Overview

Cole Dowsley is a Partner in Freeman Mathis & Gary’s Nashville office is Vice-Chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation/Directors & Officers. With 20 years of litigation experience, Mr. Dowsley works closely with clients to solve complex problems inside and outside of the courtroom. Mr. Dowsley works side-by-side with clients to fully understand their business goals, identify and manage risk, and efficiently achieve winning results. As a trusted advocate for his clients, he has successfully litigated cases involving business disputes, personal injury claims, construction disputes, and employment claims.

Mr. Dowsley’s commercial litigation practice involves representing business clients in various complex matters, including antitrust, breach of contract, partnership disputes/disputes among business owners, theft of trade secrets, and business torts, such as fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and tortious interference.

Mr. Dowsley represents parties on all sides of construction and real estate litigation, including owners, developers, general contractors, and various subcontractor trades. This includes contract and payment disputes, construction defect claims, construction lien claims, contractor licensing disputes, and real estate purchase disputes, lease disputes, and ownership matters.

In Mr. Dowsley’s employment practice, he regularly handles matters before federal and state courts in Tennessee, and before administrative agencies. His employment practice includes representing employers in employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, wage and hour issues, and disputes concerning enforcement and defense of non-compete, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements.

Mr. Dowsley’s personal injury practice encompasses premises liability, transportation, negligent security and slip and fall cases. As a part of that practice, he defends insurance carriers and their insureds, including individuals and businesses, in casualty injury claims.

Mr. Dowsley is listed by the Tennessee Supreme Court as a Rule 31 mediator. As a mediator, he uses his extensive litigation experience to assist parties efficiently and effectively settle their cases.

Mr. Dowsley is a lifelong Tennessean. While he is based in Nashville, he has represented clients of all sizes throughout Tennessee and across the country. He has been recognized by Mid-South Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for six years.

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Bar Admissions

Tennessee 

  • Tennessee State Courts
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee

Education

J.D.

University of Tennessee College of Law

B.S. (magna cum laude)

University of Tennessee

Affiliations

Tennessee Bar Association 

Awards & Recognition

  • 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®

  • Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Star in Business Litigation, 2014-2019 

Interdisciplinary Teams

Education

J.D.

University of Tennessee College of Law

B.S. (magna cum laude)

University of Tennessee

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