Speaker Biographies Bench Bar Program Judge Ken Starr Is best known as the independent counsel who headed the investigation that led to the impeachment of U.S. President Bill Clinton. In 1994 Starr was named the independent counsel to lead the investigation into the so-called Whitewater affair, which involved a land deal in Arkansas during the time Clinton was that state’s governor. As a result of the investigation, 11 people—including Clinton associates James and Susan McDougal — were convicted of crimes. He subsequently was directed to investigate what came to be known as Travelgate, involving the firing of longtime White House workers, and Filegate, pertaining to FBI files on Republicans that were found in the White House. In 1998, however, allegations of an affair between Clinton and White House intern Monica Lewinsky became the focus of Starr’s attention. Based on Starr’s findings, the House of Representatives voted to impeach the president in December 1998. The Senate acquitted Clinton the following year. Chief Justice Jeff Bivins Took office as a member of the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2014. He was appointed to this position by Gov. Bill Haslam. He was elected to the remainder of the full term in August 2016. Effective Sept. 1, 2016, his colleagues elected him to the position of Chief Justice. Prior to his appointment to the Tennessee Supreme Court, Justice Bivins was a judge on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Law. He received a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude from East Tennessee State University, with a major in political science and a minor in criminal justice. Congressman Bob Clement Was elected to the 100th Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of U.S. Rep. Bill Boner. He was reelected to the 101st and to the six succeeding congresses, 1988 2003. He served on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority from 1979 1981. Clement earned a Bachelor of Science from University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a master’s in business administration from Memphis State. Attorney Hal Hardin Earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School and bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University. He has served in private practice since 1981, and also as District Attorney pro tem. He was presidentially appointed as U.S. Attorney in1977 and prior to that was a Circuit Court Judge, Presiding Judge of Trial Courts, and as Special Judge, Court of Appeals. He recently received the John C. Tune Public Service Award, from the Nashville Bar Association and the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society Leadership Award. Congressman/Judge William Lewis Jenkins Earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Tennessee Technical University in Cookeville and served in the U.S. Army before earning his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville. He has served as a lawyer, farmer; energy advisor to Gov. Lamar Alexander; member of the Tennessee state general assembly for nine years, with three of those as speaker; Tennessee Valley Authority board member, Tennessee state circuit court judge, 1990-1996; and was elected to the 105th and to the four succeeding United States Congresses, 1997- 2007. Better Right Now Gary Blackman Is a founding member of Levenfeld Pearlstein, partner in the firm’s Litigation Group and the firm’s General Counsel. Gary’s focus is on protecting the business assets of sophisticated and successful business owners and institutional clients, namely, their people, their products, their intellectual capital and their time. Gary is a firm leader in creating and promoting the philosophy that to be a great litigation attorney at Levenfeld Pearlstein you must first be a great business counselor and to do that you need to truly understand the client’s business, its owners and its long and short term goals. Gary has a unique ability among “every-day litigators” to analyze complex business disputes and provide his clients with a strategic road map to help them make informed decisions about what is best for both their business and for them personally. As General Counsel to the firm, Gary also has developed a keen appreciation for the challenges facing institutional clients in striking the proper balance between risk and reward and how, through aggressive litigation, strategic decision-making, negotiation and personal relationships, he works to extract the best possible return to a client. Gary’s practice is concentrated on complex business litigation, representing clients in corporate, real estate and financial services matters with a particular focus on trade secret and related non-competition and restrictive covenant issues; joint venture partnership and LLC disputes; debtor-creditor litigation, including bankruptcy and workouts; and representing individuals and financial institutions in securities brokerage litigation and arbitration in state and federal court and before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Brigid Mahoney Caldwell She is a graduate of Father Ryan High School, Middle Tennessee State University, and the Nashville School of Law. Prior to starting her practice, Brigid's professional experience included Human Resources and Employee Benefits Administration. Brigid's practice is focused on creating lasting relationships with clients as they navigate life's legal decisions. She encourages clients to have plans not only for scenarios that may arise throughout their lives, but as well as for their inevitable deaths. Brigid wants to be there to counsel you whether you are planning for your family, getting your wishes for how things are handled after your death documented, or even wanting to start that business you've always dreamed of. Lisa Cole Lisa Ramsay Cole is president and managing shareholder of Lewis Thomason and the managing partner of the firm’s Nashville office. She is also an ex-officio member of the firm’s Board of Directors and Shareholder Compensation Committee. She practices in the areas of employment law, medical malpractice, workers’ compensation, and general casualty defense litigation. Ms. Cole’s practice for the past 25 years has concentrated in the area of complex civil trial litigation in state and federal courts. She has achieved successful results through defense jury verdicts, summary judgment, mediation, and arbitration in each of her practice areas. Ms. Cole’s current clients are national, regional and local employers; regional and local health care facilities; and insurance companies. In addition, Ms. Cole routinely defends public entities in medical malpractice and civil rights matters. Ali Dick Adam Hill Hon. Steve Hornsby Has served for 35+ years as a trial lawyer, judge, senior state government official, health care executive, consultant and coach. He is experienced in state and federal litigation, transactional law and appellate practice, having argued cases before the Tennessee Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. He has taught workshops on leadership and professional development, creating a values-based organizational culture, and juvenile justice programs. As an adjunct professor, Steve has taught college classes on judicial process and restorative justice. In 2004, Steve was the recipient of the McCain-Abernathy Award, the highest award given to Tennessee juvenile court judges. He has served on numerous boards, commissions and committees that focus on children’s issues and public safety. Among these are the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet, Governor’s Crime Coordinating Commission, and Memphis Crime Commission. He presently serves on Western Mental Health Institute Board of Trustees, and on the board of Midsouth Sober Living, Inc. Seeing the need to help reduce the impact of stress in the workplace, he developed a simple and practical mindfulness technique for busy people, which is part of his coaching practice. Several years ago, Steve realized that his use of alcohol was preventing him from fully enjoying and experiencing life. He made the decision to stop drinking and since then has worked with people and organizations in the addiction recovery field, helping others who have come to that same realization. In 2017, he began a coaching practice for attorneys and judges, health care professionals and government executives. He also serves as a project consultant for behavioral health, addiction treatment and justice-related programs. He is completing International Coaching Federation training for Professional Coach certification. He received his undergraduate (1978; magna cum laude) and juris doctor (1981) degrees from the University of Memphis. He is a trained Circle Process facilitator (2009) and graduated from the Silva Method (mindfulness and creative visualization) in 1970. Joanna McCracken Is one of the two founding partners of Piper McCracken, PLLC. She is both an experienced litigator and a collaborative divorce professional with an advanced certification. As a family law attorney, Joanna strives to guide her clients through their toughest life experiences with education, zeal, and compassion, utilizing her versatile skill set to create solutions that deliver long-term benefits protecting her clients’ best interests and futures. Joanna’s dedication to her practice and clients has earned her the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys’ 10 Best for Client Satisfaction Award multiple years in a row. She has consistently been ranked in the Top Ten by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, been named a Mid-South Rising Star by Superlawyer magazine and is recognized by the American Jurist Institute as a Top Ten Family Law Attorney for Tennessee. Joanna is an active member of the American, Tennessee, and Nashville Bar Associations. She serves on the Tennessee Bar Association’s Wellbeing Committee working in conjunction with Bar associations around the nation to improve the working lives of lawyers. Joanna is an active member of the Middle Tennessee Collaborative Alliance which promotes the use of the collaborative divorce process in lieu of litigation. Heather Piper Is one of the two founding partners of Piper McCracken, PLLC.