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CBA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PRESIDENT JEFFREY W. MADDUX
of Chambliss Bahner & Stophel

Jeffrey Maddux has built a national practice advising businesses and clients in the financial services industry on commercial litigation, insolvency issues, loan workouts, and liability claims. With an intimate knowledge of the Uniform Commercial Code, the Bankruptcy Code, and a track record of successful client defense, Jeffrey advises corporate clients and financial institutions on federal and state laws related to regulatory compliance, business reorganizations and liquidations, receiverships, and consumer bankruptcies. His extensive experience includes successfully negotiating financing arrangements, 363 asset sales, use of cash collateral, and defending preference and fraudulent transfer claims. He has also assisted various debtors in successfully reorganizing their businesses through Chapter 11. In addition, Jeffrey advises clients in securities litigation, lender liability actions, shareholder disputes, and internal investigations related to embezzlement. Jeffrey has litigated in state and federal courts across the country and has successfully represented and assisted clients in various jurisdictions, including throughout Tennessee and Georgia. The perspective and experience Jeffrey has gained from his broad practice has greatly benefited a wide variety of clients, including educational institutions, municipalities, and corporations. He serves as general counsel and advises a number of high schools and colleges in the Southeast. He also has extensive experience advising and representing municipal entities, including the local airport authority, in all aspects of their business. Leading companies in health care, including billing companies and nursing homes, have also turned to Jeffrey for solving complicated disputes. Known for his competitive nature, he is constantly finding ways to help clients be more successful, whether it's minimizing risk or vigorously defending them against fraudulent claims.

President Elect Lee Ann Adams 
Of Gearhiser Peters Elliott and Cannon, PLLC

Lee Ann Adams, a member and the Secretary of the Firm, focuses her practice extensively on estate planning and estate administration. During her years of practice with the firm, her clients have included young couples with new families, small business owners, and mature clients facing end-of-life issues. Her estate planning experience includes simple planning as well as the complex planning necessary to address federal and state tax issues, asset protection, and business succession planning. Lee Ann is also routinely retained to assist in the administration of estates in Hamilton and neighboring counties in Tennessee.

Lee Ann has served as an adjunct professor for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Business and has made presentations regarding estate and tax planning issues to various groups in the Chattanooga area. Lee Ann and her husband, Tom, currently reside on Signal Mountain with their two sons and are members of Signal Crest United Methodist Church.

Immediate Past President John Harrison
Of Elliott Harrison and Hackett, PLLC 

John Harrison has been in the private practice of law in Chattanooga for over 30 years. His practice consists of advising clients on employment and labor law compliance, including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, National Labor Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and Tennessee Human Rights Act; representing clients in litigation involving discrimination claims, retaliation claims, wrongful discharge claims, employment contracts, and employment torts; representing clients in general commercial and tort litigation, including business torts, unfair competition, non-competition agreements, negligence, nuisance, and strict liability; and representing clients in union matters, including union avoidance, unfair labor practice charges, labor organizing efforts, union representation elections, collective bargaining, strikes, and labor arbitrations.

John has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in Labor and Employment Law since 2007. He received The Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year award for Employment Law-Management in 2014 and for Labor Law-Management in 2015.

John is listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers® in Employment & Labor, Employment Litigation: Defense and Alternative Dispute Resolution.

John is a Master in the Ray L. Brock and Robert E. Cooper American Inn of Court.

SECRETARY HONORABLE ROB PHILYAW
Of the Hamilton County Juvenile Court

Rob Philyaw is the Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge where he has served since 2013.  Judge Philyaw obtained his B.S. and M.B.A. degrees from Christian Brothers University and his J.D. degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Tennessee Journal of Practice & Procedure.  He formerly served as a municipal judge, as an adjunct professor of the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis, on the Tennessee Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee, and on the boards of the Chattanooga Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and several non-profit organizations.  Judge Philyaw founded the local Youth Court in 2013 and the Hamilton County Juvenile Recovery Court in 2014.  He currently serves on the Tennessee Commission for Children and Youth and as Secretary/Treasurer of the Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Law Judges.    

TREASURER ROBIN MILLER


EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EX-OFFICIO LYNDA MINKS HOOD
Of the Chattanooga Bar Association

Lynda Minks Hood is in her twenty-seventh year as Executive Director of the Chattanooga Bar Association.  She received her education from Girls Preparatory School and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.  She received her certified General and Advanced Mediation Training Certificate in 1998.   

Lynda's current professional memberships include:  ROTARY Club of Chattanooga (Paul Harris Fellow in 2010 and 2018); the National Association of Bar Executives; American Bar Association; the Tennessee and American Society of Association Executives; National Association of Female Executives; South East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women; Public Relations Society of America; Association for Fundraising Professionals; and Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute.  Social memberships include the Black Creek Country Club, and the Walden Club.

Lynda was appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court to serve on the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education for a three-year term until 2022. She  was appointed by County Mayor Jim Coppinger to serve as a Tri-Chair for the "Hamilton County Women's Suffrage Yellow Rose Committee" for the 100th Celebration of the 19th Amendment for 2020.  Lynda currently served as Chairwoman of the Erlanger Health System Foundation from 2018 through December 2020  and is currently serving as Past Chair.   She is married to Michael Hood and they have a daughter, Lauren. They live in Chattanooga and attend the Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church.

CBA board memBers

Board Member Richard "Rusty" W. Gray
of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz P.C.

Russell W. Gray is the managing shareholder of Baker Donelson in Chattanooga.  With more than 25 years of experience, he represents local, regional and national clients on a full range of labor and employment matters, including wage and hour, drug testing, policy manuals, covenants not to compete, response to union activity, various employment forms, compliance advice and employment litigation.”

BOARD MEMBER RICHARD C. ROSE
Of miller and Martin, PLLC

Richard Rose concentrates his practice in the areas of healthcare fraud and abuse, construction litigation and commercial litigation. He represents and counsels hospitals, physicians, SNFs, home health agencies, hospice providers, DME providers, mid-level providers and other healthcare providers in healthcare fraud and abuse issues and litigation. He represents and counsels construction general contractors and subcontractors in construction litigation, contract reviews and disputes. Mr. Rose also represents and counsels both large and small businesses relating to general business and commercial litigation. Mr. Rose also represents and counsels clients in the insurance, healthcare, retail, real estate and manufacturing sectors regarding Information Security and Privacy, including responses to major data breaches as well as compliance with HITECH, HIPAA, GLBA and other data retention and compliance laws.

Board Member Steven E. Smith
Of the pubic defender's office

Steve Smith is currently the elected Public Defender of the 11th Judicial District. He serves as Vice-Chair of the Tennessee Public Defender's Conference. While public defenders nationwide have historically and chronically suffered a lack of resources and manpower, during his first term Steve expanded the number of attorneys from 13 to 21, all who help indigent residents of Hamilton County navigate the criminal justice system. Accounting for the representation of 86% of all defendants with criminal cases serious enough to retain counsel, Steve's office typically opens and closes 10,000 case files annually. In addition, the Office of the 11th oversaw the creation and establishment of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Mental Health Court, and staffs the many recovery courts to divert as many people as possible directly into treatment and rehabilitation. Previously, Steve served as an assistant district attorney trying cases to juries in Division 1 of Criminal Court, served as a member of a small litigation firm and as an associate of a state wide firm. A graduate of the University of Memphis Law School, he also holds a B.S. degree in Geology, is a board member of the Bachman Community Center, an enthusiastic Big Brother and a fledgling sailor, gardener and musician.

BOARD MEMBER C. SCOTT JOHNSON
Of Spears Moore Rebman and Williams, PC

Scott Johnson is a Tennessee trial lawyer who has litigated cases throughout Tennessee and the 6th Circuit of the United States Courts for over two decades. He often serves as a Tennessee Rule 31 listed General Civil Mediator on all types of legal disputes. He cheers for the University of Tennessee and the University of Memphis. Scott has achieved the Martindale Hubbell highest rating (AV) from his peers and judges.

Board Member Mark Litchford
Of Litchford Pearce and Associates

Mark is a founding member of Litchford, Pearce & Associates, PLLC, and concentrates his practice in government law, commercial litigation, estate planning, personal injury, and business transactions.  A native of Crossville, Tennessee, Mark attended The McCallie School of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and David Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, for both his undergraduate and Master's degrees. Mark received his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the Cecil C. Humphries School of Law at Memphis University.  Mark clerked for the Honorable W. Neil Thomas, III, of the Circuit Court for Hamilton County, Tennessee, and formed his current firm after 12 years of practice at a large local law firm.  Mark also taught calculus, geometry and algebra at the Boyd Buchanan School in Chattanooga, Tennessee prior to attending law school.  Since 2017, Mark has served as the city attorney for East Ridge, Tennessee.  Mark is licensed to practice in Tennessee, Georgia, the Eastern District of Tennessee and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Mark is also actively involved with the Tennessee Municipal League, the National League of Cities, Municipal Technical Advisory Service, and the Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association and serves on the board of directors for Boyd Buchanan School. 

BOARD MEMBER ELLIE M. Hill
Of Patrick Beard Schulman and Jacoway, PC

Ellie Hill is a partner with the law firm of Patrick, Beard, Schulman & Jacoway, P.C. where she concentrates her practice on real estate matters and general civil litigation.  Hill has successfully represented individuals and organizations in state courts throughout Tennessee providing personal and cost-effective representation.  A native of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, Hill obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and graduated from its College of Law in 2004 before moving to Chattanooga in 2006.  Hill is a past president of the Chattanooga Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and a former member of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division where she was awarded the TBA YLD Star of the Quarter Award in 2011 and 2013.  Hill is a barrister of the Brock-Cooper Chapter of the American Inns of Court and is currently the Vice Chairwoman for the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition where she has served on its board for several years.  Hill currently resides in North Chattanooga with her husband, Jason, two daughters, Cori and Luci and dog, Tucky.

YLD REPRESENTATIVE Honorable Alexander McVeagh
OF HAMILTON COUNTY GENERAL SESSIONS COURT

Currently Tennessee’s youngest judge, Alex McVeagh was appointed in 2017 by Governor Bill Haslam as one of 5 Hamilton County General Sessions Court judges. A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, McVeagh obtained his B.S. and J.D. degrees from Vanderbilt University. He previously worked as a litigator at Chambliss Law Firm in Chattanooga, where he practiced both civil & criminal law, as research analyst and law clerk for the TN Senate Judiciary Committee, and as analyst/legislative liaison for the TN Dist. Public Defenders Conference. In 2019, McVeagh founded Hamilton County’s General Sessions Drug Recovery Court, which rehabilitates individuals in the criminal justice system suffering from substance use disorder.  He currently serves on the TN Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission & Technology/E-Filing Committee, on the TN Governor’s Criminal Justice Reform Task Force, and serves in leadership roles with the young lawyers divisions of the CBA, TBA & ABA.

CHAIR, PAST PRESIDENTS' COMMITTEE EX-OFFICIO Steven M. Jacoway
Of Patrick Beard Schulman And Jacoway, PC

Steve represents a wide range of business clients in commercial and civil litigation, as well as construction disputes. He also represents individual clients with a focus in family law and criminal law. Steve is admitted to practice in both state and federal courts in Tennessee and Georgia since 1986 and has extensive trial experience in both jury and non-jury trials throughout Tennessee and Georgia.