I bring an extensive background in business transactions and appellate litigation to my law practice.
Prior to law school, I developed a wide variety of business experiences, including composing internal communications for the world’s oldest and largest advertising agency in New York City and performing with the professional cast at Tennessee’s largest not-for-profit theatre, the Cumberland County Playhouse.
I received my A.B. in Government cum laude from Harvard University, where I also took advantage of Harvard’s affiliation with the American Repertory Theatre to study acting and directing. I received my J.D. cum laude from the University of Tennessee College of Law.
Litigation
Before beginning the private practice of law, I served as judicial law clerk on both the Tennessee Court of Appeals and the Tennessee Supreme Court.
During more than a decade of practice, I’ve served as counsel of record at all levels of Tennessee state courts as well as federal bankruptcy, district, and Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Fields include:
insurance coverage
commercial litigation
F&E tax matters
entertainment law
trusts/estates
high net worth domestic law (prenups, valuation/division of business assets, etc.)
Transactions
From startups to multi-million dollar acquisitions, I’ve handled transactions and closed deals for a range of industries:
technology and SaaS-based companies
real estate companies
healthcare and related industries
print and digital media
restaurant/hospitality businesses
municipal agencies
educational institutions
banks
non-profits & fiscal sponsorship arrangements
entertainment
Selected Cases
In re Estate of Smallman, 398 S.W.3d 134 (Tenn. 2013).
Successful Tennessee Supreme Court application for permission to appeal, securing new trial for widow regarding husband’s estate
Morrison v. Allen, 338 S.W.3d 314 (Tenn. 2011).
Securing $1.7 million in life insurance proceedsWestmoreland v. Bacon,
No. M2011-01811-COA-RM-CV
(Tenn. Ct. App. Feb. 26, 2013).
Successful Supreme Court action resulting in remand to Court of Appeals & preservation of medical malpractice claimEstate of Buford Taylor v. SunTrust Bank, No. M2012-02628-COA-R3CV, 2013 WL 5762230, at *1 (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 22, 2013).
Successful appeal resulting in reversal of summary judgment grant in matter of trust litigationCumberland Properties, LLC v. Ravenwood Club, Inc., No. M2010-01814-COA-R3CV, 2011 WL 1303375, at *1 (Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 5, 2011)
Securing judgment in excess of $340,000 plus attorney’s fee award for real estate consultant in contract litigation
selected Presentations
“The Rules You Don’t Know About Legal Writing”
August 20, 2021—Nashville Bar Association
November 19, 2019—Tennessee Department of Health & Human Services
“First Things First: Preliminary Business Contract Negotiation, Necessities, Tips, and Tricks,”
Tennessee Business Law Conference
May 3, 2018“Best Practices in Legal Writing” Williamson County Bar Assoc.
November 3, 2017“Contract Law for Family Lawyers”
10th Annual Family Law Conference for Tenn. Practitioners
December 2, 2016“Rules You Don’t Know: Civil Procedure, Evidence, Court Rules, and Standards of Review”
9th Annual Law Conference for Tenn. Practitioners
November 12, 2015“Anatomy of an Appeal—Appellate Practice for the Trial Lawyer”
Nashville Bar Association (co-presenter with Hon. W. Neal McBrayer and John C. Hayworth)
April 16, 2015
Selected Published Works
Appellate Advocacy: A Handbook on Appellate Practice in Tennessee (Assistant Editor, 4-9th Eds.)
Tennessee Tort Law Letter (Assistant Editor, 2008-2015)
Tennessee Practice Series (Assistant Editor, Vol. 15, Ch.11-12, 2008-2014)
“How to Advise Startups: What Your Client Wants You To Know” 19 Nashville B.J. (March 2019)(co-authored with Kylene Henry)
“Sign Here: Life After Morrison and Allstate.” 49 Tenn. B.J. 14 (April 2013) (co-authored with Donald Capparella)
“Basic Tips for the ‘Curiouser’ World of Estate Planning,” Nashville B.J. (March 2016) (co-authored with Harlan Dodson).
“Judicial Selection in Tennessee: Deciding ‘The Decider,’” 1 Belmont Law Review 143 (co-authored with Margaret L. Behm)
service
Hearing Officer, Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility (Appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court) (2019-2022; reappointed for 2022-25 term)
Assistant Attorney, Tennessee Board of Law Examiners (Appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court) (2015-2021)
Presenter, Tennessee Law Course (required for admission to the Tennessee Bar)
Drafting Committee, Tennessee Supreme Court Task Force on Indigent Representation
Drafting Committee, Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission
Honors
Fellow, Nashville Bar Foundation | Fellow, Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division | Mid-South Super Lawyers List (designation from Thomson Reuters) 2021, 2020; Designated as “Mid-South Rising Star” 2014-19 | Tennessee Bar Association YLD “Star of the Quarter”—four-time recipient for service to Tennessee High School Mock Trial Tournament | Attorney for Justice (pro bono designation from Tennessee Supreme Court 2015-2018, 2021) | Nashville’s Top 30 Under 30 (Honored by Nashville Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as part of 2009 Inaugural Class)