Teresa Carey, a longtime employee in the Hamblen County Clerk & Master's Office, was sworn in as clerk and master of the county's chancery and probate courts on June 30. She succeeds the retiring Kathy Jones-Terry. Chancellor Doug Jenkins, who handles cases for the 3rd Judicial District and swore in Carey, told the Citizen Tribune, “I have all the confidence in the world in her; Teresa’s been around the court system for probably 40 years, and for much of that time she’s been second-in-command. She definitely paid her dues and deserves this well-earned chance to do this. I think she’s going to do great.”

The TBA Law Office Technology & Management Section is presenting four webcasts this week. Today, catch “60 Legal Tech Tips, Tricks, Gadgets and Websites in 60 Minutes, which will focus on the latest developments in legal technology. Tomorrow, tune in for “AI in Law: Use Cases,” which will explore 30 impactful use cases of generative AI for lawyers, including in the areas of legal research, document drafting and practice management. On Thursday, join colleagues for “The Evolving Ethics of Law Firm Cybersecurity: Practical and Budget-Friendly Tips.” This program will focus on affordable cybersecurity measures that should be considered to protect confidential data. And on Friday, wrap up with “Our Era of AI: Responsible AI & Microsoft Copilot,” which will look at how Microsoft embraces Responsible AI in its development of AI solutions and how the company’s legal department uses Copilot to achieve more. If you miss any of these times, the programs are also available on demand.

A recent article from Diversity.com,  LGBTQ+ Talent Drain in 2025: Why Progressive Employees are Leaving Regressive States, explains the concern that is being felt as members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies are relocating to more inclusive states or seeking employment at companies that share their values. Read what is behind the talent drain, the far reaching impact it can have and what individuals and companies can do about it. Closer to home, Nashville Public Radio looks at those who chose to stay despite concerns.

The TBA YLD serves as an ally by offering name change clinics throughout the state.

Nashville School of Law (NSL) recently hosted its Annual Recognition Dinner to honor the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award, 1996 graduate Cindy Jones. “When I think back to those years — working full-time, raising two little ones and going to law school at night — I remember how hard it was. But it was also one of the most defining chapters of my life. It shaped in me a discipline and a work ethic that served me throughout my entire career,” Jones said. The dinner also recognized Clark Spoden as this year's faculty honoree. He is a professor of civil procedure and remedies and a partner at Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin in Nashville. NSL Dean Bill Koch said, “Clark exemplifies our faculty’s commitment to our students, not only in his enthusiastic approach to teaching but also in the way he models professionalism and competence.” Read more in a press release from the school and see photos from the event.

Gov. Bill Lee on July 2 announced the appointment of Will Reid as commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), effective July 10. Reid will succeed TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley, who will step down from his role as commissioner but remain as deputy governor, continuing to advise Lee on long-term statewide projects until his departure later this year. Reid has served as TDOT’s chief engineer and deputy commissioner since August 2022. A native of Bartlett, Reid began his career with TDOT in 2014 as director of construction and since has held a number of key leadership positions. Lee said that Reid's "deep understanding of our state’s infrastructure needs, coupled with a track record of driving efficiency and transparency, makes him the right person to lead TDOT into its next chapter of service to Tennesseans." Read more in a press release from the governor's office.

The family of Josselin Corea Escalante, the 16-year-old killed in the Jan. 22 Antioch High School shooting, on June 23 filed a lawsuit in Davidson County Circuit Court against Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) and Metro Nashville Government (Metro). The Nashville Post reports that the lawsuit claims MNPS and Metro failed to protect students from harm and should have taken steps to further create a safe environment, citing negligence by MNPS based on the shooter’s history of violent behavior and the failure of the school’s weapon detection system to identify the firearm used during the shooting. The family is suing for $700,000 in damages, the maximum amount allowed under Tennessee’s Governmental Tort Liability Act. The Nashville Banner has additional reporting.

Nashville entertainment lawyer Rachel Guttman recently opened Gutt Law PLLC which will focus its practice on the music industry. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and Tulane University Law School. According to Music Row, Guttman began her career clerking for Judge Dee D. Drell in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana before transitioning into litigation defense and entertainment law in New Orleans. In 2018, she returned to Nashville to focus exclusively on the music and entertainment industry. She is joined by entertainment attorney Victoria Powell, a graduate of Belmont University College of Law, and Morgan Brasfield as head of operations. Gutt Law can be reached at gutt.law.

TBA YLD Past President Quinton Thompson and his wife, Katerra Locke Thompson, have fulfilled a dream by opening up a Just Love Coffee Cafe franchise in Midtown Memphis. The cafe, located at 2041 Madison Ave., features all-day breakfast and lunch. According to an article in Memphis Business Journal, Thompson spent a lot of time in coffee shops while attending law school at Vanderbilt University and studying for the bar. He was looking for the same type of atmosphere in Memphis — a place for people to meet up with friends or work on their laptops at a table, on the patio or in a conference room that is available for small meetings. Just Love Coffee Cafe is a Tennessee-based franchise with a community-based focus, which appealed to the couple. Thompson is a partner at Morgan and Morgan in Memphis and continues to serve on the TBA YLD Board. His wife is a children's book author. While in Memphis, stop by and support their new venture!

We are interested in sharing your news of significant life events, including marriages, birth/adoption announcements, travel and special awards and recognitions. If you have good news to share, please fill out our online form. We can't wait to read all about your news!

LawPay, the leading payment solution trusted by over 115,000 legal professionals, is offering even more ways to simplify your practice’s billing and boost productivity. LawPay now includes new tools for invoicing, time tracking, and contact management, all built into a modern, easy-to-use interface. LawPay is designed to help your firm get paid faster, capture more billable hours, and improve cash flow, allowing you to focus on serving clients and growing your practice. It’s a smarter, more efficient way to manage billing and client information — backed by the security and dependability today’s firms expect. Schedule demo >>

THAPAR, Circuit Judge. Lester Martin was a renowned pediatric surgeon at Cincinnati Children’s hospital. He served in World War II, trained a generation of doctors, and made crucial advancements in the medical field before passing away at age 96. There’s no question that Dr. Martin left quite a legacy for his family to be proud of. Unfortunately, though, this case is not about his legacy. Instead, it’s about the material goods he left behind. And those goods have led to a long and protracted family feud. Here, we address two parts of that saga. Did the district court have jurisdiction to hear a dispute about who should get what? And did two of Lester’s grandkids need experts to show they didn’t get what they were owed?