Patricia J. Cottrell

Before entering private practice, she served as a judge on the Tennessee Court of Appeals for sixteen years, including a tenure as Presiding Judge of the Middle Section. Her extensive legal background includes serving as Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of Tennessee and as Director of Law for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. She has presided over thousands of appellate cases covering diverse legal subjects and has significant experience in government law, constitutional issues, and complex commercial litigation.

Her profile is defined by a rare combination of municipal law expertise, high-ranking state government service, and over a decade and a half of appellate judicial experience.

She is one of the few neutrals with high-level experience in both state-level executive legal leadership and senior appellate judicial service.

She is regarded for her deep analytical capabilities and her ability to navigate complex statutory and regulatory frameworks with a fair and balanced approach.