March 16, 2026 - March 20, 2026.

Nashville attorney Lawrence Richard "Larry" Ahern III died March 18 at age 79. He received his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1972. He went on to practice at several firms, including Miller & Martin, Bass, Berry & Sims, and Burr & Forman. Later in his career, he served as a consultant and expert witness on bankruptcy, commercial and real estate matters before taking retired partner status in 2023 at Brown & Ahern, the firm he cofounded. Ahern was a longtime member of the TBA’s Bankruptcy Section Executive Council and served as an adjunct professor at multiple law schools. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date with arrangements by Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home.

Each year, the Chattanooga Bar Association (CBA) honors an outstanding citizen in the Chattanooga area with the Liberty Bell Award for public service. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 award, which will be presented at the group's annual Law Day Luncheon on May 6 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT at St. John's Restaurant. Nominations must be received by April 3 and may be sent to CBA Executive Director Lynda Minks Hood by mail at The Pioneer Building, Suite 420, 801 Broad St., Chattanooga, TN 37402, by fax at 423-265-6602 or online using this form. More information on the nomination process is available at Chattanoogan.com. Learn more about the Law Day event on the CBA's website.

Nashville attorney and former Metro Nashville Public Defender (PD) Dawn Deaner has announced her candidacy for Division III Criminal Court judge. Deaner, who has nearly 30 years of experience in Nashville’s criminal courts, said she is running to bring “experience, perspective, and humanity” to the bench. She served as public defender from 2008 to 2018, where she led reforms such as implementing workload controls, launching a Court Watch program and advancing pretrial release efforts. Prior to that role, she worked for more than a decade as an assistant public defender. Deaner also founded the Choosing Justice Initiative, a nonprofit focused on expanding access to justice, and has been involved in efforts such as the Nashville Community Bail Fund and the Steering Clear Driver’s License Diversion Program. Read more in a press release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman of the Western District of Tennessee ruled last week that she will not split the civil case stemming from Tyré Nichols’ death into two trials, the Commercial Appeal reports. Lipman said separating the claims could prejudice the City of Memphis because ongoing stays in related criminal cases have limited discovery involving the individual officers. Attorneys for Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, had sought to bifurcate the case in an effort to speed it to trial, arguing it could otherwise be delayed until 2028 or 2029 due to stays on the criminally charged officers. City attorneys opposed the request, saying it would hinder their ability to defend against liability claims. Lipman denied the motion but granted a request from Wells’ attorneys to hold a status conference within a week of the ruling, which was set for today.

The TBA Animal Law Forum 2026 will take place Oct. 9 at the Nashville Zoo. This annual favorite provides updates on trends and advancements in animal law and related practice areas. Participants can meet with other animal lovers and enjoy the fun the zoo offers. Zoo admission, breakfast, lunch and an animal meet and greet are included with the program. Topics and more information coming soon. Do not miss this event, you never know who is going to show up! Register now.

Thank you for your continued support of the Entertainment & Sports Law Section. It has been a busy year, led by Section Chair Anthony Adewumi. The section's annual forum will be held in the fall this year, so keep an eye out for information to be announced over the summer. You will not want to miss this yearly favorite, especially since section members receive a discount on all section-sponsored CLE!

In the meantime, you do not have to wait to connect with colleagues. The section directory is a great resource for meeting other entertainment attorneys or for referrals. We hope to see you at the annual forum, and if you have thoughts or ideas about future section initiatives, please do not hesitate to reach out to TBA staff coordinator Jamie Rhode.

On March 30, Vanderbilt Law School will host its third annual Vanderbilt Music Law Summit. This year’s summit will bring together a stellar lineup of experts from industry, academia, government and more to discuss the legal music landscape. The keynote interview features Mitch Glazier, chair and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America, who will interview Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office John Squires. The full schedule and registration information is available on the law school's website.

The TBA Litigation Section will continue its "Perspectives from the Bench" series with Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins and Nashville School of Law Dean Bill Koch at the new TBA office on May 21. Moderated by attorneys Todd Presnell and Hunter Branstetter, the panel will discuss each justice's path to the bench, the importance of mentors, the manner in which the justices interact, the importance of the Rule of Law in our society and more. Make plans now to attend and join your colleagues for a reception following the event. Get more information and register here.

Thank you for your support of the Tort & Insurance Practice Section! It’s been a busy year, led by section chair Jamie Leaver. The section is looking for attorneys interested in taking on a leadership position and joining the section executive council. The council members have monthly meetings, discuss relevant legislation and work together to plan continuing legal education programming throughout the bar year. Plus, there is always an opportunity for the section to do more, and we would love to hear your ideas! If you are interested in being considered or would like to recommend someone, please contact TBA Section Coordinator Brooke Leeton at bleeton@tnbar.org by June 15.