The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments about when attorney-client privilege should shield communications that provide both business and legal advice. Lawyers representing the petitioner argued that the privilege should protect all client communications where obtaining or providing legal advice was one of the significant purposes behind the communication. The government argued that unless legal advice is the primary purpose of communications, dual-purpose communications should not be privileged. An article written for SCOTUSblog last week looks at the issues at stake.

The TBA’s Mentoring Program is seeking volunteers to mentor law students and newer attorneys across the state. This is a flexible program designed by the mentor and mentee based on their schedules and availabilities. The TBA offers a range of resources to guide conversations and assist in the mentoring relationship. To become a mentor, please fill out this online application or contact Young Lawyers Division & Law Student Development Coordinator Laura Labenberg, 615-277-3217.

Following news that Florida-based Holland & Knight and Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis will merge operations, the firms are providing more details about their plans. According to the Nashville Business Journal, the firms began talking in February 2022, on the recommendation of people at the firms who knew each other through membership in an international business organization. Following productive conversations, the 69 equity partners at Waller voted unanimously to move forward. Once the merger is complete — by April, according to the firms — Waller Chair Matt Burnstein will become executive partner of Holland & Knight's Nashville office. In addition, he will join the firm's Directors Committee, its highest policy-making body. Waller's administrative staff and related professionals also will make the move to Holland & Knight. In a separate piece today, the news source looks at how the merger will affect Waller’s Birmingham office.

Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough has named Geoffrey Vickers the managing partner of its Nashville office. He took office Jan. 1 and replaces Larry Papel, who had served as managing partner since the opening of the Nashville office in April 2012. Vickers co-chairs the firm’s Technology, Outsourcing, Procurement and Privacy Team and focuses his practice on business and technology issues and complex sourcing and managed services arrangements. Read more in a release from the firm.

Alabama lawyer Janet Monique Okoye was permanently disbarred on Friday by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The court found that Okoye failed to maintain an IOLTA or other trust account in which to keep clients funds; failed to deposit client funds into an IOLTA or other trust account; failed to comply with multiple court orders to deposit funds with the court clerk; knowingly engaged in dishonesty and misrepresentation; failed to respond to requests for information from the Board of Professional Responsibility; and failed to participate in the disciplinary proceeding. The court found that Okoye knowingly violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3; 1.4; 1.15 (a), (c) and (e); 3.4; 8.1(b); and 8.4(c).

Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) has announced the dates for its 2023 legal clinics in Memphis. Each month, the agency will offer clinics at the Shelby County Courthouse and at the Benjamin Hooks Library. For January, the “Attorney of the Day Clinic” will be held on Jan. 19 at the Shelby County Courthouse, 140 Adams Ave., Room 134, Memphis 38103. Then on the second Saturday of each month, MALS will hold a legal clinic at the Benjamin Hooks Library, 3030 Poplar Ave., Memphis 38111. The January clinic will take place Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. CST. For both clinics, clients will be served on a first come, first served basis. For questions or to volunteer contact Heather Staggs or Walter Casey.

If you travel for work you need a virtual private network (VPN). The TBA's Practice Management Center offers a comparison chart detailing VPN providers and features — just one of the many resources provided to TBA members. Access the chart and other offerings in the “Protect Your Firm” section.

The Tullahoma firm of Copeland & Bell is seeking an associate attorney to handle business organization, real estate, lending, transactional law, estate planning and probate matters. Practice experience is preferred, but not required. Candidates should work well with the public, be able to handle deadlines and be detail oriented. Experience with Microsoft Word and legal research also is required. Get the full job description and instructions for applying on the TBA’s JobLink platform.

Kevin G. Ritz, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, has appointed four assistant U.S. attorneys for the district. They are Jermal Blanchard, Courtney Lewis, Mary Morris and Bryce Phillips. All four will work in the Memphis office. Blanchard and Phillips join the office from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office, where they were prosecutors. Lewis comes from the U.S. Navy, where she was a judge advocate for 16 years and a military judge. Morris joins the office from the University of Memphis School of Law, where she was a professor for several years. Read more about the new hires in a release.

The Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) pro bono legal clinics are focused specifically on the needs of Nashville’s creative community. The next clinic for income-qualified artists, musicians and creatives will take place Feb. 1 from 6-8 p.m. CST at Sevier Park Community Center, 3021 Lealand Ln., Nashville 37204. Those in need of legal services can register for a 30-minute appointment. The deadline to register is Jan. 27 at noon CST. To volunteer for the clinic sign up here.