Madison County lawyer Marcus Lipham permanently disbarred, ordered to pay $26,500 restitution

TN Board of Professional Responsibility

Filed April 1st, 2026

Detected April 2nd, 2026

Summary

The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility reported that attorney Marcus Allen Lipham was permanently disbarred by the Supreme Court of Tennessee effective April 1, 2026, and ordered to pay $26,500 in restitution to seven former clients. The disbarment resulted from nine separate complaints and findings of knowing ethical misconduct including failures in competence, communication, diligence, fee合理性, and candor toward tribunals.

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What changed

The Supreme Court of Tennessee permanently disbarred Marcus Allen Lipham (BPR No. 036403) from the practice of law effective April 1, 2026, following a final disciplinary hearing on nine separate client complaints. The Hearing Panel found Lipham knowingly violated 14 Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct including Rules 1.1 (competence), 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication), 1.5 (fees), 3.3 (candor toward tribunal), and 8.4 (misconduct). The Panel also found violations involving false statements to courts, failure to respond to Board inquiries, and multiple instances of conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.

Tennessee attorneys should review this enforcement action as a reminder of the consequences of ethical misconduct across multiple rule violations. Counsel should verify their practices align with Rules 1.1-8.4, particularly regarding client communication, fee agreements, and responsiveness to disciplinary inquiries. The $26,500 restitution amount signals the Board's focus on client financial harm in disbarment cases.

What to do next

Review client communication practices against Tennessee Rule 1.4 requirements
Audit fee agreements for reasonableness per Rule 1.5
Ensure compliance with Board inquiries per Rule 8.1

Penalties

Permanent disbarred from practice of law; ordered to pay $26,500 restitution to seven former clients

Source document (simplified)

BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

OF THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE

10 CADILLAC DRIVE, SUITE 220 BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE 37027 TELEPHONE: (615) 361-7500 (800) 486-5714 Website: www.tbpr.org

RELEASE OF INFORMATION RE: MARCUS ALLEN LIPHAM, BPR NO. 036403 CONTACT: DOUGLAS R. BERGERON BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY 615-361-7500

April 1, 2026 MADISON COUNTY LAWYER DISBARRED

Effective April 1, 2026, the Supreme Court of Tennessee permanently disbarred Marcus Allen Lipham from the practice of law and ordered him to pay restitution to seven (7) former clients in the total amount of $26,500.00. After a final hearing upon the disciplinary petition containing nine (9) separate complaints, a Hearing Panel determined Mr. Lipham knowingly engaged in ethical misconduct that involved failure to provide competent representation, failure to act within the scope and authority communicated by clients, failure to act with reasonable diligence, failure to communicate with clients, charging of unreasonable fees, failure to properly terminate representation, failure to expedite litigation, making of false statements to courts and parties, failure to provide legal services after accepting fees, failure to respond to multiple Board inquiries for information, and multiple instances of misconduct involving prejudice to the administration of justice. The Hearing Panel found by preponderance of evidence that Mr. Lipham knowingly committed the following violations of Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 (competence), 1.2 (scope of representation), 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication), 1.5 (fees), 1.6 (confidentiality), 1.9 (duties to former clients), 1.15 (safekeeping property and funds), 1.16 (terminating representation), 3.2 (expediting litigation), 3.3 (candor toward Tribunal), 3.4 (fairness to opposing party and counsel), 8.1 (bar admission and disciplinary matters), and 8.4(a),(c), and (d) (misconduct).