Ward W. Nelson
Chattanooga
Office: 423.785.8250 | Other: 423.316.8564 | Fax: 423.321.1550
ward.nelson@millermartin.com
- Overview
- Experience
- Education
- Involvement
- In-Depth
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Overview
Ward Nelson has almost 40 years of experience in the areas of corporate, healthcare and transportation law, primarily for merger and acquisition and private equity transactions. His background as a Certified Public Accountant has proved invaluable in structuring and evaluating financial aspects of business transactions (buy side and sell side) in various industries including healthcare, floor covering, manufacturing, and transportation. He also represents numerous businesses with general corporate law matters.
Ward was previously a member of the firm's Policy Committee and a past chair of the firm's Corporate Department and Healthcare Practice Group.
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Experience
- Represent numerous manufacturing clients in sell-side M&A transactions
- 20+ years representing global soft drink bottler in acquiring bottling companies aggregating several billion dollars, and in negotiating credit agreements
- 20+ years representing large Catholic hospital in acquiring hospitals and physician groups, and negotiating various healthcare contracts
- 10 years representing several floor covering and transportation companies in merger and acquisition transactions aggregating several hundred million dollars, and general corporate/contract matters
- Serve as outside corporate counsel for manufacturing and other businesses
- Regularly advise physician and other healthcare providers on M&A, employment and hospital contracting matters
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Education
- J.D., with Honors, University of North Carolina School of Law, 1985
- B.S., Accounting, University of North Carolina, 1980
- Morehead Scholar
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Involvement
Bar Admissions- Tennessee
- Georgia
Certifications- Certified Public Accountant (Inactive) since 1982
Accolades- Chattanooga Bar Association - Fellow, 2016
- The Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” – Chattanooga Health Care Law, 2013 & 2017
- The Best Lawyers in America® - Health Care Law, since 2007
- Martindale Hubble "AV" Rating
Memberships- Tennessee Bar Association, Business Law Section - 2020-2021 Chair of the Executive Committee
- Chattanooga Bar Association - Fellow
- State Bar of Georgia
- American Health Lawyers Association
Community- Tennessee Bar Association - Past Chair of Corporate Law Section
- CHI Memorial Hospital Foundation - Board Member
- Signal Centers - Assistive Technology Advisory Committee (Vision, Hearing, Speech)
- Metropolitan Ministries - Board Member
- Chattanooga Rotary Club
- Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga – Past Board Member
- First-Centenary United Methodist Church – Past Chairman, Church Council and Stewardship Committee, Youth Sunday School Teacher
- The McCallie School Alumni Council – Past President
- The Centenary After School Program - Past Board Member and Treasurer
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News
- 59 Miller & Martin Lawyers Recognized in Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Edition
- 57 Miller & Martin Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers® Award Recipients
- 52 Miller & Martin Attorneys Named to 2023 The Best Lawyers in America® List
- 52 Miller & Martin Attorneys Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® List
- 50 Miller & Martin Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021 Edition Show more
I’ve never met a stranger. I return calls and e-mails promptly. I really enjoy what I do as a lawyer working with clients. In my free time, I enjoy walks with my wife Margaret, family time with our three grown sons' families including six grandchildren, as well as travel and golf.