Duane Willis is a Senior Attorney based in the Morgan & Akins Nashville office. 

Duane has over two decades of experience in civil litigation and specializes in defense matters including workers’ compensation, automobile and trucking liability, premises liability and product liability on behalf of self-insured companies, employers and insurance companies. Throughout his tenure, Duane has successfully defended numerous claims in both bench and jury trials.

In addition, Duane has significant experience both at the state and federal levels on numerous employment law, governmental tort liability and black lung claims. 

Duane has successfully handled cases before the appellate courts of Tennessee, including the Full Tennessee Supreme Court. In 2012, he was solely responsible for the decision in Troy Mitchell v. Fayetteville Public Utilities, Supreme Court Case No. M2011-00410-SC-R3-WC, which changed the Tennessee state standard and revived the defenses of willful misconduct and willful failure to use a safety device.

Duane has been involved in the most recent major law changes regarding the new administrative claims system for workers’ compensation in Tennessee, and continues to assist clients in making this transition. 

In addition to practicing law, he has presented seminars for clients, adjusters and other attorneys on Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Laws and has edited portions of several workers’ compensation volumes. 

Duane is also involved in fundraising for many special needs charities, including Gigi’s Playhouse, Best Buddies, the Special Olympics and the Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee, the latter of which he is also on the Board of Directors.