Kramer Rayson Selected for Greater Knoxville Area’s Top Workplaces Award for 2018

Justice never sleeps. But at Tennessee-based law firm Kramer Rayson LLP, employees do. That’s because at this legal practice, employees’ work-life balance is valued, and in an environment that’s notorious for long hours, Kramer Rayson LLP has been valuing its people and culture as much as its clients’ success for 70 years.

In addition to being named one of Knoxville’s Top Workplaces for the second year, the Firm was proud to have received the “Meaningfulness” award, indicating our entire staff recognizes the values of the work the Firm does and the clients we serve.

The Firm’s Executive Director, Marc Upchurch says: “Kramer Rayson was built on the concept of family and every generation of Partners has recognized the importance of balancing the costs and demands of a busy law practice with the needs and personal lives of its employees.  The Firm invests in its people by providing every employee with competitive pay and an exceptional benefits package that sets it apart.  In addition, the Firm’s Partners provide an open, fair and consistent work environment that regularly promotes its culture through a variety of firmwide meals and special events.  We spend a lot of time together and believe that maintaining strong personal and professional relationships are critical to providing a great place to work.”    

Creating this culture has boosted the Firm’s accomplishments. The Firm has been involved in some of the state’s most significant legal decisions and has earned the respect of many in the legal community. For example, it was named one of the Best Law Firms by U.S. News & World Report, and many of its attorneys are included in the list of Best Lawyers in America. The Firm was named as one of the Best Employers in Tennessee in each of the five years it participated in the survey.

But the recognition doesn’t stop there. Recently, many of the Firm’s 18 partners were selected to receive top honors in more than 25 areas of practice as CityView Magazine Top Attorneys in 2018. Similarly, over the years, Kramer Rayson has consistently been recognized for its quality legal work in America’s Leading Lawyers for Business by Chambers USA, Mid-South Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers and numerous other legal publications.

According to leaders at the Firm, none of this would be possible without the Firm’s 50-person workforce.

“We wouldn’t be able to deliver the highest quality legal representation possible for our clients if it weren’t for having a deeply motivated, committed and compassionate workforce,” said Robert Bowman, Managing Partner at Kramer Rayson. “We take tremendous pride in having a staff that genuinely enjoys coming to work each day and feels personally invested in helping to achieve positive outcomes for our clients and their families.”

The nearly 30 attorneys at Kramer Rayson LLP are committed to providing innovative and effective legal services in virtually every aspect of civil and commercial law, including labor and employment, administrative, corporate, health care, immigration and naturalization, government relations, trusts and estates, taxation, insurance and personal injury. They have graduated from various law schools—including The University of Tennessee, the University of Memphis, Vanderbilt University, the University of Arkansas, Seattle University, Southern Methodist University and the College of William & Mary —and work hard to maintain up-to-date knowledge of state and federal laws. The Firm and clients alike value their ongoing education.

Bowman added “The legal world and the practice of law are constantly changing and evolving, so Kramer Rayson invests significant resources in technology and continuing legal education for its attorneys at top legal symposiums and seminars throughout the country”.

Because the Firm places an emphasis on work-life balance it’s also invested in employees’ lives and outside interests. Employees are encouraged to become involved in activities outside the practice of law and are therefore heavily engaged in a wide variety of civic pursuits, such as philanthropic organizations, religious entities, foundations and other worthwhile causes. Some of these include the Knoxville Museum of Art, The University of Tennessee, and state and local bar associations.

Valuing employees’ outside interests is one of the many ways Kramer Rayson LLP shows how much it respects its employees. And while the Firm recognizes doing this is good business practice—employees who feel valued and appreciated by their leaders are infinitely more likely to go above and beyond for the Firm and hold themselves accountable for their part of a project—it truly cares about the wellbeing of its people and invests in them. This is a value set in place at the Firm 70 years ago that continues to be the foundation of everything it does.