NASHVILLE, June 18, 2024 — Nashville lawyer Lorne Hiller has been selected as the recipient of this year’s Larry Dean Wilks Leadership Award. Hiller was chosen for the award by fellow members of the Tennessee Bar Association’s 2024 Leadership Law class and was honored during the group’s graduation ceremonies in Memphis last week. He is the 12th recipient of the award.

Hiller is an associate in Freeman Mathis & Gary’s Nashville office. He grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, before moving to the U.S. with his family. He is a graduate of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and practiced in western Colorado before moving to Nashville, where he expanded his practice into first-party property insurance coverage litigation. He now represents clients across the country in state and federal courts on matters involving multi-million-dollar catastrophic losses.

Hiller and his Leadership Law classmates have spent the last six months learning about leadership in the legal profession, issues in the courts, policymaking in state government and the importance of community service. The class of 35 attorneys completed the program this month.

The award is named for former TBA President Larry D. Wilks and recognizes a class member with exceptional leadership qualities. The recipient is selected by each year’s class based on the following leadership characteristics:

• Demonstrates exceptional leadership qualities that enhance the Leadership Law experience for all class members.
• Exhibits leadership-by-example qualities by fully engaging in all aspects of the Leadership Law program.
• Promotes the Leadership Law program goals through service-oriented actions and initiatives.
• Fosters consensus from differing opinions and ideas without regard to background or cultural status.
• Enhances the education of other class members through thoughtful and respectful debate.

Past recipients of the Larry Dean Wilks Leadership Award are:

2012 — Curtis Bowe, Chattanooga
2013 — Daniel Headrick, Knoxville
2014 — Lynne T. Ingram, Nashville
2015 — Regina Lambert, Memphis
2016 — Jay Ingrum, Gallatin
2017 — Gabe McGaha, Memphis
2018 — Raquel Bellamy, Nashville
2019 — Tannera Gibson, Memphis
2020 — Not awarded; 2020 class deferred to 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 — Elizabeth Taylor, Murfreesboro
2022 — Courtney Leyes, Nashville
2023 — Seth Ogden, Nashville

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) is the largest professional association in Tennessee with nearly 14,000 members. Founded in 1881, the TBA represents the entire spectrum of the legal profession in Tennessee and beyond and is dedicated to enhancing fellowship and professionalism among the members of Tennessee’s legal community.