Baker Donelson has opened new offices in Princeton and Iselin, New Jersey, adding 26 new attorneys, including a health care transactional team, a litigation team, and several real estate attorneys in a significant expansion. Of the 26 new attorneys, 17 are joining as shareholders, two as of counsel and seven as associates. Also joining are two paralegals and six support staff. All of these professionals are joining from the health law firm of Epstein Becker Green. Baker Donelson Chair and CEO Timothy M. Lupinacci said, "A key aspect of our strategic vision is elevating our ability to serve clients as trusted advisors with industry depth and proactive counsel ... As a national firm, expanding our footprint to include New Jersey is exciting, and our growth will continue to be driven by adding the right talent who share our vision." Read more in a press release from the firm.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) will launch its 2025 Equal Justice Campaign — now in its 40th year — with a kickoff event April 23 at GEODIS Park from 5-7 p.m. CDT. The event will bring together a group of justice-minded leaders, including 2025 Equal Justice Campaign Committee members, past Equal Justice Campaign Committee members, supporters of LAS, in-house corporate counsels, Leadership Cabinet law firm partners, pro bono directors at major law firms, leaders from the Tennessee and Nashville Bar Associations, and LAS executive leadership. RSVP for the event here.

The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility on April 21 voted to withdraw Formal Opinion 2025-F-172, which was issued March 14 and addressed limited scope legal services provided by a private attorney. Formal Opinion 2025-F-171, also issued March 14 and still applicable, addresses the ethical propriety of a non-disparagement clause in a products liability case settlement agreement that makes the lawyers in Firm A parties to the settlement proposed by Firm B. See all past opinions from the board.

Death row prisoner Harold Wayne Nichols on April 18 sued Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada, Riverbend Maximum Security Institution Warden Kenneth Nelsen, as well as the unknown members of the execution team — listed as "John Does" in his lawsuit — in an attempt to delay his Dec. 11 execution until litigation over the state's new execution protocol is resolved. The Tennessean reports that the state has agreed to not execute at least two others on death row until their lawsuits conclude. Nichols argues the terms of that agreement must be extended to him or else the state is "unequally applying" its laws. Nichols' suit also makes several arguments against the new protocol itself, echoing many of those made in an earlier filing by other Tennessee death row prisoners. The U.S. Department of Justice in January rescinded its protocol allowing single-drug lethal injections for federal executions.

University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Assistant Dean for Law Admissions, Recruitment and Scholarships Dr. Sue Ann McClellan has announced her retirement, effective June 30. “Sue Ann’s vast experience and wealth of knowledge far exceeds that of so many peers,” said former law school Dean Katharine Schaffzin. “As a faculty member on the Admissions Committee or as dean, I have always deferred to her assessment in informing admissions decisions and recruitment strategies. Sue Ann’s kindness and humanity shine when she interacts with prospective students." In commenting on her career, McClellan stated, “It has been a privilege and an honor to open the door to the legal profession for every single one of these students." Read this tribute to McClellan from the law school.

Tennesseans will vote on three constitutional amendments on the November 2026 gubernatorial ballot after the state House approved the measures on Monday. The Senate had approved the resolutions in March. Sponsored by Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, one amendment would take away the right to bail for people charged with certain crimes such as acts of terrorism, second degree murder, aggravated rape, grave torture, vehicular homicide and carjacking. A second amendment, sponsored by Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, would would prohibit the state from instating a state property tax in the future. Finally, Marsy’s Law, sponsored by Sen. John Stevens, R-Huntingdon, would expand the rights of victims of crimes, including the right to be present and heard at all public criminal proceedings involving the accused, the right to be free from harassment or intimidation by the accused, and the right to be notified of the release, transfer or escape of the accused. The Nashville Post has more on all three proposed amendments.

Charles Stephen "Steve" Weaver died April 12 at age 76. In his early years, he was a musician, songwriter, guitar instructor, entertainment agent and a member of several regionally popular groups based in Memphis. After graduating from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1977, Weaver relocated to Atlanta and was an assistant professor and director of the Commercial Music/Recording Program at Georgia State University. He began his private practice in 1983, with offices in Memphis and Nashville, moving all offices to Nashville's Music Row in 1995. Weaver was a member of the American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, Nashville Bar Association and Country Music Association, among others. Memorial gifts may be made to Alive Hospice of Nashville or Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. A private memorial will be scheduled at a later time.

The Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) hosted its annual Student Public Interest Fellowship (SPIF) Auction in March, raising nearly $20,000 to support students pursuing public interest legal work. The SPIF funds stipends for students interning in public interest roles, helping alleviate financial burdens associated with unpaid or low-paid positions. The funds raised will provide essential financial assistance for students working in roles that serve underrepresented communities, allowing them to gain valuable experience without the hardship of covering travel and living expenses. “The new Student Public Interest Fellowship at LMU Law will help ensure that financial need does not prevent our students who prefer public interest work from seeking out and accepting those opportunities,” said LMU Law Vice President and Dean Matt Lyon. Read more in a press release from the law school.

Houston-based Susman Godfrey is the latest "Big Law" firm to be targeted by an executive order from the Trump administration. The firm represented Dominion Voting Systems in defamation cases related to the 2020 election, according to Reuters. The new executive order suspends any security clearances held by Susman Godfrey's 170 lawyers, restricts access to government buildings and threatens to cancel federal contracts held by firm clients. Bloomberg Law reports that the firm on Monday challenged the executive order, and that today a judge temporarily barred the administration from enforcing the order. In other legal actions, five firms — Kirkland & Ellis, Allen Overy Shearman Sterling, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Latham & Watkins, and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft — reached deals with the administration to provide upwards of $600 million in pro bono work. The Hill has more details of those agreements.

The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury is investigating Knox County Trustee Justin Biggs office's high-end hotel expenses and questionable use of county vehicles. Knox News reports that Biggs and his staff incurred $4,716.59 in costs that exceeded the county rate for hotel rooms on 10 trips from August 2023-November 2024 totaling $17,314.58. Trustee staff also have driven county-leased trucks for personal use, according to GPS records obtained by the paper. In the five years of the lease agreement, the trustee's office will pay $397,968 for the trucks, $200,000 more than the cost of vehicles used by other county offices according to the paper. Biggs fired Director of Operations Jason Dobbins after the paper reached out with questions about the investigation, saying in a statement: "Over the past two weeks, [the Comptroller's office's] thorough examination has revealed an unfortunate breach to our policies. Due to this, we have terminated one employee at this point."