Gov. Bill Lee announced Friday that President Donald Trump approved his request for a major disaster declaration in Middle and West Tennessee counties following Winter Storm Fern. The declaration makes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) public assistance available to eligible government entities and certain nonprofit organizations in 15 counties (Cheatham, Chester, Clay, Davidson, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Perry, Sumner, Trousdale, Wayne, and Williamson) to support response and recovery efforts. This is in addition to eight counties (Decatur, Dickson, Hardeman, Lawrence, Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, and Wilson) earlier approved for the same assistance. “As Tennesseans begin the recovery process following Winter Storm Fern, I’m grateful to President Trump for granting our major disaster declaration request,” Lee said in a press release.

The TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast is back with TBA attorneys and lobbyists Berkley Schwarz with Pier Strategies LLC and Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin with Adams & Reese. This week they discussed Gov. Lee's State of the State address, adoption legislation (SB2165/HB2350), probate legislation (SB2184/HB2451) and a family law bill (SB2324/HB2429). Tune in to the podcast on the TBA website or through this link.

The 2026 Estate Planning & Probate Forum will take place at the Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin on March 6. This event provides seven hours of CLE, including one hour of dual credit, and offers sessions on litigation and estate planning, public receivership, a probate panel and a legislative update. Speakers include Section Chair Robert Malin, Rebecca Blair, Chancellor William Cole, Arthur Cook, Jennifer Exum, Donald Farinato, General Sessions Court Judge Toby Gilley, Zachary Glaser, Lisa Helton, Robin Miller, David Parsons, Al Secor, Andrea Sinclair, Jared Smith and Ashley Stearns. Section members receive discounted registration. Get more information and register on the TBA's website.

A court-appointed receivership over Uncle Nearest was imposed in August 2025 after lender Farm Credit Mid-America sued the company for defaulting on roughly $110 million in loans. The suit prompted a federal judge to install Phillip Young, a partner in the Nashville-based Thompson Burton law firm, as receiver to protect secured assets. According to the Tennessean, Young’s latest filing alleges severe financial misconduct and mismanagement — including erased records, overstated revenues, unfiled federal tax returns and extensive commingling of assets — conditions that could expose the company to numerous creditor and shareholder lawsuits if the receivership ends. Fawn and Keith Weaver, who own Uncle Nearest, dispute the findings, argue the company is still solvent, and are asking the court to end the receivership while opposing any expansion into related businesses. At a Feb. 9 federal hearing, the court will weigh both the legitimacy of the existing receivership and whether the receiver should gain access to financial records from seven additional Weaver-owned entities.

Bradley on Tuesday announced that Paul Ney has joined its Government Enforcement & Investigations and Defense & National Security teams as a partner in the firm’s Nashville and Washington, D.C., offices. “Paul is a highly regarded practitioner with deep ties to the Nashville community, as well as an impressive tenure in the federal government,” said Bradley Board Chair and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. Ney previously served as general counsel for the Department of the Navy and deputy general counsel of the Department of Defense (DOD) during George W. Bush’s second term. He returned to Nashville to lead the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Community Development under then-Mayor Karl Dean and later became general counsel for the Department of Defense under the Trump administration. In 2016, he was named chief deputy to Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III. Read more in a press release from the firm.

The Tennessee Supreme Court recently appointed three new members to serve on its Access to Justice (ATJ) Commission. Eric Osborne (left), a member at Sherrard, Roe, Voigt & Harbison in Nashville; Nathan Kibler, a shareholder in the Knoxville office of Baker Donelson; and Jennifer Sneed-Perry, in-house counsel for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, will begin two-year terms on April 1. In addition, the court named Osborne to serve as the next chair of the commission, replacing Joy Radice. The other new appointees will replace Monty Burks and Amber D. Floyd. All three members rolling off the commission are in their second three-year term, which will expire on March 31. They are not eligible for reappointment. Read more about the new appointees in a press release from the commission.

Join the TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) for the next installment of The Rookie Series with "Family Law: Trends and Challenges" on March 5 at noon CST. The one-hour webcast program will provide an overview of family law, covering key areas such as marriage, divorce, child custody and support, and property division. Participants will learn about the legal principles that govern family relationships and the role of the courts in resolving disputes. The session will include practical examples and a brief discussion of current trends and challenges in family law practice. For more information and to register visit the TBA CLE website.

After last week's winter storm, many Nashville renters may be behind on their bills and possibly facing eviction. Metro Nashville's Eviction Right to Counsel Program helps connect tenants with free, experienced attorneys who can guide them through the legal maze. Eight lawyers from the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) and the Hispanic Bar Association are available to assist. In 2025, 13,000 Nashville renters faced eviction. DarKenya Waller, executive director of LAS, told News Channel 5 that "Unfortunately, Tennessee laws are not very forgiving for unpaid rent. So even if you have not had your repairs done, there are resources on the legal aid website to help you notify your landlord of the needs that you have and you must document everything."

The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday heard oral arguments in NetChoice v. Skrmetti. The lawsuit challenges Tennessee’s "Protecting Children from Social Media Act," which became law in May 2024 and requires social media companies to verify users’ ages, obtain parental consent before minors create accounts and provide parents with basic supervision tools. “Our law imposes a minimal burden,” said Tennessee Solicitor General Matt Rice during the arguments. “The only thing preventing minors from accessing social media is these companies’ desire to maintain their ability to exploit kids through lopsided legal contracts.” NetChoice, an association with members including Google, Meta and YouTube, argued that the law infringes on minors' First Amendment rights. Read more in a press release from the Tennessee Attorney General's Office or from Courthouse News.

The Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is accepting applications for a workers’ compensation judge in Nashville/Murfreesboro for a term beginning July 1. The position is eligible to be appointed for three additional full terms. Applicants must have a valid, active Tennessee law license, be at least 35 years old and have at least seven years of experience handling Tennessee workers’ compensation cases. Completed questionnaires must be sent to Marie.Halpin@tn.gov on or before Feb. 24. For additional information, contact Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Administrator Troy Haley at Troy.Haley@tn.gov.