Meet Our Board
Posted January 7th, 2008
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Jennifer S. Hagerman - PRESIDENT
Burch, Porter & Johnson
jhagerman@bpjlaw.com
Admitted to practice law in 1999, Ms. Hagerman practices civil litigation and employment law with Burch Porter Johnson in Memphis. Ms. Hagerman graduated from Vanderbilt Law, and has been on the AWA board for four years. This is her first year serving as President.
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Michele Howard Flynn - PRESIDENT-ELECT, Judicial Reception Chair
The Howard-Flynn Law Group
mhowardflynn@hflawgroup.com
Michele is a sole practitioner at the Howard-Flynn Law Group, and specializes in entertainment law and the protection of intellectual property rights.
The Howard-Flynn Law Group negotiates and drafts recording contracts, publishing, producer, management, distribution, touring, merchandising, corporate sponsorship, performer agreements, endorsement agreements, license and Internet agreements. The firm works diligently to protect the intellectual property rights of its clients. W hether it be in the music, television, motion picture or other entertainment marketplace, the Howard-Flynn law firm covers all aspects of the business.
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Lucie Brackin - VICE PRESIDENT - Annual Banquet Chair
The Law Office of Lucie Brackin
lbrackin@brackinlawoffice.com
Lucie K. Brackin graduated with from the University of Arkansas School of Law-Fayetteville in 2000, and is admitted to practice law in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Colorado. Lucie recently opened her own law firm, The Law Office of Lucie Brackin, and is continuing her practice of domestic relations law.
Along with the Association of Women Attorneys, Lucie is active in the Memphis Bar Association and serves on the Bench Bar and Public Relations/Public Service Committees. She is also active in the Young Lawyers Division of the Arkansas Bar Association, and is a member of the Colorado and Tennessee Bar Associations.
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Shari Myers - IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT, MALS Board Rep.
The Myers Law Firm
sharimyers@lawyer.com
Shari and her husband, Daniel Myers, moved to Memphis in 2000. In 2001, Shari began practicing Family Law, and in 2003 Shari established The Myers Law Firm in Memphis, Tennessee. She practices solely as a Guardian Ad Litem, dedicated to representing the best interest of children primarily in cases of divorce and post-divorce.
Shari Myers has served on the Board for the AWA since 2005. She is currently the 2008 President for the AWA. Shari also serves on the 2008 Board for Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS). Shari is a member of the Memphis Bar Association (MBA), and serves on the MBA’s House of Delegates (as the Divorce and Family Law Section Representative) and she serves on the 2008 MBA’s Committee for Bench and Bar Relations. Shari has also been a member of the American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association.
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Tonya Dalla Valle - TREASURER
Tonya Dalla Valle is an associate in the Firm's Memphis office. She is a member of the Advocacy Department and has worked in the area of labor and employment litigation. She has experience in ERISA matters, as well as torts and premises liability. Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Ms. Dalla Valle interned for Judge Kay S. Robilio in Shelby County Circuit Court and also clerked for the Community Legal Center Pro Se Clinic in Memphis and the Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society in Syracuse, New York.
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Jennifer Himes - SECRETARY
Hale, Dewey & Knight, PLLC
jhimes@haledewey.com
Presently Of Counsel with Hale, Dewey and Knight, PLLC, Jennifer practices primarily in the area of commercial litigation. In the past she has practiced in the areas of commercial real estate development, creditors' rights and bankruptcy litigation. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois, in Champaign-Urbana and her Juris Doctor from the Cecil C. Humphrey's School of Law at University of Memphis, where she was a Member of the Moot Court Board, President of the Environmental Law Council and an editor for the Tennessee Journal of Practice and Procedure, 1996-7. Jennifer is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Georgia. Legal association memberships include the American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, Memphis Bar Association, Georgia Bar Association, and the Association for Women Attorneys. This is her first year serving as an officer for the AWA, and is honored to be a part of this association.
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Ashley Martin - HISTORIAN
Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh
amartin@harrisshelton.com
Ashley Austin Martin graduated the University of Memphis and received her J.D. in 2003 and is admitted to practice law in the State of Tennessee. Ashley also graduated University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, where she received her B.A. in 2000. Ashley Martin is employed by Harris Shelton Hanover and Walsh. She concentrates her practice in the areas of domestic relations, child advocacy, medical malpractice defense and general civil litigation. Along with the Association of Women Attorneys, she is a member of the Memphis, Tennessee and American Bar Associations.
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Nicole Manley - Annual Banquet Co-Chair
Nicole Manley graduated from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2008. While at the University of Memphis, Nicole was a member of the AWA student chapter as well as serving on the Board. She was also a member of PALS (Public Action Law Society) and Phi Alpha Delta. Prior to coming to the University of Memphis, Nicole began her law school career at Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, AL.
After taking the Tennessee Bar in July, Nicole will begin a one year clerkship with Chancellor Kenny Armstrong in Part III of Chancery Court.
Nicole received her B.A. in English, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Sewanee: The University of the South.
In addition to serving as the AWA Banquet co-chair, Nicole also served on the Brooks Museum’s 2008 Art of Good Taste Committee.
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Leah Hillis - Annual Banquet Co-Chair
lhillis@bpjlaw.com
Leah Hillis graduated Rhodes College and received her B.A., in 2000 and graduated University of Memphis and received her J.D., magna cum laude, in 2000. Ms. Hills also Received CALI Excellence Award in Juvenile Law, Secured Transactions, Nonprofit Organizations, and Advanced Constitutional Law.
Ms. Hillis began her practice at the firm in 2006, following the completion of a judicial clerkship for United States Magistrate Judge Thomas Anderson in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. Ms. Hillis’ practice is focused on family law matters, including juvenile court proceedings, adoptions and estate administration. She also counsels clients and litigates in a variety of other areas such as products liability, commercial litigation and tort claims in both state and federal court. Ms. Hillis serves as the Annual Banquet Co-Chair for the Association for Women Attorneys.
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Judge Kay Robilio - CLE Co-ChairCircuit Court Judge - Division V
Judge Robilio is a Shelby County Circuit Court Judge who was elected Judge of Division 5 in 1990 and later reelected in 1998. Judge Robilio graduated with a B.A., cum laude, from Memphis State University and later obtained her law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis.
Judge Robilio has also contributed to legal seminars and publications including her article "Mediation: The Judge's New Tool for Case Management," published in the Tennessee Journal of Practice and Procedure, Volume I Winter 1997.
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Laurie Christensen - CLE Co-Chair
Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation
laurie.christensen@bmhcc.org
Laurie has served on AWA's Board since 2004, having served as AWA's Historian, President-Elect and President. She is currently Co-Chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee and comes to the AWA Board with a background in corporate law. She is employed as a staff attorney for Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation in Memphis. She obtained her JD from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in Memphis Tennessee. Laurie is also on the Board of Directors for The Community Legal Center as the AWA Representative and also on the Board of Directors for the Memphis Bar Association. Laurie recently completed her certification as a Certified Collaborative Lawyer.
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Anita Lotz - Scholarship Chair
Mrs. Lotz's practice concentrates in the areas of financial institutions regulatory compliance, commercial finance transactions, real estate transactions and general corporate law. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University and her Juris Doctor degree from Boston University. Mrs. Lotz is a member of the Memphis, Tennessee and American Bar Associations and the Association of Women Attorneys.
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Frances M. Riley - TLAW Board Rep., IOLTA Grant Committee, MBA House of Delegates
Farris Mathews Branan Bobango Hellen & Dunlap PLC
friley@farris-law.com
Ms. Riley's practice concentrates in business bankruptcy reorganization and general business law. Ms. Riley also has extensive experience in the areas of housing and community development. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Community Development from Pennsylvania State University, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis. She is a member of the Memphis, Tennessee and American Bar Associations and the Association of Women Attorneys.
Ms. Riley formerly practiced with the Memphis firm of Humphreys Dunlap Wellford Acuff & Stanton, PC, which merged with Farris Mathews on January 1, 2004.
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Anica Conner - MALS Board Representative Burch, Porter & Johnson, PLLCaconner@BPJLAW.com
Anica Conner is an associate at Burch, Porter & Johnson, and her practice focuses on commercial and business litigation in both state and federal courts. After graduating from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2006, Ms. Conner served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Bernice B. Donald of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, and joined Burch Porter thereafter. Ms. Conner is a member of the Association for Women Attorneys, the National Bar Association, and the Leo Bearman Sr. Chapter of American Inn of Court.
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Emily Campbell Taube - Professional Liaison to the Law School Chapter
Emily Campbell Taube is an associate with Adams and Reese LLP. She focuses on the area of litigation, specifically franchise/dealership litigation and employee benefits litigation. Ms. Taube was also recently named by Mid-South Super Lawyers Magazine as a Rising Star for 2008 in the area of Franchise/Dealership law. Prior to her employment with Adams and Reese, Ms. Taube served as a Felony Trial Assistant with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.
Ms. Taube is active in several professional organizations including the American, Tennessee, and Memphis Bar Associations. She is a graduate of the Tennessee Bar Association Law Leadership Class of 2007, and is a current Board Member of the TBA Young Lawyer's Division, and Chair of the TBA Law School Outreach Committee. Ms. Taube is also a Barrister Member of the Leo Bearman, Sr. Chapter of the American Inn of Court, and serves as Chair of its Membership Committee. She is Board Member of the Association of Women Attorneys and serves as its Law School Outreach Liaison.
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Lisa J. Gill - AWA student Chapter
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Vanessa Cross - Publicity Chair
Solo Practitioner
crosswriting@yahoo.com
Vanessa M. Cross, LL.M. is a graduate of Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands where she earned a Master of Laws in International Business Law. Prior to studying with the Dutch and international law students in Amsterdam, she earned a Juris Doctorate from Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis. Vanessa has experience in U.S.A. banking laws, international business laws, and E.U. law. In addition to practicing as an international lawyer, she is licensed and practices in the State of Tennessee in the areas of probate and business law.
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Tricia Tweel - Special Events Chair
Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh
ttweel@harrisshelton.com
Earning her law degree in 2005 (University of Memphis School of Law, Magna Cum Laude, 2005), Ms. Tweel serves as the AWA's historian. Ms. Tweel practices probate law and estate planning for Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh in their East office.
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Linda Schultz - Executive Director, Membership Chair
Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation
linda.schultz@bmhcc.org
Linda has been with Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation for 16 years and serves as Executive Director for the AWA.
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Karen Hall - Representative for the CLE
The Hall Law Firm
khall@hallfamilylaw.com
Karen previously served as AWA President in 2003. She earned her law degree from the University of Memphis and practices in Family Law; Collaborative Family Law, Domestic Litigation, Divorce, and Child Custody Litigation.
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