Derek O. Fairchilds

Derek O. Fairchilds is a trial lawyer who is licensed to practice throughout West Tennessee and North Mississippi. His areas of expertise are automobile accidents, trucking accidents, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury cases. Mr. Fairchilds is a member of the Memphis Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, Mississippi Bar Association, and American Bar Association. He has been named by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in the area of personal injury litigation in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Mr. Fairchilds grew up in the small town of Stuarts Draft, Virginia, located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. In high school he played multiple varsity sports, and as a result of his dedication and effort he was able to win the Virginia state doubles championship with his brother, Sean. Rather than pursue athletics in college, he focused his energy on academics and obtained an undergraduate degree from James Madison University in 2002. He then continued his education at the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, where he was a member of the Tennessee Journal of Practice and Procedure.

Prior to joining Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, Mr. Fairchilds served as a litigation associate for an insurance defense firm in Memphis. This experience proved to be extremely valuable as it continues to provide him with perspective and insight into the inner workings of the insurance industry. Armed with this first-hand knowledge of insurance companies and their tactics, Mr. Fairchilds accepted his current position with Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz in 2011.

As a trial attorney, his primary responsibility is the preparation of cases for trial in front of a jury. This includes gathering evidence, taking depositions, and dealing with experts such as doctors and accident reconstructionists. Adequate and competent trial preparation often leads to favorable out of court settlements. However, sometimes the insurance company simply refuses to be fair. When that happens, Mr. Fairchilds is ready, willing, and able to take the case to trial.

Since joining Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz in 2011, Mr. Fairchilds has been one of the most prolific trial attorneys in the State of Tennessee, with approximately sixty trials over that time span. The Tennessee Jury Verdict Reporter routinely lists Mr. Fairchilds in their annual Most Prolific Trial Lawyer rankings, including in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2022. The vast majority of his trials have resulted in judgments favorable to NST clients, including a jury verdict in excess of $1,000,000.00 in Henderson County, Tennessee, believed to be one of the largest in the history of that county.

The insurance companies often have significant advantages over injured persons who are not represented by counsel, including disparities of knowledge, wealth, and resources. Mr. Fairchilds gets satisfaction from knowing that his involvement helps to level the playing field and protects the person who needs help the most – the injured party.

Even though he is not from the Mid-South, Mr. Fairchilds loves the Memphis area and feels as though he is an adopted son. Memphis is a city of great character, energy, and hospitality, not to mention the fantastic barbeque and blues music. Mr. Fairchilds supports all of the local sports teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Tigers, and Memphis Redbirds. In his free time he enjoys hiking, golfing, and traveling. He also participates in competitive food events, such as chili cook-offs and hot wing festivals, which benefit a wide variety of charities.