ALTERNATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Develops and explores methods for mediation, arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution. Works with community groups providing alternate dispute resolution.

Chair(s): John Overton Belcher

APPELLATE PRACTICE

Monitors activity of the Tennessee Appeals Courts. Makes recommendations on rules, practices and procedure.

Chair: Amy Jenkins Farrar

ATTORNEY HEALTH & WELLNESS

Provides education on attorney health and wellness, including triage training for attorneys/law firm staff who encounter clients or colleagues at risk for suicide; collaborates with NBA Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers Committee; assists Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP).

Chair: Margaret M. Huff

BANKRUPTCY COURT

Monitors activity of the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts and studies recommendations for improvements of bankruptcy law and court procedures. Acts as liaison between the Bankruptcy Courts and local bar.

Chair: David W. Houston IV

ICANDIDATE EVALUATION

Conducts pre-election polls of Nashville lawyers regarding Davidson County judges and related officials.

Chair: Lora Barkenbus Fox

CHANCERY & CIRCUIT COURTS

Monitors activity of the Chancery and Circuit Courts of Davidson County and makes recommendations regarding improvements in these courts. Functions as liaison between the courts and the local trial bar.

Chair: Colin J. Carnahan

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Promotes a positive image of attorneys in the community by conducting programs in schools and civic organizations, focusing on law-related subjects of public interest. Directs activities of Law Day, Speakers Bureau and related projects.

Chair: J. Ross Pepper

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

Plans and conducts monthly and special continuing legal education on topics of practical interest to local lawyers.

Chair: Gino Bulso

CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL PRACTICE

Provides a special focus group for those involved in corporate, lending, securities and commercial practice.

Chair: Eric Schultenover

CORPORATE COUNSEL

Provides a special focus group for in-house counsel, with educational and collegial opportunities.

Chair: Stephen Van Roberts

CRIMINAL LAW & CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Recommends methods to improve the criminal justice system. Acts as liaison between the Police Department, Criminal Courts, District Attorney’s office and the local defense bar.

Chair: Russell F. Thomas

DOMESTIC RELATIONS

Monitors developments in domestic relations law. Acts as a liaison between the local bar and courts handling domestic relations issues.

Chair: James H. Drescher

EMPLOYMENT LAW & CIVIL RIGHTS

Provides a forum for employment and civil rights law practitioners.

Co-Chairs: David L. Johnson; Sam Payne

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS LAW

Provides a special focus group for entertainment law practitioners.

Chair: Suzanne Kessler

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Provides a focus group for environmental law practitioners.

Chair: John Philip Long Jr.

ESTATE PLANNING

Provides a special focus group for estate planning practitioners.

Chair: Paul C. Hayes

ETHICS & PROFESSIONALISM

Reports to the NBA Board on ethics issues and instances of unauthorized practice of law. Provides assistance to victims of unauthorized practice or unethical lawyers. Develops programs to maintain highest professional standards and conducts educational and preventive programs.

Chair: Tom W. Lawless

FEDERAL COURT

Monitors the activities of the U.S. District Courts for the Middle District of Tennessee. Acts as liaison between the federal courts and Nashville attorneys.

Chair: Joseph Allen Kelly

FEE DISPUTES

Arbitrates fee disputes between attorneys and clients.

Chair: Elaine M. Youngblood

GENERAL SESSIONS COURT

Monitors the activity of the Metropolitan General Sessions Court and studies plans for improvement in those courts. Acts as liaison between the 11 General Sessions judges and the local bar.

Chair: Lynda F. Jones

GOVERNMENT LAWYERS

Provides a special focus group for government lawyers with educational and collegial opportunities for this segment of the bar.

Chair: Catherine A. Caster

HEALTH LAW

Monitors developments in health law, including professional liability and hospital relations.

Chair: William Donald Wright, Jr.

HISTORICAL

Collects materials relating to the history of the Nashville Bar. Acts a as resource group for historical study. Conducts annual memorial services for deceased members of the Nashville legal community.

Chair: Marnee L. Baker

IMMIGRATION LAW

Provides a special focus group for immigration law practitioners. Assists in keeping its members abreast of developments and changes in the practice as well as assessing the impact of these developments on the immigrant community. Monitors current issues and problems in the immigrant community for the purpose of assessing the need for advocacy and/or action on behalf of the community.

Chair: Elliott Ozment

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

Provides a forum for lawyers practicing in trademarks, patents, copyrights, licensing and related litigation.

Chair: Richard Garner Sanders. Jr.

JUVENILE COURT

Monitors activity of the Juvenile Court of Davidson County and studies developments in the law relating to children. Acts as liaison between the Juvenile Court, its agencies and the local bar.

Chair: Joel Stephen Mills

LAWYER REFERRAL & INFORMATION SERVICE

Provides policy guidance for the Lawyer Referral & Information Service.

Chair: Jim Todd

LEGISLATIVE & GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Reviews and evaluates legislative proposals affecting attorneys and makes recommendations to the NBA Board regarding bills of interest to Nashville lawyers.

Chair: Peter B. Halverstadt

MEDIA LAW

Provides special focus group for media law practitioners.

Chair: Ron Harris

MEDICO-LEGAL

Meets with representatives of the Nashville Academy of Medicine to resolve issues relating to lawyers and doctors. Acts as liaison between the medical and legal communities.

Co-Chairs: Jay Chamness; Sara F. Reynolds

MINORITY OPPORTUNITIES

Fosters an awareness in the Nashville legal community of the particular needs of minority lawyers. Makes recommendations to the Board for programs to meet those needs.

Chair: Jola Abosede Moore

NASHVILLE BAR JOURNAL

Publishes the Nashville Bar Journal, a monthly members’ magazine containing articles of interest to the local bar. More Information

Chair: Bill Ramsey

NASHVILLE LAWYERS CONCERNED FOR LAWYERS

Identifies and acts as advocate for lawyers experiencing problems in their practice related to the abuse of alcohol or drugs as well as mental health issues. Renders confidential assistance to lawyers.

Chair: Buddy Burnett

PROBATE COURT

Monitors activity of the Davidson County Probate Court. Makes recommendations regarding improvement in the court. Acts as liaison between the court and local trial bar.

Chair: Paul Gontarek

REAL ESTATE LAW

Provides special focus group for real estate practitioners.

Co-Chairs: Rusty L. Moore; John C. Rockford

SISTER CITIES

Plans biennial visits for attorneys from our Sister Cities of Caen, France, and Magdeburg, Germany.

Co-Chairs: Steve Cobb; Malcolm L. McCune

TAX

Provides a special focus group for Nashville's tax bar, keeping members abreast of new developments in tax law.

Chair: R. Todd Ervin

Unauthorized Practice

The committee will receive written complaints, recommend action including a letter to the defendant, meet with the defendant if necessary, produce a written report and report results of any meeting to the Attorney General. As appropriate, the committee will refer to the Board of Professional Responsibility, the District Attorney General, and/or the Attorney General.

Chair: John L. Chambers