Stanton III

Ed Stanton serves as the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group leader. His practice primarily includes conducting internal investigations, defending white collar cases, and advising corporate clients on a variety of C-suite issues. Prior to joining Butler Snow, Ed served as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee and was in-house counsel for a Fortune 500 Company.

• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• White Collar, Compliance & Government Investigations
• Commercial Litigation
• Government Relations
• Civil Rights

Appointed in 2018 by federal court judge to serve as Court-Appointed Monitor in case of ACLU v. City of Memphis, stemming from Memphis Police Department’s violations of federal consent decree.

Extensive civil and criminal litigation and courtroom experience in both trial and appellate courtrooms.

• Lead counsel in independent investigations for multiple Fortune 500 companies concerning violations of corporate policies by senior officers.
• Lead counsel in independent investigations for one of the nation’s largest public school systems concerning athletic compliance issues, allegations of systematic grade changing scheme, fiscal improprieties and employment-related claims.

Presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee from 2010 to 2017, managing an office of approximately 100 attorneys and support staff in Memphis and Jackson, Tennessee.

• Oversaw the investigation and litigation of major criminal and civil cases, including violent crime, financial and health care fraud, racketeering, international drug trafficking, terrorism, child exploitation, cybercrime, employment discrimination, False Claims and Federal Tort Claims Act matters.
• Launched a number of highly successful initiatives including the formation of a dedicated Civil Rights Unit.  This unit earned national acclaim for prosecuting individuals who committed federal civil rights crimes including sex trafficking, public corruption, excessive force, official misconduct, hate crimes, predatory lending, unfair housing and Americans with Disabilities Act violations.

Senior Litigation Counsel for Federal Express Corporation from 2002 to 2010, serving as lead trial and corporate counsel on complex business and litigation matters including governmental investigations, class action, labor and employment, trademark infringement, transportation law and environmental matters throughout the country.

Two decades of governmental and litigation experience include tenure as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Memphis and practice with two private law firms.

Representative Cases

• United States v. Mardis – Prosecuted civil rights hate crime case resulting in concurrent life sentences for the defendant.
• Federal Express Corporation et al. v. United Parcel Service – Lawsuit seeking injunctive relief and damages against a competitor for broadcasting false and misleading television commercials.
• Frio Nevado Corporation v. Federal Express Corporation – Lead trial counsel in lawsuit brought by former company vendor in San Antonio, Texas where plaintiff alleged breach of contract, bad faith and unfair dealing claims.  
• Alejandro Lara, as Partner of Hi Tech Digicom v. Federal Express Corporation –Summary judgment granted in FedEx’s favor based on federal preemption under the Airline Deregulation Act.  
• Federal Express Corporation v. Overnight Recovery Software – Lead counsel in trademark infringement case.
• American Association of Professional Athletes, Inc., on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated v. Federal Express Corporation – successfully defended consumer class action suit brought against FedEx.
• Federal Express Corporation v. Product Designers, LLC – Lead counsel in obtaining a significant judgment against former vendor in breach of contract action. 
• Wooten v. Federal Express Corporation – Lead counsel in employment discrimination lawsuit in Dallas, Texas alleging claims of unlawful termination, failure to promote and retaliation claims. Ten day jury trial rendered defense verdict which was upheld by Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Meruelo Maddux-2000 San Fernando Road, LLC v. Federal Express Corporation, et al. – Successfully defended unlawful detainer action brought by one of the largest commercial real estate developers in downtown Los Angeles.
• Bertram, et al. v. Federal Express Corporation, et al. – Lead trial counsel in defamation case against FedEx filed in federal court in Louisville, Kentucky
• Puget Soundkeeper Alliance v. Federal Express Corporation – Successfully defended multiple lawsuits filed against FedEx in federal court in Seattle, Washington alleging violations of the federal Clean Water Act.  
• In re FedEx Corp. Shareholder Derivative Litigation – Successfully defended shareholder derivative lawsuits filed against FedEx and FedEx’s Board of Directors.
• Lamarr v. City of Memphis – Successfully defended challenge to the Memphis Police Department’s newly adopted “zero tolerance policy.”

• Best Lawyers in America®
  • Commercial Litigation, 2019-2024
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2021-2024
• Super Lawyers®
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Criminal Defense: White Collar, 2023
• Best of the Bar in Public Service Award, Memphis Business Journal, 2017
• Trailblazer Award, Christian Brothers University, 2017
• Leader Award, The New Tri-State Defender, 2016
• A.A. Latting Award, National Bar Association, 2016
• Achievers Award, Young Men's Christian Association, 2016
• Champion of Justice Award, Olivet Fellowship Church, 2015
• Community Leader Award, Alpha Memphis, 2010
• Outstanding Alumnus Award, University of Memphis, Arts and Sciences Chapter, 2010
• Memphis/Shelby County Achievers Award, Memphis Silver Star News, 2009
• Sam A. Myar, Jr. Award, Memphis Bar Association, 2005
• Top 40 Under 40, Memphis Business Journal, 2005

• Tennessee, 1997
• U.S. District Courts
• Texas: Northern
• Mississippi: Northern
• Tennessee: Western
• U.S. Court of Appeals
• 5th Circuit
• 6th Circuit

• University of Memphis School of Law, J.D., 1997
  • Moot Court Board
  • Associate Justice
  • President, Black Law Student Association
  • Vice-President, Student Bar Association
  • Dean's outstanding Service Award, 1997
  • Graduating Class Commencement Speaker, 1997
• University of Memphis, B.A., Political Science, 1994

• National Association of Former United States Attorneys (NAFUSA)
  • Board Member
• Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
• National Bar Association
  • Former President, Ben F. Jones Chapter, 2004-2005
• Tennessee Bar Association
  • Former Board of Governors Member, 2004-2006
• Memphis Bar Association
  • Former President - Young Lawyers Division, 2002
  • Former Board Member, 2002
• American Bar Association
• American Bar Foundation
  • Fellow
• Tennessee Bar Foundation
  • Fellow
• Leo Bearman, Sr. American Inn of Court
  • Master
• Federal Bar Association
• Attorney General Advisory Committee, Racial Disparities Working Group
  • Former Chairman
• Attorney General Advisory Committee, Civil Rights Subcommittee
  • Former Member
• Attorney General Advisory Committee, Violent and Organized Crime Subcommittee
  • Former Member
• Multi-Agency Gang Unit
  • Former Board Member
• Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
  • Former Board Member
• University of Memphis Law School, Dean's Advisory Board
  • Board Member
• Memphis Shelby County Crime Commission
  • Board Member
• Downtown Memphis Commission
  • Former Board Member and Secretary
• Knowledge Quest, Inc.
  • Former Chairman
• Memphis and Shelby County Bar Foundation
  • Fellow
• Tennessee Bar Association Judicial Campaign Conduct Committee
  • Former Member
• NAACP, Memphis Branch
  • Former Board Member
• University of Memphis School of Law Alumni Board
  • Former Board Member
• Memphis Urban Arts Commission
  • Former Board Member
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
  • Member

• Keynote Speaker, University of Mississippi School of Law, Speakers’ Series – Oxford, MS, November 2017.
• Panel Member, American Bar Association, Criminal Justice White Collar Section, Civil and Criminal Investigations Update – Nashville, TN, November 2017.
• Keynote Speaker, FBI Citizens Academy Graduation – Memphis, TN, November 2017.
• Keynote Speaker, Knoxville Bar Association’s Annual Diversity CLE, October 2017.
• Moderator, Federal Judges Panel, 2017 Memphis/Mid-South Chapter of the Federal Bar Association Annual CLE Meeting – October 2017.
• Keynote Speaker, Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law Class – Memphis, TN, March 2017.
• Author, "Working Together, A Message from the United States Attorney," On The Record, Winter 2016.
• Panel Member, Healthcare Fraud Enforcement:  A View from the U.S. Attorneys – Nashville, TN, December 2016. 
• Speaker, Next Generation, A Message from the United States Attorney, On The Record, October 2016.
• Author, “After Prison, Legal System is Invested in Helping Ex-Offenders Avoid a Return,” The Commercial Appeal, December 28, 2015. 
• Author, “A New Start, A Message from the United States Attorney,” On The Record, December 2015.
• Author, “Combating Violence, A Message from the United States Attorney,” On The Record, Summer 2015.
• Author, “Constitution in the Classroom, A Message from the United States Attorney,” On The Record, Fall 2014.
• Author, “Leading with Grit and Grind, A Message from the United States Attorney,” On The Record, Spring 2014. 
• Author, “Making the Case, A Message from the United States Attorney,” On The Record, Winter 2014. 
• Author, “Leading the Next Generation, A Message from the United States Attorney,” On The Record, Fall 2013. 
• Author, “Plan Gets ‘Smart on Crime’ in West Tennessee,” The Jackson Sun, September 22, 2013. 
• Author, “Project Synergy Targets Synthetic Drugs,” The Commercial Appeal, July 20, 2013. 
• Author, “Remembering the Fallen, A Message from the United States Attorney,” On The Record, May 2013. 
• Author, “Program Hits Hard with U.S. Gun Laws,” The Commercial Appeal, March 27, 2013. 
• Author, “Outreach and Enforcement, A Message from the United States Attorney,” On The Record, February 2013. 
• Author, “Prescription Drug Abuse Rising as Epidemic,” The Commercial Appeal, October 28, 2012. 
• Author, “Scourge of Modern-Day Slavery Is Here,” The Commercial Appeal, December 2, 2011. 
• Author, “Vigilance Remains Beacon of Terrorism Fight,” The Commercial Appeal, September 11, 2011. 

• Shelby County Books from Birth-Imaginatino Library Board, Former Chairman
• Memphis Area Neighborhood Watch, Inc., Former Board Member
• Volunteer Tennessee Board (Appointed by Gov. Phil Bresden), Former Board Member
• Brown Missionary Baptist Church, Member