MEMBER CENTER
Corporate counsel and private bar lawyers, along with a diverse group of sponsors, were honored at the Seventh Annual Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Initiative Gala, held at the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville on Saturday, March 2.
Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Gary R. Wade was the keynote speaker. He praised the initiative’s emphasis on pro bono service and encouraged all lawyers to fulfill the ethical responsibility to provide legal assistance to those most in need.
Other speakers at the event included Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Initiative (CCPBI) Co-Chair Andy Branham, TBA Access to Justice Committee Chair Alex MacKay and TBA President-Elect Cindy Wyrick. Michele Johnson, representing CCPBI grantee Tennessee Justice Center and Doug Blaze, Dean of the University of Tennessee College of Law also spoke about their organizations' commitment to working with pro bono attorneys.
TBA President Jackie Dixon presented awards to the law firm and corporate legal department that best represent an extraordinary commitment to access to justice ideals and pro bono service.
The Law Firm Award was presented to Memphis-based Burch, Porter & Johnson PLLC for its partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The firm helps patients and their families establish conservatorships, which allow parents and other caring family members to direct treatment for the patient after they reach the age of majority but are too impaired to make decisions for themselves.
The Corporate Legal Department Award was presented to BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee in recognition of its ongoing commitment to pro bono service, including its Street Law program partnership with Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel PC as well as for the new Hamilton County Legal Clinic, which was the largest single legal clinic held in Chattanooga last year.
Learn more about the award recipients
The Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Initiative (CCPBI) is a collaboration of the Tennessee Bar Association and the Association of Corporate Counsel and has raised over $300,000 in support of legal aid programs in Tennessee.
Photos by Jenny Jones of the Tennessee Bar Association
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From left: BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee received the Corporate Legal Department Award. General Counsel Tony Hullender, along with other members of the legal department Chantelle Roberson, Amanda Hegeman and Dakasha Winton. |
Attorney Trey Thatcher (center) from Burch, Porter & Johnson accepts the Law Firm Award. Pictured with Mr. Thatcher are (left) Harrison McIver, Executive Director for Memphis Area Legal Services, and Linda Warren Seely, Director of Pro Bono Projects for Memphis Area Legal Services. |
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TBA President Jackie Dixon welcomes guests to the Seventh Annual Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Initiative Gala. |
Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Gary R. Wade delivers the event's keynote address. |
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Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Initiative Committee Member Chantelle Roberson (left) and Dakasha Winton, both with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. |
Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Initiative Co-Chair Andy Branham of Counsel On Call thanks sponsors for their support. |
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University of Tennessee College of Law Dean Doug Blaze spoke about the many ways the law school is promoting a commitment to pro bono service among students. |
From left: Event sponsors Ed Burrell from Stites & Harbison and FedEx legal counsel Daniel Rieder; Graham Askew; and Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Initiative Committee Member Justin Ross. |
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TBA Access to Justice Committee Member Dave Yoder (left), Chief Justice Gary Wade (center) and Access to Justice Commission Chair Buck Lewis (right) gather after the program. |
From left: TBA Access to Justice Committee Member Linda Warren Seely, Meg Jones from CCPBI grantee Community Legal Center and Pam Branham. |
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From left: John Hegeman, Amanda Hegeman and Tony Hullender from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, and Tina Hullender. |
From left: Lynne Howell, TBA Access to Justice Committee Member Lucinda Smith, Dennis Norton and Sarah Norton. |
