John
R.
Bode
Member
423.785.8320
423.321.1507

John Bode concentrates his practice on labor relations and employment opportunity. For more than three decades, John has served as lead trial counsel in numerous cases before state and federal agencies and courts and the National Labor Relations Board. He has extensive experience representing many prominent national, regional and Tennessee employers in union organizing campaigns, collective bargaining, arbitrations, strikes, decertification petitions, wage and hour and other state and federal audits. 

  • J.D., University of Richmond, 1985
    • Member and contributing writer on the school’s law review staff
  • B.S., with Distinction, Commerce, University of Virginia, 1982
    • Concentrations in Finance and Human Resources Management

Bar Admissions

  • Tennessee

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern and Middle Districts of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third, Sixth, and Eleventh Circuits

Clerkships

Certifications

Accolades

  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business - Labor & Employment (Tennessee, Band 3), since 2015
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers®, 2007-2008, Since 2013
  • The Best Lawyers in America® - Labor & Employment Law Management; Labor & Employment Litigation, since 2007
  • Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Labor & Employment Litigation, 2026, 2022 & 2018
  • Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Labor Law Management, 2021, 2017 & 2014 
  • Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Employment Law Management, 2020 & 2013
  • Martindale-Hubbell - AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • American Bar Foundation – Fellow
  • Chattanooga Bar Foundation – Fellow

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Associated General Contractors, Labor and Employment Law Council – Member
  • Chattanooga Bar Association
  • Chattanooga Bar Association, Board of Governors – Former Member
  • First-Centenary United Methodist Church in Chattanooga – Member
  • Rotary Club of Chattanooga - Member
  • Society for Human Resources Management, Chattanooga Chapter – Board Member and Legislative Director
  • Tennessee Bar Association
  • Tennessee Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section – Immediate Past Chair

Community

  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga - Board Member and Secretary
  • Bright School - Board Member
  • Hunter Museum of American Art - Board Member
  • Urban League of Greater Chattanooga - Board Member 

In-Depth

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