Outgoing, approachable, and genuinely concerned about her clients’ concerns and issues, Mary Beth truly enjoys litigation and having the opportunity to represent them in the courtroom. Her commitment to making certain her clients avoid needless litigation and paying any unnecessary costs is one of her greatest assets.

Another strength for Mary Beth – and for her clients – is the diversity of her practice. With a primary focus on labor and employment/workers’ compensation and torts, Mary Beth litigates all over Tennessee in accident cases, malpractice claims, contract and construction matters, and workers’ compensation determinations. She is an AV Preeminent-rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell.

A graduate of the University of Virginia in 1991, Mary Beth returned home to Tennessee where she received her J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1994. She joined Frantz, McConnell & Seymour, LLP in 1998 and became a partner in 2003.

Mary Beth is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association and presently serves on the Board of Governors as Treasurer. She has served as Assistant Treasurer (2019-2021), an East Tennessee Governor (2017 – 2018), and Associate General Counsel (2016-2018). She served two terms as co-chair of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Leadership Law Program and many years as a Steering Committee member. She belongs to the Defense Research Institute and is a Rule 31 certified civil and family law mediator in Tennessee. She also served as a Member at Large for the Knoxville Bar Association Board of Governors in the past and was founder and chair of its work/life balance committee. She is a past President of the Barristers of the Knoxville Bar Association. Mary Beth was named as a Fellow in the Knoxville Bar Foundation in 2017 and a Fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation in 2018. She is also a Master in the Hamilton Burnett Inn of Court. Mary Beth has been named to Best Lawyers® for litigation – labor and employment and workers’ compensation law – claimants and employers since 2018.

Mary Beth was awarded the Tennessee Bar Association President’s Award in 2015 for her testimony regarding Workers’ Compensation legislation on behalf of the TBA. 

Away from the office, Mary Beth enjoys spending time with her husband, also an attorney, their two children and their two labs. She also volunteers and has served as President of West PTO and other PTO boards, fundraising committees for ChildHelp USA, as past Chair of the Florence Crittenton Agency Board, and on the Friends of the Smokies Evergreen Ball committee. She has assisted with the children’s program at her church and currently serves as a BSF group leader.

EDUCATION

• B.A. University of Virginia, 1991
• J.D. University of Tennessee, 1994

Practice Areas