National Council 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 applicanst 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 National Council members identified 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 National Council 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 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
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. 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 has received a BA from the University of Wisconsin, an MA from the University of Pennsylvania, and gaduated from Vanderbilt University Law School with a JD in 1981.
Partner
Hunton & Williams
1900 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20006-1109
Phone: (202) 955-1943
Fax: (202) 778-2201
Email: valbrecht@hunton.com
John H. Bailey, III received his JD from Vanderbilt in 1970.
Retired, Cumberland-Swan Incorporated
P.O. Box 158306
Phone: (615) 298-2280
Email: bail7854@bellsouth.net
Joseph N. Barker presently serves as the Chairman of the Executive Committee to MarketStreet Enterprises and its sister company MarketStreet Equities Co. These firms were founded by Mr. Barker and Steve Turner in 2000, and shortly thereafter Jay Turner, the son of Steve, joined the firms as a full partner. These firms, and their affiliates, have been involved as private equity investors in a variety projects primarily in the southeastern part of the United States ranging from distribution, publishing, technology and manufacturing to real estate development. MarketStreet Enterprises manages the daily operations of The Gulch Project in Nashville, Tennessee, in which project MarketStreet Equities is the primary equity investor. The Gulch Project is a new urban, mixed-use real estate development project that consists of approximately 40 acres of land and buildings on the western edge of Nashville’s fast developing downtown. Mr. Barker practiced commercial real estate and corporate law in Nashville, Tennessee for thirty years prior to joining with the Turner family in forming the MarketStreet firms. He was recognized for his legal abilities by being elected to the American College of Real Estate Lawyers in 1987, and has remained as a member since. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1966, and a graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1969. From 1969 through 1972 he served on active duty as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Mr. Barker is very active in Nashville’s growth and development. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Nashville Opera, and has served on the boards of directors of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, The Downtown Partnership, the Central Business Improvement District, and Gilda’s Club, among others. He presently serves on the boards of directors of the Gulch Business Improvement District, the Vanderbilt Eye Institute and the Nashville Opera. He is a member of the Governor’s Sentencing Task Force. He was one of the founders of the Nashville Technology Council. He and his wife, Judy Liff Barker, reside in Bellevue, Tennessee on their farm where they collect a wide variety of art and enjoy their children and grandchildren. Judy is also very active in the Nashville community, serving on the boards of directors of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, The Nashville Library Foundation Board, the Community Foundation, and the Nashville Arts Commission.
Chairman
MarketStreet Enterprises
138 2nd Avenue N., Suite 300
Nashville, TN 37201
Phone: (615) 846-4911
Email: jbarker@marketstreetmanagement.com
Michael J. Beaudine received his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, graduating with high honors in 1985 before attending Vanderbilt University Law School, from which he graduated in 1988. Mr. Beaudine has been a Partner with Latham, Shuker, Eden & Beaudine, LLP in Orlando, Florida since 1996. He has been the head of the Litigation Department since 2000. He specializes in complex business litigation, including antitrust, intellectual property, unfair competition, and property tax matters. Mr. Beaudine has acted as lead counsel in numerous federal and state court trials. He has been counsel of record in several reported decisions, including co-lead counsel in a $188 million class action award, a decision that was upheld by the Florida Supreme Court against the State of Florida arising out of an unconstitutional tax levied by the state. Mr. Beaudine is the Secretary for the Federal Judicial Relations Committee of the Orlando Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. He is a former President and Director of the Notre Dame Club of Greater Orlando. Mr. Beaudine enjoys traveling and is an avid sports fan, particularly with respect to international soccer.
Partner
Latham, Shuker, Eden & Beaudine, LLP
390 N. Orange Avenue, Suite 600
Orlando, Florida 32801
Phone: (407) 481-5815
Fax: (407) 481-5801
Email: beaudine@lseblaw.com
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 a B.A. from the University of Tennessee, a J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1979 and an M.B.A. 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
J. Michael Campbell earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from Vanderbilt University; his B.E. degree in 1965 and his J.D. degree 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, 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 been 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), 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 the 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: justice.cornelia.clark@tscmail.state.tb.us
Susan M. Curtis represents underwriters, placement agents, issuers and banks in asset-backed securities transactions and other structured financings. Ms. Curtis has acted as counsel in a broad variety of public offerings and Regulation S and Rule 144A offerings involving the issuance of asset-backed securities. These transactions have included securities backed by consumer assets such as retail auto loans and leases, boat and recreational vehicle loans and credit card receivables, as well as corporate charge card receivables, trade receivables, wholesale dealer inventory loans, high-yield bonds, investment grade securities, loans, commercial mortgage loans, energy contracts and various other assets. In addition to term securitizations, Ms. Curtis has been active as counsel in the establishment of asset-backed commercial paper conduits and single seller special purpose companies to finance trade receivables, auto loans and leases, railroad receivables and other assets. She also has experience in commercial paper and medium-term note financings by U.S. and foreign companies. Ms. Curtis has represented underwriters and collateral managers in the collateralized debt obligation market from its inception. She has extensive experience as deal counsel in CDOs of high yield and investment grade bonds and loans, emerging market bonds and loans, mortgage-backed securities, REIT debt, asset-backed securities and synthetic securities. She has worked with clients in developing structural innovations in CDOs, including the use of money market tranches and repackaging techniques.
Partner
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Four Times Square
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 735-2119
Fax: (212) 777-2119
Email: scurtis@skadden.com
Martha Craig Daughtrey received both her B.A. (1964) and her J.D. (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 (1990-93) and as an associate judge on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals (1975-90). Before her appointment to the Court of Appeals, Judge Daughtrey was an assistant professor of law on the Vanderbilt faculty (1972-75). Periodically, she has also served as a lecturer in law (1971-72) and as an adjunct professor of law (1982-83; 1988-90) at Vanderbilt. She was formerly an assistant district attorney in Nashville (1969-72) 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.
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
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 (in 1969) and his JD (in 1975) from Vanderbilt. Mr. Deemer's practice is focused 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 to 1999, and returned to Beijing in 2002. He has worked on projects in China since the early 1990s, and has broad experience on Chinese oil, natural gas and electricity projects. Prior to Beijing, he was based for 18 years in Vinson & Elkins' London office, and was Managing Partner of that office for 14 years. Paul was one of the partners in charge of opening Vinson & Elkins' Moscow office in 1991, and has spent substantial periods 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
A. Darby Dickerson, Vice President and Dean at Stetson University College of Law, received her B.A. and M.A. from the College of William and Mary, and earned her J.D. 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 the Outstanding Young Lawyer in Dallas. Dean Dickerson joined the Stetson Faculty in Fall 1995. She was named Vice President and Dean in February 2004. She has taught legal research and writing, federal pretrial practice, and litigation ethics. She served at 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 is a Director of the Association of Legal Writing Directors and is 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 more than 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 as Secretary of the Pinellas County Education Facilities Authority, and was selected for Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.
Vice President and Dean
Stetson University College of Law
1401 61st Street South
Gulfport, Florida 33707
Phone: (727) 562-7858
Fax: (727) 345-6428
Email: darby@law.stetson.edu
Rana B. DiOrio joined North Point Advisors in 2004. Prior to her involvement with North Point, she was a Managing Director and Co-Head of Software Investment Banking at Banc of America Securities LLC from 2001-2002 and a Director and Head of Infrastructure Software Investment Banking at Merrill Lynch where she covered the space globally from 1998-2001. Rana was also a member of the Alex. Brown Technology Group from 1996-1998. Before her career as an investment banker, Rana practiced Technology Corporate and Securities Law at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati from 1994-1996 and at Pillsbury Madison and Sutro from 1991-1994. Rana earned an AB with honors from Duke University and a JD from Vanderbilt University School of Law. Her community involvement includes leadership donations to AIDS Walk San Francisco, Duke University, Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard, Homeless Children's Network, Homeless Prenatal Program, KQED (local NPR affiliate), The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, The Leukemia Society of America, The Presidio YMCA, Schools of the Sacred Heart – San Francisco, The Smile Train, Special Olympics and Vanderbilt University School of Law. Rana lives in San Francisco with her daughters, Ryan and Alex.
Little Pickle Press
Phone: (415) 215-0004
Email: rana@littlepicklepress.com
M. Douglas Dunn (President 2009-2011) is retired as a partner of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP with emphasis on corporate and project financing. He is also the Chair of the Firm’s utility practice. Prior to joining the Firm in 1985, Mr. Dunn was Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Investment Banking Division of Shearson Lehman Brothers Inc. from 1984 to 1985, and associate, partner and member of the Management Committee of Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts from 1970 to 1984. His practice includes the representation of several utility companies, including those registered under the Public Utility Company Act of 1935. He also serves as designated underwriters’ counsel for many other utility companies. Special assignments have included representation of private equity investors in the utility sector, cross-border merger and acquisition and reorganization advice in several recent large transactions for electric and gas utility companies, telecom companies or their creditors. 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, 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 is listed in The Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Dunn received a B.S.E. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University where he was Associate Editor of 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 (Retired)
Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy
38 Welsh Lane
P.O. Box 607
New Vernon, NJ 07976-0607
Phone: (973) 644-9165
Fax: (973) 285-9041
Email: mddunnjd@comcast.net
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 and 2000, he served in various roles with BellSouth Corporation including President of BellSouth Mobility and Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy. From 1986 to 1991 he was 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 B.A. in Economics from Duke University in 1978 and his J.D. 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, Wesley Woods. He and his wife Elizabeth have two children: Alex (age 19) and Elizabeth (age 17).
Partner
MSouth Equity Partners
27 Chatham Road, NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: (404) 467 0883
Cell: (404) 401 0629
Fax: (404) 467 0884
Email: mlfeidler@bellsouth.net
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, Ron has negotiated numerous purchase and sale agreements and ground leases for shopping center peripheral land transactions. Ron earned his B.A. from Vanderbilt University in 1969 and his J.D. 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.
Member
Husch & Eppenberger, LLC
736 Georgia Avenue, Suite 300
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: (423) 757-5906
Fax: (423) 266-5499
Email: ron.feldman@husch.com
William A. Fenwick is one of the founding partners of Fenwick & West LLP and is a member of the Litigation and Intellectual Property Groups. Fenwick & West is a 300-attorney law firm specializing in high technology matters and has offices in Mountain View, California and San Francisco, California. In the early 1970's, when computer handling of personal information generated sufficient concern to coalesce libertarians, academicians and politicians, Mr. Fenwick traveled, spoke and wrote extensively on the need for rationality and caution in the flood of legislative proposals to regulate privacy and information handling. He appeared before various federal and state legislative committees to testify about proposed "privacy legislation," including the Privacy Act of 1974. He contributed to drafting changes to proposed legislation to eliminate undesirable side effects of the rush to regulate what were as yet uncharacterized activities involving information. He worked with WEMA (now AEA) to prevent the permanent retardation of the developing automation of information handling through the use of computers. Mr. Fenwick has served as Chairman, EFT Transfer Committee, American Federation of Information Processing Societies, Inc. and was one of the initial members of the Committee on Electronic Legal Research, New York Bar Association. He has served as Chairman, Committee on Law Relating to Computers, Section on Science & Technology American Bar Association. He was Chairman of the Practicing Law Institute's program on Computer Litigation for three years during which he was the editor of three volumes of working papers on various subjects related to law and technology. He co-authored the report on the use of technology in the courts for the California Future of the Courts Commission and was a member of the Court Technology Advisory Committee of the Judicial Council of California from its creation in 1995 to 2004. He received the 2001 Bernard E. Witkin Award from the Judicial Council of California for his efforts assisting the courts in adopting information technology. Mr. Fenwick first began litigating technology disputes in 1968. Technology transfer, development contracts, taxation, licenses, copyright, trademark, trade dress, trade secrets, distribution and antitrust disputes have been the priority of his practice for over 30 years. Since 1992 he has been involved in a number of Internet-related matters as well as online commerce and communications.
Senior Partner
Fenwick & West LLP
801 California Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
Phone: (650) 335-7200
Fax: (650) 938-5200
Email: bfenwick@fenwick.com
Sara J. Finley received her JD from Vanderbilt in 1985.
Senior VP/Asst. General Counsel
Caremark Rx, Inc.
211 Commerce Street, Suite 800
Nashville, TN 37205
Phone: (615) 743-6600
Fax: (615) 743-6611
Email: Sara.Finley@Caremark.com
Linda A. Friedman has over 30 years experience in intellectual property, antitrust and competitive torts. She is named in The Best Lawyers in America for Intellectual Property and Franchise Law, and in Alabama Super Lawyers. Linda is a past chair of the Alabama Bar Association's Section of Antitrust and Business Torts, and has lectured frequently on trademark and copyright topics, trade secret protection and state and federal antitrust issues.
Linda's litigation practice concentrates in trade regulation and marketing matters, including antitrust, competitive torts, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, franchisee/franchisor disputes, distributor/supplier disputes, and covenants not to compete. Linda regularly advises clients in these areas and on contract and distribution issues, and software contracts. Her practice includes selection, registration and protection of trademarks; copyrights; licensing; and dispute resolutions. She has assisted clients in filing trademark applications in approximately 90 countries, and has defended and prosecuted opposition and cancellation proceedings in the US and several foreign countries.
Recent litigation includes representing the Plaintiff in a trademark and copyright infringement action, obtaining a favorable jury verdict, a substantial damages award and a permanent injunction for her client. She has also obtained injunctions to enforce non-compete covenants and to restrain former employees from using their former employer's trade secrets in competing businesses. Additionally, Linda negotiated a favorable settlement in a trademark infringement suit involving similar titles to competing magazines.
Linda is on the Board of Directors of the United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham (former President of Board), the Advisory Board of the University of Alabama, and the Birmingham Kiwanis Club, 2007-2008.
Partner
Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP
One Federal Place
1819 Fifth Avenue North
Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 521-8274
Fax: (205) 488-6274
Email: lfriedman@bradleyarant.com
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, ages 14 and 16, respectively.
President/Principal
Overton Capital
104 Woodmont Blvd., Suite 219
Nashville, TN 37205
Phone: (615) 369-0160
Fax: (615) 783-1030
Email: fgarrison@overtoncapital.com
Rita S. Geier received her JD from Vanderbilt in 1970.
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
Charles W. Gerdts III received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1978 and his B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1975. Mr. Gerdts serves is General Counsel for PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. From 1998 to 2002, he practiced at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP. He was an associate at Donova, Leisure, Newton & Irvinie from 1978 to 1986 and then served as partner from 1986 to 1998. Mr. Gerdts is a member of the American Bar Association, Association of the Bar of the City of New York and Federal Bar Council. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have two children, Emily (age 19) and Charlie (age 17).
General Counsel
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
300 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone: (646) 471-1157
Email: charles.gerdts@us.pwc.com
James Gibson (ex-officio) received his JD from Vanderbilt in 2009. He is an associate at Lightfoot, Franklin & White in Birmingham, AL where he maintains a general litigation practice.
Lightfoot Franklin & White LLC
The Clark Building
400 20th Street North
Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 581-0700
Fax: (205) 581-0799
Email: jgibson@lightfootlaw.com
John J. Gorman has been actively involved in representing banks, savings institutions and holding companies for more than 20 years, and specializes in mergers and acquisitions, mutual holding companies, mutual-to-stock conversions, corporate and securities law, executive compensation, corporate governance and general bank regulatory matters. His practice also includes representing national and regional investment banking firms. Mr. Gorman is recognized as one of the nation’s leading bank mergers and acquisitions attorneys. He has overseen and completed more than 100 mergers and acquisitions involving financial institutions during the past decade. He is also one of the nation’s leading experts in mutual holding companies and mutual-to-stock conversions. Mr. Gorman is a frequent speaker on financial institution issues. He has authored numerous articles on banks and savings institutions that have appeared in The American Banker, SNL ThriftInvestor and Community Banker. Mr. Gorman is a faculty member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). He served as a Commissioner on the 2004 Blue Ribbon Commission on Board Leadership. Prior to entering into private practice, Mr. Gorman was Special Counsel to the Chief Counsel, Corporation Finance Division, Securities and Exchange Commission.
Partner
Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, P.C.
5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 400
Washington D.C., 20015
Phone: (202) 274-2001
Fax: (202) 362-2902
Email: jgorman@luselaw.com
Richard R. Hays is the Deputy Managing Partner and Managing Partner-elect of Alston & Bird. Mr. Hays is on the firm's Partners' Committee and is the firm's Financial Partner. From 1999-2005, he chaired the firm’s Litigation & Trial Practice Group, leading over 100 lawyers in its New York, Washington, Atlanta, and North Carolina offices. Mr. Hays has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for commercial litigation and was recognized by Super Lawyers magazine. He has tried cases throughout the state and region and serves as national trial counsel for clients with cases pending across the country in a broad range of disputes, including marketing and consumer fraud, RICO, deceptive trade practices, complex commercial and financial disputes, and product liability claims. Mr. Hayes has federal and state court trial and appellate experience in class action lawsuits, shareholder derivative litigation, and catastrophic personal injury and tort litigation. Mr. Hays graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. in 1982 and obtained his Masters of Science from Edinburgh University in 1984. He received a J.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1986. Mr. Hays is a Board Member of the Georgia Shakespeare Festival and is a member of Leadership Atlanta, Harvard Club of Georgia, United Way and Alexis de Tocqueville Society.
Deputy Managing Partner
Alston & Bird, LLP
1201 West Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30309-3424
Phone: (404) 881-7000
Fax: (404) 881-7777
Cell: (404) 805-7360
Email: Richard.hays@alston.com
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
Duane Morris, LLP
1180 W. Peachtree Street, Suite 700
Atlanta, GA 30309-3448
Phone: (404) 253-6913
Fax: (404) 253-6901
Email: jcherman@duanemorris.com
William H. "Hal" Hess is Executive Vice President of International Operation and President of American Tower Corporation. Prior to American Tower, Mr. Hess was a partner in the corporate and finance group of the law firm King & Spalding, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters for telecommunications and infrastructure companies. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Hess practiced as a Certified Public Accountant with Arthur Young & Co. He received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1990 and is a graduate of Harding University. Mr. Hess serves on the Board of Overseers and Oversight of WBUR, Boston University, NPR Affiliate.
EVP/President
American Tower Corporation
116 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 375-7530
Fax: (617) 375-7575
Cell: (617) 917-744-7719
Email: hal.hess@americantower.com
Beatrice C. Hubbard earned her B.S. at Siena College in 1968, and was and was awarded he 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).
6415 Arden Court
Brentwood, TN 37027
Phone: (615) 377-6072
Email: beahubbard@comcast.net
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.
Sr. Dev. Officer for Principal Gifts
Meharry Medical College, Advancement & College Relations
1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37208-3599
Phone: (615) 327-6045
Fax: (615) 327-6134
Email: rejohnson@mmc.edu
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
200 E Randolph Drive, 56th Floor
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 861-2313
Fax: (312) 861-2200
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: billkoch@comcast.net
Raymond E. LaDriere, II, graduated from Vanderbilt Law School in 1981. He graduated summa cum laude, from Wabash College in 1978, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. LaDriere is a Partner with Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, LLP in Dallas, Texas. He was a member of the Firm’s Management Committee from 1999 to 2002 and practices law in the area of commercial litigation. He has substantial experience in resolving complex disputes, including mediation, arbitration, and trials; commercial disputes; class actions, estate and probate contests, and advanced technology issues. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, and the Dallas Bar Association, Business Litigation Section. He is a Fellow with the Texas Bar Foundations and the Dallas Bar Foundation. Mr. LaDriere is an active member of the St. Patrick Church, a member of the Royal Oaks Country Club, and serves as a Board Member for the Wabash Alumni Association, as well as the Ursuline Academy Parents Board.
Partner
Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP
2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 2200
Dallas, Texas 75201
Phone: (214) 740.8681
Fax: (214) 756.8681
Cell: (214) 732.3231
Email: rladriere@lockelord.com
David B. LaRoche received his JD from VULS in 2006.
Attorney
Eischeid Law Office
131 North Church Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Phone: (615) 896-7060
Fax: (615) 896-7015
Email: LaRocheAtty@Comcast.net
Kevin Manget Lyman graduated from Duke University in 1993 and received his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in 1997. Upon graduation, Mr. Lyman joined the firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York as corporate associate. He then joined Invesco National Trust Company to serve as Assistant General Counsel from 2002-2004, and currently serves as General Counsel to the company. My Lyman is married to Jennifer McCoy Lyman, the daughter or Professor Tom McCoy, and they have three children: Sophie, McCoy and Lizzie.
General Counsel
Invesco National Trust Company
1555 Peachtree Street N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone: (404) 439-4575
Email: kevinlyman@comcast.net
Susan K. Matlow received her B.S. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1988 and her J.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1991. Ms. Matlow joined American Express Company in 2006 and serves as Vice President and Tax Counsel. She was formerly with the Special Olympics Counsel in 2005; Bricolage Capital, LLC from 2002 through 2004; Exxon Mobile Corporation from 1996 through 2002 and Arnold & Porter from 1992-1996. She is a New York and Washington, DC Bar member. Ms. Matlow volunteers with the Special Olympics in New York and is an avid golfer, bridge player and baseball fan.
Vice President & Tax Counsel
American Express Company
200 Vesey Street, Mail Drop 01-30-02
New York, NY 10285
Phone: (212) 640-5771
Fax: (212) 640-0402
Cell: (212) 647-6348
Email: susanmatlow@msn.com
James B. Miller 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., Belmont Abbey College, and the Atlanta USO. He is also an investor in several family businesses. 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 has served as a Board member of the Carlos Museum at Emory University, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, the Atlanta Jr. League Advisory Board, and the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. He and his deceased wife, Karina L. Miller (VU PhD.), have three children, including Elizabeth, (VU BA).
Chairman
Fidelity Bank
3490 Piedmont Road, Suite 1550
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: (404) 240-1501
Fax: (404) 814-8060
Email: jmiller@lionbank.com
W. Patrick Mulloy (President-Elect 2011-2013) received his B.A. in 1974 from Vanderbilt University, where he majored in history, economics and philosophy and served as a member of Phi Beta Kappa Society and Delta Kappa Society. He attended Vanderbilt University Law School as a Patrick Wilson Merit Scholarship recipient 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 1992. He then held the position of Secretary of Finance to the Governor of Kentucky until 1994. Mr. Mulloy practiced law at Greenebaum Doll & McDonald in Louisville from 1994 to 1996. He later served as the President and CEO of Darwin Networks, Inc. (2000-2001) and Atria, Inc. (1996-2000). From September 2001 to November 2004, Mr. Mulloy served as the President and C.E.O. of LifeTrust America, Inc., a venture-backed senior housing company. Under his leadership, LifeTrust grew from 39 communities in five states with annual revenue of approximately $45M to 59 communities in eight states with revenues of nearly $120M. Together with Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, Mr. Mulloy led the effort to merge LifeTrust in November 2004 with Five Star Quality Care, Inc., a publicly traded national provider of senior housing services, in a transaction valued at $215M. Mr. Mulloy is currently the President and CEO of Senior Care US, Inc., in Louisville, KY. Senior Care US, Inc. is a recently formed entity which is the holding company for three United States based long term care companies, which currently own and operate approximately 45 assisted living and dementia care communities, together with 18 skilled nursing and 4 rehabilitation hospitals in 14 states. Additionally, he serves as a director of LHC Group, Inc., a Louisiana based home healthcare company, a publicly traded company (LHCG: NASDAQ). Also, he serves as a director of Southern Care, Inc., the largest privately held hospice operator in the country, which is a Metalmark Capital LLC (formerly Morgan Stanley Capital Partners) backed company. Mr. Mulloy currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife Francie O. Mulloy (B.S.’75, M.S.’77). They have two children: Patrick and Mollie.
President and CEO
Senior Care, Inc.
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
D. Craig Nordlund is senior vice president, general counsel and secretary for Agilent Technologies. Nordlund utilizes 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.
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
395 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Phone: (650) 752-5080
Fax: (650) 752-5082
Cell: (650) 868-5522
Email: craig-nordlund@agilent.com
Charles G. Ogburn has served as the Executive Director of Arcapita, Inc., in Atlanta, Georgia, since 2001. 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. form 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).
Executive Director
Arcapita, Inc.
75 Fourteenth Street
Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone: (404) 920-9050
Fax: (404) 920-9001
Email: cogburn@arcapita.com
Todd R. Overman is an associate with Hogan Hartson LLP in Washington D.C. His practice focuses primarily on advising clients doing business with the federal government. In this regard, his practice includes a combination of transactional issues, litigation, and regulatory advice. Todd has represented clients before the U.S. Departments of Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Small Business Administration, and Transportation. Prior to joining Hogan & Hartson, Todd clerked for The Honorable Loren A. Smith of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Todd graduated cum laude from Duke University in 1997 and received his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in 2002. While in law school, Todd was a managing editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review. He and his wife, Kelly, also a 2002 VULS graduate, have two children; Max, 3 and Luke, 1.
Associate
Hogan & Hartson LLP
555 13th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
Phone: (202) 637-3565
Fax: (202) 637-5910
Email: troverman@hhlaw.com
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
Michael C. Pescatello received his JD from VULS in 1969.
Vice President
Northern Trust, NA
580 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94104-1000
Phone: (415) 765-4400
Fax: (417) 781-2740
Email: mp2@ntrs.com
Michael L. 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
D. Billye Sanders received her JD from VULS in 1977.
Attorney
Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP
Nashville City Center
511 Union Street, Suite 2700
Nashville, TN 37219
Phone: (615) 850-8951
Fax: (615) 244-6805
Email: bsanders@wallerlaw.com
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 recently concluded a civil trial of over five months, 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 in The Best Lawyers In America, Corporate Counsel Magazine, Chambers USA, Mid-SouthSuperLawyers Magazine, Tennessee Lawyer Magazine, Business Tennessee Magazine, 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, a Vanderbilt graduate having received a B.A. and doctorate from her alma mater, a son, Isaac, second-year Vanderbilt Law School student, and Nathan, presently a sophomore at Vanderbilt. Jim is an avid sports fan and reader, as well as devoted grandparent to Madeline Rose 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
Arnold S. Schickler received both his BA (1955) and his JD (1957) from Vanderbilt.
Partner
Schickler & Schickler LLP
1700 Broadway, 42nd Floor
New York, NW 10019-5905
Phone: (212) 262-6400
Fax: (212) 262-6298
Email: arnold.s.schickler@schicklerlaw.com
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 Amercan Bar Assocation 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: ldsimmons@mcguirewoods.com
Gary J. Simon is Partner and Chairman, Capital Markets Group, of Hughes, Hubbard & Reed, LLP. His practice focuses on General public company representation, underwriter and placement agent representation, institutional investor and fund transactional representation, SEC reporting and compliance and listing matters, proxy and other shareholder matters, including contests, corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Simon obtained his B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1979 and received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1983. Mr. Simon and his wife Wendy have two daughters, Lindsay (age 16) and Jessica (age 11).
Partner
Hughes, Hubbard & Reed, LLP
One Battery Park Plaza
New York, NY 10004
Phone: (212) 837-6770
Fax: (212) 299-6770
Email: simon@hugheshubbard.com
Aleta Arthur Trauger has served as United States District Court Judge since 1998. She has held the positions of U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge, Assistant U.S. Attorney (Nashville and Chicago), Partner and Associate at Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs (and predecessor Gilbert, Frank & Milom). She served as Chief of Staff to Nashville Mayor Phil Bredesen, In-house Counsel, College of Charleston. Judge Trauger is a former Associate of Hollins, Wagster & Yarbrough and Barrett, Brandt & Barrett. She received a B.A. from Cornell College in 1968, an M.A.T. from Vanderbilt University in 1972, and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1976. She is a member of the American, Tennessee and Nashville Bar Associations, as well as the Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women and Lawyers’ Association for Women – Marian Griffin Chapter. Judge Trauger is also involved with Harry Phillips American Inn of Court, International Women’s Forum, Federal Judges Association, National Association of Women Judges, Tennessee Court of the Judiciary, Tennessee Supreme Court Advisory Commission on Rules of Civil and Appellate Procedure, Cornell College of Trustees, Nashville Library Board, and Nashville Institute for the Arts Board. She is married to lawyer Byron R. Trauger and has one child.
United States District Court Judge
Middle District of Tennessee
825 U.S. Courthouse, 801 Broadway
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 736-7143
Fax: (615) 736-7156
Email: aleta_trauger@tnmd.uscourts.gov
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 and Cash PLLC
208 Adams Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 526-8296 Ext. 2224
Fax: (901) 526-3061
Email: arnold@weiss-spicer.com
Ashley T. Wiltshire, Jr., is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and 1972 graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Law. He began working with the Legal Aid Society in Nashville as a law clerk in 1970 and joined the staff as a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow in 1972. He became managing attorney of Legal Aid Society’s Family Law Section in 1974 and executive director in 1976. Before attending law school, he earned a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York and taught in Bangkok, Thailand. From 1988 to 1995, he was a lecturer on law and religion at the Divinity School, Vanderbilt University. He received the national Reginald Heber Smith Award in 1981 and the Humanitarian Award from Community Nashville in 2007. He is a Fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation and the Nashville Bar Foundation. He and his wife raise cattle on a farm in Houston County, Tennessee.
810 Wiltshire Lane
Vanleer, TN 37181
Phone: (931) 764-2412
Email: atwiltshire@gmail.com
Steve Zagerreceived his BA in 1979 and his JD in 1983, both from Vanderbilt.
Partner
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP
1111 Louisiana Street, 44th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 220-8109
Fax: (713) 236-0822
Email: szager@akingump.com
