Hearsay | Honors & Awards, On the Move, Firm News

The Nashville Bar Association is happy to announce that the organization recently won two National Association of Bar Executives’ (NABE) Luminary Awards. Hal Hardin’s Killer of the Dreamer Article, featured in the 2023 April/May edition, received the 2023 Luminary Award for Excellence in Authored Articles. The article outlines Hardin’s experience meeting and working with infamous James Earl Ray, who was convicted of assassinating Martin Luther King, Jr. Released near the 55th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, this personal, story-like piece outlines the many legal issues and conspiracy theories that went into this case, even after James Earl Ray was incarcerated. A photo of a letter from James Earl Ray to Hal Hardin is included. Additionally, the NBA’s Black History Month social media campaign featuring prominent attorneys during Black History Month received a Luminary Award for Excellence in PR/ Marketing/Social Media Campaigns. The campaign aimed to highlight heroes of color within the Nashville Law Community, as well as their key accomplishments and accolades. The chairs of the NBA’s Diversity Committee along with the chairs of the Race and Equity Committee were instrumental in the process of determining whom would be featured for the first edition of this campaign.

Nashville School of Law President and Dean William C. Koch, Jr. received the prestigious A. Sherman Christensen Award at the Supreme Court of the United States during the American Inns of Court Foundation’s 2023 Celebration of Excellence. The A. Sherman Christensen Award, named after the founder of the first American Inns of Court, recognizes an Inn member who has provided exceptional leadership to the American Inns of Court movement at the local, state, or national level.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that two of the firm’s partners, Ann Peldo Cargile and J. Thomas Trent Jr. , have been named to the 2023 edition of Who’s Who Legal: Real Estate guide. Cargile represents parties in all aspects of commercial real estate, including leasing, finance and joint ventures. She serves as president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), which is the premier organization for real estate lawyers in the U.S. Cargile is a frequent author and speaker on real estate topics and is known for her impact on Tennessee condominium law. Trent regularly works with national and regional clients, including major manufacturing companies, corporate users of commercial real estate, institutional investors, developers and lenders. Trent has experience handling complex economic development incentive and commercial real estate transactions across the country. He is a frequent speaker and panelist at commercial real estate, finance, and economic development seminars and programs.

For the fourth consecutive year, Baker Donelson has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus status, a structured certification process designed to ensure all talent at participating law firms has a fair and equal opportunity to advance into leadership. Mansfield, a project of Diversity Lab, is focused on broadening the talent pool for consideration, including those historically underrepresented in the legal profession, to facilitate transparent pathways to leadership.

Baker Donelson has been named a Top Performer and Compass Award winner by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), which recognizes law firms and corporations that show a strong commitment to building a more inclusive legal profession.

Marlene Eskind Moses and Marissa Moses Russ have been named to the 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers list, a collection of leading advisors for divorce, separation, asset division and custody issues. Marlene Eskind Moses has long been recognized as an outstanding family law practitioner. Problems created in families need someone who can provide creative and highly desirable solutions. Eskind Moses is uniquely qualified to be that problem solver. With a Masters in Social Work, in addition to her law degree, she understands the importance of protecting children, protecting or acquiring wealth, and planning for the future. Marissa Moses Russ, drawing on her business background and innate ability to relate to people, uses her experience to solve diverse and complex family law matters. She helps clients find solutions that preserve their relationships with their children and protect their financial interests. Moses Russ is adept at understanding the intricate financial and relational issues of divorce and other family law matters.

The Litigation Counsel of America is pleased to announce that William C. Scales, Jr. of Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin PLLC in Nashville, Tennessee, is a recipient of the Peter Perlman Service Award. The award was presented to Scales for his outstanding commitment to community service by LCA Executive Director and General Counsel G. Steven Henry, at the 2023 LCA Conference & Celebration of Fellows held at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Alberta. The Peter Perlman Service Award recognizes LCA Fellows who contribute in meaningful ways to society by giving back their time and resources in an effort to improve the lives of others.

ON THE MOVE

Baker Donelson has added tax attorney Charles “Chuck” Goldberg Jr. as of counsel in its Nashville office, growing the Firm’s prominent Tax Group. Mr. Goldberg rejoins the Firm, where he previously practiced in the Jackson, Mississippi office. With experience advising on tax, mergers and acquisitions, general business law, and estate planning matters, Goldberg represents individuals and business clients in the areas of state and federal taxation, business transactions, tax controversy, business law, business succession planning, and estate planning. He also has experience navigating the legal landscape for corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies. Goldberg advocates for clients in tax controversies with the Internal Revenue Service, the Mississippi Department of Revenue, and other state and local taxing authorities.

Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison is pleased to announce that Brettson Bauer and Lindsay Dial have joined the firm as associates. Bauer joins the firm’s commercial litigation group, and Dial joins the corporate group. Bauer earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University, where he was articles editor and the inaugural host of the Vanderbilt Law Review Off the Page podcast. He graduated with his Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Washington & Lee University. Prior to SRVH, Brett was a clerk for the Honorable Charles E. Atchley, Jr. Dial earned her law degree, magna cum laude, from Belmont University and her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Vanderbilt University. She joins the firm with nearly 20 years of professional experience, including private banking, as a small business owner, and as manager of a trailer transportation company.

Stites & Harbison, PLLC announces the addition of Haley Duncan . Duncan is a member of the Real Estate & Banking Service Group. She earned her J.D. from the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2023. While in law school, Duncan was a member of the University of Louisville Law Review, Volumes 60-61. She served as vice president of the Business Law Group and was a member of the Women’s Law Caucus, the International Law Society and the Entrepreneurship Clinic.

FIRM NEWS

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands , Tennessee’s largest nonprofit law firm, announced that it is partnering with the Lawyers’ Association for Women for a fundraising campaign aimed at assisting survivors of domestic violence. The fundraising effort, lasting through the end of the year, is being launched as part of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which runs through October. Funds raised will go toward funding vital educational materials that will make a tangible difference in the lives of survivors.