BJ Wade
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, August 1, 1951; admitted to practice in Tennessee, 1976; United States Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit, 1979; United States Supreme Court, 1982.
Mr. Wade’s practice involves primarily Plaintiff’s class actions and mass torts, including complex litigation such as asbestos and pharmaceutical litigation. He was co-lead counsel in the landmark $70 million settlement against Life of George Insurance Company which compensated elderly African Americans for race based premium charges made against their burial insurance policies.
In the past 5 years, Mr. Wade has settled additional class actions exceeding $175 million. Mr. Wade is responsible for the following allocations to local entities since 2002:
| University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law |
$1 million |
| Memphis Area Legal Services | $500,000.00 |
| St Jude Children’s Research Hospital | $100,000.00 |
| Soulsville Music Academy Ben Cauley Honorary Scholarship, in honor of the sole survivor of the 1967 airplane crash that killed Otis Redding & The Barkays |
$100,000.00 |
| Memphis & Shelby County Drug Court | $70,000.00 |
| National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel | $50,000.00 |
Board of Directors:
- Memphis Area Legal Services;
- Soulsville, the non-profit corporation that operates Stax Museum of American Soul Music, at world famous Stax Records where Otis Redding, Booker T & the MG’s, Sam & Dave and other soul music performers recorded; and
- Lausanne Collegiate School.
Member of the Tennessee Association of Justice and America Association of Justice.
Former Hearing Panel Member for the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, which disciplines attorneys
Married to Tina Stuart Wade; two children: Sarah Grace Wade and John Stuart Wade.
