Meet Our Board
Posted January 7th, 2008
Shari Myers - 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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Jennifer S. Hagerman - PRESIDENT-ELECT
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 Vice-President.
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Michele Howard Flynn - VICE PRESIDENT, 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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Laurie Christensen - Immediate Past President, AWA rep to the CLC board
Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation
laurie.christensen@bmhcc.org
Laurie has served on AWAMemphis's Board since 2006 and has served three terms as AWA's President. She comes to the AWA Board with a background in corporate law as she is an staff attorney for Baptist Memorial Health Care in Memphis. She obtained her JD from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in Memphis Tennessee.
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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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Vanessa Cross - SECRETARY, Newsletter Editor
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 - HISTORIAN
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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Lucie Brackin - 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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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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Judge Kay Robilio - CLE 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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Monica Wharton - Community Service Chair
Glankler Brown
Ms. Wharton received her B.A. degree, with Honors, in English from Hampton University in 1998 and her J.D. degree from William and Mary Law School in 2001. While at William and Mary, Ms. Wharton served as a member of the National Moot Court Team, the Honors Council, the William and Mary Alumni Association Board, the Order of Barristers and received a Dean's Certificate for her contributions to the law school. Additionally, Ms. Wharton was selected as a student member of the l'Anson-Hoffman Inn of Court. Before joining the firm, Ms. Wharton served as a law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia and practiced employment law in Raleigh, North Carolina. Currently, she is a member of the American, Tennessee, Memphis, North Carolina and National Bar Associations.
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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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Virginia Alexander - Representative to the MBA
Memphis Area Legal Services
Mrs. Alexander is a 1998 Graduate of University of Memphis, and a 2001 Graduate of University of Memphis Law School.
As an attorney, Virginia spent her first 2 years in private practice before joining the staff at MALS in the Domestic Violence/Family Law Unit in early 2004. For over 3 years, MALS afforded her an opportunity to work with clients who often faced similar challenges as many brain injury survivors such as unemployment, mental disorders, scarcity of available social services, and a general lack of resources.
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Linda Schultz - Executive Director
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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