Jonathan Tepe

Jonathan Tepe is a partner with Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight in Nashville. He co-chairs the firm’s Public Interest Practice Group and chairs its Fellows and Junior Associates Program. His practice includes civil rights, public interest litigation, employment disputes, and complex civil litigation. He represents individuals, workers, and public-sector groups in cases concerning discrimination, abuses of rights, and other matters with broader community impact.

Jonathan earned a J.D. from Columbia Law School and a B.A. in Political Science and History, cum laude, from The Ohio State University. At Columbia, he worked with the Human Rights Law Review and participated in human rights activities. He also clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in the District of Connecticut. These experiences supported his work with contested legal rights and judicial proceedings.

Jonathan has represented disabled young people in litigation involving Tennessee juvenile facilities and municipalities pursuing claims related to opioid products. He helped secure a settlement for more than 700 auto workers in an age discrimination case against Volkswagen. His work also includes an arbitration verdict for a technology company co-founder, employment retaliation disputes, and an immigration appeal. He previously contributed to education-rights litigation in South Africa.

Jonathan Tepe has been recognized on Mid-South Rising Stars, Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under, Best Lawyers Ones to Watch, and Lawdragon civil rights and plaintiff employment lists. His leadership responsibilities include developing opportunities for junior lawyers while pursuing public interest matters. He combines individual employment representation with larger cases that raise questions about institutional conduct, civil rights, and access to justice.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP
• Member, Tennessee Bar Association
• Member, Ohio State Bar Association

Licensed State

• Tennessee
• Ohio

Education

• Columbia Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Ohio State University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges