A founding member of BMJRG, Stevan L. Black concentrates his practice in the areas of federal and state civil litigation, family law and personal injury litigation. He is admitted to practice before all courts of the state of Tennessee; U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee; U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Mississippi; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; U.S. Claims Court; and U.S. Supreme Court. He is also a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed Family Mediator.

A graduate of Mississippi State University, Mr. Black received his B.S. in Chemistry in 1970 and earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1973. While in law school, Mr. Black was a member of the Tennessee Law Review.

Mr. Black’s numerous awards include recognition in The Best Lawyers in America as Lawyer of the Year in Family Law Memphis in 2018 and 2021. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America from 1999 to 2022 and has earned a Martindale-Hubbell AV rating since 1990. Other accolades include Super Lawyers, Mid-South, 2006-2009 and 2011-2022 (first family law practitioner to be selected); National Association of Distinguished Counsel, Nation’s Top One Percent, 2015; Orpheus Award, the Memphis Development Foundation (the Orpheum Theatre), 2012; and Distinguished Service Award, Mississippi State University Alumni Association, 2003.

Reported Cases:

• Hyneman v. Hyneman, 152 S.W.3d 549 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003)
• Honeycutt v. Honeycutt, 152 S.W. 3rd 556 (Tenn. App. 2003)
• Burlew v. Burlew, 40 S.W.3d 465 (Tenn. 2001)
• Goodman v. Goodman, 8 S.W.3d 289 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999)
• Dellinger v. Dellinger, 958 S.W.2d 778 (Tenn. App. 1997)
• Herrera v. Herrera, 944 S.W.2d 379 (Tenn. App. 1996)
• Black v. Blount, 938 S.W.2d 394 (Tenn. 1996)
• Culp v. Culp, 917 S.W.2d 233 (Tenn. App. 1995)
• Malone v. Malone, 842 S.W.2d 621 (Tenn. App. 1992)
• Halloran v. Kostka, 778 S.W.2d 454 (Tenn. App. 1988)
• Seessel v. Seessel, 748 S.W.2d 422 (Tenn. 1988)

Presentations:

• “Family Case Law Update,” Memphis Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, Destin, Florida, May, 2011
• “Tax Considerations in Family Law Cases,” Memphis Estate Planning Council, Memphis, Tennessee, 2008
• “Family Law Tax Issues,” Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants Federal Tax Conference, Franklin, Tennessee, 2004
• “Tax Law for the Rest of Us – Family Law Tax Issues,” Tennessee Bar Association, Memphis and Nashville, 2004
• “The Significance of Relative Fault in Property Division and Alimony: A Survey,” Law Education Institute, Aspen, Colorado, 2003
• “Divorce – Alimony and Property Issues,” Memphis Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, Destin, Florida, May 2001
• “Tax Issues in Family Law Cases,” Memphis Bar Association, 1999
• “Making the Record on Appeal,” Memphis Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, Destin, Florida, 1999
• “Making Tax Laws Work for Your Client,” Tennessee Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1994
• “Hedonic Damages: The Pleasure Principle,” Law Education Institute, Vail Colorado, 1990 and 1992, Orlando, Florida, 1991
• “Summary Judgment After Celotex,” Vail, Colorado, 1991