Around the Bar

AROUND THE BAR By: Cathy Shuck

East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

CHAIR CHAT

The KBA has 16 committees and 12 sections. Each one is hard at work to provide KBA members resources, support, and meaningful opportunities to further their practice. We asked some of the Chairs to share background and other information about their committees and sections; the first installment is below.1 We hope you enjoy these “Chair Chats” and that they inspire you to join a new committee or section this year.

Corporate Counsel Section

Chairs Marcia Kilby and David Headrick have co-Chaired this section for twelve years. Marcia is Chief Legal Officer at DeRoyal Industries, Inc. and Dave is with KCI Technologies, Inc.

DICTA: Who should join the Corporate Counsel section?

Dave and Marcia: Attorneys that work directly for companies and the private practice attorneys who want their business.

What is something that people might not know about the section, but should?

Marcia: We truly strive to offer programming that is meaningful to in-house counsel. Dave: Once you are on the list, you will forevermore get invitations to all of our meetings and seminars, plus our semi-annual publication Consigliere.

How has the pandemic affected the section?

Obviously, all of our meetings went virtual for a couple of years, which was quite an adjustment for the section.

What events or other projects are coming up?

We have co-sponsored one CLE event this year and would like to do another one-hour event. However, our signature event is our annual halfday Corporate Updates and Ethics CLE, which will be held on August 24 this year. We are currently also working on the next edition of our publication.

If the section were a household appliance, what would it be and why?

Dave: A toaster oven. We don’t practice all of the areas of law that most private-practice attorneys do, but we still have to burn hot! Marcia: Or a blender. We take attorneys from different in-house backgrounds to create a blend of expertise and camaraderie that results in a smoothly operating end product.

If the section could do anything at all, what would it be?

Dave: A post-COVID party! Marcia: Or maybe destination CLE that includes a post-COVID party.

Diversity in the Profession Committee:

Akram Faizer, a Professor at Lincoln Memorial University Law School, has been a co-Chair of this Committee since 2018. Christina Magrans, who works for the City of Knoxville, has been a member for her entire legal career and became a co-Chair in 2022.

DICTA: Who should join the Diversity in the Profession Committee?

Akram: Everyone should join the Diversity in the Profession Committee. I think there is a mistaken perception that it is only for people from minority backgrounds or perspectives. Christina and I believe that everyone is welcome and should consider joining. Christina: I agree. Everyone should join this committee. It is not only for attorneys in minority categories. It is also for people who want to be allies to those in minority categories and to promote their work and employers in a way that benefits everyone.

What is something that people might not know about your committee, but should?

Akram: It is a very active committee and has seen increased interest and membership since the COVID pandemic. Its members are truly wonderful lawyers in all areas of practice and experience who are openminded, civic-minded and work very hard to make our profession more inclusive and therefore effective. Christina: I think it is important for people to note that diversity will only become a more important and pressing issue in the future. Even if you think diversity and inclusion does not impact your practice, you are mistaken. Companies are paying more attention to diversity when choosing firms to hire. Minority attorneys provide not only a more inclusive perspective to litigation and to their employers, but they also bring in new client markets.

How has the pandemic affected the Committee?

Akram: The pandemic truly led to increased participation for two major reasons. The first is because Zoom enabled for greater participation by a larger cross-section of the bar. The second is because the political and socioeconomic injustices during the pandemic, including the murder of George Floyd, the demotic characterization of BLM protesters as rioters and the attempted insurrection at the Capitol, highlighted issues of racial injustice for many members. Christina: I would also say that it has resulted in our thinking more deliberately about ways to engage the community in terms of events, advertisements, and recruitment.

What events or other projects are coming up?

We are currently working on scheduling our October event and Buddy Match program. We are also seeking to resume our Difficult Conversations series on racial issues.

If the section were a household appliance, what would it be and why?

An energy efficient oven. It truly enables you to prepare more delicious and healthy foods than a microwave or eating out, but it requires a bit more intentionality.

If the section could do anything at all, what would it be?

Akram: I think it would be for us to be able to convene a caucus of American lawyers from all backgrounds, led by experts in the profession, to openly discuss the best way to effectuate a society that is socioeconomically and professionally representative of its constituent members. Christina: I think that we would love to see more minority attorneys being hired in the Knoxville area and – more importantly – that those minority attorneys stay on at Knoxville firms.

Akram: Christina and I are truly are honored to be co-chairs of this committee. Our hope is to make incremental steps toward making our bar more inclusive and welcoming.