Board of Advisors Online Directory
A Message from the Dean
Vanderbilt Law School is a special place. We are committed to scholarship and passionate about teaching. We demand intellectual rigor but do so in a welcoming environment. We embrace our rich traditions but constantly seek to innovate and improve. We celebrate individual achievement but place even more value on the accomplishments of the school as a whole.
Our alumni and friends are essential to the success of the Law School. We need your participation to inform us about current developments in law and legal practice, to suggest ways for us to improve the educational program for our students, to interview our applicants and hire our students, and to support us financially. In traveling from city to city, and trying to meet as many of our alumni and friends as possible, I have been repeatedly struck by the level of commitment and the deep reservoir of good will that exists toward the Law School. It is truly gratifying to know that we have already succeeded so well, and I believe that this success will serve as the basis for our further advances. The members of the Board of Advisors listed below are among our strongest supporters and most active participants. We appreciate their commitment to the Law School and the opportunity to work together toward continued success.
Chris Guthrie
Dean and John Wade-Kent Syverud Professor of Law
To update your Board of Advisors Directory Profile, please email the Development & Alumni Relations office.
Mr. Ben C. Adams, Jr. is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC and a shareholder in the Memphis office. He concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate and estate planning. Mr. Adams has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate, partnership and limited liability company formations, shareholder agreements and business contracts. In estate and financial planning, his experience includes drafting wills and trusts, working with families and closely held entities, and implementing sophisticated planning techniques. He received a BA in Economics from the University of North Carolina in 1978, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his JD from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1981. He was a member of the Order of the Coif and an editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review.
Chairman and CEO
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
165 Madison Avenue
First Tennessee Building
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 577 2307
Fax: (901) 577 0714
Email: badams@bakerdonelson.com
Ms. Virginia S. Albrecht focuses her practice exclusively on environmental law and administrative law - in particular, the Clean Water Act (CWA) wetlands program, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal regulatory programs that affect the use of land. She has experience in permit negotiation, litigation of policy issues, lobbying Congress and the Administration, enforcement defense, and compliance counseling. Representative clients include development companies, agricultural and mining companies, state and local agencies, and trade associations. Ms. Albrecht has extensive experience with federal environmental agencies both in Washington and in district and regional offices. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law, and is Co-chair of the Annual ALI-ABA Wetlands Conference. She received her BA from the University of Wisconsin, her MA from the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated from Vanderbilt University Law School with a JD in 1981.
Partner
Hunton & Williams, LLP
1900 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20006-1109
Phone: (202) 955 1943
Fax: (202) 778 2201
Email: valbrecht@hunton.com
Ms. Rene I. Augustine served from 2005-2009 as Associate Counsel in the White House Counsel’s Office, where she was responsible for presidential nominations and appointments. Prior to serving in the Executive Office of the President, she was Senior Counsel to the U.S. Committee on Judiciary in the United States Senate. After receiving her JD from Vanderbilt Law School, she clerked for a federal district court judge in Maryland, and later worked as an associate with the firm Covington & Burling in Washington, DC. She has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and in the District of Columbia, Maryland and California (inactive).
Bethesda, MD
Email: reneaugustine@yahoo.com
Mr. Andre Burba is a Principal with Pine Brook Road Partners, a New-York based $1.4 billion private equity firm specializing in growth equity investments in the energy and financial services sectors. Part of Pine Brook’s Energy Group, Mr. Burba is involved in the origination and management of the firm’s energy portfolio companies. Prior to joining Pine Brook, Mr. Burba worked at Credit Suisse in New York where he was most recently a principal investor with the Special Opportunities Group, responsible for investments in energy, metals & mining, renewables and oil & gas. Prior to joining the Special Opportunities Group, Mr. Burba was an investment banker in the Energy Group at Credit Suisse where he closed nearly $3 billion in debt and equity capital for power, oil & gas and renewable energy companies, and advised energy companies in multiple project finance transactions. Prior to joining Credit Suisse, Mr. Burba was a project finance counsel at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy in New York and London, representing energy companies and investors in a variety of domestic and cross-border capital raises, acquisitions and restructurings. Mr. Burba received his JD from Vanderbilt Law School in 2000.
Pine Brook Road Partners, LLC
60 42nd Street, 50th Floor
New York, NY 10165
Phone: (212) 847 4340
Email: aburba@pinebrookpartners.com
Mr. Barney D. Byrd founded Gen Cap America Inc. in 1985 and has been responsible for the firm's strategic planning and investment policy. Mr. Byrd received his BA from the University of Tennessee, his JD from Vanderbilt Law School in 1979, and his MBA from the Wharton Graduate School of Business.
President
Gen Cap America Inc.
40 Burton Hills Blvd., Suite 420
Nashville, TN 37215
Phone: (615) 256 0231
Fax: (615) 256 2487
Email: bbyrd@gencapamerica.com
Mr. J. Michael Campbell earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from Vanderbilt University; his BE in 1965 and his JD in 1968. He was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1968. Mr. Campbell served as President and Founding Member of the Real Estate Closing Attorneys Association from 1991-1994, and Director at Large of the Real Estate Section of the Atlanta Bar Association in 1993. He is Manager and Shareholder of Campbell & Brannon, LLC and specializes in trial work and real estate law in the Atlanta area. He also served in the United States Marine Corps from 1969-1971.
Manager/Shareholder
Campbell & Brannon, LLC
990 Hammond Drive, Suite 800
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: (770) 804 7845
Fax: (678) 638 1381
Email: mcampbell@campbellandbrannon.com
The Hon. Cornelia A. Clark is a “Double Dore”, receiving her BA in 1971 and her JD in 1979. She received a Master's degree from Harvard in 1972. While at Vanderbilt, she was an Articles Editor and a member of the Editorial Board for the Vanderbilt Law Review. She is also a graduate of the National Judicial College and New York University's Appellate Judges Program. She was in private practice at Farris, Warfield & Kanaday from 1979-1989 and is a Past Board Member of the Lawyers Association for Women, Marion Griffin Chapter. She has served as Second Vice President for the Nashville Bar Association, and is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the National Association of Women Judges, and the American Judicature Society. Additionally, she was a founding member of the Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women and is a Past Chair for the Tennessee Bar Foundation. She is a past faculty member of the American Academy of Judicial Education, National Judicial College and is a former Adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt University Law School. She has served as chair of the Tennessee Judicial Council since 2006. Among her other honors and memberships are the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court, the Tennessee John Marshall American Inn of Court, Dean of the Tennessee Judicial Academy (1997-1998), the Board of Directors of the Conference of State Court Administrators (2004-2005), Vice President of the Tennessee Judicial Conference (1997-1998), a previous member of the Supreme Court Commission on the Rules of Civil Procedure and Technology, and the 2005 Liberty Bell Award recipient from the Williamson County Bar Association. She was appointed Circuit Judge 21st Judicial District in October 1989 and was elected in August 1990, being reelected in August 1998. She was appointed the Administrative Director of the Tennessee Courts in May 1999. Finally, she was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in September 2005 and elected in August 2006.
Supreme Court Justice
State of Tennessee Supreme Court
Supreme Court Building
401 7th Ave. North, Suite 318
Nashville, TN 37219-1407
Phone: (615) 741 2114
Fax: (615) 741 5809
Email: Chief-Justice.Cornelia.Clark@tncourts.gov
Mr. Charles B. Cox III received his BA in Economics in 1972 and his JD in 1975, both from Vanderbilt University. He is currently president of CBC Options Corporation.
President
CBC Options Corporation
440 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1646
Chicago, IL 60605 1028
Phone: (312) 362 4178
Email: cbc2973@yahoo.com
Mr. James W. Cuminale received his JD from Vanderbilt Law School in 1978.
Chief Legal Officer
The Neilsen Company
40 Danbury Road
Wilton, CT 06897-4406
Phone: (203) 563 3155
Fax: (917) 546 2242
Email: James.Cuminale@nielsen.com
Mr. David P. Damus received his JD from Vanderbilt Law School in 1990.
Chief Executive Officer
System Property Development Company Inc.
975 E Green Street Suite 101
Pasadena, CA 91106-2415
Phone: (213) 687 7275
Fax: (213) 687 1126
Email: DDamus@Systemproperty.com
The Hon. Martha Craig Daughtrey received both her BA (1964) and her JD (1968) from Vanderbilt University, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Order of the Coif. She is currently a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, having been appointed to that position by President Clinton in 1993. Prior to that, she served as an associate justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court (1990-1993) and as an associate judge on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals (1975-1990). Before her appointment to the Court of Appeals, Judge Daughtrey was an assistant professor of law on the Vanderbilt Law School faculty (1972-1975). Periodically, she has also served as a lecturer in law (1971-1972) and as an adjunct professor of law (1982-83; 1988-90) at Vanderbilt. She was formerly an assistant district attorney in Nashville (1969-1972) and an assistant U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee (1968-69). She is currently a member of the Council of the ABA Section on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar and a long-time faculty member of the Appellate Judges Seminar at New York University School of Law.
Senior Judge, 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals
300 Customs House
701 Broadway
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 736 7678
Fax: (615) 736 7697
Email: martha_c_daughtrey@ca6.uscourts.gov
Mr. Paul C. Deemer III is a partner in Vinson & Elkins, currently serving as the Office Co-Managing Partner in Beijing and Shanghai. He received both his BA (1969) and his JD (1975) from Vanderbilt University. Mr. Deemer's practice focuses on international mergers and acquisitions and on the development and financing of international energy projects. He has worked extensively on international oil and gas projects, including the acquisition and disposal of oil and gas assets and companies owning those assets, cross-border oil and gas pipeline projects, and LNG and electric power projects in Europe, Asia, the FSU, and the Middle East. He has represented developers as well as multilateral lenders on international energy project financings.
Mr. Deemer was the head of Vinson & Elkins' Beijing office from 1997-1999, and returned to Beijing in 2002. He has worked on projects in China since the early 1990's, and has broad experience on Chinese oil, natural gas and electricity projects. Prior to his work in Beijing, he was based for 18 years in Vinson & Elkins' London office, and was Managing Partner there for 14 years. Mr. Deemer was one of the partners in charge of opening Vinson & Elkins' Moscow office in 1991, and has spent substantial periods of time working in that office. He has represented major international clients, including multilateral lenders, in the development and financing of energy projects in Russia and other CIS countries.
Office Co-Managing Partner, Beijing and Shanghai
Vinson & Elkins LLP20/F, Beijing Silver Tower
No. 2 Dong San Huan Bei Lu
Chaoyang Dist
Beijing, 100027 China
Phone: 011-86-10-6410-6391
Fax: 011-86-10-6410-6360
Email: pdeemer@velaw.com
Dean A. Darby Dickerson, Dean and Professor at Texas Tech University of Law, received her BA and MA from the College of William and Mary, and earned her JD in 1988 from Vanderbilt University Law School. She served as Senior Managing Editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review and as a member of the Moot Court Board. Dean Dickerson clerked for the Honorable Harry W. Wellford of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and then, worked as a litigation associate for six years at the Dallas firm of Locke Purnell Rain Harrell. In 1995, she was named both Outstanding Director of the Texas Young Lawyers Association and Outstanding Young Lawyer in Dallas.
Before assuming the deanship of Texas Tech University of Law, she served as the Dean of Stetson University College of Law from 2004-2011. Dean Dickerson joined the Stetson Faculty in Fall 1995. She was named Vice President and Dean in February 2004. She taught legal research and writing, federal pretrial practice, and litigation ethics. She also served as Director of Legal Research and Writing and from Fall 1995 until December 1999, she served as the faculty advisor to the Moot Court Board. She was a Director of the Association of Legal Writing Directors and President of the Ferguson-White Inn of Court Executive Board. Dean Dickerson’s research interests include legal citation and litigation ethics. More than 100 law schools and over 75 paralegal programs, as well as several law journals, have adopted her book, ALWD Citation Manual: A Professional Citation System written on behalf of the Association of Legal Writing Directors. In 1997, Dean Dickerson received Stetson University’s Teaching Excellence Award, and she received the University’s Homer and Dolly Hand Award for Excellence in Faculty Scholarship. In 2002, Dean Dickerson was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 2003, she was named Managing Editor of Legal Writing: The Journal of the Legal Writing Institute and was invited to serve on the panel of academic contributors for the eighth edition of Black’s Law Dictionary. In 2004, she was elected Secretary of the Pinellas County Education Facilities Authority, and was selected for Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.
Dean and Professor
Texas Tech University of Law
1802 Hartford Avenue
Lubbock, TX 79409-0004
Phone: (806) 742 3793
Fax: (806) 742 4014
Email: darby.dickerson@ttu.edu
Ms. Rana B. Diorio earned her AB cum laude from Duke University in 1988 and her JD from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1991. She has been helping companies to grow ever since. As an investor, investment banker, and lawyer, she has helped management teams achieve their corporate objectives from raising equity or debt, to acquiring companies or assets, to hiring key employees to developing and executing strategic plans. She has helped to raise over $4 billion in public equity and debt and $400 million in private equity; she has completed advisory transactions representing nearly $3 billion in aggregate transaction value. Throughout her career, she has worked for Pillsbury Madison & Sutro, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Alex. Brown & Sons, Merrill Lynch, Banc of America Securities, and North Point Advisors.
In 2009, Rana founded Little Pickle Press, an award-winning publisher of children’s media. She remains an active growth capital investor and serves on the Advisory Boards of The JG/JB Group at Merrill Lynch and shiftalliance. She lives in Tiburon, California with her two daughters, Ryan (7) and Alex (6), and her son, Beckett (3).
Little Pickle Press, LLC
P.O. Box 983
Belvedere, CA 94920
Phone: (877) 415 4488
Fax: (415) 366 1520
Email: rana@littlepicklepress.com
Mr. M. Douglas Dunn (Past President) is currently a partner in the CFSD Group, LLC, a corporate finance advisory group, and a member of the Operating Executive Board of Gotham Private Equity Partners. He retired as a partner and the Co-chair of the Global Energy Group of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, LLP, with emphasis on corporate and project financing. Prior to joining the firm in 1985, Mr. Dunn was a Managing Director, Investment Banking Division of Lehman Brothers Inc. from 1984-1985, and worked as an associate, partner and a member of the Management Committee of Winthrop Stimson Putnam & Roberts from 1970-1984. Mr. Dunn is a former member of the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association; past chair, Section of Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law, American Bar Association; former chair, Committee K, an energy committee of the International Bar Association; member, Federal Regulation of Securities Committee, Section of Business Law, American Bar Association; former member and chair, Committee on Nuclear Technology and Law, Association of the Bar of the City of New York; Fellow, American Bar Foundation; author of articles; contributor to several books; and frequent speaker on securities law. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for more than ten years and is highly ranked in the Chambers Global and USA Law Lists. Mr. Dunn received a BSE from the University of Michigan and earned his JD at Vanderbilt Law School, where he was Associate Editor of Vanderbilt the Law Review. He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1971, to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in 1972, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 1973, and to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1978.
Partner
CFSD Group, LLC
38 Welsh Lane
New Vernon, NJ 07976
Phone: (973) 644 9165
Fax: (973) 285 9041
Mr. Mark L. Feidler is a Founding Partner of MSouth Equity Partners. From 2003-2006, he was President and COO of BellSouth Corporation, and from 2000-2002, he was COO of Cingular Wireless. Between 1991-2000, he served in various roles with BellSouth Corporation, including President of BellSouth Mobility and Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy. From 1986-1991 Mr. Feidler served as Vice President of Corporate Finance with The Robinson-Humphrey Company. He was an associate with King & Spalding from 1981 to 1986. Mr. Feidler earned his BA in Economics from Duke University in 1978 and his JD from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1981. Mr. Feidler’s professional associations include: Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Schenck School and the BellSouth Foundation; Past President of the Atlanta Chapter of the American Cancer Society; Board and other involvement with Great Schools Atlanta; Center For Puppetry Arts; Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta; and Wesley Woods. He and his wife Elizabeth have two children: Alex (19) and Elizabeth (17).
Partner
MSouth Equity Partners
Two Buckhead Plaza
3050 Peachtree Road NW Suite 550
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: (404) 816 3255
Fax: (404) 816 3258
Email: mlfeidler@bellsouth.net
Mr. Ronald I. Feldman concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial real estate, shopping center law, finance, and title insurance. He has over 30 years experience handling a wide range of real estate transactions, including representation of developers and investors in connection with all phases of acquisition, ownership, operation and disposition of real property, title related matters, surveys, preparation of easements, restrictions and covenants for commercial developments, space leases and ground leases. His accomplishments include being the lead attorney for the developer of the Coastal Grand Mall in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; the lead attorney for the redevelopment and expansion of several large malls; the acquisition of a 200 acre home office site for a major insurance company; and the negotiation of title insurance policies with a major underwriter for a purchaser in an acquisition of 21 enclosed malls. In addition, Mr. Feldman has negotiated numerous purchase and sale agreements and ground leases for shopping center peripheral land transactions. He earned his BA from Vanderbilt University in 1969 and his JD from Vanderbilt Law School in 1972. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association (Real Estate Section), Chattanooga Bar Association, International Council of Shopping Centers and College Access Center.
Partner
Husch Blackwell, LLC
736 Georgia Avenue, Suite 300
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: (423) 757 5906
Fax: (423) 266 5499
Email: ron.feldman@huschblackwell.com
Ms. Sara J. Finley serves as Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs for CVS Caremark Corporation, a Fortune 20 pharmaceutical services company based in Rhode Island. In March 2011, she retired as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for CVS Caremark and now works with the company in a legal advisory role. She has been with CVS Caremark and predecessor companies for over 15 years and has been based in Nashville since 2003. Prior to joining CVS Caremark, she was a partner at the Kutak Rock law firm in Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from the University of Alabama in 1982 and received her law degree from Vanderbilt University in 1985. In addition to serving on the Vanderbilt Law School Board of Advisors, she is a member of the Nashville Rotary Club, a board member of The Land Trust for Tennessee, and an Alive Hospice compliance committee member.
Senior Vice President-Legal Affairs
CVS Caremark Corporation
445 Great Circle Road
Nashville, TN 37228
Phone: (615) 743 6600
Fax: (615) 743 6611
Email: Sara.Finley@Caremark.com
Mr. Harrison Joseph Frahn IV, known as Buzz, is a partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. Buzz practices in Silicon Valley, and helped found Simpson Thacher’s office there in 1999. His focus is on litigating cases for high tech companies, and as lead trial counsel, he has tried to verdict multiple cases, including complex patent disputes. Buzz, a Nashville native, graduated from Vanderbilt Law in 1996. While at Vandy, he was an articles editor of the Law Review and a member of Order of the Coif. Before law school, Buzz received his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in 1989. Buzz lives in Palo Alto, California with his wife Anne, a founder of the non-profit Teachers for a Better Belize, and their two children. He is an avid skier, sailor and mountain biker.
Partner
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, LLP
2550 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1115
Phone: (650) 251 5065
Email: hfrahn@stblaw.com
Ms. Leigh E. Friestedt is the founder of Equity IX, a media holding company for her original screenplays and investments. Leigh previously worked as a M&A investment banker for twelve years at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Lazard and GE Capital. Leigh is graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Law (1996), Brown University (1993) and the Holton-Arms School (1989) where she served on the Board of Trustees and is in their Athletic Hall of Fame.
Founder
Equity IX, LLC
50 Gramercy Park N. #12A
New York, NY 10010
Phone: (212) 772 9249
Email: leigh@equityix.com
Mr. Matthew M. Friestedt is a partner in Sullivan & Cromwell. He received a B.S. from the University of the Pacific in 1993, a J.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1996 and an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University in 1997. Matt is a member of S&C’s Executive Compensation and Benefits Group. He is experienced in handling all matters involving the compensation of senior executives, including employment, change in control, equity compensation and severance arrangements. Matt’s primary focus is on dealing with compensation matters arising in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and leveraged buyouts. He is also an avid cyclist.
Partner
Sullivan & Cromwell, LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, NY 10021
Phone: (212) 558 3370
Fax: (212) 558 3588
Email: friestedtm@sullcrom.com
Mr. Frank M. Garrison attended Vanderbilt University where he graduated in 3 years while earning a double major in Business and Economics (B.A. ‘76) and Vanderbilt School of Law (J.D. ‘79). Mr. Garrison practiced commercial law with Farris, Warfield and Kanaday specializing in securities, creditor’s rights and other commercial/corporate matters until 1982 when he became involved in the real estate and service company finance business. Until July 2003, held the title of Office of the Chairman of Insignia Financial Group, Inc., a New York City based and NYSE publicly traded real estate services and Investment Company and President of Insignia Financial Services, Insignia’s investment banking and principal investment arm. Mr. Garrison was with Insignia for approximately 12 years and was directly responsible for and oversaw or personally negotiated over 60 acquisitions of operating service companies, 90 public tender offers, multiple financing of both debt and equity for Insignia and the sale of various divisions and ultimately the remaining business in several public company transactions the last of which occurred in July 2003. In addition, Mr. Garrison was responsible for managing Insignia’s principal real estate investment business which acquired over $5 billion of assets and managed joint venture relationships with a variety of institutions. Mr. Garrison also co-founded Insignia’s CMBS investment business and continues in that business in association with Island Capital Group, LLC a New York based investment firm. Since July 2003, he has served as President and a principal of Overton Capital, LLC, and a private investment firm which in addition to making private equity investments has been involved in the purchase of distressed public and private debt securities. Mr. Garrison presently also serves as President of Courage Capital Management, LLC a registered investment advisor with approximately $1 billion under management and offices in Nashville, Los Angeles and Mumbai, India. Mr. Garrison also serves as a member of the Board of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, the President of the Board of Trustees of University School of Nashville, and as a Board member of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, the Vanderbilt University School of Law National Council, the Board of Cumberland Heights and Belcourt Yes! He is married to Amy Price Garrison and has 2 children, Price and Julia.
President/Principal
Overton Capital
104 Woodmont Blvd., Suite 219
Nashville, TN 37205
Phone: (615) 369 0160
Fax: (615) 783 1030
Email: fgarrison@overtoncapital.com
Ms. Rita Sanders Geier is Associate to the Chancellor and Senior Fellow at the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where she leads efforts to achieve the university's intercultural and diversity goals and to examine and promote solutions to critical public policy issues. She assumed these positions following an extensive career in Federal service, most recently as Executive Counselor to the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) from 2001 to 2007 and Associate Commissioner and Deputy Associate Commissioner for Hearings and Appeals from 1992 to 2001. Prior to joining SSA, Ms. Geier was General Counsel for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), a Federal-State economic development partnership from 1988 to 1992. Her experience at ARC was preceded by work for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Division, as a Senior Trial Attorney and Assistant Director for Commercial Litigation, where she specialized in civil prosecution of fraud cases. Before DOJ, Ms. Geier directed operations in seven western states and Micronesia as Regional Director for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in Seattle, Washington and later served as Director of LSC's first national research and demonstration initiative, funding projects to improve the quality of legal services for low income people.
Ms. Geier holds a B.A. from Fisk University, a M.A. degree from the University of Chicago and a J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University. She is admitted to the Bar in the States of Tennessee and Washington. Ms. Geier received the Presidential Rank Meritorious Executive Award from President William Clinton and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.
Associate to the Chancellor
The University of Tennessee
Office of the Chancellor
1640 Cumberland Ave, 340 Baker Ctr.
Knoxville, TN 37916-3340
Phone: (865) 974 2246
Email: rgeier@utk.edu
Mr. Nicholas C. Gladding joined Adams and Reese in 2010 following the firm's expansion into Sarasota. He serves as Special Counsel and has been practicing law since 1970. With experience in 35-plus states and most EPA regions, Nick has been involved in major civil cases, high-profile criminal investigations, and complex regulatory and dispute resolution proceedings, focusing his practice on environmental counseling, permitting, enforcement defense and litigation. Nick also has been significantly involved in state legislative lobbying in 10 states. He has represented numerous Fortune 500 companies as well as smaller businesses and business owners in diverse environmental proceedings.
In December 2008, Nick was appointed by Governor Charlie Crist to the Florida Energy and Climate Commission, which has given him an opportunity to help create new jobs, help the climate, and enhance National Security. In July 2009, Governor Crist named him a volunteer "Point of Light" for his work on energy issues. In September 2009, the Governor reappointed Nick to a second term of three years on the Florida Energy and Climate Commission. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Florida Energy Systems Consortium.
Nick is admitted to The Florida Bar, as well as the Bar of Missouri and Connecticut. He is a member of the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources; The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section; and the Sarasota County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, where he is Chair-Elect, as well as Past Chair of the Government Issues Council and founding past member and former Chair of the Green Business Leadership Council of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
Nick received his B.A. from Yale University in 1967, and his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1970. While in law school, he was Brief Editor of the Moot Court Executive Board, Note Editor of The Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law and recipient of the United States Law Week Award. After law school, he served four years in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps, and for two years he was an instructor of military law and procedure at the United States Naval Justice School.
For Mr. Gladding’s full biography, please click here.
Special Counsel
Adams & Reese, LLP
1515 Ringling Boulevard Suite 700
Sarasota, FL 34236-6720
Phone: (941) 316 7634
Fax: (941) 316 7676
Email: nick.gladding@arlaw.com
Mr. Robert D. Hays received his JD from Vanderbilt in 1993.
Chairman
King & Spalding
1180 Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone: (404) 572 4600
Fax: (404) 572 5100
Email: rhays@kslaw.com
Mr. John C. Herman practices in the area of intellectual property law and litigation, with significant experience in a broad range of intellectual property and technology issues. Mr. Herman's experience includes handling traditional patent, trademark and copyright issues, as well as entertainment, media, biotechnology, franchising, distribution, trade secret matters and licensing projects. He also assists clients in disputes regarding rights of privacy, antitrust and Internet and e-commerce issues. Mr. Herman is a member of the Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries and the Section of Science and Technology Law of the American Bar Association, the Intellectual Property Law and Entertainment and Sports Law sections of the State Bar of Georgia and a member of the International Trademark Association. A frequent author on intellectual property and technology issues, Mr. Herman is a 1992 graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School and a 1988 summa cum laude graduate of Marquette University (B.S., BioChemistry). Prior to practicing law, Mr. Herman worked in a genetics laboratory handling a NASA-sponsored project.
Partner
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, LLP
3424 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1650
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: (404) 504 6500
Fax: (404) 504 6501
Email: jherman@rgrdlaw.com
Ms. Beatrice C. Hubbard earned her B.S. at Siena College in 1968, and was awarded the J.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1975. Mrs. Hubbard is a solo practitioner in Brentwood, Tennessee, specializing in Sino-US transactions. Mrs. Hubbard and her husband, Bill (’71 JD), have two daughters, Cynthia Weil (’04 JD) and Christina (’05 Ph.D. UVA).
Brentwood, TN
Email: beahubbard@comcast.net
Mr. Justin R. Ishbia is the Managing Partner of Shore Capital Partners, a Chicago-based lower middle market private equity firm that specializes in partnering with companies that have between $5 and $50 million of revenue. Prior to founding Shore, Justin worked as an investment professional at Valor Equity Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm. At Valor, Justin worked on investments across a variety of industries, however he spent the majority of his time on healthcare investments. Prior to joining Valor, Justin was an attorney in the private equity group of Kirkland & Ellis. At Kirkland, Justin was involved in more than 25 private equity transactions, including leveraged buyouts of private and public companies, recapitalizations, divestitures, debt financings, venture capital investments, executive compensation, and private equity fund formations. Justin is the Chairman of Sirona Infusion, a Shore Capital portfolio company.
Outside of the office, Justin is a member of the Vanderbilt University Law School National Council and the Rush University Medical Center Associates Board. Additionally, Justin has been a guest lecturer at Loyola University of Chicago Law School and the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Justin received his Juris Doctorate from Vanderbilt University Law School. Justin earned a Certificate of Law and Business from the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management and a B.A. in Accounting from Michigan State University. Justin is a member of the State Bar of Illinois and a Certified Public Accountant.
Managing Partner
Shore Capital Partners, LLC
70 East Lake Street Suite 520
Chicago, IL 60601
Direct Dial: (312) 348 7579
Office: (312) 348 7580
Cell: (517) 927 8000
Fax: (312) 348 7669
Email: jishbia@shorecp.com
www.shorecp.com
Ms. Ruth E. Johnson received her B.S. with Honors from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. After graduating from Vanderbilt Law School in 1975, she served as an Estate Tax attorney for the Internal Revenue Service. She then served as Supervisor for Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. and Touche Ross & Co., before going into private law practice in 1985. In 1994, Ruth became an Adjunct Professor for Fisk University, where she taught Business Law I. From 1995 to 2003 she was the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Revenue, appointed by Governor Don Sundquist. Ruth is currently a Senior Development Officer for Principal Gifts at Meharry Medical College. She is a member of the National Committee on Planned Giving and Middle Tennessee Planned Giving Council. In the past she has served as the National President of the Federation of Tax Administrators and was on the Executive Committee of the Southeastern Association of Tax Administrators. Ruth also served as the Treasurer of the Nashville Bar Association in 1995 and was a member of the Nashville Estate Planning Council from 1977–1984. She has received many notable awards, including the Association of Government Accountants National Research Achievement Award, GOAL Award for Best Strategic Planning in State Government and the Meharry Medical College President’s Spirit of Excellence Award. Ruth is married to Richard Manson (JD’75) and has two children, John & Ashley.
Associate Vice President for Advancement
Meharry Medical College, Advancement
1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37208-3599
Phone: (615) 327 6045
Fax: (615) 327 6134
Email: rejohnson@mmc.edu
Ms. Kathleen E. Justice-Moore received her JD from Vanderbilt in 1991.
Palo Alto, CA
Email: kjusticemoore@yahoo.com
Mr. Andrew M. Kaufman is a transactional partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP focusing his practice principally in the areas of financing and secured transactions, leasing, structured financings, workouts and reorganizations, and general corporate practice. Mr. Kaufman earned his B.A. from Yale University in 1971 and his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1974. He heads the Firm's Financing & Secured Transactions Practice and his clients Include: major private equity firms (as both lenders and borrowers); major national lending institutions; technology, telecom, energy, manufacturing, transportation, and banking companies and institutions. Mr. Kaufman’s memberships and affiliations include former Chairman for Subcommittee on Lease Financings and Secured Transactions, Committee on Developments in Business Financing, and American Bar Association Section of Business Law. He is a member of Uniform Commercial Code Committee, Commercial Financial Services Committee and Legal Opinions Committee, and American Bar Association Section of Business Law. Mr. Kaufman is a frequent lecturer and author on financing issues at professional seminars and programs and in related publications. He is a regular guest lecturer in commercial law and bankruptcy courses at Vanderbilt University Law School. Mr. Kaufman is recognized in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in American Law. His admissions include Texas, Georgia and Illinois.
Partner
Kirkland & Ellis, LLP
300 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: (312) 862 2000
Fax: (312) 862 2200
Email: akaufman@kirkland.com
The Hon. William C. Koch, Jr. received his JD from Vanderbilt in 1972.
Supreme Court Justice
Tennessee Supreme Court
321 Supreme Court Building
401 7th Avenue N
Nashville, TN 37219-1407
Phone: (615) 741 5150
Fax: (615) 741 2801
Email: justice.william.koch@tncourts.gov
Mr. David B. LaRoche was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He received his undergraduate degree from The College of Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2002 and his law degree from Vanderbilt University in 2006.
In October of 2006, Mr. LaRoche was admitted to the Tennessee Bar. He has practiced with Eischeid Law Office since December of the same year. His areas of practice include civil litigation (negligence, contract, real estate and commercial), wills and trusts, and family law (divorce, post-divorce, custody).
Mr. LaRoche is a current member of the Tennessee Bar Association and the Rutherford County Bar Association. He is married to Brook LaRoche, a second grade teacher at Cason Lane Academy.
Attorney
Eischeid Law Office
131 North Church Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Phone: (615) 896 7060
Fax: (615) 896 7015
Email: david@thelaroches.com
Ms. Tricia T. Lin is Vice President, Associate General Counsel at Yahoo! Inc. Since joining Yahoo! in 1999, she has been responsible for overseeing Yahoo!'s consumer advertising, marketing and promotional standards and practices. In addition, Tricia's practice includes global legal responsibility for Yahoo!’s privacy and data protection strategies and policies. Tricia was formerly Director of Business and Legal Affairs at Disney Interactive, the multimedia entertainment division of The Walt Disney Company. Prior to joining Disney, Tricia was an intellectual property associate at Cooley Godward in Palo Alto. Tricia received her JD from Vanderbilt in 1991 and her BA from Bowdoin College in 1987.
Vice President, Associate General Counsel
Yahoo! Inc.
701 First Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
Phone: (408) 349 5366
Email: tricia_lin@yahoo.com
Mr. Michael O. McCarthy received his JD from Vanderbilt in 1991.
Infinera Corporation
140 Caspian Court
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
Phone: (408) 572-5200
Email: mmccarthy@infinera.com
Mr. James M. McCray is the Managing Partner in Highwood Capital, LLC, with extensive experience and knowledge in National Political Finance/Fundraising, Government Relations, Message/Crisis Communications, Legal and Political Strategy, and Campaign Finance Law. Further, he is heavily involved with business development for business and non-profit entities. McCray actively advises or has advised numerous U.S. Senators, Governors, presidential campaigns, national coalitions, non-profits and corporations in the business and political arenas, including Gov. Jon Huntsman and current U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Pat Roberts (R-KS) and previously represented John McCain (R-AZ), among many other statewide politicians and candidates. He has effectively raised over $50 million dollars for projects in the past few years.
Previously, McCray served as the Deputy National Finance Director for John McCain’s presidential campaign, General Counsel and Strategic Advisor for the re-election of Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT), and leader of the Senator’s finance operation. In this role, McCray set historic records in Montana by raising a record $9.3 million for the campaign. Before working for Senator Burns, McCray practiced corporate law in Minneapolis and Washington D.C.
Hailing originally from a cattle ranch in Geyser, Montana, McCray attended Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, where he obtained his Bachelors of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Communications. After college, McCray attended Vanderbilt University Law School, graduating with his Doctor of Jurisprudence in May, 2000. While at Vanderbilt, McCray served as Managing Editor for and was published in the Vanderbilt Law Review.
McCray founded the Montana State University Leadership Institute, an institute dedicated to helping students develop leadership, management and communication skills to effectively enable them to succeed in their personal and professional endeavors. McCray chaired the National Advisory Board from 2000-2005 and presently serves on the boards of St. Vincent’s Healthcare Foundation and the MSU Leadership Institute, where he chairs the National Endowment Committee.
Managing Partner
Highwood Capital, LLC
915 E Street NW Suite 613
Washington, DC 20004
Phone: (202) 494 1448
Email: jmccray@highwoodcap.com
Mr. James B. Miller, Jr. has been Chairman of Fidelity Southern Corporation, Holding Company for Fidelity Bank, since 1979. He is a board member of American Software, Inc., Interface, Inc., and the Atlanta USO. Mr. Miller received his BA from Florida State University in 1961 and his LLB from Vanderbilt Law School in 1964. After graduating, he served as a lawyer for the U.S. Army Redstone Arsenal Facility in Alabama and clerked for Justice Thomas of the Florida Supreme Court. He became Staff Counsel to the Florida Legislature and Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Florida from 1966 to 1968. Mr. Miller then served as a Stockbroker for Bache & Company (1968-1969) and later as an Investment Counselor for C&S National Bank (1969-1971). In 1971, he became President of Ageka Wohnungsbau GmbH and Mudrack Eisfabrik in Berlin, Germany, until 1977. He serves on the Boards of the Carlos Museum at Emory University (past Chairman), The Buckhead Coalition (past Chairman), the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, the Atlanta Jr. League Advisory Board, the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, the Atlanta Opera, and the Florida State University College of Business Board of Governors. He and his deceased wife, Karina L. Miller (VU PhD.), have three children, including Elizabeth (VU BA), and four grandchildren.
Chairman
Fidelity Bank
3490 Piedmont Road, Suite 1550
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: (404) 240 1501
Fax: (404) 814 8060
Email: jmiller@lionbank.com
Ms. Malinda G. Moor is the co-founder of Four Seasons Commodities Corporation, an alternative investment management firm specializing in agricultural futures and options, with approximately $60 million under management. She is a member of the Managed Funds Association, where she participates in the CTA/CPO Forum. Previously, Ms. Goldsmith served for eight years on the Board of Directors of the National Futures Association (NFA), where she was assigned to the Appeals Committee. She remains an Arbitrator for the Dallas, Texas region and a member of the NFA. Ms. Goldsmith is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Oklahoma University, and earned her JD from Vanderbilt in 1979. Outside of the office, Ms. Goldsmith is a member of Texas Wall Street Women and is a mentor for female first-generation college students. She and her husband Gary Moor have four children : Hailey (age 29), Drew (age 27), Will (age 17) and Lee (age 15).
Partner & Founder
Four Seasons Commodities Corporation
5815 Joyce Way
Dallas, TX 75225-1624
Phone: (214) 368 2500
Fax: (214) 368 2565
Email: goldsmith@fourseasonscommodities.com
Mr. W. Patrick Mulloy (President 2011-2013) received his B.A. in 1974 from Vanderbilt University, where he majored in history, economics and philosophy and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Society, and the Raven Society. He attended Vanderbilt University Law School as a Patrick Wilson Merit Scholar and also served as the Executive Articles Editor for the Vanderbilt Law Review. After receiving his J.D. in 1977, he practiced law in Louisville, Kentucky until 1996, serving two years from 1992 to 1994 as the Secretary of Finance for the Governor of Kentucky. Since 1996, Mr. Mulloy has served as President and CEO of three senior housing companies. He currently serves as President and CEO of Elmcroft Senior Living, a national provider of senior housing services in approximately 100 communities in 20 states, serving nearly 10,000 residents and patients. Mr. Mulloy is currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bellarmine University in addition to his service on the Board of Advisors. Mr. Mulloy resides in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife Francie O. Mulloy (B.S.’75, M.S.’77). They have two children: Patrick and Mollie (B.A. 2005) and two grandsons, Wip and Duncan.
President and CEO
Elmcroft Senior Living
9510 Ormsby Station Road, Suite 101
Louisville, KY 40207
Phone: (502) 753 6001
Fax: (502) 753 6101
Cell: (502) 693 2185
Email: pmulloy@seniorcare-corp.com
Mr. D. Craig Nordlund retired as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary for Agilent Technologies. Nordlund utilized his broad legal background with Agilent by supervising the company’s global legal function including intellectual property law, legal policies, compliance, commercial law, employment law, as well as merger and acquisition and litigation support. Nordlund's experience in corporate law spans more than two decades, beginning with his first job as an attorney with the Palo Alto law firm o f Ware & Friedenrich in 1974, and later as in-house counsel with Hewlett-Packard Company in 1977. Over the course of the following years, he held positions ascending from senior attorney and assistant general counsel, to associate general counsel and secretary. From 1987 to 1999, Nordlund managed Hewlett-Packard's U.S. general legal operations and served as HP’s corporate secretary where he had responsibility for the company’s annual shareholders' meetings, Board of Directors formalities, corporate governance issues and shareholder relations. He was named Agilent's senior vice president, general counsel and secretary in May 1999. Nordlund currently serves as secretary for the Agilent Technologies Foundation, and is an officer and director of a number of Agilent subsidiaries. He has been a director of HP Employees Federal Credit Union since 1985. Nordlund, who was born in 1949 in Chicago, Illinois, received a bachelor's degree in political science and journalism from Stanford University and a law degree from Vanderbilt University. He is a member of the California Bar Association, the American Corporate Counsel Association, and the American Society of Corporate Secretaries. His leadership in the field of corporate law is reflected through various roles, including past service as national chairman of the American Society of Corporate Secretaries, as well as chairman of its national Securities Law Committee. Nordlund was a founding director of the Bay Area Chapter of the American Corporate Counsel Association (ACCA) and currently serves on the national ACCA Board of Directors. He also serves on the board of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) and is a member of the local Junior Achievement advisory board.
Palo Alto, CA
Email: dcnordlund@gmail.com
Mr. Charles H. Ogburn served as the Executive Director of Arcapita, Inc., in Atlanta, Georgia from 2001 to 2010. Previously, he was in private practice at King & Spalding from 1980 to 1985 and then with Robinson-Humphrey Co., an investment banking firm, from 1985 to 2001. Mr. Ogburn obtained his B.A. from Duke University in 1977 and received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1980. He is a member of the Society of International Business Fellows, Director of Atlanta Venture and a member of Business Executives for National Security. Mr. Ogburn is married to Lisa Demartini Ogburn and they have two sons, Charlie, Jr. (age 18) and Andy (age 15).
Retired, Executive Director
Arcapita, Inc.
75 Fourteenth Street
Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone: (404) 920 9050
Fax: (404) 920 9001
Email: ogburnc@gmail.com
Mr. Bryan Scott Olson is the CEO of RPS Environmental Solutions, an environmental technology company that provides cleaning and remediation products for consumer, commercial and industrial clients. He has practiced law with several firms, serving as the managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig in Dallas and as in-house senior counsel.
CEO
RPS Environmental Solutions, LP
12200 N. Stemmons Freeway, Suite 316
Dallas, TX 75234
Phone: (972) 247 1556
Fax: (972) 247 7313
Email: solson@rpsenvironmental.com
Ms. Stephanie E. Parker is a trial attorney who specializes in the defense of product liability cases. For the past several years, Stephanie has defended the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in numerous smoking and health cases filed against the company, including serving as lead trial counsel in Hall (Florida, 2003), Kenyon (Florida, 2001), and Little (South Carolina, 2001). Ms. Parker has also defended other "high-profile" cases, including Ferguson v. Georgia Pacific (toxic tort) and U.S. v. Sheriff Richard Lankford (public corruption). She has extensive experience in managing nationwide discovery in several multiple plaintiff, multiple court cases. Ms. Parker is active in bar and professional activities. She is the past Chair of the Product Liability Section and the Federal Courts Liaison Committee of the State Bar of Georgia, and she is frequently asked to speak on trial topics. She is also a Master of the American Inns of Court and a member of the Bar Council of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (Chair, Local Rules Committee). Ms. Parker was the Chair of the 1998 Annual Meeting of the State Bar of Georgia and a member of the Board of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. Stephanie is a member of the Georgia Supreme Court's Blue Ribbon Commission on the Judiciary and the Federal Court Magistrate Judge's Selection Committee. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta. Ms. Parker currently serves on the Boards of the Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia, Georgia State University School of Law, and Wesleyan College. She is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta and Leadership Georgia and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Ms. Parker was featured in Georgia Trend magazine as one of its "Women in Business" and The Wall Street Journal has written about several of her cases. She was recently selected as one of Atlanta's "Super Lawyers" by Atlanta Magazine.
Partner
Jones Day
1420 Peachtree Street, N.E. Suite 800
Atlanta, GA 30309-3053
Phone: (404) 521 3939
Fax: (404) 581 8330
Email: separker@jonesday.com
Mr. Sean A. Perryman graduated from Vanderbilt Law School in May of 2011. During his time at Vanderbilt, he clerked with the Vanderbilt General Counsel's Office, Haynes & Boone, and the New York City Law Department. He also served as a research assistant to Kevin Stack. Sean will begin his legal career practicing litigation at the Haynes & Boone headquarters in Dallas, Texas.
Before attending Vanderbilt, he graduated cum laude from Baruch College, which is part of the City University of New York (C.U.N.Y). In August of 2012, he will marry Allison Johnson.
Haynes & Boone, LLP
2323 Victory Avenue Suite 700
Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: (214) 651 5897
Fax: (214) 000 0902
Email: sean.perryman@haynesboone.com
Mr. Michael L. Phifer founded his own Houston firm in 2002, determined to continue a career-long fight for justice, people's rights, and accountability. He applies insight gained in corporate liability defense, as well as extensive scientific and medical knowledge, in adeptly evaluating and pursuing personal injury and wrongful death claims on behalf of individuals and families who have been seriously harmed by others' negligence.
Mr. Phifer is a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Specialist, as recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has achieved widespread recognition for his work in discovery and eliciting key testimony on Firestone tire defects and Ford Explorer rollover susceptibility. He has obtained numerous multimillion-dollar recoveries for victims in these and other product defect cases, while also pursuing just compensation for victims of medical malpractice, serious car and truck accidents, and other tragic events.
Mr. Phifer received both his BA (1979) and his JD (1983) from Vanderbilt.
Attorney
Michael L. Phifer, P.C.
952 Echo Lane, Suite 140
Houston, TX 77024
Phone: (713) 517 2500
Fax: (713) 571 2505
Email: mphifer@phiferlaw.com
Ms. S. Louise Rankin is the Administrative Partner of the San Francisco office of Jones Day. Her practice is concentrated in health care finance, where she works with nonprofit hospitals and long-term care organizations to access the capital bond market. Ms Rankin has helped develop many of the structures available for financing health care organizations today. She helps negotiate and draft master trust indentures, helps set policies for state-wide issuers of health care bonds and, in the current economy, works through covenant concerns with borrowers, bankers, insurers, rating agencies and bondholders. In her administrative role Ms Rankin has, among other tasks, led the office in supporting and raising funds for the Cristo Rey program of Immaculate Conception Academy, the San Francisco Food Bank, and the San Francisco AIDS Walk. She received a BA in Humanities from Mankato State University (Minnesota) in 1978, and her JD from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1981.
Partner
Jones Day
555 California Street, 26th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (415) 626 3939
Fax: (415) 963 6835
Email: srankin@jonesday.com
Mr. Robert S. Reder received his JD from Vanderbilt in 1978.
Retired/Consultant
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, LLP
1 Chase Manhattan Plaza
New York, NY 10005-1413
Phone: (212)530 5680
Fax: (212)822 5680
Email: rreder@milbank.com
Ms. D. Billye Sanders is Of Counsel with Dockery & Associates. She is President and Chief Executive Officer of Sunshine Enterprises, LLC, a real estate investment and development company. She is also a commercial and employment law arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. Formerly a partner with Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP, Billye has over 33 years experience practicing law. Her clients have ranged from Fortune 500 companies and municipalities to start-up companies. Her primary practice areas are administrative law, public utilities, land use and state and local government relations. She has represented clients in complex utility rate cases, cases of first impression under new statutes, licensing and rule-making proceedings and a variety of regulatory matters. She also has experience with mergers and acquisitions, financial institutions and general corporate transactional work.
Prior to joining Waller Lansden, Billye served as Deputy General Counsel for the Tennessee Public Service Commission. During her ten-year tenure at the Commission, she represented the public interest in litigation involving public utilities, managed the Legal Division, and handled a variety of labor and employment matters. Before joining the Commission, Billye served as Assistant Vice President and Legal Counsel for United Southern Bank in Nashville.
Billye has been recognized by her peers in the Nashville Business Journal as one of the “Best of the Bar” and was recognized by Business Tennessee as one of the “Best 101 Lawyers in the State of Tennessee.” She has an AV® Preeminent peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating for ethical standards and legal ability. She has also been honored as a member of the YWCA Academy for Women of Achievement.
Of Counsel
Dockery & Associates
Phone: (615) 500 7749
Email: sanders.billye@gmail.com
Mr. James F. Sanders, a senior Member of the Nashville, Tennessee law firm of Neal & Harwell, PLC, earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt School of Law in 1970, and his B.A. in 1967. Among highlights of Jim’s Vanderbilt years was his participation in Vanderbilt Commodore Football as a split-end and flanker. Jim has been an active Vanderbilt alum by serving as a lecturer-in-law, as well as on various advisory Chancellor-appointed boards, and on reunion committees. Prior to joining Neal & Harwell in 1978, this Johnson City, Tennessee native, served judicial clerkships for the Honorable William E. Miller, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (1970), as well as the Honorable Frank Gray, Jr., Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (1972-’75). Thereafter, he became a trial attorney in the felony section of the Seattle-King County Washington Office of the Public Defender (1975-‘77). He also served his country in the United States Army (1971-’72). Concentrating his law practice on trial work, both civil and criminal, and the defense of white collar criminal investigations, Jim has handled matters and tried cases, primarily in the federal courts, throughout the continental United States and Alaska. His more publicized trials include the defense of John Landis in the “Twilight Zone” trial and Exxon Shipping in the Exxon Valdez proceedings. He has recently been involved in several multi-month civil trials, defending Exxon Mobil Corporation, in Maryland state court. Jim is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is also a Fellow of the Tennessee and Nashville Bar Foundations as well as a Member of the American, Tennessee & Nashville Bar Associations and Supreme Court Historical Society. His community involvement includes serving as Chairman of the Franklin Road Academy Board of Trustees from 1999-2001. Jim has been listed & recognized by, among others, The Best Lawyers In America, Corporate Counsel Magazine, Chambers USA, Mid-South SuperLawyers Magazine, Tennessee Lawyer Magazine, Business Tennessee Magazine, and Nashville Business Journal Best of the Bar. His clients include individuals as well as several Fortune 500 companies. Jim and his wife, Cheryl, reside on Cold Saturday Farm in Brentwood, Tennessee. They have one daughter, Courtney Sanders Muse, Ph.D., Assistant Director, Vanderbilt Center for Health & Society Senior Lecturer, Sociology, and two sons, Isaac, a Vanderbilt Law School graduate and associate with Neal & Harwell, PLC, and Nathan, a 2L at Vanderbilt Law School. Jim is an avid sports fan and reader, as well as devoted grandparent to Madeline Rose Muse and Jameson Wolff Muse.
Member
Neal & Harwell, PLC
150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 2000
Nashville, TN 37219
Phone: (615) 244 1713
Fax: (615) 726 0573
Email: jsanders@nealharwell.com
Mr. Mark Schein received his JD from Vanderbilt in 1991.
Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
York Capital Management
767 Fifth Avenue, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10153
Phone: (212) 300 1372
Email: MSchein@yorkcapital.com
Mr. L.D. Simmons, II, graduated from Davidson College in 1981 and received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1984. He then went on to Helms Mulliss & Wicker, PLLC as an associate. In 1990, Mr. Simmons became a partner of Helms Mullis & Wicker. Mr. Simmons’ practice is in commercial litigation, focusing on insurance, reinsurance, and bad faith litigation. Mr. Simmons leads the Helms Mulliss insurance coverage team, and in that role he has been involved in the representation of major domestic insurers in complex coverage litigation and arbitration throughout the United States. Mr. Simmons is active in the insurance coverage bar and has chaired the Commercial General Liability Subcommittee of the Insurance Law Committee of the Defense Research Institute. He has also has chaired the Property Law Subcommittee of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation and is an associate member of the Professional Liability Underwriters Association. Mr. Simmons is a frequent speaker on insurance and risk management topics at industry seminars sponsored by the American Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, Mealeys, the National CPCU Society, the Atlanta CPCU Society, the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys and PLI. Mr. Simmons also is the firm's contact partner with the ALFA legal network. Mr. Simmons is an active member of Providence United Methodist Church, a board member of First Tee of Charlotte, a volunteer at the Children’s Law Center, and Counsel and Board Member of Loaves & Fishes. Mr. Simmons is married to Marci Simmons, and has three children: Grace Lee (14), Andy (12), and Will (8).
McGuire Woods, LLP
201 North Tryon Street, Suite 3000
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
Direct: (704) 343 2062
Cell: (704) 904 0234
Fax: (704) 444 8773
Email: lsimmons@mcguirewoods.com
Mr. Arnold M. Weiss earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from Vanderbilt University; his B.A. degree in 1956, and a J.D. degree from the School of Law in 1958. He was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 1958 and to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1971. Mr. Weiss was the sole proprietor of The Law Offices of Arnold M. Weiss in Memphis, Tennessee for more than 40 years and is currently managing partner of its successor, The Law Offices of Weiss Spicer Cash PLLC. The firm specializes in the representation of financial institutions and the mortgage banking industry and is one of the oldest and most experienced law firms handling mortgage-related legal issues. The Law Offices of Weiss Spicer Cash PLLC are located in two buildings in downtown Memphis, one of which is the restored Fowlkes-Boyle House, which was built in the 1850s and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Very active in community affairs, Mr. Weiss has co-chaired the past two St. Jude Children’s Research Galas held in Palm Beach, Florida, and co-chaired Fire and Ice, the SPA Wildlife Care Center Gala also held in Palm Beach. Mr. Weiss is the recipient of the 2008 St. Jude Healing Rose Humanitarian Award, and was awarded the International Magazine’s Palm Beach Entrepreneurial and Philanthropy Award in 2006. He and his wife, Joan R. Weiss, maintain residences in Memphis, New York City and Palm Beach, Florida. They are members of the New York Friars Club and the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach. Mr. and Mrs. Weiss have three married daughters and seven grandchildren.
Managing Partner
Weiss Spicer Cash, PLLC
208 Adams Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 526 8296 Ext. 2224
Fax: (901) 526 3061
Email: arnold@weiss-spicer.com
Ms. Dee Ann Weldon-Wilson received her JD from Vanderbilt in 1983.
Senior Counsel
Exxon Mobil Corporation
5959 Las Colinas Boulevard
Irving, TX 75039-4202
Phone: (972) 444 1413
Fax: (972) 444 1433
Email: dee.a.weldon-wilson@exxonmobil.com
Mr. Bradford J. Williams III received his JD from Vanderbilt in 1994.
Director of Product Development
Tudor Investment Corporation
1275 King Street
Greenwich, CT 06831-2936
Phone: (203) 863 8612
Email: brad.williams@tudor.com
Mr. W. Weldon Wilson was a member of the Executive Board of Swiss Reinsurance Company, an international reinsurer based in Switzerland. At Swiss Re, Weldon was responsible for the Admin Re® line of business which involved the acquisition and operation of direct life insurance companies in the US and the UK. His other roles within Swiss Re included serving as CEO of Swiss Re’s North American life reinsurance business, and General Counsel for Swiss Re’s international life operations. Weldon joined Swiss Re in 1998 upon the acquisition of Life Re Corporation, where Weldon had served as Secretary and General Counsel since 1991. Previously, Weldon worked with two major law firms in Dallas after receiving his J.D. from Vanderbilt in 1986. Weldon retired in December 2009 and now resides in Redding, Connecticut with his wife, Elaine, and their dogs Petey and Lizzie.
PO Box 844
Georgetown, CT 06829
Phone: (203) 223 8530
Email: weldon@weldonwilson.com
Mr. G. Van Velsor Wolf Jr. received his JD from Vanderbilt in 1973.
Of Counsel
Snell & Wilmer, LLP
One Arizona Center
400 E. Van Buren
Phoenix, AZ 85004-2202
Phone: (602) 382 6201
Fax: (602) 382 6070
Email: vwolf@swlaw.com