Firm Giving Program

Overview

Each spring, alumni volunteers representing law firms and corporations on behalf of Vanderbilt encourage their fellow alumni to contribute to the law school. There are alumni representatives at over 100 firms and corporations employing 2 or more Vanderbilt Law alumni around the globe. 

Firms with 3 or more Vanderbilt Law alumni can participate by naming a volunteer Firm Representative to encourage and coordinate alumni donations with the goal of achieving 100% giving participation.

The Firm Giving program greatly impacts the law school’s overall alumni participation rate. Additionally, annual gifts help preserve the character, collegiality, and excellence of the Vanderbilt Law School experience, while also demonstrating the personal commitment and professional gratitude alumni hold for the school.

The program aids in the building and strengthening of a network between the law school and its alumni at the top law firms and businesses around the world. Employers benefit by reinforcing their presence at Vanderbilt Law, where some of the world’s best and brightest students are being equipped to become practicing lawyers.

The program benefits alumni at participating firms by building camaraderie within the firm and vitalizing alumni networks in the larger community. Firm Representatives are a loyal group of caring alumni who enjoyed their law school experience, value their degree from Vanderbilt Law School, and want to serve and give back.

We recognize the firms and organizations that achieve 100% participation on our Firm Giving Honor Roll, which is:

  • Displayed in the law school’s Office of Career Services;
  • Displayed in the law school during local events and Reunion festivities where it is seen by hundreds of Vanderbilt alumni and students;
  • Published in our monthly e-newsletter, Law@Vanderbilt;
  • Published in Vanderbilt Law, the school's alumni magazine; and
  • Posted to the Firm Giving program website below.

Additionally, firms who participate in on-campus interviews will find their interview suite decorated to recognize the achievement of reaching 100% participation among the Vanderbilt Law School alumni at the firm. This recognition demonstrates to current law students and other visiting firms the strong affinity for and commitment to the school held by your Vanderbilt Law School alumni.  

We're excited about our upcoming 2024 Firm Giving campaign, which will start in late March. If your firm does not already participate and you'd like to discuss joining, email Katie Armstrong, Associate Director of Annual Giving for the Law School.

Why the Firm Giving Program?

  • Increase alumni giving participation

    The Firm Giving program greatly impacts the law school’s overall alumni participation rate. Increasing the participation rate signals alumni support for Vanderbilt Law that influences assessment scores given by legal professional and peer law school administrators and faculty when calculating U.S. News & World Report law school rankings. Additionally, annual gifts help preserve the character, collegiality, and excellence of the Vanderbilt Law School experience, while also demonstrating the personal commitment and professional gratitude alumni hold for the school.

  • Build and improve a network of mutual support

    The program aids in the building and strengthening of a network between the law school and its alumni at the top law firms and businesses around the world. Employers benefit by reinforcing their presence at Vanderbilt Law, where some of the world’s best and brightest students are being equipped to become practicing lawyers.

  • Enhance alumni networking

    The program benefits alumni at participating firms by building camaraderie within the firm and vitalizing alumni networks in the larger community. Firm Representatives are a loyal group of caring alumni who enjoyed their law school experience, value their degree from Vanderbilt Law School, and want to serve and give back.

  • Promote participating law firms and organizations

    We recognize the firms and organizations that achieve 100% participation on our Firm Giving Honor Roll, which is:

    • Displayed in the law school’s Office of Career Services;
    • Displayed in the law school during local events and Reunion festivities where it is seen by hundreds of Vanderbilt alumni and students;
    • Published in our monthly e-newsletter, Law@Vanderbilt;
    • Published in Vanderbilt Law, the VLS alumni magazine; and
    • Posted to the Firm Giving program website.

    Additionally, firms who participate in on-campus interviews will find their interview suite decorated to recognize the achievement of reaching 100% participation among the Vanderbilt Law School alumni at the firm. This recognition demonstrates to current law students and other visiting firms the strong affinity for and commitment to the school held by your Vanderbilt Law School alumni.

Firm Giving Program FAQs

  • What is the Firm Giving program?

    Vanderbilt Law School’s Firm Giving program is designed to give alumni at law firms and organizations an opportunity to connect with their alma mater, as well as to promote annual giving to the law school in a fun and competitive way. Employers with 2 or more Vanderbilt Law School graduates are encouraged to participate in the program, led by one or more Firm Representatives. Within each firm or organization, our Firm Reps inspire their colleagues to join together and meet the 100% giving participation challenge during the law school’s fiscal year. Any gift or pledge payment made to the law school between July 1 and June 30 of that academic year counts toward program totals.

  • How does the program benefit my firm or organization?

    In addition to the community created by the Vanderbilt Law School alumni coming together for this cause, your firm receives recognition for the commitment to and support of the law school’s mission to provide a superior legal education. If you achieve a place on our Firm Giving Honor Roll, the firm will be recognized on signage displayed in the Office of Career Services and in the law school lobby during local events and Reunion festivities, where it will be seen by hundreds of Vanderbilt alumni, students and guests. The Honor Roll is also published in the Vanderbilt Law magazine, the Law@Vanderbilt e-newsletter and here on the Firm Giving program website. Firms that participate in on-campus interviews will also find their interview suites decorated to recognize the achievement of reaching 100% giving participation. This recognition demonstrates to current law students and other visiting firms the strong affinity and commitment to Vanderbilt Law School held by your firm.

  • How does the program benefit Vanderbilt Law?

    Not only will your gift provide financial support for important programs, but it also increases our overall alumni participation rate. Participation is more than a statistic; it is the primary measure of alumni support. By making a gift, you demonstrate the value you place on your legal education and connection to Vanderbilt Law School. Participation rates are also viewed as a vote of alumni satisfaction and are often considered by potential major donors (including corporations and foundations) when making funding decisions. Firm Giving provides a fun and easy opportunity to make a difference and show your support of the law school.

  • What gifts count towards Firm Giving program totals?

    Any gift or pledge payment to the law school made during the current fiscal year (July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020) will count toward your participation in the Firm Giving program. This includes, but is not limited to:

    • Payment on a current pledge
    • Class reunion gifts
    • Gifts to a restricted law school fund or scholarship
    • Company matching gifts
    • Gifts-in-kind credited to the law school
    • Gifts to a Vanderbilt Law School student organization

    Gifts made to other schools and programs at Vanderbilt (e.g., Arts & Science, Athletics, Alumni Association, Medical Center) are not credited to the Law School and therefore not factored into our alumni participation rate. They do not count towards your participation in the Firm Giving program.

    If you’re not sure whether you’ve made a gift to the law school during the current fiscal year, please contact Sydney Talley in our Development & Alumni Relations office at (615) 322-0814 or sydney.talley@vanderbilt.edu.

  • How do I make a gift to the law school?
    • Use our secure online gift form.
    • Call (615) 322-2606 with your credit card handy (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, Discover).
  • How can I help my firm/organization make the Firm Giving Honor Roll?

    Start by making a gift yourself. Then talk with your colleagues about the program and why you are participating. The primary reason people will choose to give is because they are asked by someone they know. You should also speak to your firm’s representative to see how you can best help them.

  • What are the responsibilities of a Firm Representative?

    Firm Representatives are volunteers who inform and motivate their colleagues to make a gift to Vanderbilt Law School. Typically, each spring we send the volunteer(s) information about the program, the number of alumni at their firm or company and information on how to get everyone involved. Once our campaign kicks off, the Participating Firms and Stats section below is updated weekly with the currently alumni participation for each firm. Volunteers will also receive periodic detailed updates on the firm’s giving status from the Development & Alumni Relations staff.

  • My firm/company does not currently participate in the program. How can we get started?

    The Firm Giving program is open to any firm, company or organization where 2 or more Vanderbilt Law School alumni are employed. You can volunteer to serve as your employer’s representative by reaching out to Sydney Talley, associate director of volunteer outreach, at (615) 322-0814 or sydney.talley@vanderbilt.edu.

Firm Giving Honor Roll

We offer our congratulations and many thanks to the firms below who reached 100 percent giving participation across all or some locations during the 2022-23 fiscal year. A special thank you to our Firm Representatives, who encouraged colleagues to stay engaged with and support the law school.

100% Participation Across All Locations

  • Firms with 30+ Alumni

    Alston & Bird

    Representative: Charlie Morgan '88

    Locations: Atlanta, GA; Los Angeles, CA; Raleigh, CA; Washington, D.C.

  • Firms with 10-29 Alumni

    Hunton Andrews Kurth 

    Representative: Tonya M. Gray '99

    Locations: Boston, MA; Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Miami, FL; New York, NY; Richmond, VA; Washington, D.C.

    Lightfoot Franklin & White 

    Representative: James W. Gibson '09

    Locations: Birmingham, AL

  • Firms with 2-9 Alumni

    Hahn Loeser

    Representative: Jeff A. Brauer '94

    Locations: Cleveland, OH

    Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh PLLC

    Representative: Vacant

    Locations: Memphis, TN

    Martin Tate Morrow & Marston PC

    Representative: Lee L. Piovarcy '66

    Locations: Memphis, TN

    McCarter & English LLP

    Representative: Lanny S. Kurzweil '78

    Locations: Newark, NJ

    Mitchell Williams Selig Gates & Woodyard

    Representative: M. Samuel Jones '76

    Locations: Little Rock, AR

    Morrison & Foerster 

    Representative: Alex Lawrence '96

    Locations: New York, NY; Washington, D.C.

    Quarles & Brady

    Representative: Joel E. Tragesser ’97

    Locations: Chicago, IL; Indianapolis, IN; Naples, FL; Phoenix, AZ; Tampa, FL

    Robinson Bradshaw  

    Representative: Patrick Scott Bryant '89 (BA'85)

    Locations: Charlotte, NC

100% Participation Across Some Locations

  • Firms with 30+ Alumni

    Bass Berry & Sims PLC

    Representative: John Eason '11

    Locations: Washington, D.C.

    Brandley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

    Representatives: T. Michael Brown '89 and Charles S. Sanger '85

    Locations: Tampa, FL

    Holland & Knight

    Representatives: Peter Thomas Blumeyer ’15 (BA’12) and Andrew Solinger '14

    Location: Jacksonville, FL

    K&L Gates LLP

    Representatives: Kevin P. Stichter '91 and Michael H. Hutson '13

    Location: Charlotte, NC; Fort Worth, TX; Newark, NJ

    King & Spalding

    Representative: Geoffrey M. Drake '05

    Locations: Atlanta, GA; Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Kirkland & Ellis

    Representatives: Andrew M. Kaufman '74 and William T. Pruitt '04

    Locations: Dallas, TX; Washington, D.C.

    Maynard Nexsen

    Representatives: Doug Williams '90 (BA'87)

    Locations: Birmingham, AL; Columbia, SC; Dallas, TX; Huntsville, AL; Nashville, TN

  • Firms with 10-29 Alumni

    Adams and Reese LLP

    Representative: Vacant

    Location: Memphis, TN

    Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell Berkowitz

    Representative: Skip Hindman '93 (BA'88)

    Location: Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, AL; Chattanooga, TN; Jackson, MS

    Burr & Forman

    Representative: Joel A. Price Jr. '97 (BA'94)

    Location: Atlanta, GA; Montgomery, AL; Wilmington, DE

    Dechert

    Representative: Tyler Stevens ’11

    Locations: Washington, DC

    Dentons Bingham Greenebaum

    Representative: Quint McTyeire

    Location: Atlanta, GA; Louisville, KY

    Dickinson Wright

    Representative: Colin T. Ferguson ’13

    Locations: Columbus, OH

    Foley & Lardner

    Representative: Lauren Loew '07

    Locations: Detroit, MI

    Frost Brown Todd

    Representative: Vacant

    Location: Lexington, KY

    Greenberg Traurig

    Representative: Rita M. Alliss Powers '90

    Locations: Dallas, TX; Tampa, FL

    Hunton Andrews Kurth

    Representative: Tonya M. Gray ’99

    Locations: Dallas, TX; Boston, MA; Washington, DC

    Husch Blackwell

    Representative: Donald Mizerk '88

    Locations: Austin, TX; Chattanooga, TN; Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; Washington, DC

    Littler Mendelson

    Representative: Alan L. McLaughlin ’82

    Location: Denver, CO

    Locke Lord LLP

    Representative: Scott Hastings '97

    Location: Dallas, TX

    McGuireWoods LLP

    Representative: Harrison L. Marshall Jr. '82

    Location: Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Richmond, VA

    Ogletree Deakins

    Representative: Kevin P. Hishta ’82

    Locations: Atlanta, GA; Greenville, SC; Torrance, CA

    Perkins Coie

    Representative: Andrew Bor '80        

    Locations: Anchorage, AK

    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Representative: Michael T. Holick '07 (MBA'08)

    Locations: New York, NY

    Stites & Harbison PLLC

    Representative: Emily Startsman '11

    Locations: Louisville, KY

    Troutman Pepper LLP

    Representatives: Andrea M. Farley '97 and John M. Bowler '91

    Locations: Pittsburg, PA; Raleigh, NC

  • Firms with 2-9 Alumni

    Balch & Bingham

    Representative: Tashwanda Dixon '06

    Location: Atlanta, GA

    Bryan Cave

    Representative: Vacant

    Location: Santa Monica, CA; Washington, D.C.

    Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney

    Representative: Bruce I. Booken '77

    Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL

    Fox Rothschild

    Representative: Maureen D. Murray ’80

    Locations: Greensboro, NC; New York, NY

    Jackson Walker LLP

    Representative: Monica Messick '05

    Location: Dallas, TX

    Norton Rose Fulbright

    Representative: Geraldine Young '12

    Locations: New York, NY

    Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

    Representative: Jennifer G. Redmond

    Locations: Washington, D.C.

    Thompson Hine

    Representative: Robert P. Johnson ’88

    Location: Cleveland, OH

    Wyatt Tarrant & Combs

    Representative: Byron E. Leet '83

    Location: Louisville, KY