee) and Law Practice Management (Women Rainmakers Committee)- Member, Judicial DivisionTennessee Bar Association- Bankruptcy Section- Emerging Legal Markets Ad Hoc CommitteeAlabama State Bar (Special Member Since Moving to Tennessee in 1980)Nashville Bar Association- Past Secretary- Member and Past Chair, Bankruptcy Court Committee- Member and Past Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee- Member, Appellate Practice and Federal Court CommitteesTennessee Supreme Court Historical Society- Director- Secretary- Past President- Past Newsletter EditorTennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women- Treasurer and Past President- Past Ex Officio Member, Tennessee Bar Association Board of Governors- Past Ex Officio Member, Tennessee Judicial Conference Executive Committee- Past Chair, Appointive and Elective Positions CommitteeCumberland School of Law Advisory BoardFederal Bar Association- Treasurer, Nashville ChapterAmerican Bankruptcy InstituteNashville Lawyers’ Association for Women- Past Chair, Networking Committee- Past Chair, New Admittee Breakfast CommitteeInternational Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation- Phi Beta Kappa- Secretary, Phi Beta Kappa Association of NashvilleTennessee Woman Suffrage Monument, Inc.- Board MemberJamestowne Society- Board of Directors – Executive Committee of Board of Directors- Chairperson, Bylaws Committee- Governor and Member of Council, Tennessee Valley CompanyDaughters of the American RevolutionNational Society United States Daughters of 1812Churchill Society of TennesseeBoard of Professional Responsibility- Past Hearing Panel MemberPast Member, Tennessee Judicial Conference Bench-Bar Relations Committee- Past ChairTennessee Ethics Commission- Founding Member, Appointed by the Speaker of the Tennessee House, 2006-2010Tennessee Economic Council on Women- Founding Member, Appointed by the Governor, 1998-2004- Past SecretaryTennessee Women’s Economic Council Foundation- Past Director and Secretary, 2001-2006Past Board Member, Sugartree Homeowners’ Association- Past Secretary- Past Chair, Bylaws and Covenants Committee- Past Chair, Architectural Review Committee- Law Clerk, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Frank F. Drowota, 1981-82- Associate, Balch & Bingham, Birmingham, Alabama, 1976-1980
Awards
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization LawMartindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Peer Review RatedListed in Mid-South Super Lawyers for Bankruptcy: Business2016 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, Cumberland School of Law (Jointly with her Husband, Richard H. Knight, Jr.)Nashville Business Journal’s 2016 Best of the BarFellow, American Bar FoundationFellow, Tennessee Bar FoundationFellow, Nashville Bar FoundationRecipient, CLE Excellence Award, Nashville Bar Association, 2005*Alabama State Bar requires the following disclaimer: ‘No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.’ (Ala. RPC 7.2e)
Credentials
Tennessee, 1981Alabama, 1976United States Supreme CourtUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitUnited States District Court for the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of TennesseeUnited States District Court for the Northern District of AlabamaUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of WisconsinTennessee Supreme CourtAlabama Supreme Court
Search Description
Linda Whitlow Knight practices in the areas of bankruptcy and commercial law, litigation and general business counseling.
