Alumni Notes

’68

Judge Richard P. McCully recently retired from the bench and has since been volunteering with the Dunwoody, Georgia Police Department.

’73

M. Anderson Cobb was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Corporate Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Real Estate Law.

Steven Hal Jones has been included in Marquis Who’s Who and celebrated for his dedication to the field of Law.

’74

James D. Wilson was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants.

Potter

Kirby

McKenney, Jr.

’75

Jerry O. Potter was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Medical Malpractice – Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants.

’76

James L. Kirby was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants and Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs.

Edward J. McKenney, Jr., was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Municipal and Municipal Law. He also received inclusion on the list for “Lawyer of the Year” in Memphis.

Douglas

’81

Steven Douglas was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation – Bankruptcy. He also received inclusion on the list for “Lawyer of the Year” in Memphis.

Charles C. Drennon, III, was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law.

’82

The Illinois Second District Appellate Court upheld a lower court decision written by Judge William J. Borah, a case of first impression, when it held that Meggan Sommerville’s sex is “unquestionable female” and Hobby Lobby unlawfully discriminated against her based on her gender identity.

Judge John Campbell was recently appointed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to the Court of Criminal Appeals, Western Section in Jackson, Tenn.

’84

Paul Sacco retired from 37 years of practicing law and from judgeships in two Colorado cities where he sat on the bench for over 27 years. Sacco founded a startup company known as MerryBack.com where he devotes his passion to helping alleviate back pain and reduce unnecessary surgeries.

’85

Barbara B. Lapides was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Municipal Law.

Chumney

’86

Carol Chumney recently published her book, “The Arena: One Woman’s Story,” about her experiences as a woman in the political arena in the City of Memphis, the State of Tennessee and beyond.

’88

G. Rice Byars, Jr., was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Trusts and Estates.

’89

W. Timothy Hayes, Jr., was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants.

’92

Steve Maroney has been appointed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee as Chancellor of Tennessee’s 26th Judicial District, which consists of Chester, Henderson and Madison Counties.

Philip Smith has been named the chairman and CEO of the Memphis based legal and consulting firms, Gerrish Smith Tuck. The firms exclusively represent financial institutions across the country. Philip previously served as president.

’93

Karen S. Koplon was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Litigation – Insurance and Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants.

Peel

Snider

’95

David Peel recently published his first novel, “The Treasure of Solomon.”

’96

Kevin Snider, of Snider & Horner, PLLC, cocreated the Law at Lunch series as a result of COVID-19 preventing some in-person legal clinics. Each week he appears virtually to answer legal questions from viewers on Facebook.

’98

Allison T. Gilbert was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Real Estate Law.

’99

Jonathan T. Martin was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Litigation – Insurance and Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants.

’01

W. Bradley Gilmer was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Medical Malpractice – Defendants.

J. Matthew Kirby was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Workers Compensation – Employers. He also received inclusion on the list for “Lawyer of the Year” in Memphis.

Shea

Greer

’04

William Blaylock has been named the chief hearing officer of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Unemployment Appeals Tribunal. He has been with the department since 2007.

Kannon C. Conway was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants.

’04

Chandley Hayes-Crawford has taken an education leave of absence from her job as a senior asst. city attorney at the City of Memphis to pursue an LL.M. in Corporate Law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Erin Shea of Snider & Horner, PLLC, co-created the Law at Lunch series as a result of COVID-19 preventing some in-person legal clinics. Each week she appears virtually to answer legal questions from viewers on Facebook.

’05

Thomas R. Greer recently obtained a $9.33 million jury verdict against Cracker Barrel in January 2022.

Tricia M. Y. Tweel was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Trusts and Estates.

’06

Christy Stigler was named as Middle Tennessee State University’s assistant to the president for institutional equity and compliance.

Abigail Webb was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. William J. Wyatt was included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Insurance Law, Litigation – Labor and Employment, and Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants.

Lee

’08

Mary Lee has been promoted to deputy general counsel for the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability. Prior to that, she served as the director of policy, contracts and compliance for the Division of Long-Term Services and Supports within TennCare.

’09

Michelle Bliss has started a new role as a senior consultant in human capital for Deloitte Consulting in Baltimore, Md. She spent the last four years as the training and internship coordinator at the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration in the Office of Highway Development.

’11

C. Grace Whiting was recently selected as the executive director of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).

Hayes

’12

Russell Hayes recently joined the law firm of Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston, P.C.’s Memphis office.

’13

Jake Kasser has been promoted to a member of the law firm of Glankler Brown, PLLC.

Woodard

Harris

Freeman Terrell Princess Woodard was selected as a 2021-2023 Family Law Fellow by the American Bar Association. Additionally, she was chosen as a 2021 “Best of the Bar” honoree by the Memphis Business Journal.

’14

Jayniece Harris has joined the law firm of Pickford Law, PLLC.

Rebekka Freeman Terrell was recently sworn in as the chief administrative officer to the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office by Judge Lee Coffee. Terrell previously served at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and as an assistant district attorney. In addition to her professional endeavors, she is also an active volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Junior League of Memphis.

Lee Whitwell was recently appointed the chief litigation attorney for the Shelby County Attorney’s Office, where he now oversees all civil litigation for the county.

Smith

’15

Lacy Ward McCormick recently received her certification as a Colorado master angler.

Joseph W. Smith has been appointed co-vice chair of the Tennessee Bar Association Family Law Section’s Executive Committee.

’17

Justin Mantell was recently named real estate counsel for ExchangeRight, a fully integrated national real estate investment firm.

Scoville

Shepard

Rees

’18

William “Gil” Buie IV, associate attorney at Miles Mason Family Law Group, PLC, was selected to the Super Lawyer’s 2021 Tennessee Rising Stars list.

George Scoville has been named an “Attorney for Justice” by the Tennessee Supreme Court and Access to Justice Commission for his pro bono service in 2021, the second consecutive year that he received this recognition.

’19

Johnathan Hutton recently transitioned to a Vault 10 firm, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in New York City, N.Y., as a tax associate focusing on private equity and structured financial products for banks.

Hunter Shepard has joined the law firm of Herrin, McPeak & Associates in Johnson City, Tenn. Prior to joining the firm, Shepard was a judicial law clerk for the Hon. Thomas R. Frierson, II, on the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Section in Knoxville, Tenn.

’20

Brian Rees has begun working on the Emergency Rent Assistance Program at Neighborhood Preservation, Inc., where he is assisting on spearheading the Right to Counsel Program for Renters in Memphis.