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Hello My Name Is

HELLO... MY NAME IS By: Jennifer Franklyn

Leitner Williams Dooley Napolitan

SAVANNAH MCCABE

This month’s column features Savannah McCabe, an Associate Attorney at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC. Savannah practices primarily in management-side employment law, including litigation and counseling, as well as construction, insurance, contractual disputes, and commercial torts. She is a double alumna of the University of Tennessee, where she obtained both her undergraduate degree in Political Science, with a minor in Economics, and her J.D. As you will learn in this feature, she is a devoted Tennessee Volunteers fan as well as a “dog mom.” I hope you enjoy this q-and-a in getting to know Savannah, a valuable addition to the Knoxville Bar Association.

Why did you decide to go to law school?

I have always loved problem solving and resolving complex scenarios, especially in the business space. I also have a deep admiration of entrepreneurialism and creativity; however, I am not a risk-taker or an experimenter. So, I wanted a career that allowed me to use my strengths to serve the entrepreneurial community and enable it to continue creating. I initially worked toward a career in the political space, and as an undergraduate and law student, I was fortunate to intern in the Tennessee General Assembly and in Congress. I saw elected representatives work to resolve questions in the entrepreneurial community on a broad scale and learned that I would like to do the same, but with a more targeted approach and directed focus on individual clients. Now I get to do that every day, and I love my job!

What motivates you to work hard and energizes you at work?

My greatest motivator is earning the respect and trust of colleagues, including internal teammates, clients, and opposing or co-counsel. I feel that I’ve “won” each time that I am given more responsibility in a matter or asked to handle a more difficult task without supervision. This is most rewarding when arguing in court or negotiating with opposing counsel— my client’s trust in me to represent their interests keeps me going. Additionally, I am proud to be part of such a congenial and professional legal community in Knoxville. Maintaining the same reputation for honesty and integrity that I have come to expect automatically from other Knoxville attorneys is highly important and motivational to me.

What is one professional skill you are working on right now?

As almost every other lawyer I know, I am working on the discipline it takes to truly manage time and regulate capacity. It is easy to be a “yes man” and volunteer for each task thrown your way, especially in a competitive environment. I am trying to focus more on understanding the strongest assets that I bring to my teams, whether professionally or in the community, so that I can give each commitment the time and knowhow it deserves and have the maturity to delegate the rest.

On a typical Saturday afternoon, where are you and what are you doing?

I am at Neyland Stadium watching the Tennessee Volunteers run through the T!! If it isn’t football season, my husband, Chris, and I love to travel. We were lucky to make wonderful friends during our time at U.T. who have relocated all over the country, and we enjoy visiting them. Just this year, we have visited friends in Scottsdale, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, and all over Tennessee in Nashville, Memphis, and Chattanooga.

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