Nashville law firm Bass, Berry & Sims has hired Eli J. Richardson in its internal investigations and government enforcement practice.

Richardson brings nearly 20 years of experience to the role. He is the former criminal chief of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee and former resident legal advisor to Serbia under the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training.

"Eli's arrival is an important moment for Bass, Berry & Sims, signaling the continued expansion of one of our key practice areas," said Wally Dietz, co-chair of the internal investigations group. "Eli's experience will be very valuable to clients who face any type of government investigation or enforcement proceeding, ranging from health care billing issues to foreign corruption issues, including those resulting from white-collar criminal prosecutions."

Richardson was resident legal advisor to Serbia from March 2009 to September 2010, stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade. Prior to that, from 2004 to 2009, he was assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Tennessee; he held the same title in the District of New Jersey from 2002 to 2004. Richardson has also served as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

He joins Bass Berry's staff of more than 200 attorneys.