Andrew D. Tharp

Andrew D.

Tharp

Overview

Andrew has tried more than 35 trials as first or second chair counsel.  Recognized by Super Lawyers® as a Mid-South Rising Star, he represents clients in cases involving contract disputes, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death.

About

In undergraduate school, Andrew was in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).  He graduated from training at the top of his class, earning the distinction of “Top Gun.”  Andrew commissioned into the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant, attended law school, and then entered active duty as a JAG Officer.  Upon completing his initial JAG training, the Air Force ranked Andrew as the top rookie JAG worldwide. 

During his first assignment in South Carolina, Andrew became the installation’s chief litigator, and he served as the lead prosecutor for the Air Force in numerous federal trials.  Andrew was then selected for a coveted Area Defense Counsel (ADC) role for his second assignment.  As an ADC, Andrew served as the sole defense lawyer for Hill Air Force Base in Utah.  He tried cases throughout the Western United States and Alaska, defending military members in courts-martial involving felony crimes.  After his first year as an ADC, the Air Force recognized Andrew as top 5 of 45 rookie defense lawyers worldwide. 

In 2015, Andrew and his family made the difficult decision to separate from the Air Force so they could establish a home and raise their family in Nashville.  Since then, Andrew has been with Butler Snow.   As the rules of evidence and procedure used in military courts-martial mirror those used in civilian courts, Andrew was able to quickly leverage his wealth of trial experience and continue to achieve success for his clients.  Andrew is now called upon to handle cases involving catastrophic injury and death, whether resulting from a pharmaceutical drug, medical device, product, or other claim of negligence.  He also handles contract and commercial disputes.  Andrew has continued to try cases, and effectuate favorable resolutions in complex litigated matters for a wide array of clients, including pharmaceutical and medical device companies, large grocery store chains, aviation schools, and international equipment rental companies.  He has also handled more than 250 fact, company, and expert witness depositions for cases in multidistrict litigation.

Andrew actively authors articles for Pro Te: Solutio (Butler Snow’s publication for the pharmaceutical, medical device, and health care industries), and for the American Bar Association.  He is also regularly quoted in American Bar Association publications discussing breaking legal developments.

Andrew is the President of the Saint Matthew School Board and the Chair of the American Bar Association’s Mass Torts Committee.  When he is not practicing law, he enjoys staying active and spending time with his wife and four daughters. 

Experience

  • Tried over 35 trials
  • Taken over 250 depositions
  • Represented more than 800 clients in federal investigations and disciplinary actions
  • Tennessee counsel for major automotive parts manufacturer
  • Tennessee counsel for international equipment rental company
  • Earned defense verdict as lead defense counsel in defamation trial involving Metropolitan Nashville Government employee
  • Assistant trial counsel representing large grocery store chain in federal case involving the alleged wrongful death of a child
  • Assistant trial counsel representing aviation school in federal case involving breach of confidentiality agreements and trademark violations
  • Earned defense verdict as lead counsel representing commercial interior design business in case involving fraud and misappropriation
  • Took numerous depositions of fact/company/expert witnesses in cases in mass tort, federal multidistrict litigation, In Re Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Marketing, Sales Practices and Product Liability Litigation (E.D. Pa.)
  • Took numerous depositions of fact/company/expert witnesses in cases in mass tort, federal multidistrict litigation, In Re Ethicon, Inc. Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation (S.D. W.Va.)
  • Took numerous depositions of fact/company/expert witnesses in cases in mass tort, federal multidistrict litigation constituting largest litigation in U.S. history
  • Assisted the trial team in the first bellwether case in New Jersey Tylenol liver injury litigation - unanimous defense verdict following four-week trial

Distinctions

  • Super Lawyers®
    • Mid-South Rising Star, Personal Injury – Products: Defense, 2021-2023
  • Fellow, Nashville Bar Foundation
  • Area Defense Counsel, United States Air Force, 2013-2015
  • Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, United States Air Force, 2010-2013
  • Lowry Award Winner, Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course, 2010

Bar Admissions

  • Tennessee, 2010
  • U.S. District Courts
    • Tennessee: Eastern, Middle, Western
  • U.S. Court of Appeals
    • Court of Appeals of the Armed Forces
    • Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Education

  • University of Toledo, J.D., cum laude, 2010
    • Key Bank Willis Trust Scholarship Recipient
    • Business Law Society Officer and Executive Board
  • Bowling Green State University, B.S., cum laude, 2007
    • Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
    • 4-Year Colonel's Leadership Scholarship Recipient
    • Top Gun of Distinguished Graduates – Field Training, 2005

Associations

  • American Bar Association, 2010-Present
    • Litigation Section, 2015-Present
      • Mass Torts Committee
        • Vice Chair, 2020-2022
        • Chair, 2022-Present
      • Social Media Committee, 2021-2022
  • Tennessee Bar Association, 2015-Present
  • Nashville Bar Association, 2015-Present
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI), 2015-Present
    • Young Lawyers Steering Committee, 2016-2019

Papers, Presentations & Publications

Civic Involvement

  • Saint Matthew Catholic School Board
    • Board Member, 2021-Present
    • Vice Chair, 2021-2022
    • Chair, 2022-Present
  • YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Soccer Coach, 2016-2021
  • Brentwood Ball Club, Basketball Coach, 2018-2020

Andrew D.

Tharp

Overview

Andrew has tried more than 35 trials as first or second chair counsel.  Recognized by Super Lawyers® as a Mid-South Rising Star, he represents clients in cases involving contract disputes, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death.

About

In undergraduate school, Andrew was in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).  He graduated from training at the top of his class, earning the distinction of “Top Gun.”  Andrew commissioned into the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant, attended law school, and then entered active duty as a JAG Officer.  Upon completing his initial JAG training, the Air Force ranked Andrew as the top rookie JAG worldwide. 

During his first assignment in South Carolina, Andrew became the installation’s chief litigator, and he served as the lead prosecutor for the Air Force in numerous federal trials.  Andrew was then selected for a coveted Area Defense Counsel (ADC) role for his second assignment.  As an ADC, Andrew served as the sole defense lawyer for Hill Air Force Base in Utah.  He tried cases throughout the Western United States and Alaska, defending military members in courts-martial involving felony crimes.  After his first year as an ADC, the Air Force recognized Andrew as top 5 of 45 rookie defense lawyers worldwide. 

In 2015, Andrew and his family made the difficult decision to separate from the Air Force so they could establish a home and raise their family in Nashville.  Since then, Andrew has been with Butler Snow.   As the rules of evidence and procedure used in military courts-martial mirror those used in civilian courts, Andrew was able to quickly leverage his wealth of trial experience and continue to achieve success for his clients.  Andrew is now called upon to handle cases involving catastrophic injury and death, whether resulting from a pharmaceutical drug, medical device, product, or other claim of negligence.  He also handles contract and commercial disputes.  Andrew has continued to try cases, and effectuate favorable resolutions in complex litigated matters for a wide array of clients, including pharmaceutical and medical device companies, large grocery store chains, aviation schools, and international equipment rental companies.  He has also handled more than 250 fact, company, and expert witness depositions for cases in multidistrict litigation.

Andrew actively authors articles for Pro Te: Solutio (Butler Snow’s publication for the pharmaceutical, medical device, and health care industries), and for the American Bar Association.  He is also regularly quoted in American Bar Association publications discussing breaking legal developments.

Andrew is the President of the Saint Matthew School Board and the Chair of the American Bar Association’s Mass Torts Committee.  When he is not practicing law, he enjoys staying active and spending time with his wife and four daughters. 

Experience

  • Tried over 35 trials
  • Taken over 250 depositions
  • Represented more than 800 clients in federal investigations and disciplinary actions
  • Tennessee counsel for major automotive parts manufacturer
  • Tennessee counsel for international equipment rental company
  • Earned defense verdict as lead defense counsel in defamation trial involving Metropolitan Nashville Government employee
  • Assistant trial counsel representing large grocery store chain in federal case involving the alleged wrongful death of a child
  • Assistant trial counsel representing aviation school in federal case involving breach of confidentiality agreements and trademark violations
  • Earned defense verdict as lead counsel representing commercial interior design business in case involving fraud and misappropriation
  • Took numerous depositions of fact/company/expert witnesses in cases in mass tort, federal multidistrict litigation, In Re Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Marketing, Sales Practices and Product Liability Litigation (E.D. Pa.)
  • Took numerous depositions of fact/company/expert witnesses in cases in mass tort, federal multidistrict litigation, In Re Ethicon, Inc. Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation (S.D. W.Va.)
  • Took numerous depositions of fact/company/expert witnesses in cases in mass tort, federal multidistrict litigation constituting largest litigation in U.S. history
  • Assisted the trial team in the first bellwether case in New Jersey Tylenol liver injury litigation - unanimous defense verdict following four-week trial

Distinctions

  • Super Lawyers®
    • Mid-South Rising Star, Personal Injury – Products: Defense, 2021-2023
  • Fellow, Nashville Bar Foundation
  • Area Defense Counsel, United States Air Force, 2013-2015
  • Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, United States Air Force, 2010-2013
  • Lowry Award Winner, Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course, 2010

Bar Admissions

  • Tennessee, 2010
  • U.S. District Courts
    • Tennessee: Eastern, Middle, Western
  • U.S. Court of Appeals
    • Court of Appeals of the Armed Forces
    • Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Education

  • University of Toledo, J.D., cum laude, 2010
    • Key Bank Willis Trust Scholarship Recipient
    • Business Law Society Officer and Executive Board
  • Bowling Green State University, B.S., cum laude, 2007
    • Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
    • 4-Year Colonel's Leadership Scholarship Recipient
    • Top Gun of Distinguished Graduates – Field Training, 2005

Associations

  • American Bar Association, 2010-Present
    • Litigation Section, 2015-Present
      • Mass Torts Committee
        • Vice Chair, 2020-2022
        • Chair, 2022-Present
      • Social Media Committee, 2021-2022
  • Tennessee Bar Association, 2015-Present
  • Nashville Bar Association, 2015-Present
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI), 2015-Present
    • Young Lawyers Steering Committee, 2016-2019

Papers, Presentations & Publications

Civic Involvement

  • Saint Matthew Catholic School Board
    • Board Member, 2021-Present
    • Vice Chair, 2021-2022
    • Chair, 2022-Present
  • YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Soccer Coach, 2016-2021
  • Brentwood Ball Club, Basketball Coach, 2018-2020