Amy Worrell Sterling
Super Lawyers®Black, McLaren, Jones, Ryland & Griffee, P.C.
Commercial Litigation Lawyers in Memphis, TN in Memphis, TN
About Amy Worrell Sterling
Amy Worrell Sterling is a litigation attorney with over 17 years experience. She focuses primarily in business and commercial litigation and healthcare liability defense, representing businesses, medical practices, physicians, and individuals on matters involving business torts, contract disputes, healthcare liability, insurance coverage and defense, employment, peer review, disciplinary proceedings, and real estate and commercial lease disputes. In addition, she counsels and advises clients on business matters, clinical privileges, employment, regulatory and compliance, and transactions to achieve their business objectives and manage risks. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Amy Worrell Sterling included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Mid-South Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2023 Fellow of the Memphis Bar Foundation Attorney for Justice – Tennessee Supreme Court, 2019 Other Sources of Feedback About Amy Worrell Sterling Included on the 2025Mid-South Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2024 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
Education
Legal Education
- University of Memphis School of Law, Memphis, Tennessee, 2006
- J.D.
- Honors: cum laude
- Honors: Board Member, University of Memphis Law Alumni Board of Directors
- Honors: Dean's Award for Academic Excellence in Legal Methods
- Honors: Best Oral Advocate
- Honors: Dean's Distinguished Service Award
- Honors: Named in Who's Who Among Law Students
- Law Review: University of Memphis Law Review, Senior Notes and Comments Editor
Non Legal Education
- Belmont University, 1999
- B.B.A.
- Honors: cum laude
Current Employment Position(s)
- Shareholder
Past Positions
- Tate Lazarini Brady & Davis, PLC, Associate, 2007
- Honorable Diane K. Vescovo, Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Judicial Law Clerk, 2006 - 2007
- Bass Berry + Sims PLC, Senior Attorney, 2007 - 2018
Representative Cases
- Represented Morgan Keegan, as a part of a team, in the defense of more than 300 customer-initiated arbitrations in the wake of the failure of a family of mutual funds
- Court: FINRA Dispute Resolution System
- Successfully defended LPL Financial in a FINRA arbitration final hearing, resulting in the arbitration panel denying the claimants’ $5.8 million claim
- Year: 2017
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of client St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co., resulting in dismissal of a $20 million insurance coverage claim brought against St. Paul
- Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
- Year: 2019
- Negotiated favorable settlement for client in a real estate purchase agreement dispute after filing a summary judgment motion on behalf of the client
- Court: Chancery Court of Shelby County, Tennessee for the Thirtieth Judicial District at Memphis
- Year: 2022
- Successfully defended a medical practice in a non-jury federal trial, in which a former shareholder sought more than $1 million for breach of contract and other claims
- Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
- Year: 2023
- Obtained a $3.647 million jury verdict in favor of a public utility client in an insurance coverage case filed against a global property insurance company
- Year: 2024
Pro Bono Activities
- Board of Directors, University of Memphis Law Alumni, 2007 - 2010
- Board of Directors, Young Lawyers Division of the Memphis Bar Association, 2008 - 2009
- Board of Trustees, St. John’s United Methodist Church, 2019 - Present
- Council, St. John's United Methodist Church, 2016 - 2018
- Board of Directors, Central Gardens Association, 2017 - 2023
Published Works
Articles
- Co-author, The Lingering Question after Oxford Health: Determination of Class Arbitrability, ABA Commercial & Business Litigation News (April 2014)
- Author, Professional Responsibility—Doe vs. Doe: Free Speech Violated by Requiring Confidentiality of Attorney Misconduct Allegations (2005), 35 U. Mem. L. Rev. 951
- Co-author, Second Circuit Provides a Clear Definition of "Customer" for Purposes of Mandatory FINRA Arbitration, Bass, Berry & Sims Client Alert, Broker-Dealer & Financial Products (August 2014)
- Author, 2015 FINRA and SEC Priorities Identify Regulators' Focus Areas, Bass, Berry & Sims Client Alert, Broker-Dealer & Financial Products (February 2015)
- Co-author, Beware Loss of Registration by Agents Who Have Failed to Pay Tennessee's Professional Privilege Tax, Bass, Berry & Sims Client Alert, Broker-Dealer & Financial Products (November 2015)
- Co-speaker and Moderator, FINRA Arbitrator Panel Selection: Practical Considerations, ABA Litigation Section Roundtable (October 2016)
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee, 2006
- U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
Other Affiliations
- Tennessee Bar Association
- Memphis Bar Association
- Leo Bearman, Sr. American Inn of Court, 2020 - Present (Master, Executive Committee Program Chair)
- Standing Local Rules Committee, United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, 2024 - Present
- Membership Committee, Memphis Bar Association, 2023 - Present
Attorney Details
| Full Name | Amy Worrell Sterling |
| Firm | Black, McLaren, Jones, Ryland & Griffee, P.C. |
| Address | 530 Oak Court Drive, Suite 360, Memphis, TN 38117 |
| Phone | 901-762-0535 |
| Phone | 901-762-0539 |
| Website | www.bmjrglaw.com |
| New Clients | ✓ Currently accepting |