< Back to All Attorneys

C.J. grew up in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, where, at a young age, he developed a curiosity for learning about the law. After spending countless hours watching Judge Judy after school with his grandfather, C.J. decided early on that he wanted to pursue a legal career. While attending Cumberland University, he started his legal career as a runner for a law firm in Lebanon, Tennessee, before moving west to attend law school at the University of Memphis.

While in law school, he focused on building practical skills to assist his future career in litigation. C.J. spent most of his law school career as a law clerk working for a prominent family law firm in Memphis. During his tenure at the law firm, he gained valuable experience working on complex divorce and custody cases with senior attorneys at the firm. This experience included conducting legal research, legal writing, assisting the attorneys in depositions preparation, and observing senior attorneys during mediations, trials, hearings, and depositions. One of his favorite memories was being able to work on high-profile cases while at the firm, including, more specifically, a case involving whether a marriage is valid in the State of Tennessee when an online-ordained minister officiates the wedding ceremony.

In addition to working as a law clerk, C.J. simultaneously served as a student attorney at the University of Memphis’ Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic. In this role, he collaborated with doctors and residents at the LeBonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis to provide free legal assistance to lower-income families and children facing healthcare and education-related legal issues. As a proponent of “finishing what you started,” he voluntarily extended his time by returning for an additional semester as a student attorney in the Advanced Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic. During that second semester, he and his two other fellow AMLPC student attorneys successfully assisted a non-English-speaking mother in saving TennCare benefits for her disabled child, after which she thanked them by calling them a pair of angels. In recognition of their exceptional advocacy for this case, the three of them were honored with the Clinic Legal Excellence Award.

During law school, he became passionate about utilizing his legal skills to aid those in need. He credits his past law school mentors with building his litigation skills and helping him develop personal skills such as empathy and listening, which he believes are equally crucial to serving clients.

As an attorney, C.J. plans to continue his career with this goal in mind, and he loves the opportunity to work at Hughes & Coleman to further this goal. He now serves as one of the firm’s “general personal injury” attorneys, primarily handling non-automobile-related cases, including dog bites, slip-and-falls, or other general negligence.

C.J. currently lives in the Nashville area. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf, playing guitar, hanging out with friends and family, and spending time with his golden retriever, Phoebe. In addition, he serves as an alumni advisor to the Sigma Chi Fraternity at Cumberland University. He’s a die-hard Nashville sports fan who follows the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators religiously, and thanks to his time spent in Memphis, he’s grown to love the Grizzlies and Tigers as well.