Class of 32 graduates at TBA convention in Nashville

NASHVILLE, June 22, 2010 — Thirty-two attorneys from around the state graduated from the Tennessee Bar Association's Leadership Law program during the association's annual convention this month in Nashville.

The Leadership Law program is designed to equip Tennessee lawyers with the vision, knowledge and skills necessary to serve as leaders in their profession and communities. Over the course of nine months, class members learn about state government, legislative procedure, Tennessee's judicial system and how to work with the media.

Class members from Brentwood included:

• Sherie Edwards, a 1996 graduate of the Nashville School of Law who is a claims manager and legislative director with State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company.

• Sharon Reavis, a 2002 graduate of the Vanderbilt University Law School who now works with EMI Christian Music Group Inc.

Class members from Chattanooga included:

• Jeff Matukewicz, a 2002 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Law and labor and employment attorney with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC.
   
• Tim Mickel, a 1995 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law who practices in the areas of business, products liability, insurance and labor and employment law at Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP.

Class members from Knoxville included:

• Bob Bowman, a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law who practices labor and employment law at Kramer Rayson LLP.

• Michael Brezina, a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law who practices medical malpractice, arson and insurance fraud, general civil litigation and family law with Hodges Doughty & Carson PLLC.

• John Elder, a 2003 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law who handles products liability, pharmaceutical, toxic tort and medical malpractice cases at Paine, Tarwater and Bickers LLP.

• Jason Fisher a 2001 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law who practices in the areas of civil litigation and insurance defense at Jenkins & Jenkins PLLC.

• Tim Housholder, a 2000 graduate of the Nashville School of Law who practices trucking accident and personal injury law with Gilreath & Associates.

• Joe Lynch, a 2002 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law who practices in the areas of commercial law, estate planning, real estate and workers' compensation attorney at Wimberly Lawson Wright Daves & Jones PLLC.

• Bill Maddox, a 1995 graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law who now is a solo practitioner representing individuals and businesses in bankruptcy cases.

Class members from Memphis included:

• Kim Hodges, a 2000 from the University of Memphis School of Law who practices in the areas of employment and commercial litigation at Federal Express Corporation.

• Eric Hudson, a 1998 graduate of the Vermont School of Law who focuses on medical device, environmental and mass tort cases at Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens & Cannada PLLC.

• Amy Martin, a 1999 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Law who is a family law attorney with The Landers Firm.

• Mason Wilson, a 2004 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Law who practices in the areas of transportation, health care, products liability and mass tort law at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC.

Class members from Nashville included:

• John Heacock, a 1994 graduate of the Vanderbilt University Law School and solo practioner focusing on civil litigation, appellate practice and domestic relations law.

• Tricia Herzfeld, a 2001 graduate of the George Washington University School of Law who works at the American Civil Liberties Union.

• Rhonda Kinslow, a 1998 graduate of the Indiana University School who represents banking, construction and healthcare clients attorney with Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis PLLC.

• Sean Lewis, a 2000 graduate of the Golden Gate University School of Law and solo practitioner with a civil, criminal and immigration practice.

• Alonda McCutcheon, a 2002 graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School and labor and employment lawyer with Bass, Berry & Sims PLC.

• Junaid Odubeko, a 2004 graduate of the Vanderbilt University Law School who serves as deputy legal counsel to Governor Phil Bredesen.

• Emily Odgen, a 2005 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law and co-director of Stand for Children -- an organization working for school reform in Tennessee.

• Donna Roberts, a 2002 graduate of the Pepperdine University Law School who handles business and commercial litigation at Stites & Harbison PLLC.

• William Stover, a 1999 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law and solo practitioner focusing on civil litigation matters.

Other class members included:

• Shauna Billingsley, a 2003 graduate of the Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, who serves with the City of Franklin Law Department.

• Jeff Cherry, a 2001 graduate of the Nashville School of Law who practices criminal defense, personal injury and business formation law at Lowery, Lowery & Cherry PLLC in Lebanon.

• Evan Cope, a 2001 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Law and attorney with Cope, Hudson, Reed & McCreary PLLC in Murfreesboro who practices in the areas of domestic relations, business and real estate, personal injury, employment, contract and land use law.

• Jason Creasy, a 1998 graduate of the Southern Illinois University School of Law and lawyer with Wilkerson Gauldin Hayes & Jenkins in Dyersburg who focuses his practice in the areas of commercial law, probate, personal injury, civil litigation and family law.

• Aimee Luna, a 2003 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Law and attorney in the Tullahoma office of the Legal Aid Society where she focuses on family law, child support, disability and housing cases.

• Rachel Moses, a 2002 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law and attorney in the Cookeville office of the Legal Aid Society where she handles public benefits, housing, domestic violence, special education and juvenile cases.

• Bridget Willhite, a 1999 graduate of the University of Cincinnati School of Law and attorney with Carter, Harrod & Willhite PLLC in Athens where she maintains a general civil litigation practice.

For photographs or additional biographical information on any these individuals, please contact the TBA at (615) 383-7421.