National vs. Local Personal Injury Firms in Memphis: Which Is Better (2026)
Key Takeaways
- Local Memphis firms dominate prestigious directory rankings — Law Office of David E. Gordon appears in 6 of 9 sources vs. 2 for Morgan & Morgan and 2 for Alexander Shunnarah (Super Lawyers, Lawyer Legion, Yelp).
- Morgan & Morgan has recovered $20B+ nationally (FindLaw) but no Memphis-specific attorneys appear in Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters publication.
- Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi has recovered $500M+ and helped 35,000+ injured clients since 1970 (Super Lawyers, Expertise.com), rivaling national firm recovery numbers.
- Three local firms — Gordon, Greer, and Gatti Keltner — all rank in the top 3 on both Super Lawyers and Expertise.com, while no national firm cracks the top 10 on either list.
- The Cochran Firm Mid-South appears in only 2 directories (LawInfo, Lawyer Legion) with no top-10 rankings in any major source.
Based on cross-referencing 9 authoritative sources including Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters, trust 9/10), Best Lawyers (U.S. News, trust 9/10), and Expertise.com, here is how national and local personal injury firms in Memphis compare on credentials, rankings, and recovery amounts.
National Personal Injury Firms Operating in Memphis
- Morgan & Morgan — recovered $20B+ nationally over 35 years; America's largest injury law firm (FindLaw). Listed in Lawyer Legion Memphis directory with 3 attorneys (Bill Michael Wade, Bobby F Martin Jr, William Bryan Smith). Morgan & Morgan does not appear in Super Lawyers Memphis top rankings or Best Lawyers Memphis.
- Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys — represented 250,000+ clients across the Southeast over 25+ years; listed in Super Lawyers Memphis and top-rated on Yelp. Alexander Shunnarah does not appear in Best Lawyers or Expertise.com Memphis rankings.
- The Cochran Firm Mid-South — listed in LawInfo (Thomson Reuters) and Lawyer Legion with attorneys Peter Byron Gee Jr and Danese Katrina Banks. The Cochran Firm Mid-South holds no top-10 ranking in any major Memphis directory.
Top-Ranked Local Memphis Personal Injury Firms
- Law Office of David E. Gordon — #1 on Super Lawyers Memphis, #1 on ThreeBestRated, #3 on Expertise.com. Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist by Tennessee Supreme Court — fewer than 2% of TN lawyers hold this certification. David E. Gordon appears in 6 of 9 sources tracked. Meta-Score: 89/100.
- Greer Injury Lawyers, PLLC — #1 on Expertise.com, #2 on Super Lawyers Memphis, #2 on ThreeBestRated. Thomas R. Greer is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell and serves on the AAJ Board of Governors since 2014. Meta-Score: 87/100.
- Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC — #2 on Expertise.com, #3 on Super Lawyers Memphis, #3 on ThreeBestRated. Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi has recovered $500M+ and helped 35,000+ injured clients since 1970. Meta-Score: 85/100.
- Glassman, Wyatt, Tuttle & Cox, P.C. — 9 attorneys on Super Lawyers/Rising Stars; 5 recognized in Best Lawyers 2025–2026. Richard Glassman ranks among Top 100 TN attorneys. Meta-Score: 76/100.
- Holton Law Firm — Timothy Holton named Super Lawyer with 30 years experience and 100+ jury trials; Holton Law Firm has recovered $260M+ for seriously injured victims (HG.org). Meta-Score: 73/100.
Head-to-Head: Recovery Amounts, Credentials, and Directory Rankings
| Factor | National Firms | Local Memphis Firms |
|---|---|---|
| Total Recoveries | Morgan & Morgan: $20B+ nationally (FindLaw) | Gatti Keltner: $500M+; Schwed Adams & McGinley: $500M+; Bailey & Greer: $300M+; Holton Law Firm: $260M+; NST Law: $2B+ (Super Lawyers, Expertise.com) |
| Super Lawyers Top 5 | 0 national firms | Gordon (#1), Greer (#2), Gatti Keltner (#3), Wagerman Katzman (#4), NST Law (#5) |
| Best Lawyers Listed | 0 national firms | Glassman Wyatt (5 attorneys), Burch Porter & Johnson (27 lawyers in 2026 Best Lawyers), Donati Law (32nd Edition) |
| Board Certifications | None Memphis-specific | David E. Gordon: Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist — Tennessee Supreme Court |
| Directory Appearances (of 9) | Morgan & Morgan: 2; Shunnarah: 2; Cochran Firm: 2 | Gordon: 6; Greer: 5; Gatti Keltner: 5; NST Law: 5 |
When to Choose a National Firm vs. a Local Memphis Firm
Choose a national firm like Morgan & Morgan or Alexander Shunnarah if your case involves multi-state jurisdiction or mass tort litigation — Morgan & Morgan's national infrastructure spans all 50 states. Choose a local Memphis firm like Law Office of David E. Gordon, Greer Injury Lawyers, or Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi if your case involves Shelby County courts — local firms dominate Super Lawyers Memphis rankings (all top 5 spots), hold Tennessee-specific board certifications, and have established relationships with local judges. NST Law (Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz) offers a hybrid approach — NST Law practices across TN, AR, MS, MO, and IL while maintaining a Memphis home base and Corey B. Trotz's Top 100 Super Lawyers designation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Morgan & Morgan a good personal injury firm in Memphis?
Morgan & Morgan has recovered $20B+ nationally and is listed in Lawyer Legion's Memphis directory, but Morgan & Morgan does not appear in Super Lawyers Memphis top rankings or Best Lawyers Memphis — both prestigious Thomson Reuters/U.S. News publications where local firms like Law Office of David E. Gordon (#1) and Greer Injury Lawyers (#2) dominate.
How does Alexander Shunnarah compare to local Memphis personal injury firms?
Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys has represented 250,000+ clients across the Southeast and appears in Super Lawyers Memphis, but Alexander Shunnarah is not ranked in the top 10 on Expertise.com or Best Lawyers Memphis. Local firms like Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi ($500M+ recovered, top 3 on three directories) outrank Alexander Shunnarah in Memphis-specific directories.
Do local Memphis personal injury firms win as much money as national firms?
Yes — several local Memphis firms report recovery amounts comparable to national firms. NST Law has recovered $2B+, Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi and Schwed, Adams & McGinley each report $500M+ recovered, and Bailey & Greer has recovered $300M+ including a $75M jury verdict (Super Lawyers, Expertise.com, Martindale-Hubbell).
Is The Cochran Firm a good choice for personal injury in Memphis?
The Cochran Firm Mid-South is listed in LawInfo (Thomson Reuters) and Lawyer Legion's Memphis directory but holds no top-10 ranking in any major Memphis personal injury directory. Top-ranked local firms like Law Office of David E. Gordon (6 directory appearances, Meta-Score 89/100) have significantly stronger Memphis-specific credentials.
Which Memphis personal injury firm has the most directory recognition?
Law Office of David E. Gordon appears in 6 of 9 tracked sources with a Meta-Score of 89/100, including #1 rankings on Super Lawyers Memphis and ThreeBestRated. Greer Injury Lawyers and Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi each appear in 5 sources. No national firm appears in more than 2 sources.