John J. Hollins Jr., Attorney

I have been blessed to be a domestic relations and personal injury trial attorney for over twenty-one years with Hollins, Wagster, Weatherly & Raybin, P.C. After all that time, I am still passionate about my clients, my career and my chosen profession. However, to know John Hollins, you have to take a look at the whole picture.

I am a Nashville native thru and thru, with roots that run deep. My great-grandfather, Robert Stewart Hollins, founded the Hollins Shoe Company in downtown Nashville, Tennessee in the late 1890’s. My grandfather, Lunsford M. Hollins, Sr. graduated from Duncan Academy and Vanderbilt University, as did my uncle, Lunsford Meredith Hollins, Jr. A gifted athlete, he played football at Vanderbilt University in the late 1930’s (in the era of leather helmets!) My family says that’s where I got my tenacity.

My father John J. Hollins, Sr. was schooled locally, graduating from Montgomery Bell Academy in 1951, Vanderbilt University in 1953, and Vanderbilt Law School in 1957. He is the senior partner for this law firm and has practiced law in the Nashville area for over fifty years, focusing on domestic relations law for the past twenty-five. I am proud to say he has earned a reputation as one of the best trial attorneys in the country. More importantly, he has been married to my mother, Carol Sue, for fifty years.

I grew up in Brentwood, Tennessee just south of Nashville. I also attended Montgomery Bell Academy for high school. For college, I went to Auburn University, where I graduated in 1984 with a major in History and a minor in English, Economics and Business. As a senior, I received the Ralph B. Draughton Award given annually to the most outstanding History major at Auburn University. Influenced by my father’s passion for helping others, I followed in his footsteps career-wise, graduating from the University of Tennessee Law School in 1987.

On April 15, 1987 I began working for the law firm of Hollins, Wagster & Yarbrough, P.C. That is where I remain today. I chose to work in this law firm because I would have the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the courtroom as a young attorney, learn from the cream of the legal crop, and, of course, work side by side with my dad. I gained experience rapidly. Early in my career I handled court-appointed criminal cases, insurance defense and personal injury cases. I tried my first jury trial within six months of my law school graduation. I was selected as lead counsel in a prominent death penalty case. Since that time, I have tried close to 75 personal injury jury cases, and countless family cases.

One thing experience has taught me is litigation takes a huge toll on the parties. So while litigation is a huge part of my law practice, I also pride myself in the ability to negotiate and mediate these cases. I have honed my negotiation skills through lessons learned representing clients for over 20 years. Without a doubt, I have the skills to garner the results that are in my clients’ best interests. My practice has been successful because I genuinely care about my clients as people. Today many of my closest friends are former clients. Through my practice I have developed many long term friendships of which I am most proud.

During my 21-year career I have met so many interesting people from very diverse backgrounds. This has kept me fired up about the law and looking forward to the next twenty years.

I am just as passionate about my time away from the courtroom. I enjoy spending time with Laura, my wife of 11 years, and my twin 8-year old daughters, Meredith and Emily. I enjoy hunting, shooting and watching my girls play soccer, basketball, softball, and football. The entire family enjoys rooting for Auburn, the Titans, the Nashville Sounds, and spending time at the beach on Dauphin Island, Alabama.

SELECTING AN ATTORNEY

Experience is probably the most important factor in the decision clients make regarding the selection of an attorney. Please allow me to highlight a few points about my career about which I am the most proud:

• I have been rated as an AV lawyer, the highest rating possible, by “Martindale-Hubbell” since 2000.
• I have been listed in “The Best Lawyers in America” in the field of domestic relations since 2003.
• I have been a board member of the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee since 2003.
• I have also been listed as a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 family law mediator since 2003.

In conclusion, the selection of an attorney is one of the most important decisions you will ever have to make. It is my desire to provide both a personal glimpse into John Hollins, Jr. as well as the objective criteria that makes me an outstanding selection for your representation.