The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) honored Belmont College of Law Dean Alberto Gonzales at a  reception Saturday evening at the American Bar Association (ABA) Midyear Meeting in Phoenix. Meeting attendees from across the country gathered to celebrate Gonzales’ leadership at the law school. See pictures from the event. The TBA hosts the Tennessee Reception twice a year at the ABA Midyear Meeting in February and the Annual Meeting in August. The events provide an opportunity to raise the state's visibility among the national legal community and honor the good work being done by Tennessee attorneys.

Christopher Aaron Posey died Feb. 3 after a long and challenging battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 45. Posey earned his undergraduate degree from Tusculum University in Knoxville and his law degree from the Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Florida. Prior to pursuing a career in law, Posey spent 20 years as an auto sales consultant in Knoxville, as a part owner of Quality Auto Sales in Knoxville and then in Naples with high-end luxury brands. Visitation will be held Saturday from 1-2 p.m. EST in the chapel of West-Murley Funeral Home, 18641 Alberta St., Oneida 37841. A funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, P.O. Box 5041, Boone, IA 50950; or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

The Tennessee Attorney General’s (AG) Office announced this week that the Tennessee Public Utility Commission denied almost all of a $13.9 million annual rate increase requested by Tennessee-American Water Company, which would have affected utility customers in and around Chattanooga. The AG’s Consumer Advocate Division, joined by the city of Chattanooga, opposed the rate increase. Also this week, in advance of Sunday’s Super Bowl, the AG’s office warned consumers of the risks of wagering with an unlicensed sportsbook. The office said that scammers use fake sites to steal both money and consumers’ identities. Tennesseans should ensure whatever company they use is licensed with the state.

Belmont Law, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands and the Metro Nashville Office of Conservatorship Management will hold a conservatorship clinic on Feb. 12 from 5-8 p.m. CST. Attorney volunteers are needed to assist pre-screened clients with the conservatorship process. Belmont Law students will assist the attorneys by filling out paperwork. The event will take place at Belmont Law, 1901 15th Ave. S., Nashville 37212. Want to volunteer? Contact Ginny Blake at ginny.blake@belmont.edu.

Registration is now open for the next free advice clinic for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits, set for Feb. 20 in Nashville. The clinic, sponsored by the Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts and Bradley, provides assistance with business formation and corporate governance, review of contracts and guidance in navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Register by Feb. 17 to participate. Attorneys should email vlpa@abcnashville.org to volunteer.

The TBA Intellectual Property (IP) Section will hold the second installment of its 2025 webcast series on Feb. 19 with a look at best practices in trademark law. The presentation, featuring John Stevens with Patterson Intellectual Property Law, will provide a brief discussion of the foundations of trademark law followed by a look at common issues encountered by IP practitioners. The presentation will wrap up with a discussion of the pitfalls in this practice area and how to avoid them. Section members enjoy discounted registration. Not a section member yet? Get started here and save the date for the next installment of the series: Protecting Your Copyright Registration on March 5.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider five applicants when it meets March 11 in Chattanooga to select nominees for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 11th Judicial District, which covers Hamilton County. The applicants are Charles W. Gilbreath II, Christina R. Mincy, Jennifer K. Peck, Patrick Alan Wagner and William Matthew Wayne. The public hearing to consider applicants will be held at The Chattanoogan Hotel, 1201 Broad St., Chattanooga 37204 beginning at 9 a.m. EDT. Any member of the public may attend the public hearing and can express, orally or in writing, objections concerning any of the applicants. For more information, contact John Jefferson, assistant general counsel at the Administrative Office of the Courts, or call 615-741-2687.

The TBA has released the February episode of its BarBuzz podcast, featuring a deep dive into the association’s advocacy efforts now that the Tennessee legislative session is underway. In this episode, TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright is joined by TBA lobbyists Berkley Schwarz and Ashley Harbin, who, along with Brad Lampley, lead the TBA’s legislative initiatives. The group discusses how the TBA identifies and addresses key legislative issues, with a focus on the current session’s proposals, which include adoption, family law and probate bills. They also explore the TBA’s role in defending against legislation that could impact the practice of law and highlight efforts to improve legal services for indigent clients. The conversation wraps up with insights on how TBA members can get involved in advocacy work during this crucial time. BarBuzz is a monthly show that recaps legal news, upcoming TBA events and more. It is available on the TBA’s website or wherever you listen to podcasts. Find past episodes in the BarBuzz archive.

TBA’s annual ethics tradition returns with "Ethics Homeshow 2025: From Streaming to Screaming. The Most Unethical Highlights of Your Favorite Lawyer Show." Join ethics expert Brian Faughnan on Feb. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST for this entertaining webcast that explores the most unethical moments in modern legal dramas available on streaming services. Faughnan will guide viewers through these fictional legal missteps while comparing them to Tennessee’s actual ethics rules. Spoilers are inevitable, but the lessons will be valuable. To register, visit TBA’s website.

Salvatore "Sal" William Varsalona died Sunday at age 60. In 1993, Varsalona became an attorney and began his practice in Clinton, Tennessee. Varsalona was a longtime Anderson County resident and lawyer. He represented the Anderson County Board of Education and was a former city judge in Rocky Top, previously known as Lake City. A celebration of life will be held at 6:30 p.m. EST on Feb. 11 at Main Street Baptist Church in Rocky Top, where he was a longtime member. Memorial contributions may be made to a new youth facility at Main Street Baptist Church, P.O. Box 405, Rocky Top, TN 37769.