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Inside or outside legal work? Companies say it depends on the matter

Tim Kelly talks in his office, which was being packed up for renovations at the Kelly Subaru dealership in downtown Chattanooga in this recent file photo.
Tim Kelly talks in his office, which was being packed up for renovations at the Kelly Subaru dealership in downtown Chattanooga in this recent file photo.

By Mike Pare 4 min read

photo 110710c, SUNBIZ, Mike Mallen of Miller & Martin, 1/2 col, B&W, Pag

Some of East Tennessee’s biggest “law firms” have only a single client.

The biggest number of lawyers employed by a single business in Chattanooga is in the legal department of the Unum Group, which has about 200 attorneys handling cases around the globe.

The Tennessee Valley Authority employs 38 attorneys in its Office of General Counsel in Knoxville, while BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has a dozen attorneys on staff at its Chattanooga headquarters.

Chattanooga’s biggest businesses rely upon both in-house and outside legal counsel to handle legal matters.

But for most smaller businesses, legal help comes from outside the company.