YLD Appeal Fall 2017

YLD APPEAL fall 2017: the election issue

President Adam Johnson Vice-President / President-Elect Mary Wu Secretary/Treasurer Natalie Bursi

Directors Greg Allen Josh Baker Sam Fargotstein Julia Kavanagh Jonathan Lindsey Sarah Pazar Williams Shayla Purifoy Monica Rejaei

Ex-Officio Directors Greg Gaston Ruchee Patel

HIGHLIGHTS FROM YLD EVENTS + 2018 YLD BOARD CANDIDATES

Chancellor Charles A. Rond Memorial Award The Young Lawyers’ Division is now accepting nominations for the Chancellor Charles A. Rond Memorial Award. This award is presented by the YLD to a local judge on an annual basis in honor of the late chancellor who was known for his intelligence, fairness, integrity, and wit.

Nominations will be accepted until Friday October 20, 2017 at 5:00 pm and online voting will take place the week of October 23, 2017. The winner will be recognized at the YLD Annual Meeting and Elections to be held at Central BBQ's downtown location on Thursday, November 9, 2017.

All nominations should be sent to YLD President Adam Johnson at ajohnson@nstlaw.com.

2017 YLD Board Elections All YLD members in good standing are encouraged to vote at the Annual Meeting, Thursday, November 9th, 2017 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the downtown Central Barbecue.

The YLD Board consists of a President, a Vice President/President-Elect, and nine Directors. Absentee ballots can be cast for those members who have travel or other conflicts. Please use the online ballot or download it here when casting your absentee vote, and remember you must vote for 9 directors and complete the ballot or your vote will not be counted.

All licensed attorneys of Shelby County, Tennessee, who are members in good standing of the MBA and are 36 years of age and younger, or within the first three years of their practice of law, at the time of the Annual Meeting are eligible to vote.

BY-LAW AMENDMENTS

The MBA YLD Board recently voted to recommend approval of amendments to the current YLD By-laws. Any amendments to the By-Laws must be approved by two-thirds of the of the members voting in the 2018 YLD Election. The proposed amendments can be viewed here. If you have any questions, please contact Adam Johnson.

2018 YLD Board Nominees Vice President/ President-Elect Candidate

Natalie Bursi

Grace Gelfand

William Hackett

Danielle Irvine

Lani Lester

Alex Park

Lewis Thomason

Morgan & Morgan

Burch, Porter and Johnson

Wolf Ardis

Bass, Berry & Sims

Lewis Thomason

Ruchee J. Patel

Ruchee J. Patel - Attorney at Law

Jennifer Sneed

Mitch Raines Wolff Ardis

Sam Strantz

Bourland, Heflin, Alvarez, Minor and Matthews

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz

Quinton E. Thompson

Chris M. Williams

The Quinton E. Thompson Law Firm

Black, McLaren, Jones, Ryland & Grifee

Sarah Pazar Williams Hall Booth Smith

For Annual Meeting & voting information, visit: bit.ly/yldelections

2018 YLD Board Nominee Biographies Natalie Bursi Lewis Thomason Vice President/President-Elect Candidate Natalie Bursi is an associate with Lewis Thomason, where she practices in general civil litigation with a focus on health care liability. She earned a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 2009 and earned her J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2013. Natalie was elected to the YLD Board of Directors in 2014. She has served as co-chair of the Social Committee for the past three years and as secretary/treasurer for the past two years. She is an associate member of the Leo Bearman, Sr. American Inn of Court, and she was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2016.

Since she began serving on the board, Natalie has assisted the YLD with community service activities that benefit both the legal profession and the greater community, such as the High School Mock Trial Competition, the MALS Saturday Legal Clinic, and the YLD’s Annual Golf Tournament. Natalie also helped plan the YLD’s Kickoff Event, the Annual Grizzlies Night, the Annual Bowling Night, and the first Levitt Shell Night. If elected to be vice president/president elect, Natalie would like to continue the YLD’s strong tradition of serving the Memphis legal community. She has enjoyed serving on the Board of Directors and would be honored to continue serving the YLD. Grace Gelfand Wolff Ardis I am a Memphis native and like many Memphians, grew up in an international family. After spending four years at Emory University in Atlanta, GA I came back home to attend law school. After graduating in 2016, I began working as an Associate Attorney for Wolff Ardis, P.C. within their products liability and FDIC Bond Claim groups. Prior to this my legal experience had been predominately within the defense realm and I have been pleasantly surprised at how much I truly enjoy Plaintiff’s litigation and the creative thinking that accompanies it on a day to day basis.

As part of my duties at Wolff Ardis, I also spearheaded our firms pro bono committee. In my spare time, I enjoy running, home remodeling, watching movies (putting that film degree to good use!) and Memphis’ culinary scene.

William Hackett Morgan & Morgan William Hackett was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee and is a graduate of Christian Brothers High School.

For college, William attended North Carolina State University and received a B.A. in Political Science. William attended law school at the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law (2012) where he was a member of the Moot Court Board and was an avid participant in the Moot Court and Mock Trial competitions.

During his second year, William won Best 2L Oral Advocate Award in the intra-school Mock Trial competition. The very next year William retained his title by winning the overall Best Oral Advocate Award.

William has exclusively practiced law with Morgan & Morgan for five years in the area of personal injury. William was recently named an equity partner of the Morgan & Morgan Memphis office.

Danielle Irvine Bass, Berry & Sims Danielle Dudding Irvine is an associate in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution group at Bass, Berry & Sims PLC. Danielle earned her B.A., magna cum laude, from Southern Methodist University in 2012 and her J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in 2016. In law school, she served on the Journal for Entertainment & Technology Law as Executive Editor and the Moot Court Board, received the Briggs Transnational Legal Studies Award for contributions to the development of international legal inquiry, and was selected for membership in the Order of the Coif. She also co-founded (with her husband Will) the Cork & Tap Society at Vanderbilt Law School, an organization focused on the law and policies surrounding alcohol production and distribution, and she worked on General Ratko Mladic’s defense team at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague. She is an Associate Member of the Leo Bearman, Sr. American Inn of Court and a presenter for the REACH Memphis Law Scholars Program. Danielle appreciates the opportunity to become more involved in the Memphis legal community and the Young Lawyers’ Division of the MBA. Lani Lester Burch, Porter and Johnson Lani is a native Memphian and current litigation associate with Burch Porter and Johnson, PLLC where her practice focuses primarily on commercial litigation. She received her B.S. degree in political science and print journalism from Middle Tennessee State University in 2009. After graduation, Lani moved back home to work as a customs brokerage specialist for FedEx Trade Networks. Having read far too many John Grisham novels as kid, Lani harbored a less than secret desire to practice law in the City that served as the setting for so many of Grisham’s legal thrillers. Lani left Trade Networks in 2013 in pursuit of this dream to attend the Cecil C. Humphrey’s School of Law. She joined the firm of Burch Porter and Johnson after graduation in 2016. Lani is proud to carry on the BPJ tradition of service through her membership on the boards of the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, the Community Legal Center, and Memphis Challenge. Outside of work and volunteering with the aforementioned organizations, Lani enjoys spending time with old friends and exploring the greatest and grittiest City on earth.

Lani hopes to bring the same passion that she devotes to her practice and service endeavors to the YLD Board.

Alex Park Lewis Thomason Alex Park is an associate with Lewis Thomason where he practices predominantly in the field of general civil defense. He received a B.A. in History from Christian Brothers University in 2013 and earned his J.D. from the Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law in 2016. In law school Alex served as comments editor for the Penn State Arbitration Law Journal and as president of the Student Bar Association. His law school experience also includes time as an intern with the DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office and as an extern for the Honorable Judge John E. Jones III of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Recently, he had the honor of being accepted as an Associate member of the Leo Bearman Sr. American Inn of Court.

In the past year, Alex has volunteered to assist with the YLD Legal Lines, High School Mock Trial Competition, and the MALS Saturday Legal Clinic. Having seen the positive difference the YLD makes in the community, he hopes to have the opportunity to maintain and build upon the excellent service the YLD provides. If elected, Alex would be honored to serve on the YLD board.

Ruchee J. Patel Ruchee J Patel - Attorney at Law Ruchee J. Patel is a sole practitioner. Her practice areas include criminal defense, family law, juvenile court and general sessions. She is a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law and the University of Tennessee.

Leadership: YLD Board Member - Ex Officio; MBA - Criminal Law Section Chair; TAPABA – Board of Directors; Fogelman Downtown YMCA – Board of Advisors; Sigma Kappa Sorority – Alumnae Chapter – Vice President Recognition: MBA Leadership Forum Graduate 2013; TACDL Trial College Graduate 2011; YMCA of Memphis Volunteer of the Year 2013; CJA Panel Attorney Appointment 2015-2018 Prior Involvement with YLD and MBA: High School Mock Trial – Volunteer Judge; Project Homeless Connect – Volunteer Attorney; YLD “Legal Lines” – Volunteer Attorney; MBA Bar History Committee - Shelby County Courthouse Centennial Celebration; CLE Presenter "201 101: The Basics of Criminal Practice in Shelby County" ;CLE Presenter "Criminal Court Appointments: How To Get Appointed And How To Get Paid"; CLE Presenter "Consequences of Coming to Club 201" Mitch Raines Wolff Ardis I am a recent graduate from University of Memphis School of Law, Class of 2016. Initially, my practice focused on Health/Welfare and Retirement Plan design and drafting. This work was primarily transactional and dealt heavily with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). However, since August of 2017, I have been an Associate Attorney with Wolff Ardis, P.C. My current work focuses on products liability litigation, and I have enjoyed learning a non-transactional side of the law. As a transplant from Chattanooga, it has taken a bit of time to get used to Memphis. However, I have come to enjoy and appreciate this city for its hidden charm (this city’s local restaurant and beer scene is bar none). While I am not sure Memphis will ever truly be home, the last four years have made for an exciting adventure, and I look forward to the opportunity to give back to this unique community that has already provided me with so much.

Jennifer Sneed Bourland, Heflin, Alvarez, Minor and Matthews Jennifer Sneed is a native of Millington, Tennessee and an associate with Bourland, Heflin, Alvarez, Minor, and Matthews, PLC, where she specializes in Probate Administration and Estate Planning. She earned her B.A. with honors from Christian Brothers University and her J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2016.

Jennifer is an active member of the Midtown Rotary Club and a volunteer with the Community Legal Center and Mid-South Immigration Advocates. At the 2017 MBA Bench Bar Conference, she presented on “Trending Topics in Probate,” where she discussed trends in trust law and immigration guardianships. In law school, she received the Irvin Bogatin Scholarship and the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Law Student for Justice Award for her commitment to community service. Jennifer was also a member of the Moot Court Board and the Robert F. Wagner National Labor and Employment Law Moot Court Competition travel team.

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Jennifer Sneed Continued Jennifer is former law clerk to Judge Karen D. Webster of Shelby County Probate Court, former intern to Judge Glenn Wright of Shelby County Criminal Court and Judge Kay S. Robilio of Shelby County Circuit Court, and a former intern with the Domestic Violence Unit of the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.

Prior to law school, Jennifer volunteered for two years in the Bronx, New York working with low-income elderly immigrants and their families on issues such as applying for U.S. citizenship, obtaining gainful employment, and securing access to affordable healthy food, healthcare, and other necessities. She is a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in downtown Memphis. When she is not practicing, she volunteers as a mock trial coach for Immaculate Conception High School and enjoys spending time with her dog Marty and exploring the various neighborhoods of Memphis. If elected to the YLD Board, Jennifer would work with the Board to find creative and interesting opportunities for young attorneys to use their various practice skills for the betterment of Memphis, and exciting events to promote young attorney participation and camaraderie within the YLD. Thank you for your consideration.

Sam Strantz Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz Sam Strantz is an associate with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz where he assists clients with various business-related litigation matters, from contractual disputes to securities litigation to tax liability litigation. Sam also has experience in bad faith insurance defense, white collar defense, false advertising defense, and some contractual development in the sports, entertainment, and media industries. Sam earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Tennessee in 2015. He is a member of the Memphis Bar Association and the Tennessee Bar Association. He is also an Associate member of the Leo Bearman, Sr. American Inn of Court.

Sam has enjoyed his role as co-chair of the Young Lawyers Committee for the Campaign of Equal Justice, which is the fundraising arm for Memphis Area Legal Services. Through the YLC, he sponsored the Tailgate for Justice at Tiger Lane (which candidly was an excuse to drink beer while raising money). He also enjoys, running, biking, and tweeting his absurd opinions on whether a show or movie is any good. Sam would welcome the opportunity to serve as a first-time board member.

Quinton E. Thompson The Quinton Thompson Law Firm Quinton E. Thompson is a true Memphian, and in a way, he has been a part of the Memphis Bar Association and the Young Lawyers Division for quite some time. First, he went to Germantown High School where he took part in the YLD Mock Trial program. In addition, he was one of the first participants of the MBA’s Summer Law Internship Program "SLIP.” This past year, Quinton was an active member of the SLIP committee by writing articles to encourage minority students to apply, speaking about the program at local high schools, and by leading SLIP participants through group activities. He was also extremely active with YLD by judging multiple nights of high school mock trial, helping with legal clinics, and attending various social events.

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Quinton E. Thompson Continued Quinton graduated from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 2012 with a B.S. in Business Administration Management and Psychology. He earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in 2015. There, he truly learned what it means to be a member of an organization's board. He was the President of the Black Law Students' Association, an Executive Justice on the Moot Court Board, and a Director for the Legal Aid Society.

Immediately following law school, Quinton did a fellowship in Indianola, Mississippi where he helped hundreds of Mississippians clear their criminal records in hopes of gaining employment. Then, he returned to Memphis to work with Nahon, Saharovich and Trotz where he focused on auto accidents, slip and falls, and other injury related matters. Now, Quinton is a solo practitioner focusing on Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, and Business Disputes.

He would like nothing more than to give back to an organization that has given much to him by serving his community as a member of the 2017-2018 YLD Board.

Chris M. Williams Black, McLaren, Jones, Ryland & Griffee Chris M. Williams is an associate with Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee, P.C. In 2017, he received his Juris Doctoris with academic honors from Washington University in St. Louis. During law school, Chris interned for two federal judges, the Honorable Jon Phipps McCalla and the Honorable Stephen C. Williams. Additionally, he was a staff editor for the Wash. U. Jurisprudence Review, competed on the Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Team, worked in the Entrepreneurship & Intellectual Property Legal Clinic and Chris also spent a semester in New York City working as a legal intern at the global headquarters of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV. Chris is originally from Missouri and graduated from Missouri S&T with a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering. In 2011, he moved to Memphis to work as a manufacturing engineer, first working for Parker Hannifin and later for Olympus Surgical Technologies America. It was during this time that Chris met his future wife, Sarah Pazar Williams, and decided that Memphis would become home. Now with a J.D. in hand, he is looking forward to establishing more local roots and engaging the Memphis community through the Young Lawyer Division by serving on the YLD Board. Chris is a St. Louis Cardinals fan and is a proud Grizzlies season ticket holder.

Sarah Pazar Williams Hall Booth Smith Sarah Pazar Williams is an associate at Hall Booth Smith, P.C. Sarah is originally from Memphis and started her legal career at Baker Donelson, where she practiced until 2016. She graduated from Vanderbilt Law in 2012 after spending seven years in Chicago, first going to college, and then doing not-for-profit event planning. Sarah has served as a Director on the YLD Board for the past year and served as the Chair of the Young Lawyer Committee of Memphis Area Legal Services’ Campaign for Equal Justice from 2014-2016. Sarah has greatly enjoyed serving on the YLD Board this year, with the one exception of that time Adam brought Krystal’s for lunch, and she looks forward to the opportunity to continue serving the young lawyer community. Sarah recently celebrated her first wedding anniversary to fellow YLD Board nominee Chris Williams and she assures everyone that, should they both be elected to the Board, they won’t make it weird.

7/13 Young Lawyers’ Bowling Night

Benefitting MALS Theme: The Big Lewboski

9/22 YLD Golf Tournament

7/20-22 Bench Bar: New Orleans

Fall Kickball: Barrister’s Ballers

4/20 Legal Lines