John Burleson is immediate past President of Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell, P.L.C. and has been associated with the Firm since receiving his Doctor of Jurisprudence, with honors, in 1983 from the University of Tennessee College of Law. John is a Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator and has extensive experience in employment matters and has successfully defended public and private employers in state and federal courts. In addition to his extensive trial experience, he also regularly advises clients in regard to employment related matters in the areas of compliance with Title VII, ADEA, ADA, the Tennessee Human Rights Act, and other state and federal laws.
Since 2008, John has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in the specialty of Workers’ Compensation Law and Employment Law-Management and recently received the Best Lawyers® 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” award in the area of Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers. “Lawyer of the Year” honors are awarded annually to only one lawyer per practice area in each region with extremely high overall feedback from their peers. He also has the distinction of having an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
John is a Rule 31 General Civil Mediator and on the panel of Federal Court Mediators in the Western District and has mediated cases since 2013. He serves numerous Tennessee counties in West and Middle Tennessee. John is an experienced mediator in cases involving:
- Discrimination
- Sexual harassment
- Breach of employment contracts
- Wrongful discharge
- Civil rights violations
- Governmental Tort Liability Act claims
- Landowner disputes
- Auto accidents
- Commercial disputes
- Construction litigation
- Contract disputes
- Premises liability
In almost any area of civil litigation, John can assist you in an efficient and timely resolution of your case. John is available to travel to your location, or the Firm has multiple private conference rooms ready to meet your mediation needs. John is also well-versed in online meeting platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Tennessee in 1983, John is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court of Tennessee (Western and Middle Districts), and the Sixth United States Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Education
- University of Tennessee, J.D., 1983 honors
- Union University, 1978 cum laude
Licenses & Certifications
- Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 General Civil Mediator, TN Supreme Court/Administrative Office of the Courts, 2013
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee (1983)
- U.S. District Courts, Tennessee: Middle and Western
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
Memberships
- Tennessee Bar Association
- Jackson-Madison County Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- International Municipal Lawyers Association
- Tennessee Bar Foundation
- The Howell Edmunds Jackson American Inn of Court
Honors and Distinctions
- Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator
- Best Lawyers® 2018 and 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” award in the area of Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
- Best Lawyers in America® in the specialty of Workers’ Compensation Law, Employment Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment.
- Outstanding History Alumnus Award, Union University (2011)