The McMahan Law Firm

James Kennamer, Brent Burks

About

The McMahan Law Firm

The McMahan Law Firm has been fighting for injured Tennesseans since 1992, building a reputation as one of the region’s most trusted personal injury practices. Based in Chattanooga, the firm serves clients across Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama, handling some of the most complex and high-stakes cases in the region — including truck accidents, auto accidents, workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability, and wrongful death. With a team of Board Certified civil trial specialists and over a century of combined legal experience, the firm combines courtroom strength with genuine client advocacy. Among the Tennessee truck accident attorneys who go to trial, The McMahan Law Firm stands out for its depth of experience and its no-win, no-fee commitment to every client it serves.

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James Kennamer & Brent Burks — Board Certified Trial Specialists

Managing Partner James “Jay” Kennamer has been fighting for injury victims since 1992 and joined The McMahan Law Firm in 2000. A graduate of Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law, Jay also holds a Master of Laws in Taxation from Emory University, giving him a sharp analytical edge in complex multi-party litigation. He is licensed in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Tennessee, the Middle District of Alabama, and the Northern District of Alabama, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Jay has earned the Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist designation from the National Board of Trial Advocacy — a credential held by only a fraction of practicing attorneys — and has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer. He is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have won million-dollar verdicts or settlements for their clients. In truck accident cases, where insurance companies deploy experienced defense teams from day one, having a trial lawyer of Jay Kennamer’s caliber in your corner makes a decisive difference.

Attorney Brent Burks brings nearly 30 years of legal experience to every case he handles at The McMahan Law Firm. A University of Tennessee College of Law graduate, Burks has represented seriously injured clients across Tennessee since 1994 and joined the firm in 1997. Like Kennamer, he holds the Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist designation from the National Board of Trial Advocacy — a distinction that signals proven excellence in trial advocacy and legal ethics. He has also been selected to Super Lawyers, an honor awarded to no more than five percent of attorneys in any given state, and was named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers in 2012. Brent is recognized for his meticulous case preparation, clear communication with clients, and strategic courtroom skills. He is a member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Tennessee Association of Justice Circle of Advocates. Truck accident victims who retain Brent Burks gain an attorney who understands how to build, prepare, and try a serious injury case against well-funded commercial carriers and their insurers.


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Tackling Truck Injury Claims with The McMahan Law Firm

When a commercial truck accident turns a life upside down, the decisions made in the first hours and days matter enormously. Commercial trucking companies are required by federal law to carry substantial insurance coverage, and their insurers move quickly to protect their own interests. The McMahan Law Firm levels that playing field. With James Kennamer and Brent Burks leading truck accident cases — two Board Certified trial specialists who have collectively recovered millions for injured clients — victims in Chattanooga and across Tennessee have access to the kind of aggressive, prepared legal representation that insurance companies take seriously. The firm’s contingency fee model means there are no upfront costs: clients pay nothing unless the firm wins.

Testimonial

What Clients Say About
The McMahan Law Firm

I got awarded an amount bigger than a yearly salary from an 18 wheeler accident settlement through them!! The most proficient accident attorneys. I recommend them as the first call after any accident in Tennessee.

P.T.

Accident Victim

Top Case Highlight

Proven Results That Make a Difference

This featured case showcases the skill and dedication of our attorneys in securing significant recoveries for truck accident victims. Each result reflects our commitment to justice and holding negligent parties accountable.