Make plans now to join colleagues on June 26 at noon CDT for an insightful and practical webcast designed specifically for family law attorneys. The seminar will guide attendees through the essential steps of conducting effective client consultations, from initial intake to preparation and execution. Topics will cover the intake process — how to gather crucial information efficiently and empathetically; preparation — strategies for preparing thoroughly to address client concerns and legal issues; and consultation mechanics — counterintuitive insights and techniques for managing the consultation to build trust and rapport. Visit the TBA website for more information and to register.

Reporters from across the state gathered in Nashville recently to learn about open meetings law, investigative journalism and more during the fifth annual Reporters Workshop program, produced jointly by the Tennessee Bar Association, the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and the Tennessee Press Association Foundation. Participants were selected from applicants interested in developing a deeper understanding of media law issues that may affect their everyday work. Friday's programming began with a panel of veteran investigative reporters — Jennifer Krause from NewsChannel 5, Meribah Knight from WPLN News and Stephen Elliott from the Nashville Banner — moderated by Amy Mohan of Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison. Other speakers included Jennifer Safstrom with Vanderbilt's First Amendment Clinic, who presented on reporter's privilege; Jay Harbison from Neal & Harwell, who spoke to attendees about staying on the right side of the law in reporting; and legal media experts Paul McAdoo from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and Deborah Fisher from Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, who discussed the open records law. Saturday's session featured an overview of defamation with Ron Harris of Neal & Harwell and a panel on covering state and local government with Alex Apple from Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell's Office, Steve Cavendish from the Nashville Banner, and Holly McCall from the Tennessee Lookout. That panel was moderated by Clint Brewer from Imperium Public Strategies. The day wrapped up with a panel moderated by Robb Harvey of Holland & Knight on covering the courts with Judges Valerie Smith, Ana Escobar and Sam Coleman. See photos from the event. Thanks to this year's sponsors Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison, Neal & Harwell and Holland & Knight.

The law firm of Rainey Kizer Reviere & Bell celebrated its 50th anniversary on Monday with a ribbon cutting at its Jackson office. Founded in Jackson in 1975 by Tom Rainey and Jerry Kizer, the firm now employs 50 lawyers and has offices in six cities across Tennessee and Kentucky. WBBJ was on site to record the ceremony and interview the firm's president, Dale Thomas.

The Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission is partnering with the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, the Hard Bargain Association and Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands to hold a wills clinic in Williamson County. The clinic is set for May 3 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. CDT at Mercy's Community Clinic, 143 SE Parkway Ct., Franklin 37064. Attorneys and at least one notary are needed, and law students are welcome to participate. Click here to view an informational flyer or register here to help.

U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, and Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, introduced the Sister City Transparency Act to identify the risks of foreign espionage within sister city partnerships, which exist to promote cultural exchange and economic development. The bill would direct the comptroller general to study partnerships involving foreign communities in countries with significant public sector corruption and report to Congress. Three Tennessee cities have official partnerships with 21 cities around the world through Sister Cities International. Read more in a press release from Blackburn's office.

The Tennessee Safe Baby Court program has expanded to Blount County with the overall goal of reducing the amount of time a child is removed from a home. “Children are their most vulnerable and most resilient at this age, so if children are removed from their home into the child welfare system ... the long-term effects of that trauma are significant,” Blount County Juvenile Court Judge Kenlyn Foster told WATE News. The Safe Baby Court will operate out of the Juvenile Court. WVLT reports that last year, Knox County’s program took on the most cases of any county in the state, helping more than 20 families, totaling nearly 40 children. Twenty-two counties across the state operate Safe Baby Courts, which are focused on children ages 0 to 3 who are involved in the child welfare system.

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.