While he admits that the cliché “I like to argue” played a large part in his decision to pursue a legal career, BPJ Associate Patrick J. Hillard, Sr.’s experiences since then have contributed more to the reason he was selected by the Memphis Business Journal’s Best of the Bar this year.

“Every time a client calls on me, I learn something that molds me into a better attorney,” he told the MBJ. “The most important moment from my career is the next one.”

Hillard, whose practice focuses on commercial and business litigation, personal injury and government and municipal law, joined the firm in 2018. He is President-Elect of the Young Lawyers Division of the Memphis Bar Association.

He told the MBJ that being compassionate is the most important skill an attorney can bring to his practice. “It is impossible to successfully practice law if you refuse to see the world from the opposing side’s viewpoint. Understanding their argument is the first step to defeating it.”

Hillard is one of 22 local attorneys included in this year’s Best of the Bar edition; nominations are submitted by the public and winners chosen by MBJ editors.

Congratulations, Patrick, on this well-deserved honor!